5 Burnout Prevention Tips for Nursing Students Juggling Work and Studies
Little can compare to the immense responsibility that comes with being a nurse. We often hear that this profession is rewarding professionally and personally but little in terms of how exhausting it can be. While you do get the chance to make a lasting difference in your patients’ lives, it can also be pretty tough carrying all that alone.
Nurses are always responsible for providing their clients with the best care, and advanced degrees are an essential prerequisite if you want to perform well in your career. Besides, juggling work and your studies can be challenging if you’re a full-time worker.
Underperforming in either category can lead to some pretty negative consequences and impact you in the long run. However, with a few smart adjustments, you can make sure that you juggle both things without burning yourself out. If you’re interested in learning more, keep reading below.
Pick a remote degree
Recent events have drastically transformed almost every industry, and education has been no exception. Traditionally, most accredited degree programs were strictly on-site, requiring students to attend all classes on campus. While this might have worked for undergrad students and those who were only focusing on education, it made getting higher education extremely challenging for students juggling work simultaneously.
Recently, however, the COVID-19 outbreak has led to even the best institutes adapting and offering excellent online courses. Various states, especially Virginia, focused heavily on remote education for all levels of education.
Besides being ranked the 7th best state in the US, Virginia quickly leveraged eLearning, especially for higher education, to ensure students received education even during such times.
Given the state’s swift response to COVID-19, academic institutes prioritized online learning above anything else. What’s best is that the nursing programs online Virginia has to offer can be availed by students from anywhere in the world.
Don’t forget to sleep
If you’re feeling a little unfocused, tired, and irritable, and your performance at school and work is starting to drop, lack of sleep can be the most common culprit. Often, in trying to do too much, we end up sacrificing our sleep. Pulling a few all-nighters might not seem like much, and it may even be common among your peers. However, doing so comes with many negative side effects and can be incredibly damaging to your career and academics.
Adults need to get around 7-8 hours of sleep every day, and while you can cut back on some days that are a little more hectic, it’s important to stick to a schedule. If you’re a night owl more days than not, it can take time for your body to adjust to a proper sleeping schedule. Putting away all electronic devices, reading, and taking a warm shower can all be super helpful in letting you wind down and prepare your body for rest.
Additionally, it is imperative to stick to a proper schedule and ensure that you don’t keep changing your routine. Eventually, the melatonin levels in your body can adjust, and you can regain your focus and performance as you start to sleep better.
Take Breaks
At times, no matter how hard you try, it can be challenging to perform your best, be it at school or during your nursing duties. A nurse’s job can be incredibly taxing, both mentally and physically, and can leave you drained, with little energy to focus on school. Similarly, advanced nursing degrees require immense dedication, and without your full focus, getting the grades you want can be challenging.
No matter how thoroughly you plan your day and how dedicated you are, juggling all this can sometimes become incredibly draining. In such cases, it’s important to give yourself a breather and get some rest. Taking a few days off from work or school can give you much-needed space to gather energy and move forward.
Even a day’s break can be incredibly useful in helping you get some distance from work. Giving yourself a relaxing weekend spent with friends or in the spa can help clear your head and can help you tackle your schedule with renewed vigor.
Have a support group
You’ll be surprised at how beneficial a support group can be in helping you perform your best at work and school. As discussed earlier, no matter how hard you try, it can become challenging to juggle everything at once. If you have a support group, you can have some people who can look out for you and step in whenever you’re struggling to keep up.
A support group can be pretty diverse. It can include some loved ones you can talk to and vent your frustrations to when things get a little too much or people who can step in and take charge if you’re having too much trouble.
Friends at school can help you study and explain topics you’re struggling with and can be an excellent help when managing projects and presentations. At work, your colleagues can help cover some shifts or help you out with patients who are giving you some trouble. Moreover, you can also have people around to help manage things at home, especially if you have children. Overall, a support group can be crucial in helping you manage to study and work simultaneously without burning out.
Stay Organized
While you can always have people step in when you’re feeling too overwhelmed, one of the best ways to prevent burnout, whether you’re a professional or a student, is to keep everything organized. With such a hectic schedule, letting anything slip unnoticed can lead to things piling up at the most crucial moments. Staying organized can be hard, but it can help you remain poised.
If you struggle to stick to tasks, having a planner where you organize tasks by order in priority can be extremely useful. This way, you can get done with the things that matter the most without forgetting anything or getting distracted. Moreover, staying organized can also ensure that your workplace is always clutter-free, which can help you think clearer and can help you get more done.
Conclusion
Getting an advanced degree while working as a nurse can be extremely challenging, but not if you follow these tips. If you want to ensure that you perform your best in your studies and professionally, these tips can help you stay on the right track.
Whether it’s sleeping well or picking the right degree program, small changes can often make the biggest difference and can help you prevent burnout in the long run.
