By Tabitha Kinlaw, MBA, DNP, MSN-Ed, RN, CNOR, NPDA-BC, NPD-BC, ONC
May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and thus a perfect time for perioperative nurses to remember to take time to focus on their mental health and overall wellness. After all, perioperative nursing is a physically and emotionally demanding profession; thus, self-care is essential for optimal physical and mental health as well as overall well-being (Wei, et al., 2023). Not only can the rigors and demands of the perioperative nursing profession result in negative consequences for perioperative nurses, but those negative consequences can also extend even further. In fact, the literature illustrates a ripple affect across the health care continuum with other negative consequences including but not limited to a decrease in quality patient care, increased medical errors, decreased patient satisfaction, higher turnover rates, and decreased productivity (Melnyk, et al., 2018; National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, 2019).
It is also important to highlight that the American Nurses Association’s (ANAs) Code of Ethics purports that all nurses have a duty to ensure that they practice self-care as the fifth provision of the code states “The nurse owes the same duties to self as to others, including the responsibility to promote health and safety … ” (ANA, 2015). So, reflect for a moment. Do you uphold this duty on a consistent basis? What about your colleagues? Many perioperative nurses would likely admit that they do not consistently fulfill this duty, highlighting the need for actionable strategies. So, what are key strategies that you and other perioperative nurses can take to practice self-care and thereby promote self-care and wellbeing? It is important that we have a plan to support our mental health and here are 12 recommended strategies that can be implemented to foster positive mental health.
• Appreciate nature: Research shows that engaging with nature can help alleviate or mitigate symptoms of mild depression or anxiety. So, spending time outdoors, whether via a leisurely walk or a hike, allows one to take in the fresh air and promotes positive mental health throughout the day.
• Connect with others: Connecting family and friends is a wonderful way to reduce stress, increase happiness, and improve mental health. Human beings are social creatures, and we thrive on the connection, support, love, and belonging that interpersonal connections offer.
• Be mindful: Practicing and incorporating mindfulness into our day (i.e., breathing exercises, guided meditation) can help us to manage stress and anxiety more effectively. Making time for mindfulness for even just a few minutes a day can make a significant difference.
• Volunteer: Helping and serving others as well as taking part in community organizations can provide us with a positive boost.
• Prioritize sleep: Another critical piece to supporting positive mental health is getting adequate sleep. Adults should ensure that they get 7-9 hours of quality sleep each night to help rejuvenate and recharge the body and the mind.
• Access resources/join a support group: Explore and use various support resources (i.e., support groups, employee assistance programs [EAP]) and share those resources with others. Reach out, connect, and engage with others who can share coping strategies as well as aid you in navigating for getting through challenging times.
• Eat right: Food can affect our mood and mental well-being. So, we should consume a wholesome diet that is devoid of processed and sugary foods.
• Exercise regularly: We should incorporate physical activity (i.e., walking, running, biking) into our daily routines to enhance our mental health and overall vitality.
• Limit/eliminate alcohol and other substance use: Limiting the use of alcohol and other substances can help to improve our physical and mental health.
• Cultivate gratitude: Practicing gratitude cultivates a positive mindset, fostering resilience and mental well-being.
• Be a mental health ambassador: Strive to contribute to a culture of caring at your organization through dispelling myths and destigmatizing mental health concerns and share resources with others. Advocate for yourself and others.
• Recognize signs of needing support: Be vigilant of signs that indicate you may need to support as well as strive to recognize those signs in others as well.
The key is to try out various strategies, see what works, and then put those strategies into practice regularly (Melnyk, et al., 2020; Williams, et al., 2021).
When perioperative nurses prioritize their mental health, their physical and emotional health improves; they become more resilient; and it makes it easier to find ways to manage life stressors in a healthy and positive way. Focusing on self-care is important and perioperative nurses need to also be cognizant that they also play a part in each other’s mental wellness. Thus, it is up to each person to be a lifeline, sharing in a commitment to care for ourselves and those around us. However, perioperative nurses cannot be of help to others if they are not taking care of their own mental health. Just as on an airplane, passengers are instructed to secure their own oxygen mask before aiding others, perioperative nurses must similarly prioritize their own mental health and well-being to care for others more effectively.
In addition to caring for one’s own mental health, it is essential to check in on others, extending them encouragement and support. Getting help during the preliminary stages of mental illness, or at the first signs of mild behavioral health symptoms, can help symptoms from developing into more serious conditions. When it comes to mental wellness, what may seem like small actions can have a significant impact. So, during Mental Health Awareness Month and every other day of the year, we should do something kind for others; hold the door open for someone; give a compliment; and pay kindness forward. Additionally, we will benefit as well because this small acts serve to boost our own mental health with the bonus of making a positive impact on others (Cumpsty-Fowler & Saletnik, 2021).
Remember, taking care of oneself is not selfish; it is a necessity to be able to take proper care of others and lead a balanced and fulfilled life. By encouraging others to seek help, helping others access help or simply by being there for someone when they need us, we instill hope in ourselves and those around us.
In conclusion, make self-care a priority during Mental Health Awareness Month and beyond. Spread positivity. Be hopeful. Practice patience, kindness, and empathy toward others as well as yourself. It may just make a life-changing difference.
– Tabitha Kinlaw, MBA, DNP, MSN-Ed, RN, CNOR, NPDA-BC, NPD-BC, ONC, is the senior manager of education and professional development of the Competency & Credentialing Institute. Dr. Kinlaw has over 30 years of experience as a perioperative nurse in many roles including circulator, team leader, charge nurse, manager, and educator. She serves on the ONCB Board of Directors as an ex-officio member as well as on the 2024 Aspire ANPD Content
