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6 Tips for Staying Positive as a Nurse

Being a nurse has its ups and downs. Whilst it is possibly one of the most rewarding careers out there, you also work incredibly hard, do long shifts both day and night, and can feel underappreciated. When you are tired, overworked, and in need of a well-deserved holiday, it can be hard to remain positive. But being friendly, welcoming, and cheerful is part of the job. Here are six tips to help you, as a nurse, keep a positive mindset.

Photo by Laura James from Pexels

  • Prioritize Self-Care

You have to look after yourself. You cannot provide effective and quality care for someone else if you are not prioritizing your own health and wellbeing. This means eating proper, healthy, and nutritious meals; making sure you get enough sleep and exercise; and giving yourself time to sit down and relax. If you are healthy and looking after yourself, staying positive is a breeze. 

  • Be Positive Around Colleagues

Colleagues moan and groan to each other all the time. You are going through the same things, have the same work stresses and are having similar experiences. But don’t fall into the trap of constantly having negative work chat with your colleagues. Changing the chat into more positive talk boosts the mood of everyone and creates more of a community, enabling you to work more effectively as a team.

  • Advance Your Career Prospects

Feeling like you are stuck is the worst. If you feel like your life or career is in limbo and you’ve hit a stagnant point, it can be hard to feel positive about going to work. Don’t just sit there and do nothing about it, take matters into your own hands by furthering your education and advancing your career prospects. UTA has online courses to achieve this, so you can continue to uphold your current professional and personal commitments whilst expanding your knowledge and investing in yourself.

  • It’s Okay to Say No

Most nurses have a natural caring and giving nature; it’s why they become nurses in the first place because they want to help people. But it is this instinct that sometimes lands them with extra shifts and work that they don’t really want. As a nurse, you have to remember that it is okay to say no to extra shifts. You don’t always have to help others out if it is going to be detrimental to yourself or your work. 

  • Get Enough Sleep

If you are not well rested, it becomes harder to perform your job to the highest possible standard and remain positive. It can be difficult to organize sleeping patterns around night shifts, social events, and family life, but making sure you get enough sleep is absolutely essential.

  • Create a Positive Mind-Set

Never forget why you became a nurse. Reflect on all the amazing aspects of it: the people you help, the lives you impact, and the relationships you develop. Be grateful for what you do have and remember how amazing you are for doing what you are doing. Thinking about these things, writing them down, or just talking about them will help you stay positive.

As a nurse, you will experience countless challenging situations, but stay positive and do your best. You got this.

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