Nurses face a large amount of stress on a regular basis. Being in charge of saving lives and curing illnesses puts a lot of pressure on you, which can lead to a myriad of problems as a result of the stress you’re feeling. Understanding the problem is one of the best ways to recognize it when it happens, and finding support from others also plays a big role. Case management is one of the largest contributors to stress among nurses. Here’s what you need to know.
What is Case Management?
Case management is a duty of many professionals in the health care industry. Simply put, it means you are in charge of a set of patients or clients. As a nurse, that probably means you manage their medications, refer them to a doctor or prescribe treatment as needed while that person is under your care. Unlike a traditional nurse, a case management nurse helps clients find resources, solve problems and facilitate financial aspects of care. As you can imagine, this can be quite stressful because there is a lot of work that needs to be done beyond taking vital signs and reporting to a doctor about a person’s health status.
Finding Stress Relief
You probably find your job rewarding and fulfilling, which is why it’s the career path you’ve chosen. However, that doesn’t exempt you from stress at times. The American Nurses Association says that the single best way to relieve on-the-job stress is to encourage good communication among your patients and the people involved in their care. As the case management nurse, much of this responsibility will fall on you. If you can set the stage for appropriate communication, you’ll make your job easier and ease some of the stress that you might be feeling. Keeping yourself organized and sticking to as much of a routine as possible can also help by allowing you to focus on what you’re doing, not the stress of feeling overwhelmed and out of your depth. A mentor can also help you as you navigate the career and everything that goes with it.
Looking for Support
Mental wellness is important for everyone, nurses included, and there’s no shame in seeking therapy or counseling if you feel that it would help. A variety of mental health professionals are trained to assist people with jon-related stress. Healthy sleep habits, a good diet and positive lifestyle choices are other ways you can support your own mental wellness and perform your nursing duties to the best of your abilities.