Nurses face a highly demanding career with long hours and stressful situations. About 40% of nurses over the age of 30 experience burnout, anger, frustration and irritation from their job. And it’s even higher for nurses under the age of 30. Here are 3 easy ways to help control your stress when dealing with hectic shifts.
1. Stay organized. Take a few minutes before your shift to check over your work details for the day to help avoid distractions.
2. Work on clear communication skills. Good communication helps improve the care of patients and helps respond to the expectations of patients.
3. Change your perspective. If you’re having a bad day at work, step back and look at your day from a different angle. Being a nurse is a great career choice! It can be tempting to let bad feelings take over, but keeping focus on the positive can help you get through the day.
A nurse’s job can take a toll on your mind and body. With these easy stress reducing tips, you can help refocus on why you love being a nurse.
If you are lucky enough to have some free time during summer break, take advantage of it. Don’t let the summer days slip by. Make the most of your summer without spending much money!
Sleep In and Take Naps
How often do you really get to do this? According to the American Sleep Association, sleep is a basic, biological need, and if we are deprived of sleep, our bodily systems fail. The average adult needs about 8 hours of total sleep time each day (ASA). So, no need to feel bad about sleeping in that extra hour or taking a quick snooze on the couch during the day. It’s for your health!
Find Free Activities
Make a list of the free festivals, carnivals, fairs, and other summer activities that your city or town has to offer during the summer. When you notice you have a free day, see what’s on the list for that day and have fun!
Exercise
Use your summer days to get back into an exercise routine. Use your break to fine tune your routine so you can transition easily into the following school year. The best part about summer is that there are a variety of activities you can do: swimming, biking, canoeing, kayaking, skating, jogging, hiking . . . well, you get the idea.
Have a Staycation
It’s time to explore your own town or city. Take a stroll through a local hiking or nature area. Visit a local museum, zoo, or aquarium. Eat out at a new-to-you restaurant. Or simply lounge at the pool soaking up the sun.
Get Outside
There are many benefits to spending time outdoors. As the Harvard Health Letter titled “A Prescription for Better Health: Go Alfresco” says, spending time outdoors will raise your vitamin D levels, cause you to get more exercise, make you happier, improve your concentration, and might make you heal faster.
Spend Time with Friends
Carve out time each week to have lunch with a friend, or a group of friends. Maintaining meaningful relationships is important to your well-being. The Mayo Clinic says there are many health benefits to having friends including boosting one’s happiness, reducing stress, improving self-confidence, reduced significant health problems, and longer life spans.
Get Ahead on Professional Development
If you have “extra” time during your summer break, think about squeezing in some professional development so you won’t have to work on it during the school year. Don’t have the monetary resources to take coursework? No need to worry, I have created a list of 6 Free Professional Development Resources for Educators.
Organize
Take a few hours each week to do that “spring cleaning” you never got around to. Focus on one room or area at a time. Purge, clean, and organize. You’ll feel like you can tackle the upcoming school year with ease if you have a clean and organized home.
As spring gives way to summer, it’s time to get your RV ready for heading to the mountains, camping or long road trips to visit family and friends. If you are getting your motor-home out of storage, here are some key steps that will keep you on the road and out of the repair shop.
Check the exterior for cracks and missing or damaged seals
Inspect and test the battery
Examine and pressurize the tires
Replace filters and replenish brake, coolant, transmission, hydraulic and washer fluids
Clean, inspect and refill LP gas lines and appliances
Test carbon monoxide and smoke detectors
Flush and fill the water system looking for leaks, clarity and drink ability
Check that all appliances are working
Inspect sewer hoses and waste tank valves for cracks or sticking
Here is a list of important equipment and items you’ll want to make sure that you have:
Proper extension cord with the correct amps
Surge protector for variable campground electrical systems
Drinking water approved hose
Pressure regulator and water filter for variable campsite water pressures and contaminates
Laser temperature tester to detect overheated brakes, tires and axles
Don’t forget routine maintenance practices for your RV or motorhome’s engine:
Periodically check and test batteries for proper charging
Make sure your cooling system has the proper anti-freeze/coolant and all belts, hoses and the water pump are properly working (never open a hot radiator cap; the liquid inside is a scalding 200 degrees or hotter)
Check the air conditioning system for leaks and proper coolant
Make sure the viscosity of your motor oil will stand up to hot weather days (10W-30 or 10W-40)
Consumer Reports advises that you should also have a basic safety kit that consists of:
Cell phone and spare battery
First aid kit
Fire extinguisher
Warning light or reflective triangles
Tire gauge
Jumper cables
Foam sealant for flat tires
It’s never a bad idea to get a full maintenance check before heading out for your summer travels. Stay safe this summer!
I enjoy teaching out of our math textbooks and using the nifty manipulatives, cross-curricular centers, leveled readers, and other integrated activities which come with our math series. However, sometimes, it’s nice to shake things up a bit and jump on the computers or tablets for a little online math fun. My favorite websites are those that my students and I can use without any preparation or hassle, and they must be FREE. You can start using any of these 7 math websites in your classroom immediately!
ProdigyGame – Free, self-paced math games for grades 1-8 with free account membership. There is even a free app for computers and tablets!
SheppardSoftware – Free kids math games. Topics include addition, subtraction, multiplication, fractions, money, algebra, and place value.
CoolMath4Kids – Free math games for kids and teacher. Lessons, games, quizzes, and brain teasers for grades K-6.
KhanAcademy – Educator-created videos, lectures, and practice for math concepts at all grade levels.
MrNussbaum – Games, workshops, practice modules, skill and drill, and printables.
LearnZillion – Instructional videos, lessons, and practice. Teachers can assign lessons without needing student accounts. Common core standards Kindergarten through 8th grade.
The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) named Parker Ketler the 2017 Junior Firefighter of the Year at its spring board meeting April 7. California Casualty is a proud sponsor of the Junior Firefighter of the Year award and we were pleased to present Parker with his momentous achievement.
It’s easy to see why the NVFC chose him for the honor. Parker is the stepson of a firefighter and spent much of his childhood at the Sebring, Ohio Fire Department. That early exposure helped him excel when the department launched an Explorer Post in 2010. Chief Brian Anderson said that Parker was the obvious choice to become the Post’s first president.
Parker is dedicated to public safety; described as ambitious, eager and hardworking. He would often volunteer to do maintenance and other tasks at the fire station as a teen, and participated in demonstrations for other fellow students about the dangers of distracted driving.
Parker has earned several awards, including the 2016 Distinguished Volunteer Service Cross Commendation from the Village of Sebring, Alliance Elks Teen of the Month and the Award of Excellence for Sportsmanship, Ethics, and Integrity from the Ohio High School Athletic Association.
Parker continues his love for the fire service, pursuing a degree in Fire Science at Columbus State University, where he has earned his Firefighter I and II certifications and is undergoing EMT training. He has joined the Sebring Fire Department as a firefighter and serves each weekend with the department when his studies allow.
California Casualty is proud to serve firefighters, like Parker, for more than 40 years. Our company also provides funding for the NVFC Junior Firefighter Program Starter Kit, which aids fire agencies in starting their own program for their communities and to help develop future volunteer and career firefighters. Learn more about the Program at https://juniors.nvfc.org/resources.
