Jobs in any industry can cause stress, but positions in the health care industry can be particularly stressful. Though health care workers have their share of rewarding experiences, jobs in the industry also include long shifts full of mental, emotional, and physical stress. Health care workers should know how to manage this stress; here are some of the best ways to reduce stress in health care.
Encourage Healthy Practices and Self-Care
Health care workers bear the responsibility for taking good care of their patients, but they must also take good care of themselves. Health care workers should get proper rest and have time to relax, winding down from a long day or night at work. Health care facilities, likewise, should encourage workers to prioritize healthy practices and self-care, both on and off the clock. Facilities can promote these things by offering employees break rooms to relax, managing the length of employee shifts, and creating a support system within the workplace where health care workers can turn for help.
Create a Good Work Environment
By nature, work is stressful enough for health care workers without the added stress of a negative workplace environment. For this reason, health care facilities should strive to create a welcoming, supportive, and fun workplace that helps employees manage and relieve stress. A friendly atmosphere within the workplace will help employees feel both valued and supported. Your facility can create this type of environment through group activities and events.
Incorporate Ergonomics Into the Workplace
In addition to experiencing mental and emotional stress, health care workers often experience physical stress on their bodies due to the nature of their work. Health care workers spend long hours on their feet and spend a good deal of time in uncomfortable, unnatural positions as they conduct procedures on patients. Incorporating ergonomics into healthcare facilities can reduce the stress on a health care worker’s bodies, allowing them to sit and stand in comfortable, natural positions that help them avoid physical strain or injury.
Whether you manage a health care facility or work in one, try incorporating these ways to reduce stress in health care into your routine. Managing stress will help you take care of yourself and will equip you to take better care of your patients. Dealing with your stress is healthy and necessary, both in the short and long run.
