Resilience for nursing staff

Care between stress and fulfillment - How resilience can help. "This person will drive me to my grave! He's my Achilles heel!" moans Dolores, a 28-year-old care worker, resting her head in her hands. Stress in care is omnipresent - but when does it become too much?

Dolores hasn't had a vacation for months. Her patient Hektor Schwer constantly calls for her, and if she doesn't appear immediately, he becomes impatient. Day after day, shift after shift, without a break. She feels drained and struggles with her emotions.

Many caregivers find themselves in similar situations. Permanent stress can make you ill. Stress in the care sector not only leads to physical complaints, but also to emotional exhaustion and burnout.

Here comes Resilience comes into play - the ability to remain stable despite adverse circumstances. But what exactly is resilience? How can it be trained?

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What is resilience?

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Resilience describes the psychological resilience - the ability to cope with crises and adapt to challenges without breaking down. Nurses are confronted with time pressure, staff shortages, emotional stress and often a lack of appreciation. Without strong inner resilience, there is a risk of exhaustion.

However The good news is: Resilience can be learned!

 

The 7 pillars of resilience

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Laut Dr. Ursula Nuber (2023, "Psychologie Heute") and the Institute for Resilience Research Mainz, there are seven central pillars of resilience:

  1. Optimism - A positive attitude helps to see problems in a solution-oriented way.
  2. Acceptance - Accepting things that cannot be changed helps to save energy.
  3. Solution orientation - Focusing on solutions instead of problems reduces stress.
  4. Self-control - Regulating emotions instead of being overwhelmed by them.
  5. Taking Responsibility - Recognize your own needs and stand up for yourself.
  6. Shaping relationships - A strong social network strengthens emotional resilience.
  7. Shaping the future - Experience self-efficacy instead of seeing yourself as a victim of circumstances.

Resilience not only protects against burnout, but also helps you to enjoy your work more.

 

Why is resilience particularly important in care?

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Nurses are under enormous pressure. In Austria, according to a study by AK Pflege (2024) over 60% of nursing staff from extreme workloads. The consequences:

  • Chronic stress
  • Increased risk of burnout
  • Exhaustion and emotional distance
  • Higher error rate in patient care

Resilience is the key to meet these challengeshealthily and with energy. But how can nurses strengthen their resilience in concrete terms?

 

Strategies for strengthening resilience in care

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1. self-care: don't forget yourself

  • Schedule regular breaks - even short breathing breaks help to reduce stress.
  • Healthy eating - Avoid sugary snacks and caffeine excesses.
  • Integrating exercise into everyday life - even a short walk helps.
  • Consciously Relax - Yoga, meditation or progressive muscle relaxation can help.

 

2. mindfulness & stress management

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  • Breathing exercises for acute stress:Inhale for five seconds, exhale for five seconds, repeat five times.
  • Questioning negative thoughts: Is the problem as big as it seems?
  • Focus on the here and now: Instead of worrying about the future - what can be improved now?

3. use social support

  • Talking to colleagues about stress - this helps you not to feel alone.
  • Using supervision or coaching - professional support can help enormously.
  • Building networks - noracares offers caregivers the opportunity to network with families looking for care and to secure a suitable job as a caregiver in a self-determined way.

4. setting healthy boundaries

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  • Learning to say no: Not every additional task is mandatory.
  • Consciously limit working time: Regular overtime increases the risk of burnout.
  • Maintaining emotional distance: Don't completely own the suffering of patients.

 

Promoting resilience through employers

Not only caregivers, but also employers have a responsibility. According to the WHO (2023, "Mental Health in the Workplace") the following measures can help:

  • Healthy shift schedules: No overlong services, enough days off.
  • Mental Health Services: Free supervision, psychological counseling.
  • Hire more staff:Lower workload improves job satisfaction.
  • Better salaries and working conditions: To maintain motivation in the long term.

Care facilities that actively promote resilience have fewer sick days and happier staff.

 

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Resilience in care - your protective shield against stress The challenges in care are real. But resilience can help you to cope with the pressure without endangering your own health.

What does this mean for you?

  • Accept that not everything is in your control.
  • Use targeted relaxation techniques and mindfulness exercises.
  • Create a strong professional network for support.
  • Take care of your own health - You can only take good care of others if you are doing well yourself.

But resilience is not just an individual task. Employers must actively contribute to ensuring that nursing staff remain healthy and motivated in the long term.

noracares supports caregivers by connecting them directly with families seeking care. This gives you more control over your job, your working hours and your conditions.

Invest in your mental resilience - for more well-being and happiness in your job.

Are you looking for suitable care or a new challenge as a caregiver? Register now with noracares!

 

Register here

 

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These include mindfulness training, targeted breaks, a strong social network, stress management techniques and conscious self-care.

Are you looking for a new challenge as a nurse? Take a look at noracares!

 

Graphic logo of Nora's treasure trove of knowledge, a collection of information for caregivers. Ideal for presenting nursing knowledge and advice.
  • Resilience: Psychological resilience - the ability to adapt to difficult situations and emerge stronger from crises.
  • Burnout: Chronic fatigue due to prolonged stress and overwork, often in helping professions such as nursing.
  • Mindfulness: Consciously perceiving the present moment to reduce stress and better regulate emotions.
  • Self-care: measures that promote your own well-being, such as sufficient sleep, a healthy diet, exercise and social contacts.
  • Supervision: Professional reflection under the guidance of a coach or psychologist for stress management and professional development.
  • Sleep Hygiene: Routines and habits that contribute to better sleep, such as a cool room temperature, set bedtimes and avoiding screens before bed.
  • Stress management: techniques to reduce stress, including breathing exercises, meditation, sports or time management strategies.
  • Work-Life-Balance: Balance between work and private life to avoid overwork and stay healthy in the long term.
  • Social support: The network of colleagues, friends and family that offers emotional and practical help in stressful times.
  • Nursing staff shortage: A major problem in healthcare that leads to high workload and stress for caregivers.
  • Mental stress: Emotional challenges from demanding work situations that can affect mental well-being.
  • Mental Health: A state of mental well-being in which a person can cope with life's challenges.
  • noracares: A platform that connects caregivers with families in need of care. It enables caregivers to work flexibly and choose the right working conditions for themselves.
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