How to Handle Stress as a Nurse: a Guide for Perioperative Nurses

Home » How to Handle Stress as a Nurse: a Guide for Perioperative Nurses

Perioperative nursing is an incredibly rewarding profession, but it can also come with a fair amount of stress. The environment inside an operating theatre is often filled with urgency and tension, which can take its toll over time.

This article will look at how to handle stress as a nurse, so you can look after yourself just as diligently as you look after your patients. With these tips in your toolkit, you’ll be in a better place to continue doing what you love in a way that’s healthy and sustainable.

What are the causes of stress in the operating room?

The experience of working inside an operating theatre is very unique. On one hand, it provides the fulfilment that comes from caring for patients and working collaboratively in a team of skilled healthcare professionals. On the other hand, there are a number of reasons why this work is, by its very nature, stressful.

Stress inside the operating room can be caused by:

long working hours
long periods of vigilant concentration and multitasking
inadequate sleep, leading to fatigue
tasks with high levels of complexity
the unpredictability of the work
complications and adverse outcomes
communication issues within the team.

What are the effects of stress on nurses?

If left unaddressed, the effects of stress on perioperative nurses can be serious. Stress can lead to burnout, which is an extreme state of mental and physical exhaustion – making it extremely difficult to continue working.

Symptoms of burnout can include feelings of being overwhelmed and emotionally drained. This can have detrimental effects on the mental health of nurses, including anxiety and depression. It can also affect relationships with coworkers, friends, and family, and sometimes create dependency issues with alcohol and/or drugs.

How do you handle stress as a nurse in the operating room?

So, how do nurses handle stressful situations when unpredictability and pressure are unavoidable parts of the job?

Although many aspects of perioperative nursing are out of your control, there are many other aspects of your life that you do have control over. Let’s look at some of the ways you can prevent stress from building up and becoming unmanageable.

Set boundaries

Learning how to be better at boundary-setting is key when it comes to preventing stress. It’s all about knowing when and how to say ‘no’, to prevent taking on more than you can realistically cope with.

Here are some ways you can set boundaries within your professional life as a nurse:

Turning down overtime shifts if you’re feeling overwhelmed (where possible)
Not checking your email, and switching off work notifications on your days off
Take sick leave if you’re feeling physically or mentally unwell
Let your supervisor know if you’re starting to feel excessively stressed or burnt out

Focus on communication

Very often, stressful situations can arise from communication breakdowns. This is why it’s essential that you make every effort to communicate clearly and consistently with colleagues, patients, and their family members, to reduce any potential for miscommunication.

You should also talk to your supervisor if you’re ever feeling like your workload is having a detrimental effect on your mental health. By articulating your concerns to your supervisor, you will experience the relief that comes from being ‘heard’. If you don’t talk to anyone about what’s on your mind, the feelings of stress could intensify over time. So don’t be afraid to speak up, because if you don’t, the issue might not get resolved.

Reach out to other nurses

When asked how you handle stress and pressure as a nurse, most perioperative nurses will tell you that the support of other nurses is crucial. Your colleagues will be able to relate to what you’re experiencing, and they might also have some helpful advice for coping with pressure.

It might also be a good idea to reach out to a more senior staff member and ask if they’d be willing to provide you with ongoing mentorship. If you’re enrolled in a postgraduate nursing course such as the Graduate Certificate in Health (Perioperative Nursing), have a chat with your tutors to ask about mentorship opportunities. The Online Learning Advisors at Federation University Online are all industry experts who can point you in the right direction if you want to connect with other healthcare professionals.

Be organised and prepared

Another way to handle workplace stress as a nurse is to make sure you’re always organised and prepared. Here are some tips for staying organised so you can feel confident and in control when you’re at work:

Arrive early for your shift, to give yourself more time to feel prepared
Make lists of the tasks that need to be performed, so you can be certain you won’t forget something important
Talk to the nurses who are finishing their shifts, to find out what needs to be prioritised
Take the time to gather all the tools and supplies you’ll need, so they’re easy to locate when you need them
Ask for help if you need it, and provide help to your colleagues if you notice they need assistance.

Remember to breathe

Although this might seem simple, it’s one of the best things to remember if you’re feeling stressed in the middle of a shift. Taking deep breaths can help to decrease your heart rate and blood pressure, while also helping your muscles to relax.

Deep breathing is something you can do anytime – even during intense moments on the job. It helps to calm the nerves and stay focused when the pressure’s on, and it can also give you a much-needed burst of energy.

Outside of the workplace, it might be beneficial to engage in other activities that encourage you to stay connected to your breath, such as meditation or yoga.

How do you handle stress as a nurse outside of work?

In this next section, we’ll look at some of the ways you can look after yourself and reduce stress in your downtime. You can also find great tips in our article: How to maintain a healthy work-life balance as a nurse.

Talk to loved ones and use a counselling service

If you feel like you’re struggling with work-related stress, one of the best things you can do is talk about it. Share how you’re feeling with those closest to you – your partner, or perhaps a close friend – so you don’t have to feel like you’re alone with your problems. Talking to others helps us to make sense of things that have happened, and it gets it out of your head so it doesn’t take up as much space.

If your work offers a counselling service for its employees, it might be a good idea to arrange a few sessions. Seeking professional help when you’re feeling overwhelmed is one of the best things you can do for your mental health. Nurses are well-known for prioritising the care of other people ahead of themselves, but to be the best nurse you can be, you must make your mental wellbeing your first priority.

Here are some other great mental health resources for nurses:

Nurses & Midwives Health: Mental Health Support
Australian Primary Health Care Nurses Association (APNA): Nurse Support Line
Beyond Blue: Phone and online counselling services

Prioritise your health

To stay on top of your stress levels, you need to look after your body. Although it might seem like coffee and chocolate bars are the answer to getting through a tough shift, in the long run, this kind of approach isn’t sustainable.

Here are some of the ways you can look after your physical health:

Make sleep a priority, so your body and mind have opportunities to recover
Eat nutritious food to support your immune system
Visit your GP regularly to monitor for physical signs of stress (such as high blood pressure)
Exercise: even if it’s just going for a walk outdoors a few times a week, you’ll feel better for it

Practice mindfulness

Meditation apps like Headspace and Insight Timer can help you unwind after work and clear your head before going to bed. You might also benefit from attending regular yoga classes to help release stress and tension from your body.

Your mindfulness practice might be something as simple as taking a long bath or spending time in nature to regain perspective and relax. Embrace whatever it is that helps you feel calm and centred.

Take time for yourself

Finally, if you want to know how to handle stress as a nurse, it helps to have a hobby that has nothing to do with work. This could be baking, watching movies, playing music, running or learning a form of dance. Put simply: if there’s something you enjoy, try to make time for it.

If you’re a person who likes to organise their time using a calendar app or something similar, make sure that you schedule time for your favourite activities alongside your work commitments. Don’t feel guilty for spending time doing something you love – it will help you to be a better nurse because it will bring balance and happiness to your life.

Improve your nursing skills and confidence

Studying a Graduate Certificate in Health (Perioperative Nursing) at Federation University Online will provide you with advanced knowledge to go further in your professional life.

You can also apply now if you want to take the next step to a fulfilling career.