The Secret to a Stress-Free Nursing Shift: Your Morning Routine

Posted on August 1, 2024 by Luke Hewitt

A bright and welcoming image with a nurse waking up in the morning, stretching with a peaceful smile. The background shows a tidy room with morning sun

Discover How Simple Changes Can Empower Your Day

Are you an RN searching for a way to elevate your mornings and set the tone for a successful day?

Nursing is a noble profession, but it comes with unique challenges. Many sources have reported that nurses do not have optimal sleep schedules. Often because of long shifts at varying hours of the day, dealing with exhaustion, burnout and high levels of stress.

A morning routine to give yourself stability and routine every day can be a game changer for healthcare professionals. Nursing is a demanding profession, and starting your day off right can make all the difference. These 5 simple steps can positively impact your mindset in your personal and professional life.

Wake Up Your Body and Mind in 5 Minutes

Begin your day with gentle stretching and deep breathing. This simple practice can increase circulation, reduce stiffness, and mentally prepare you for the day ahead. As a nurse, staying physically ready is crucial, and this routine takes just five minutes.

Fuel Your Body

An image of a healthy breakfast

A healthy breakfast is essential. Surprisingly, studies show that between 12% and 48% of nurses skip breakfast. Starting your day with a balanced meal rich in energy and protein will keep you alert and focused throughout your shift.

Journaling

A picture of a journal.

Writing what you are grateful for can cultivate a positive mindset. Popular figures such as Jennifer Aniston, Oprah Winfrey, and Tony Robbins have all publicly promoted the benefits of journaling. Just a few minutes each morning can put you in a positive mindset and set the right tone for the day ahead. We know you might want to skip this step, but please give it a go – the benefits really are astounding.

Get Your Blood Flowing

A man going on a morning run down a dirt path.

Fitting in exercise when you work long shifts can be challenging. But something as easy as a 15 minute brisk walk or a quick circuit workout can significantly boost your mood. The benefits of exercise both mentally and physically can be so helpful for nurses on long shifts. It can even help regulate your sleep and enhance your focus, Even a short burst of exercise can make a huge difference.

Set Your Priorities

Nursing can be hectic, with constant changes and demands. Organizing your tasks and goals before your shift can reduce anxiety and help you stay focused. Setting your priorities in the morning ensures you feel ready to tackle whatever comes your way.

Incorporating these simple habits into your morning routine can be the catalyst for a completely transformed day. We recommend creating a short morning routine checklist to ensure you start your day off right.

At EmpowerCare, we are here to support you finding the best healthcare roles. This includes everything from RN jobs to cna home health care jobs. We want to help you thrive in your career, and we think our simple morning habits can be a small part of that. If you’re looking for a new healthcare role, contact EmpowerCare healthcare staffing agency today.

Massachusetts Nurses: A Crisis in Care?

Posted on May 22, 2024 by Luke Hewitt

Imagine you were a nurse, and you did not feel safe admitting your friends and family into your own workplace. This unsettling idea is the reality for many nurses in Massachusetts. Read on to uncover the truth behind the healthcare staffing crisis.

Like the rest of the US, Massachusetts has faced severe permanent healthcare staffing shortages over the last few years. Insufficient support, excessive workloads and burnouts have driven many nurses to reconsider their careers. This has led to high turnover, compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic. These changes have highlighted a need for new, dynamic staffing solutions to ensure ongoing high-quality care.

Unhappy Nurses in Massachusetts

A recent survey by the Massachusetts Nursing Association (MNA) reveals a growing unhappiness among nurses in the Bay State. The survey, released on National Nurses Day, paints a grim picture of the healthcare industry in 2024. A staggering 4 in 10 nurses wouldn’t feel comfortable admitting a family member into their own facility. This highlights an alarming implication for patient care and confidence.

The MNA Survey Speaks Volumes

The MNA survey paints a bleak picture, here are some key insights:

80% of nurses believe patient care has worsened over the past two years.

67% feel that state lawmakers are not adequately addressing their concerns about unsafe staffing.

54% of those surveyed believe more regulations are needed to keep patients safe.

These findings underscore the urgent need for systemic changes in healthcare facilities across the state.

Currently, 20% of nurses plan to leave the profession within the next two years—twice as many as five years ago.

Causes of Nurse Burnout

Nurses cite several causes of burnout, including excessive workloads, inadequate staffing, and insufficient support. This burnout leads to high turnover rates and exacerbates the staffing shortages further.

An alarming 68% of nurses reported experiencing at least one incident of violence in the past 24 months. These incidents contribute significantly to stress and burnout, pushing many nurses to consider leaving the profession.

Major Challenges: Time and Patient Load

The survey identifies two primary challenges impeding quality care:

Not enough time with patients

Caring for too many patients simultaneously

This reduces the overall quality of care, as nurses cannot devote enough time to each patient. Which then leads to rushed assessments and a lack of personalized care. Likewise, patients value personal interactions with their healthcare providers. When nurses are too busy to spend time with patients, it can lead to feelings of neglect and decreased trust in the healthcare system.

A nurse with a lot of admin work to day

EmpowerCare: How We Can Help

EmpowerCare is a leading nurse staffing agency based in Central Massachusetts. Healthcare staffing agencies can play a crucial role in the current staffing shortage. Our wide talent pool of exceptional healthcare professionals help to quickly fill gaps to maintain or increase staffing levels.

Not only this, but our wide array of shift options allows for nurses to have more flexible scheduling, job variety and autonomy. Therefore, helping to reduce workplace stress, more evenly distribute workloads and result in higher quality care.

A Call for Action

The dissatisfaction among nurses in Massachusetts is a call for urgent action. Ensuring adequate support for nurses is an essential step in allowing the healthcare system to thrive. EmpowerCare stands with our nurses and healthcare professionals, and we want to help provide a pathway for a healthier, more sustainable future for patients and nurses.

If you’re a nurse seeking a more supportive work environment, consider EmpowerCare. Together, we can create a positive ripple effect that transforms lives and strengthens communities. Join us in our mission to revolutionize healthcare, one shift at a time.

A confident, happy healtcare professional

Flexible Job Opportunities for Massachusetts Nurses

EmpowerCare provides a variety of staffing solutions, including RN jobs, LPN jobs, and CNA jobs in Massachusetts. We aim to help nurses find local employment that fits their lifestyle and preferences.

EmpowerCare offers a wide range of opportunities, let us help you find:

RN jobs near you

CNA jobs near you

LPN jobs near you

How to Avoid Nurse Burnout

Posted on July 9, 2021 by Luke Hewitt

Raise your hand if you have ever had a difficult day at work that causes you to rethink every decision you have ever made. Yes… we have all been there at one point or another. This happens especially in RN jobs as they are the backbone to our intricate healthcare system we have. With everything going on for the past few years, RNs have seen and dealt with some pretty intense situations. They are exhausted, tired, short staffed, and just over worked to say the least. So bad days are bound to happen occasionally. Long hours, lack of support and sleep, and working in a high stress environment are all factors that contribute to what we call nurse burnout. On order to stop this from happening to you, we’re giving you some tips to manage your workload and day to day life to cope with this irritating issue.

Take Care of #1

Number one meaning you. You are the only person who can make sure your mental and physical self is taken care of, so be sure to take time for yourself. I’m sure you have heard this time and time again, but there are simple things you can do to make sure you are taking time for yourself. Exercise, meditate, drink water, are the normal self-care regimens, but you can also pack your own food for work, do a self-care day, and wear compression socks while at work to take for of yourself.

Learn to Say “No”

Nurse burnout can happen when you take on too many responsibilities or feel an obligation to accept every task that is given to them. Most of us are guilty of doing this. Just learn to say “no” to things so you don’t take on more than you can handle.

Work for a Company you Enjoy

You need to be able to enjoy your company that you work for and have a good experience there. If for some reason you are having issues you should address them with your management team or look for a different company all together. Your happiness in your personal and work like matter, so be sure to be your own supporter in your happiness, always.

Seek Professional Help

At EmpowerCare we want you to know that seeking help is one of the bravest things you can do, and it will always put you on the road to recovery the fastest. There are so many different options when it comes to professional help, and you can decide what option works best for you and our needs.

Whatever you need to do to keep the nurse burnout away, make it a priority. RNs are the backbone that we all need in our lives, and we wouldn’t be able to function as a society without you doing what you do best. EmpowerCare can help you find the right facility that can keep you feeling happy and appreciated while providing you the benefits and schedule you need to keep it away or good.