Three Things You Don’t Learn In Nursing School

3. Always take care of yourself first
As alluded to in the above point, nurses must focus on their own well-being to properly care for their patients. Perhaps nursing school instructors reference this lesson, but many nurses only learn the importance of this mindset once they are on the hospital floor. Remember, this applies to both physical and mental health.

Taking care of your physical health is only logical. As the American Nurses Association outlined, daily duties include anything from wound care, conducting physical exams and administering medication to coordinating care and providing health education. These tasks would prove difficult if you’re tired from not getting enough rest or coping with the flu.

Meanwhile, your emotions also play a crucial role in how you care for patients. Research pulled for an overview for a separate OJIN study found that nurses have a higher rate of depression than the general population — 17 percent, compared to the national rate of 9 percent. According to the Mayo Clinic, feelings of sadness and hopelessness serve as only the start of other symptoms of this condition, such as slowed thinking, agitation, and physical ailments like back pain. All of these manifestations can hinder your ability to provide optimal care.

As a nurse, your education never ends. From schooling through your career, you constantly learn new lessons that ultimately shape you into the best health care professional possible. To make the most of this journey, view every experience as a learning opportunity and don’t forget to take care of your physical and emotional well-being.

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