"You cannot keep giving to others if you do not give to yourself, first. It is like pouring water from a vessel: you cannot pour and pour without ever refilling it - eventually, it will run dry." Leslie K. Lobell
Self-care is vital for nurses. It is imperative for their personal health, professional growth, and the sustenance to care for others. In addition, the recent pandemic has highlighted the emotional distress experienced by nurses caring for patients.
Student nurses are subject to these stressors as well. Researchers have identified seeing the suffering of patients and relatives, not knowing how to help patients with problems, and being unable to provide appropriate responses to physicians, educators, or patient questions as the most stressful acts of clinical practice.
Nursing faculty have been encouraged to examine their programs and implement self-care strategies. These strategies could guide student nurses to develop self-care practices aimed at decreasing stress throughout their training, as well as in their professional careers.
The Self-Care for Student Nurses funds provides all Fontbonne nursing students with the Self-Care for New and Student Nurses textbook and workbook. These textbooks are published by Sigma Theta Tau International Society of Nursing. This self-care curriculum would be implemented throughout the nursing program. It would also provide for one day of self-care each semester for nursing students. Ideas for self-care days could include guest speakers, a healthy lunch, mindfulness practice, yoga sessions, and chair massage. |