Self-care Means Taking A Break
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Caring for yourself is not a selfish act, but rather a critical piece of caring for patients. In fact, Provision 5 of the Code of Ethics for Nurses with Interpretive Statements requires that “nurses hold the same duties to self as to others.” Think of ways for renewal in your own life, like going to bed even a little earlier, making time to do deep breathing exercises, or drinking a glass of water.
Part of caring for yourself involves taking breaks at work: for meals, the bathroom, hydration, and following a traumatic event such as a code or patient death. Breaks can be difficult to take in the best of times and near impossible during the pandemic. That does not negate their importance.
Find out how one healthcare system prioritizes these time outs in our blog, The Case for Taking a Break. Due to staffing shortages and COVID-19 surges, getting time off may be difficult, but the ultimate break-your hard-earned vacation is still important. Work with your employer to get that critical time off to rejuvenate and relax. Our blog, The Importance of Taking Vacation gives tips on how to make that vacation happen and some ideas for short getaways.
Tell us how you make time for breaks at work and vacation in our challenge update thread here in our private Facebook group, or on Twitter, or Instagram. Tag us with #healthynurse!
Find this tip helpful? Use the social media links on the left side of your page to share it with a nurse and invite them to join Healthy Nurse, Healthy Nation!
Missed day 6? Catch up here. Join us on day 8.
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Challenge Tips
02/01/2022 1:03pm CST
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