Stress is not only the No. 1 health problem in America; it’s one of the major problems facing nurses, resulting in poor job satisfaction and increased turnover. Some stress will always come with the nursing territory, but it’s important to find ways to manage the daily stress that comes with a taxing work environment.

Recent research strongly advocates stress management in healthcare. A Nursing Economic$ article notes that “the healthcare work environment as a source of overwork and stress has been implicated in the nursing shortage … Because stress-related illness contributes to rising healthcare costs and disability, creating a healthy work environment is a priority for maintaining an adequate nurse work force.”

Grissel Hernandez, MPH, BSN, RN, director of clinical education at AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center in Pomona, NJ, says exemplifying stress-reducing strategies is the key to helping students keep their cool.

Calming classroom exercises

Stress is defined by the Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine as “the body’s normal response to anything that disturbs its natural physical, emotional, or mental balance,” and stress reduction “refers to various strategies that counteract this response and produce a sense of relaxation and tranquility.” There are some straightforward and effective strategies that can make a big difference in the stress levels new nurses experience.

To help her students get a grasp on their fears and manage their stress, Hernandez has created several activities that she has instituted with her new graduate nurses.

One of the exercises she has created revolves around art therapy. She asks new graduates what their biggest fear is regarding the nursing world, then has them draw that fear. As their pictures begin to illustrate the various stresses they have over becoming a nurse—for example, harming a patient or not passing the NCLEX—Hernandez helps them to take those fears and use them as drivers toward success.

“I tell them it’s okay for them to have those fears, but there is a fine line between being frozen by fear, not learning from it, and basically shying away from being a nurse versus taking that fear, acknowledging it’s there, and using it as a motivation to make sure you know what you’re doing.”

Additionally, Hernandez hands out “STOP Meditation” cards to her new graduates for them to have on hand and reference during stressful moments. “It’s one-minute meditation,” she says. STOP stands for:

• Slowing down
• Taking three deep breaths
• Observing your mind and body (e.g., “Am I hungry?”)
• Proceed with your day

“You should STOP for two or three minutes every hour of the workday,” says Hernandez. “Give yourself permission.”

Editor’s note: This article is adapted from The Staff Educator, an HCPro, Inc., publication.