Whether or not you practice as a nurse or Professional Legal Nurse Consultant (PLNC), you’re affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. There’s no way around it. Have you checked in with yourself to see how you really feel?
Take 10 seconds RIGHT NOW and ask yourself, “Self, how do I really feel?”.
We, as nurses, are more vulnerable to emotional distress, according to The New England Journal of Medicine as we have the risk of exposure, worry about infecting others, caring for our loved ones, longer work hours, and may have shortages of personal protective equipment, to name just a few of our concerns. Add to this, the vaccination roll-out and its complexities, and nurses are ripe for emotional distress.
Myriad other pandemic factors also weigh heavily on us as health care providers. No matter one’s political, or apolitical views, directives including safer at home, quarantine, and financial situations all impact our mental health.
Check out these Mental Health Strategies to help you throughout the COVID-19 Pandemic (and beyond):
- Be KIND to yourself. Say what? It’s worth repeating. Be KIND to yourself. If you’re not, who will? Consider this adage: Being kind never goes out of style.
- Work-out. Yep, exercise is not only good for the body, but it’s good for your mind. Walk. Lift cans of soup. Find alternate ways to exercise if gyms are closed.
- Don’t skimp on your sleep. It may be super hard to implement a sleep schedule, but you need to consider it. Going to bed at all hours, depending on your nursing shift or schedule, can wreak havoc on your body.
You might not fall asleep and stay asleep, but rest. Count sheep. Deep breathe in and out. Four counts on the inhale and six counts on the exhale. Do this four times.
- Make healthy food choices. There’s a diet for this and diet for that. We’re well aware of that in our nursing profession. Nutrition choices do matter. Not just for our patients, but for US.
The quality, quantity, and timing of our food choices directly impact our bodies. We innately know this but, we’re too busy caring for others to think about this for own bodies.
- Mobile Phones. We can’t live with them and we can’t live without them. It’s grown into a love-hate relationship. Maybe more love, but you know the drill. Limit your screen time.
Study after study shows how our screen time affects us. Plus, add the addiction component to it, and it compounds the problem.
ENOUGH. We must treat our own self with the respect and dignity we give to others.
Be positive. Be realistic but be optimistic. The pandemic tide is turning and being hopeful, confident, and pragmatic will go a long way toward enhancing your beautiful nursing life.
Get the mental help you need. There’re Employee Assistance Programs provided by employers out there. Mental health professionals abound, especially with telehealth.
Let me ask you, as a Professional Legal Nurse Consultant (PLNC), if you were reading a patient’s medical records and spotted signs of emotional distress, wouldn’t the standard of care include a referral to a mental health professional?
P.S. Pass this link along to your nursing colleagues here.
