Nurses have intense careers that are physically and mentally demanding.
Here are some facts:
- 98% of nurses say that the work of a nurse is both physically and mentally demanding
- 93% state that at the end of a typical day, they are mentally and/or physically tired
- 4 out of 5 nurses say they find it hard to balance mind, body and spirit
- 85% note that their work causes them to be fatigued overall, with resulting consequences.
- 56% of nurses overall and 70% of night-shift nurses say the have driven home from work drowsy
- 40% of nurses worry their patient care will suffer because they are so tired
- 37% of nurses say they worry about making a mistake, with 11% stating they have made mistakes at work because they were so tired
- 28% of nurses have called in sick just to get some rest
Identifying the causes of fatigue, as noted by the nurses polled:
- 60% due to excessive workloads
- 42% because they were unable to take lunch and dinner breaks during a shift
- 41% because they were not able to take any breaks during a shift
- 25% because they were not able to get enough sleep between shifts
- 24% state they suffer from fatigue since they work 12 hour shifts
An astonishing 63% of nurses, that love their profession, feel their are suffering from burn-out. Whether it being a result of overworking the staff on hand, or tight scheduling routines, hospitals need to address this growing concern with their current nursing staff. Especially since the demand for qualified nursing professionals continues to increase.
Common effects of stress on the body:
- Headache
- Muscle tension or pain
- Chest pain
- Fatigue
- Stomach upset
Common effects of stress on your mood:
- Anxiety
- Restlessness
- Lack of motivation or focus
- Feeling overwhelmed
- Irritability or anger
- Sadness or depression
Massage therapy is another great way to reduce stress. Massage therapy is scheduled pain relief and to ease muscle tension. It allows the brain, body and soul to take a break, relax, regroup and revitalize. The following benefits from getting a massage:
- Relieve stress
- Relieve/reduces pain for (postoperative, low-back, fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, chronic neck pain, lower joint replacement pain)
- Reduce anxiety
- Reduce muscle tension
- Enhance exercise performance
- Relieve tension headaches
- Sleep better
- Improve balance in older adults
- Temper effects of dementia
- Promote relaxation
- Lower blood pressure
- Decrease symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- Increase range of motion
- Decrease migraine frequency
- Improve quality of life
- Reduce chemotherapy-related nausea
- Ease symptoms of depression
- Improve cardiovascular health
- Decrease stress in cancer patients
Massage therapy is a benefit to both patient and provider. It is a combination of the nurses need to help decrease suffering, effect positive changes in patient health and comfort and to manage stress. Consider treating yourself, a loved one, a co-worker or healthcare provider, with the benefits that massage therapy can provide.
