Night Shift Nurse – 5 Ways to Get the Best Sleep

by California Casualty | Nurses | 1 comment

As a night shift nurse, your schedule is anything but normal (not that a nurse’s schedule is normal). While the rest of us are sound asleep in our beds, you – the night time warrior of the caring – are on a different time shift.

Nurses who have to sleep during the day face troubles people wouldn’t think about at night, all the lights are off, it’s mostly quiet outside, and usually, everything seems calm BUT as a night shift nurse, everything is backward. Because your night time is during the daytime, you need the know the secrets to getting the best sleep you can.

Turn off the distractions: Put your phone on silent, turn off the tv, and get your mind ready for some sleep.

Darken the room: Hang up dark curtains, grab an eye mask to wear, and even consider earplugs to blackout the light and noise.

Exercise Daily: Hit the gym or just go on a 30-minute walk, anything that will help you release stress and pent up energy.

Cool Temperature: Keeping the room at a cooler temp can help your body relax.

Avoid Caffeine: As the shift winds down, slowly stop drinking that coffee or soda and by the time you get home your body won’t feel as stimulated.

Exercise:  Eating right, exercising daily, and drinking water also keeps your body on a natural daily routine.

The more you make your environment look and feel like nighttime, the easier it will be for your body to adapt for daytime sleeping.

This article is furnished by California Casualty, providing auto and home insurance to educators, law enforcement officers, firefighters and nurses. Get a quote at 1.866.704.8614 or www.calcas.com.

5 Ways to Get Excited About Being a Nurse Again

by California Casualty | Nurses | 1 comment

Have you lost the happy feeling that your job used to bring? Are you already annoyed by the thought of your job? Let’s find that joy and smile that you once had from being a nurse.

These 5 tips can make you feel more passionate about nursing:

1. Find a Support System. If you hate your job, most likely you will withdraw from the people that you work with. Research shows that your co-workers are the number one reason for loving your job. Find people that have similar interests and values as you. Don’t be afraid to make the first move of initiating a conversation. Smile. Offer help. Be a part of a community.

2. Let It Go. Being a nurse involves a ton of emotions. You, like a sponge, absorb some patient’s pain and that can take a toll. Learn that a patient’s struggle isn’t personal towards you and let that stress go. Focus on the best parts of the day, the good you’ve done for your patients.

3. Avoid Games. Don’t get sucked into office politics. It can be an easy trap to fall into but avoid at all costs. Take the different road and find a different joy in games on your phone or new hobbies.

4. Follow the Sunshine. Work can feel like a beat down after a while. So through the darkness, search for the sunshine. Find the joy in the office. Ask to help with a project or co-worker.
Finding joy in your job is a choice and takes practice. There will be hard days but look for the positive in each one. Remember the hobbies and happiness that is outside of work too.

5. Create a Bucket List – Nurse-Style. Focusing on the nursing goals you want to accomplish can serve as a source of inspiration. While you’re at it, why not make a list of the things you’ve already accomplished in your career – starting with making it through nursing school. Keep your lists with you and refer back to them when you feel the nursing blahs come on. You’ve done a lot and grown as a nurse, so give yourself a pat on the back. You deserve it.

What helps you get through the hard days? Share with us in the comments.

3 Ways Nurses Can Manage Stress at Work

by California Casualty | Nurses | 0 comments

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.

6 Ways for Nurses to Beat the Winter Blues

by California Casualty | Nurses | 0 comments

Now that winter is here; the winter blues can come fast. It’s not uncommon for this time of year to feel sluggish and sad. About 20% of people above the age of 20 have a hard time through this season. As a nurse, working a 12-hour shift can make the days feel longer, especially if you don’t get to see much sunshine, and feel like the days seem shorter. If you are feeling down during winter, we have tips to help make the season easier and keep the blues away.

 
• Eat a Healthy Diet: By eating enough protein, carbs, vitamins, and minerals can keep your nutrition on track. Drink enough water daily. Dehydration can cause fatigue and depression.
• De-clutter: Take on small jobs of getting rid of clutter to start. De-cluttering will give you a sense of accomplishment that makes you happier.
• Laugh: They say laughter is the best medicine, which is a big help if you get blue this time of year. Laughing reduces stress hormones that typically cause sadness for the winter season.
• Cheer Someone Else Up: Helping someone can help make yourself better.
• Get Enough Sleep: Long shifts can make for long days. If you can get a well-rested night of sleep, it will help lower stress.
• Exercise: Getting active can boost your mood and trigger positive feelings.

Being a nurse can be stressful, and having the winter blues doesn’t help either. Even if it means small steps, try some of these tips to help make the season pass and help boost your mood each day.

$1,000 Award to Help Kansas Nurse Re-Energize

by California Casualty | Nurses | 0 comments

The contest was created to thank nurses for the long hours they put in offering comfort and healing to patients and families. Winners can use the $1,000 prize any way they wish: hitting the town in a rented limousine, hosting a party, or taking a relaxing day at the spa. They are only limited by their imagination. Kendra, who is dedicated to making life better for others, is taking time to rejuvenate and visit family in Colorado.

Kendra is the assistant director of Health at Evergreen Community of Johnson County, Kansas nursing home, where she has worked the past eight years. She has a passion for assisting individuals that have Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. “I really want to make a difference for people; just making them happy and increasing their quality of life,” said Kendra. “I love my job and can’t picture myself anywhere else.”

“California Casualty protects American heroes, and we want to show our appreciation to the men and women who take care of America,’” said California Casualty Sr. Vice President, Mike McCormick.

“I don’t do this job for appreciation or recognition,” Kendra said. “However, appreciation and recognition is nice.”

The winning has just begun; there will be three more $1,000 Nurses Night Out awards given this year by California Casualty. The entry deadline for the next drawing is June 17, 2016, with a winner announced in July. Complete rules, information and the entry form can be found at www.nursesnight.com.

Other important deadlines are:

• September 16, with the third quarter winner announced in October
• December 9, with the fourth quarter winner announced before the end of the year

Entrants must be 18 years old. Residents of Alaska, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Michigan, North Carolina, New York and Wisconsin are not eligible, and winners must be currently employed as or retired as a nurse (RN or LPN) or be a member of the Ohio Nurses Association or the Oregon Nurses Association.