Based on our professional role, nurses are accountable for maintaining a commitment to personal health and well-being. Share two examples of healthy, self-care behaviors you currently practice that promote wellness and resiliency in your nursing role (I am an Oncology Nurse). Evaluate two community (I live in Miami FL)and professional resources that are available to nurses for promoting wellness and building resiliency. In your discussion, include how the Christian worldview supports self-care behaviors to promote wellness.
Digital Disconnection: I have a strict rule of not checking work emails or messages after I've left the hospital. My phone is on silent when I'm at home, and I make an intentional effort to be fully present with my family and in my personal life. This behavior creates a necessary boundary between my professional and personal selves, preventing the constant mental hum of work from invading my recovery time. It promotes mental clarity and allows me to recharge fully.
Community and Professional Resources in Miami, FL
As an oncology nurse in Miami, FL, I have access to valuable community and professional resources that are instrumental in promoting wellness and building resilience.
Community Resource: The Miami Cancer Institute at Baptist Health is a leading community resource that actively supports the well-being of its nurses. It offers several programs that promote wellness, including "Stress Management and Resiliency Training" and "Psychosocial Oncology" support. These programs recognize the unique emotional burden of cancer care and provide tools and resources to help nurses cope with compassion fatigue and burnout. They demonstrate a commitment to creating a nurturing environment for both patients and staff, which is a key component of effective self-care.
Professional Resource: The Oncology Nursing Society (ONS) is an essential professional organization for me. While not a local community resource, its presence is felt globally and locally through chapters and online resources. ONS provides professional development, a strong sense of community, and evidence-based strategies to combat burnout. The organization offers resources like its "Oncology Nursing Forum," which publishes research on topics like compassion fatigue and provides a platform for nurses to connect with peers facing similar challenges. ONS also offers professional certification (OCN®), which reinforces a nurse's commitment to their practice and competence, a powerful antidote to the feelings of professional inadequacy that can accompany burnout.
Sample Answer
Working as an oncology nurse, I am keenly aware that I can only provide compassionate, high-quality care to my patients if I'm not running on empty. Maintaining my personal health is an ethical responsibility, as outlined in the ANA's Code of Ethics. It's a professional and personal necessity to prevent burnout, which is particularly prevalent in my specialty due to the emotional and physical demands of caring for patients with a high risk of morbidity and mortality.
Personal Self-Care Behaviors
Two healthy self-care behaviors that I consistently practice to promote my wellness and resilience are physical activity and digital disconnection.
Physical Activity: I make it a priority to exercise at least four times a week. This isn't just about physical fitness; it's a critical tool for managing the stress and emotional weight that come with my role. The oncology floor can be emotionally taxing, and the physical release from a run or a strength-training session helps me process the day's experiences. It reduces cortisol levels, improves my sleep, and gives me a space to be fully present in my body, separate from the mental and emotional demands of my job.