Some challenges I have faced while prioritizing my own wellbeing as a nurse is finding the time to be able to fully wind down. I’m constantly thinking about what I could have done better during my shift. When I finally felt more comfortable I was able to stop feeling so guilty about what could have happened, and started to shift my thinking to “I did my best, but I’ll continue learning to further improve my skills”. Another challenge I have faced is having patients who aren’t the most kind, this takes a toll on one’s mental health and their confidence. Remembering that it isn’t personal has helped a lot and setting a boundary as well. Another solution I have found worked for me is to remind the patient that as nurses we want the absolute best for our patients and we do the best we can to make them feel better. All these challenges have made taking my own wellbeing into full consideration a priority.
