In the demanding world of long-term care, nurses work tirelessly to provide compassionate care to our most vulnerable populations. They juggle multiple tasks, from resident care and medication administration to coordinating with families and managing emergencies. These activities’ relentless pressure and emotional toll lead to significant stress and burnout. Stress has detrimental outcomes and consequences on nurses’ physical, psychological, and emotional well-being (Akpor et al., 2023). A recent study reported that Registered nurses were nearly twice as likely to report high levels of stress of conscience compared to other care providers in long-term care (Munkeby et al., 2023).
Long-term care nurses often cope by creating work-a-rounds, eliminating tasks that may be important, and delegating wrongly, which usually leads to errors and more stress!
At NSDxpert Education and Consultancy LLC, we recognize the unique challenges faced by long-term care nurses and are excited to introduce our new course, “5 Stress Relief Strategies for Long-Term Care Nurses,” designed to support these dedicated professionals.
This course aims to equip long-term care nurses with practical strategies to manage and alleviate stress in the workplace. The curriculum focuses on identifying stressors unique to long-term care settings, understanding the impact of stress on personal and professional well-being, and implementing five core strategies to reduce stress. Here is a sneak peek into what the course covers:
- Time Management
Effective time management is crucial for reducing stress. Participants will learn strategic data gathering and analysis and apply the Eisenhower Matrix to prioritize tasks that are urgent and important and must be done now, tasks that are not urgent but important and can be scheduled for later, tasks that are urgent but not important that can be delegated, and tasks that are not urgent and important that need to be eliminated from our task list. They will also learn to create routine schedules, block time, and delegate appropriately.
- Communication
Clear and effective communication is essential in long-term care settings. Our course will teach nurses how to improve their communication skills by enhancing shift reporting and documentation practices to ensure better collaboration with colleagues, residents, and their families. They will also learn to utilize the SBAR tool to communicate resident status appropriately to clinicians (MDs, NPs, and PAs).
Effective communication will significantly reduce misunderstandings among the team and eliminate stress on the job.
- Teamwork
A supportive team environment is vital for stress reduction. We emphasize the importance of teamwork and collaboration. Nurses will learn the elements of teamwork, including shared decision-making, mutual respect, shared goals, and clear roles. They will learn to differentiate between a team member and a team player. These strategies will help foster a collaborative workplace culture where everyone supports each other, making the workday smoother, more enjoyable, and less stressful
- Personal Growth and Development
Personal development and self-care are vital components of stress management. The course will guide nurses in engaging in continuous learning, enhancing their professional skills, improving their competence, and fostering career growth. The increased skill competency and compensation that often result from career growth will empower nurses and alleviate financial and other job stressors.
- Social Engagement
Building a support network and engaging in social activities can significantly alleviate stress. When we engage socially with peers, clinicians, residents, and their families, we build solid relationships and trust. A relationship built on trust minimizes grievances and abuse and promotes positive care coordination among all members of the interdisciplinary team. Our course will help nurses understand the importance of social engagement and provide strategies to build and maintain supportive professional relationships.
Why This Course Matters
The well-being of nurses directly impacts the quality of care they provide residents. We aim to foster a healthier, more sustainable workforce by equipping long-term care nurses with stress relief strategies. Our course is not just about surviving the daily grind but about thriving and finding joy in these nurses’ incredible work. It is about helping to retain staff!
Join Us on This Journey
We invite all long-term care nurses to join us in this transformative journey. Through interactive discussions, real-life scenarios, and practical exercises, participants will learn how to improve time management, communication, teamwork, personal growth, and social engagement. By the end of the course, nurses will be better prepared to foster a healthier work environment, enhance job satisfaction, and improve resident care outcomes.
We at NSDxpert Education and Consultancy LLC support long-term care nurses in their professional journeys. Let us create a healthier, happier, and more resilient nursing community.
A free online version of this course is available now on our website. www.nsdxpert.com
For more information on an enhanced facility-wide in-person workshop, feel free to reach out to us via phone at 774 764 8431 or email info@nsdxpert.com
We are here to help long-term care nurses succeed and thrive in this noble profession.
References:
Akpor, O. A., Olusayo, A. V., & Olorunfemi, O. (2023). Occupational Stress: An Impediment to Quality Nurse-Patient Relationship – A Rapid Review. Chrismed: Journal of Health & Research, 10(2), 125–131. https://doi-org.ezproxymcp.flo.org/10.4103/cjhr.cjhr_66_22
Munkeby, H., Bratberg, G., & Devik, S. A. (2023). Registered nurses’ exposure to high stress of conscience in long-term care. Nursing Ethics, 30(7/8), 1011–1024. https://doi-org.ezproxymcp.flo.org/10.1177/09697330231167542