4 ways to manage emotions as a nurse

Find a supportive colleague. This bit of advice is valuable in all professions, but it’s especially important for nurses to find a friend on the job who they can turn to and trust when things get intense. Nurses, don’t discount the value of venting your feelings when you’re feeling frustrated or overwhelmed — it can be a great tool for getting a handle on your emotions on particularly stressful days.

Find a safe space. Just as important as having a trusted colleague to turn to when you’re feeling emotionally overwhelmed is having a safe space to get away from the chaos for a few moments and let yourself deal with your emotions. It’s normal to feel all sorts of conflicting emotions — both good and bad — when working in the sort of highstress environments that nurses typically find themselves — the key is to have a comfortable place where you can take a little time to breathe, relax, and collect yourself, and move on with your work day in a healthy and productive way.

Know yourself. All nurses are unique individuals, with different likes, dislikes, motivators, and passions — as well as things that relax and ground them. Find the little things in life that relax you, whether it’s deep breathing, soft music, exercise, essential oils, meditation, yoga, or something completely different and unexpected, and be sure to incorporate them into your life in times of emotional volatility or stress to help keep things under control. Schedule it on your calendar if you have to — these individual self-care acts are important to your day, so force yourself to make the time for them. When that calendar alert goes off, it’s time to focus on your well-being.

Talk to a professional. Although there are a variety of things you can try on your own in an effort to better manage your emotions as a nurse, the truth is that sometimes it isn’t enough — and a little extra help is needed. The Nurse.org article sums it up: “Nursing can be intense. We have people’s lives in our hands every day. Being able to talk to someone about emotions and get professional feedback is beneficial — you can go through your insurance’s website to get connected.