Art of Self-Care

As a nurse, I have experienced firsthand the demands of the job – long hours, standing on my feet for extended periods, and forgetting to eat or take restroom breaks. I used to believe that this selflessness made me a better nurse until I began to experience burnout and depression, as have many other nurses. It’s easy to forget to drink a glass of water, eat an apple, or take 5 minutes to sit down and regroup.  Because we’re nurses.  We’re supposed to be superhuman or something, right? 

When I worked full-time in home health, I saw 6-8 patients a day, took call on weekends, and worked my share of holidays and night shifts. As I moved along in my nursing career, I no longer worked the night shift. This was a move-up, but I was still not focused on caring for myself. 

When I did home care, I used to leave my home every morning at 8 am and return at 4 pm. During that time, there were many times that I went without taking a break for lunch or even taking the time to use the bathroom. I avoided drinking water during the day because we were instructed not to use the patient’s bathrooms, as it was deemed “unprofessional.”  It can be very challenging to find a clean, safe restroom to use in the inner city areas.

As I look back over the last 20 years, I realize that I prioritized my career over my health and often neglected my basic needs. One day, while running down the stairs, rushing to work, I fell and rolled my right ankle,  putting all my weight on my foot. I  ruptured both the medial and lateral ligaments in my lower leg.  This nasty fall down the stairs was a wake-up call. I took a 21-day break from work to prioritize self-care.