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Emotional toll

Sommese realized the emotional toll her job was taking. She felt she was being pulled in too many directions to provide the level of care that each of her patients deserved, and she hated the way her job often made her feel physically.

“At the time I was working in acute care, I was also going through a painful divorce,” Sommese said. “I knew something had to give and I considered leaving the nursing field.”

Sommese began investigating other job opportunities and soon found a job with Rossmoor Home Health in Walnut Creek, Calif., that offered her flexibility and a more manageable patient load.

Her new job gave Sommese more time with her two young sons, the chance to resume regular gym workouts and to rediscover her spiritual side.

She also has found a tremendous resource in her nursing colleagues who are committed to maintaining candid conversations at their weekly staff meetings and planning regular outings to talk and relax outside of work.

Kelly is also aware that she internalizes her work-related stress, but hopes that the recent changes she has incorporated into her life will help restore her emotional energy.

A devout Christian, Kelly finds solace in the power of prayer. She uses her 30-minute commute as a way to unwind and reflect on the day. At home, she finds pleasure in playing with her 4-year-old and in taking walks with her family.

“I work with a very close-knit group of nurses in a small community hospital and we strive to support each other in our jobs,” Kelly said. “I think it helps to talk about your stresses with colleagues who face the same challenges and can offer valuable insight.”

Jane Neubauer, MS, RN, is a firm believer in nurses providing support to their peers. Six years ago, she founded The Creative Leadership Retreat in Vashon Island, Wash., to help colleagues revive their emotional energy in a supportive environment.

“Nurses see so much pain, suffering and stress on a daily basis, yet they typically don’t receive enough support from their employer or supervisors to help them deal with their experiences,” Neubauer said. “Nurses can learn more about themselves and avoid stress if they make the time to work through their emotions.”

In her retreats, Neubauer shows nurses and other health professionals how to effectively deal with their emotions, and encourages them to use creativity such as art and music to express their feelings.

The retreats usually begin with yoga, stretching and breathing exercises and then move on to writing and art with an emphasis on listening to each other’s stories.

“Until nurses effectively address their feelings and emotions, they continue to carry the pain and stress inside, which can lead to migraines, stomach and joint problems, anxiety and other stress-related conditions,”
Neubauer said.