Stress Management: An Inexpensive Necessary Modality for Nurses from Nurse Together

Most nurses, as most people, often pay little or no attention to the cumulative effects that chronic daily stress has on their bodies, which materially affects their ability to care for themselves and, in turn, relate to and care for their patients, until it is too late.

Chronic daily stress also creates a significant threat to the emotional health of nursing staff, and since the degree to which a nurse is emotionally healthy affects the extent to which he or she can meet job expectations, hospital administrators, as well as the individual, must find modalities to manage these threats. Doing nothing will lead to increased insurance premiums for health insurance, workersʻ compensation insurance and general liability insurance, all of which materially affect the “bottom line” for the hospital, and greatly impact the “quality of life” of the nurse.

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In denial: Why we’re still stressed

Stress in America, the American Psychological Association’s annual survey, came out last week.

The results were not particularly shocking. Large numbers of Americans are stressed out. Many, extremely so. And far too many are failing to take adequate action to alleviate the stress in their lives.

All of which led my editors to wonder: If we recognize the negative health implications of high stress levels - heart disease, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity and depression, among others - then why are so many of us doing such a poor job at managing it?

The answer, according to the experts I consulted, may be a sort of willful blindness known as the “optimism bias.”

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Destress your life in 10 easy steps from CNN

(CNN) -- The gloomy days of January can be the most miserable and stressful of the year, but it doesn't have to be this way. If you follow this ten step guide to destressing your life, then the next few weeks just might become the most serene and fulfilling ones of the year.

One step should be carried out on each of the next 10 days. They're based on the ideas found in the international best-seller "Mindfulness: An Eight Week Plan for Finding Peace in a Frantic World."

The book uses a program based on mindfulness meditation developed by us at Oxford University in the United Kingdom to relieve anxiety, stress, exhaustion and depression. Mindfulness has proved in some clinical trials to be at least as effective as drugs or counseling for dealing with these conditions.

So what is this mindfulness?

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Nurses, Be Stress Free in 10 Seconds from Nurse Together

The term stress refers to any demands either physical or emotional placed on the body. It is the body’s normal mechanism to kick up our metabolism and energy to meet the body’s demands. It readies us for the emotional and physical challenges we face throughout our lives. Some degree of stress is an advantage that peaks our performance by heightening awareness and stimulating the body. Then why is stress so bad for us? As nurses, you all know the answer to that question, and you see the effects of stress every day in the work you do and the patients you care for that are victims of prolonged stress that has led to disease. You also work in incredibly stressful environments, not only because of the responsibility you have to your patients, but also the pressures of the modern healthcare environment. In order for you to stay healthy, you need to control your stress.

In reality, stress for the most part is an unrealized fear. Most of what we worry about and are stressed about never comes to bear but we worry about it anyway. I love this quote from Marcus Aurelius:

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Nurses and Stress: Does It Affect Your Skin, Hair, Nails and More? from Nurse Together

A nurse recently asked me, “I’m under so much stress and I noticed changes in my hair, skin and nails. Is there any connection?” The answer is a big, fat yes.

One reason for poor hair, skin and nail health is due to the over secretion of the stress hormone cortisol. When it’s over secreted, it will look to replenish itself by borrowing components from our estrogen stores. Estrogen is a hormone which keeps us youthful so when stores become depleted, we age faster. (You know how someone “looks like they’ve had a hard life?” That’s the physical effects of over secreted stress hormones).

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The Secrets to a Super-Happy Winter from Health.com

By Leslie Barrie

Freezing temps? Check. Gray skies? Check. Crabby mood? Check again. But not for long! It may be gloomy outside, but your outlook doesn’t have to be.

"There are simple things you can do to stay positive," says Sonja Lyubomirsky, PhD, a professor of psychology at the University of California, Riverside, and author of The How of Happiness. "It’s important to keep your mood up because it can help you avoid everything from gaining extra pounds to feeling lethargic." Try these techniques to stay sunny all winter long—no trip to the Bahamas required!

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The Goldilocks Principle of Stress: Too Little Is Almost As Bad as Too Much

A life free of stress and adversity sounds blissful. But, in fact, the happiest and healthiest people are those who have had at least some early exposure to negative experiences, according to a new research review.

Despite the popular notion, stress isn’t all bad. In fact, low to moderate amounts of stress are necessary for healthy growth. What’s harmful is large doses of uncontrollable stress — experiencing a natural disaster, for instance, or living in extreme poverty — particularly in early life. Also harmful, it turns out, is having experienced no stress at all.

The new review adds weight to a growing body of evidence that most brain systems function like muscles: they are strengthened through exposure to gradually increasing loads at the appropriate stages of development, but they will wither without exercise and get injured if they are suddenly overloaded without prior training. The stress system is a prime example.

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Nurse's Path to Stress Prevention: Straight Talk, Simple Tips from Nurse Together

Deadlines. The daily commute. Work is stressful as it is. But for healthcare professionals, the word 'stress' takes on a whole new meaning. On top of the everyday demands of your job, the profound responsibility of caring for your patients coupled with managing the needs of their loved ones, can take its toll on your mental and physical well-being. Over time, day-to-day stress factors can add up, leaving you feeling anxious, fatigued and overwhelmed. Understanding how stress works is the first step toward regaining control and ensuring a positive work environment.

Stress: What Causes It?

Stress is a normal biological reaction to events or situations that happen every day. Linked to the natural “fight or flight” response that occurs when your body perceives danger, stressful situations trigger the release of certain hormones that increase your heart rate, heighten awareness and cause a temporary surge of energy.

For the full article please go here.