When was the last time you reminisced about your early days as a nurse?

Being a newbie in the world of nursing, you were probably so passionate about it, anticipating the many lives you could touch and the skills you would hone. Going back to those times could be a powerful pick-me-up, especially when the profession throws more challenges along your way. It is a good reminder of how far you have come.

But let’s face it: sometimes, mere memories won’t cut it. Especially during the pandemic when many medical frontliners decided to leave the profession, nurses like you may find it hard to stay motivated. In this article, learn about the possible factors that can hamper nurse inspiration and ways to help you remember what inspired you to be a nurse. Every profession has its own version of stress, and let’s examine what it is for a nurse.

 

Nurses Feel Worried, Anxious, and Stressed from Time to Time

These feelings are valid, and when they come, the best way to start battling them is through self-awareness. Whether it be stressors within your workplace or your community, these factors will truly challenge what inspired you to become a nurse. Go through each one and ask yourself: has this affected you in any way?

• Nursing shortage. Medical front liners have been victims of COVID-19 in the past two years, as many nurses and doctors fell as casualties of the deadly virus. Also, many nurses decided to leave the profession for a plethora of reasons: added work due to the influx of patients, the desire to care for their family instead, a more rewarding job, and so on.

The harrowing fact is that the nursing shortage is slowly taking its toll. In the US alone, one million nurses are needed by 2030 to counteract upcoming losses in the nursing workforce (e.g. baby boomer nurses retiring soon). Admittedly, knowing that a lot of people in your field are leaving does make you think about your decision to stay.

• Caregiver burnout. Burnout is a prolonged state of physical and emotional exhaustion due to continued exposure to stressful situations. Additionally, caregiver burnout is a particular phenomenon mostly seen in healthcare professions. In professions where one has to devote time and effort to others’ welfare, it’s not surprising that nurses, doctors, and the like forget to take care of themselves, causing this burnout.

Nurses tend to view personal care as an option compared to your discerned career of helping others. It’s not surprising, though, but self-care for nurses is a powerful tool for them to help more individuals as they keep their motivation levels high.

• Usual demands of the nursing job. Patients and their relatives tend to be demanding of nurses. This kind of behavior does get in the way of your work, but remember that these outbursts come from a place of concern for the patient, hoping they recuperate soon. If at times, patients shout at you or become hostile, they are probably feeling the pangs of suffering.

Also, being a nurse is physically exhausting. Making rounds, assisting patients with their mobility, repetitive chores like taking vital signs: imagine doing all these in long shifts, some even going beyond 24 hours. No one has felt exhaustion the way a nurse has, and often, their periods of rest in-between shifts are not enough to fully recover.

Rekindle Your Purpose by Taking Care of Yourself

Go back to the times when you were still wondering what motivated you to pursue nursing as a profession. Whether it’s the call to serve others, the opportunity to travel, or the chance to earn more outside of the country, these goals are still well within your reach, and it’s normal to hit roadblocks along the way.

One thing you must remember about jadedness and lack of motivation is that emotions are temporary. It’s impossible for anyone to stay happy forever. So, apply this principle to what you are going through when you feel the weight of the world on your shoulders. As you bestow acts of healing and care to your patients, learn as well to give the same attention to yourself.

To return to being a nurse full of hope to pursue this career, consider the following:

• Take your vacation leaves. Max out your paid absences and arrange the best vacations for yourself. While the idea of out-of-town escapades sounds thrilling, sometimes just staying at home and enjoying some “Netflix and chill” could be enough for your much-deserved rest. Your paid leaves are there to help you rest, so take advantage of them.

• Explore how to get mental health support. Perhaps your hospital has mental health programs in place that you can avail yourself of as an employee. Even if the basic goal of talking to a professional is the only one met, you are already taking care of your mental health. Unburdening the brain with what bothers you is the start of clearing your head.

• Be part of professional nursing groups. Whether it’s from LinkedIn or Facebook, look for online groups for nurses like you, who may share their own ways of how to stay motivated in your line of work. Being in a support group is not only a means to share the burden but also to remind yourself that you are not alone in your struggles.

• Explore more about how else you can serve as a nurse. While this may require longer and harder thinking, there’s a chance you may be looking for other means to serve the community. For instance, look into opportunities for career growth within your hometown or work, or ask about other ways to use your knowledge, such as teaching and mentoring. A change in scenery may be what your heart of a nurse desires.

 

You Are a Post-pandemic Nurse Now – Be Proud!

For healthcare industry members, the global pandemic pushed them to either a fight or flight response. As a result, many nurses experienced bouts of helplessness and despair and ultimately chose to leave the profession. No one can blame them for their decision, but then there are nurses like you who still choose to stay every day.

Relish this moment! You can add to your nursing memoirs that you braved the COVID-19 pandemic. No one can share stories of how you battled Coronavirus in those months of seemingly endless lockdowns. You are a nurse who lived to tell the tale.

Imagine going back to your past self who was asked, “Why do you want to pursue nursing?” You are living proof that nurses have a place in this world and will continue to be proud of what you have achieved.

 

PRS GLOBAL CELEBRATES GREATNESS IN NURSES LIKE YOU.

While the pandemic etched a void in the nursing community in the US, your expertise is therefore called to migrate to the so-called Land of Opportunities. If you are looking for a staffing partner who will support you in your journey to be an immigrant nurse, look no further. PRS Global is your optimum choice in finding employment In America.

PRS Global knows what it takes to create a workforce of nurses from all corners of the world, ready to offer their lives for others. Furthermore, PRS Global’s BrightHorizonsTM Program is a unique approach in taking care of immigrant nurses. Aside from helping in alleviating feelings of homesickness and jadedness in their profession, PRS Global can also offer assistance with relocation and legal matters.

As a post-pandemic nurse, you have great leverage in looking for a job opportunity in the US. Let PRS Global be your staffing partner on your journey as an immigrant nurse. Contact us now.