Vagus Nerve Massage For Stress And Anxiety Relief

tress may be one of the most overlooked issues that nurses and nursing students face. Yet, it is one of the most impactful as it can affect many aspects of work and personal life. Bedside nursing places high levels of emotional and physical demand on healthcare professionals.

Stress can affect the physical and mental health of nurses, which unfortunately can overflow into patient outcomes. It also undermines nursing retention and can hurt a healthcare organization’s finances.

Although not all stress is negative, even positive stress can have a negative effect on an individual. Since the mid-1950s, researchers and scientists have recognized that stress is an occupational hazard for nurses. Therefore, learning how to manage stress as a nurse is the key to enjoying a long and healthy career.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, nursing students made the transition to managing classes and clinicals online. Additionally, it became obvious there were pitfalls in the healthcare system that affected patient care and nurses’ physical and mental health. These challenges include understaffing, unsafe work conditions, financial losses for the provider, and under-resourced hospitals. As healthcare systems move forward, it is essential to mend these gaps to prevent poor patient outcomes.
How to Manage Stress as a Nurse