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Long hours, overnight shifts, and a high-stress environment can leave you feeling exhausted at your nursing job. Over time, this exhaustion can develop into full burnout. Even if you love your career in health care, you might start to feel checked out, constantly tired, irritable, and physically ill. This guide can help you avoid burnout, so you can keep your passion for the job. 

How Do I Keep From Burning Out?

1. Take Breaks During Your Shift

If you are continuously working through your breaks, you might be overexerting yourself. Especially during long shifts, it’s essential to give your mind a rest. Use this time to go for a walk, eat your lunch in a quiet place, or do a bit of reading. You will feel refreshed when you get back to work.

2. See a Counselor

careers in health careCareers in health care can be physically and emotionally taxing, which can harm your mental health. Regular appointments with a therapist allow you to discuss your feelings and struggles. They can also give you specific tools to prevent burnout at work and manage your mental wellness as a nurse. 

3. Enjoy Your Days Off

Your days off won’t always fall on a weekend, but that doesn’t mean you can’t use them to recharge. Take the day to do the activities you enjoy or just relax. Whether you go to the park, have lunch with a friend, or watch your favorite TV series, try to focus on yourself and less on work.

4. Take a Vacation

Days off and breaks at work aren’t always enough. You have vacation time, so use it. Take a week-long respite at the beach or enjoy a short staycation at home. These longer breaks will allow you to fully rest and distance yourself from job stressors. 

5. Practice Mindfulness

Mindfulness techniques like deep breathing and meditation can combat nursing burnout and help you stay present at work. Download a meditation app or simply build more awareness in your daily routines. As you become more alert and present, you may become less overwhelmed during the day.

6. Make a Job Change

In some cases, your work environment can be the cause of your burnout. However, a career in health care does not make burnout inevitable. If you feel that your workplace is unhealthy for you, consider looking for new jobs. A calmer environment like private practice or specialist’s office might be healthier for you. 

 

If you are looking for the right career in health care for you, the team at Big Apple Training can set you up for success. With two NYS Department of Education-approved training centers in the Bronx and White Plains, NY, they have been offering professional training for over 20 years. Their courses can set you up for a career as a home health aide, certified nursing assistant, EKG technician, and other careers in health care. You can also take advantage of their continuing education courses for RNs, LPNs, and physician assistants. To learn more about their course offerings, visit them online or call (914) 437-7373 today.

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