How Nurses Can Reduce And Calm Their Anxiety Quickly

You can be the toughest, most resilient nurse, but this job’s high demands and emotions will eventually catch up to you if you let it.

Long-term exposure to stressful conditions weakens nurses’ resilience, resulting in an increase in anxiety levels. Over time, anxiety can impact a nurse’s personal life to the point of consistent negativity.

I’m going to explain several ways nurses can reduce and calm their anxiety, quickly!

Nurses don’t have all the time in the world, so if you can avoid a crisis early on, why wouldn’t you?

Nursing impacts every part of you-physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. Despite it being just a career, a job, or a profession, it connects to your personality and daily life immensely.

I used to be the type who eye-rolled at nurses who said nursing is their calling, their purpose, their dream. I didn’t understand how a profession I grew to hate could be thought of in that way.

Burnout tainted my view. When I made the proper changes in my health and wellbeing, so did the number of eye rolls I made. I saw why I became a nurse again, and why I loved it. You can too by prioritizing yourself, taking care of your health, and accepting that working on yourself is a marathon, not a sprint.

Getting anxious in a healthcare setting is scary- there are a lot of people dependent on you, and if you don’t show up, people’s health is on the line.

The immense pressure and high demands can lead to a lot of anxiety and animosity toward the nursing career.

The greatest thing, though, is that these tips and strategies I’m about to share can reduce the level of anxiety, and give you so much control over it! Let’s begin.

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What Causes Anxiety In Nurses?

There are so many causes of anxiety for nurses, but’s talk about the most obvious ones.

Unfortunately, most nurses quickly experience anxiety pretty early in their nursing careers.

Transitioning from nursing school to the professional nursing involves a huge learning curve.

I remember feeling so prepared and ready to be a registered nurse when I graduated, but then when I started working, I was in for a wake-up call.

Thoughts such as “Why didn’t they teach me this?” or “How come no one ever talks about this?” started entering my brain.

Let’s talk about what exact things trigger anxiety in nurses.

1. A Heavy Patient Load

Many nursing workplaces do not follow safe nurse-to-patient ratios. Short staffing is present nearly everywhere in nursing, which leads to higher patient loads for the nurses who are working.

A single nurse can handle only so many patients before overwhelm, stress, and anxiety set in. The constant thoughts and wondering if you are doing everything right and not forgetting anything are triggers for anxiety.

2. Repetitive Lack Of Respect

Many times, nurses are not being respected the way they should be. Patients, doctors, and even other nurses tend to disrespect them.

This lack of respect has been going on for decades, as nurses have been seen as only women and lesser than men, especially men that were doctors.

Feeling disrespected is a huge trigger for anxiety.

3. Being Underpaid

Personally, I believe nurses are underpaid for the amount of work and responsibility they have.

Assisting with codes, lifting heavy patients, pushing narcotics, making quick decisions, being empathetic, counseling and educating patients…all of these actions deserve a high pay, but that’s not entirely the case.

Nurses get paid a high salary in very few states or if they have an advanced degree. The nursing pay scale is simply not fair.

Fear of the future and income growth can certainly cause anxiety, as money plays a huge factor in the course of one’s life.

4. Physical Labor

Nurses working in a job where they have to be on their feet all day and turn or lift patients go through intense physical labor. In fact, physical labor can even lead to injuries requiring therapy or surgery.

Any type of physical issue causes stress and anxiety. No one wants to have work affect their health, but some nursing jobs do just that.

I’ve met nurses who’ve pulled their backs, needed shoulder surgery, got carpal tunnel, all from their day jobs. Unfortunately, lack of respect and/or help exaggerates these injuries.

5. Dealing With Emergencies

Nurses who are not into adrenaline rush will form anxiety if their job comes with emergencies. Many inpatient nursing jobs can lead to patient emergencies where nurses have to make rapid responses.

Nurses may not realize they do not fit in a job that has frequent emergencies until they experience them. (That’s how I was. After a few years in the hospital, my anxiety crept up so high because I hated dealing with emergencies).

6. Risking Your Nursing License

Nurses are thrown into way too many unsafe situations due to a lack of support and short staffing. This creates a huge fear of risking your nursing license.

Medical errors can lead to court cases, which can lead to the worst: having your nursing license suspended or even revoked.

There are too many hospitals and workplaces that are unsafe and get away with so many things.

To paint a picture, I was barely off orientation and was left to basically run the labor & delivery unit with another new nurse one night. Nothing bad happened, luckily, but if something did and I made a huge error due to lack of support… I could have gone to court.

Being thrown into unsafe situations increases a lot of worry and anxiety.

How Nurses Can Reduce And Calm Their Anxiety

Let’s go over some great ways to overcome anxiety.

Every strategy is nice and simple, and they do not take too much effort! You just have to stick to it and give it your all. (If you are half-invested in overcoming anxiety, it won’t work!).

When it comes to mental health, you as a nurse are able to steer it better than you may realize.

You have the full capability and potential, I know it.

1. Find A Supportive Community

Always ask for help and seek support when needed. People will not really just help you unless you ask for it.

Everyone is busy with their own things, so you need to speak up when you are struggling. It could prevent the anxiety to worsen, leading to lower work quality or motivation.

Learning that other people also feel the same way is very comforting and reassuring. It helps to have a community where others can relate to you and you can vent and express yourself with no judgment.

There are anxiety support groups you can join. Don’t be ashamed to express yourself. After you do, you’ll realize it’s the best thing you could have done.

2. Console In A Trusting Colleague

Sometimes, all it takes is exposure to a different perspective. If you have a colleague you feel comfortable opening up to, try to have a talk with them.

Express how certain parts of being a nurse are causing you to develop anxiety, and it’s really affecting your life. You never know if they have some helpful advice or went through the same situation before.

The majority of the time after you console someone, you will feel better and closer to healing.

3. Exercise Consistently

When you start moving your body consistently, numerous things happen that help overcomes anxiety. It is important to learn about the why of things you are doing so you really understand its benefits.

When you are focused on a workout, it is rare your mind is thinking about anything other than the workout. Exercising is an activity you need to be present for, kind of like a puzzle.

It won’t work if you aren’t fully in it. This is one reason why exercising is a great way to overcome anxiety. It takes your mind off of the things causing you anxiety and diverts your attention to something healthy and meaningful.

Exercising helps release the brain chemicals dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin. These brain chemicals help regulate your mood and increase energy.

In other words, they make you feel good. When you feel good, anxiety is less likely to creep in. Over time, it gets harder and harder for anxiety to slip through and you have better control of your thoughts.

4. Use Aromatherapy

The power of scent is really amazing. I used to be a non-believer, people. I never thought smelling something was going to solve my problems. I mean it just sounds insane, doesn’t it?

Well, I’m living proof that it does work. No, it didn’t make all my problems go away, but nothing can do that. The only way problems can go away is if you work towards them, and an aid in working towards them can be aromatherapy.

Everyone’s palette is different, so learn what scents make you feel what.

You can get an oil diffuser, a roller ball, a room spray, incense… there are so many forms of scent out there.

5. Accept Your Anxiety

This sounds a little funny, but accepting your anxiety versus feeling frustrated by it will actually lessen your anxiety.

Regardless of where your anxiety came from (family history, environment, lifestyle), it’s here and it’s present. Please remember accepting it doesn’t mean giving up.

Replacing the energy you put into degrading yourself with energy in working on improving yourself can do wonders.