Nursing is a gratifying and fulfilling profession, but it’s also one of the most stressful. Nurses are constantly exposed to upsetting sights, and their job always deals with stress, pain and illness.
From demanding work schedules to high-stress levels, nurses often find themselves in situations where they simply don’t feel happy or satisfied. However, you can take the time to learn more about what can be done to help you feel better as a nurse and an individual.
By doing so, you may discover that your life improves on and off the clock. Here are some tips to help nurses increase their satisfaction at work.
Table of Contents
Get organized
One of the most important things you can do as a nurse is to stay organized. Being well-organized will help you be more efficient and effective in your work.
It will also make you feel less stressed out, which is essential when it comes to nursing. Write down all the tasks that need to get done for the day and then organize them by priority.
If you are overwhelmed with tasks or need help figuring out where to start, try breaking everything down into manageable chunks. That way, you can focus on one task until completion before moving on to another.
Learn time management techniques
An excellent way for nurses to increase work satisfaction is by learning time management techniques. Nurses are often overworked, and the best way to combat this is by learning how to manage your time better.
Time management techniques will enable you to have a better work-life balance and feel less stressed. Walsh University offers online nursing programs that might help you find the right work-life balance by advancing your career.
By graduating with a master’s or doctoral degree, you can advance into leadership roles, enabling you to give back more and enjoy what you do as much as possible.
Delegate when possible
As a nurse, it’s easy to experience burnout, often when you’re overloaded with tasks. For instance, you might find yourself trying to complete documentation for 15 patients simultaneously.
It is crucial that your work gets done and that the documentation is accurate. However, having too much on your plate can be overwhelming and lead to less satisfaction at work.
When possible, delegate this task to someone else to save time and decrease the likelihood of errors occurring.
Avoid procrastination
Nurses are often faced with the challenge of procrastinating in their work. Nurses may procrastinate for many reasons, including being distracted by other things, not feeling confident enough in themselves, or having negative thoughts about their abilities.
To help overcome this issue and focus on the task at hand, set a time limit for your work so that you can feel accomplished when you finish.
Additionally, reward yourself after completing your tasks by doing something relaxing, such as reading or listening to music. Remember that taking care of yourself is essential.
Seek out support
Seeking support from other nurses is one of the easiest ways to increase work satisfaction. Seek out other nurses in your workplace and see if they would be open to meeting once a week for lunch or coffee.
This will allow you to have someone who understands exactly what you are going through and can help advise you on how best to manage your workload. It is also vital for nurses with different levels of experience and knowledge in their profession, as it will help them learn from each other.
For example, new nurses could benefit from older nurses’ experiences, while more experienced ones might gain insights about new developments in the field.
You should tailor the conversations to each person’s needs to be mutually beneficial. Meeting regularly will not only strengthen relationships, but will also provide an outlet for venting frustrations that arise at work.
Take breaks when possible
Nurses should take breaks when possible to maintain a healthy work-life balance. Nurses should find something they can do during their break, such as reading, walking or meditating.
For example, if the nurse’s shift is from 8am to 4pm, the nurse could take an hour’s lunch break and walk around the block during this time. The break will help them feel refreshed and more focused for the next part of their day at work.
Remember, the goal is to increase work satisfaction, not burnout. Therefore, nurses should always ensure that they take care of themselves first before working harder. Taking a vacation would also go a long way toward boosting work satisfaction.
Find an outlet for stress
Nurses are often at risk of experiencing workplace stress. There are several ways that nurses can reduce their stress and increase work satisfaction.
One way is to find an outlet for it. For example, take time for yourself once a week and do something you enjoy, such as painting or reading.
Doing this will help release any pent-up frustrations. Another way is to take care of your body by eating well and getting enough sleep each night.
Keeping these things in mind will provide a healthier outlook on life. You can also use social media to maintain relationships with friends and family.
It’s essential not only to maintain relationships, but also to have the support system necessary when dealing with complex patients or colleagues.
Don’t try to do it all
Nurses have a lot of pressure on them, often putting themselves in the position of having to do everything. To help alleviate some of that pressure, nurses should try not to do it all.
It is good to remember that everyone has an important role, even if it sometimes doesn’t seem like it. Giving time to other tasks will make you feel less overwhelmed and more fulfilled as a nurse overall.
Additionally, we can have different skillsets or expertise. Working with your coworkers allows you to be a better team member. You can cover for their weaknesses, and they can cover for yours, improving both work satisfaction and efficiency.
One way to ensure that this happens is by creating small jobs with short deadlines. For example, give your coworkers two hours to create a slide presentation about drug administration safety standards.
Once the deadline arrives, provide constructive feedback about what could be improved and what worked well. Asking for input from others helps foster a collaborative environment, improving staff morale.
Don’t be a perfectionist
As a nurse, you know that no matter how hard you try, there is always something else you could have done. Whether checking in one more patient or ensuring that the hospital has enough supplies, nurses are never satisfied with their work.
To increase your satisfaction levels as a nurse and prevent burnout, focus on the task and be content with your work. Don’t let perfectionism get in the way of your success.
It’s easy to believe that you don’t deserve recognition if you’re not perfect. This mindset is counterproductive and takes away from the satisfaction you can derive from a well-done job.
Perfectionism can be dangerous because it can bring up feelings of inadequacy, shame and low self-esteem. If this becomes an issue for you, remember that it’s okay to take a break or switch to another area of nursing for a little while.
Celebrate your successes
Achieving the goals you set for yourself can be one of the most satisfying experiences. We all have moments when we feel proud of what we’ve accomplished.
Whether you excelled at a specific task or just completed a large project, acknowledging your success will help boost your mood and increase work satisfaction. Find time during the day to reflect on your accomplishments and note what you did well.
Doing so can also improve performance because it will make it easier for you to figure out how to replicate that success. Not only will you boost work satisfaction, but also those around you may notice and offer praise.
You could even create a reward system with small, achievable tasks that allow you to pat yourself on the back.
Leverage networking opportunities
Building solid relationships with other team members, using time off wisely and leveraging networking opportunities can help nurses feel appreciated in their jobs.
Nurses need to understand the impact of their roles on the people around them and how they affect those around them.
Even small gestures, such as acknowledging when a coworker has done something well or going out of your way to thank someone, can make all the difference.
Takeaway thoughts
Work satisfaction is vital for a nurse’s quality of life and the patients they care for. A lack of work-life balance, an unfulfilling job or workplace conflict are just some of the factors that can lead to work dissatisfaction.
There are many ways that nurses can take action to increase their happiness at work. Nurse managers and administrators should be aware of these risks to prevent them from happening in their hospitals.
By leveraging the tips mentioned above, you’ll be able to identify what makes you happy in your job and increase your work satisfaction.
