Making it through nursing school and passing your boards with flying colors (no doubt because you were using Picmonic to boost retention) doesn’t mean the nursing stress stops after you land your first job. Nursing is hard work from day one, but don’t let that scare you! Thanks to Picmonic’s nursing mnemonic study aids you have a great basis of knowledge to use daily with patients. However, to be a great nurse you have to be able keep a clear head. Here are five ways to keep your cool when work is seriously stressing you out.
Phone a Friend
Find one friend you can talk to about anything -or even just nursing- and call them. Often. Or if they’re in town, have a weekly get-together to do something fun like yoga or trying out new restaurants. It’s important to have activities outside of work or else you may end up feeling overwhelmed and burnt out. If your friend isn’t in the medical field, they may not quite understand how difficult nursing stress can be, but they can still relate to the feeling of stress and why it’s important to let off a little steam.
Don’t Rush
Try not to rush through your patients just to get everything done super fast. Mistakes are made when people try to skip steps, so take a moment to calmly but efficiently do your work. Sure, you’ve studied over and over again with Picmonic’s playlists so you have a lot of knowledge locked in, but that doesn’t mean you won’t try to bust through a patient screening and miss something important by accident because you didn’t take the time needed to do a great job. We understand being diligent with your time, but don’t forget to pace yourself at a happy medium even when you’re swamped. Doing something right the first time saves lots of time, trouble, and maybe even a life later.
Mangia! Mangia!
Did you forget something? Like your lunch? Sometimes we are so stressed out that we forget to take care of ourselves. Make sure you actually take your allotted breaks to eat, stretch, and relax even if it’s just for ten minutes. Try not to feel guilty about it even if you’re crazy busy. Everyone needs a break now and then. If you need more reason to eat, go check out the Picmonic playlist small intestine absorption nursing study guide. It’ll tell you everything you need to know about fueling up for a big day at work with proper nutrition.
Always Be Learning
Yes, even after school you have to keep using your noggin. Nursing is a science so procedures, rules, and medicines change all the time! It’s important to always be on top of the newest developments so you’re not surprised when something you learned in nursing school suddenly changes. It’s also good to check in with Picmonic so you can make sure all the important lessons are staying locked in your brain. Going through a nursing illustrated study guide a week or playing with Picmonic’s nursing study app on your smartphone to keep up your brain in gear is a good way to always be on the up and up (aka minimizing that ‘forgetting curve’) and avoid unneeded nursing stress at work.
Realize Nursing Stress is Totally Normal
Stress happens. To everyone. You think George Clooney got all that grey hair from being totally relaxed? Okay, maybe it could have been genetics, but yes, even Clooney sometimes gets stressed. Don’t sweat the small stuff as the saying goes, but of course that’s easier said than done. Figure out what’s important and go from there. Making a list of priorities can help you get the big stuff finished before you can even begin to worry about anything else.
Find Your Happy Place
This is hard, but try not to take your work home with you. Remember that while life can be stressful, you need to find balance. When you have a trying day at work, make sure you give yourself some time to unwind without judgement. If you want to dance to Miley Cyrus to get out some nervous energy, dance to Miley Cyrus, if you want to bake a giant cake, bake a giant cake. Don’t feel bad about doing something fun. That happy place will keep you sane after working a 12-hour shift.
We know the nursing floor is hard work, but studying shouldn’t be. Picmonic has created an awesome nursing mnemonic study aid that will help you remember up to 331% more than just studying with a textbook and a highlighter. Simply find a playlist and get cracking. Plus, for on-the-run learning, Picmonic even has a nursing study app for Android and iOS smartphones. How many textbooks can say that? Sign up for a free trial today.
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Marlee Liberman, RN, Master Nursing Scholar
As a registered nurse, Marlee understands the struggles that nursing school throws at you – not to mention the overwhelming pressure preparing for the NCLEX®! Marlee brings a unique skill set and perspective to Picmonic with her previous degree in broadcast journalism, her creativity in video production, and her wandering nomad lifestyle. Her blend of talents provides her with the knack for simplifying complicated concepts and demystifying the world of nursing.
