Self-care for nurses isn’t about luxury or perfection. It’s about finding realistic ways to recover, protect your well-being, and sustain yourself in a profession and avoid nurse burnout before it sets in. 

Below are 50 practical self-care ideas designed for working nurses, with a focus on realistic ways to recharge and reduce burnout.

Physical Self-Care Ideas for Nurses

Your body is your most essential tool at work. These ideas focus on restoring energy, reducing physical strain, and supporting recovery.

1. Prioritize sleep, even if it means saying no to extra commitments
   
2. Stretch before and after shifts to reduce muscle tension
   
3. Take short walks outside on days off to reset your nervous system
   
4. Stay hydrated during shifts, even when it’s busy
   
5. Meal prep simple, nourishing foods for workdays
   
6. Schedule regular massages or bodywork, if accessible
   
7. Practice gentle yoga or mobility exercises
   
8. Invest in supportive footwear designed for long shifts
   
9. Take power naps when your schedule allows
   
10. Try breathing exercises to calm your body after stressful moments

Emotional and Mental Self-Care for Nurses

Nursing often requires emotional strength without much space to process it. These ideas support emotional regulation and mental health.

11. Journal about difficult shifts to process emotions
    
12. Talk with peers who understand the realities of nursing and can offer mutual support
    
13. Set boundaries around work-related conversations on days off
    
14. Practice mindfulness or meditation, even for five minutes
    
15. Limit doom-scrolling after work to protect your mental energy
    
16. Seek professional counseling or therapy when needed
    
17. Listen to music that helps you decompress after shifts
    
18. Name compassion fatigue when you feel it; it’s not a personal failure
    
19. Practice self-compassion during high-stress periods
    
20. Allow yourself to feel pride in the work you do

Self-Care During and Between Shifts

Self-care doesn’t always happen on days off. These ideas fit into real workdays.

21. Take your breaks when possible and protect them
    
22. Step outside for fresh air during longer shifts
    
23. Pack snacks that support steady energy levels
    
24. Use during intense moments
    
25. Create a calming post-shift routine
    
26. Change out of scrubs as soon as you get home
    
27. Keep a comforting item in your work bag
    
28. Hydrate and refuel as needed during or after shifts to support recovery
    
29. Recognize when work conditions are contributing to stress and seek appropriate support
    
30. Ask for help when you need it

Social and Relationship Self-Care

Connection matters, especially in emotionally demanding professions.

31. Spend time with people who recharge you
    
32. Say no to social obligations when you need rest
    
33. Connect with other nurses and peers outside of work
    
34. Plan low-effort social activities on days off
    
35. Maintain relationships outside healthcare
    
36. Set clear work-life boundaries
    
37. Laugh often; humor is a powerful stress reliever
    
38. Share meals with people you care about
    
39. Stay connected even during busy seasons
    
40. Protect your emotional bandwidth

Long-Term Self-Care and Burnout Prevention

Sustainable nursing careers require proactive care, not just recovery.

41. Reflect on what drains you most at work
    
42. Identify what brings meaning to your role
    
43. Explore continuing education or new specialties
    
44. Consider schedule changes if possible
    
45. Take PTO before burnout forces it
    
46. Revisit your professional goals regularly
    
47. Advocate for yourself in the workplace
    
48. Practice saying no without guilt
    
49. Celebrate milestones in your nursing career
    
50. Remember that your well-being matters as much as your patients’

Why Self-Care Matters for Nurses

Nursing is built on showing up for others, often in high-pressure, emotionally charged situations. Over time, that constant demand can take a real toll, especially when rest and recovery are treated as optional instead of necessary.

Self-care helps nurses reduce burnout, protect patient safety, and stay connected to the purpose behind their work. When nurses are supported and well-resourced, they’re better able to focus, respond, and provide the level of care their patients deserve. Just as importantly, self-care helps preserve your own well-being, so the work you do remains sustainable over the long term.

Supporting nurses means recognizing that well-being and professional growth go hand in hand. At �������������, we’re committed to helping nurses build sustainable careers through flexible nursing programs designed to support both personal and professional goals. If you’re considering your next step in nursing, explore the pathways that align with where you are now, and where you want to go.

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1. Understand the NCLEX Exam

The NCLEX is a standardized assessment overseen by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN). Passing this exam is imperative, as it serves as the gateway for all nurses acquiring their nursing license and enabling them to practice as RNs.

NCLEX Format and Structure

Understanding the anticipated question count on the NCLEX can be a reassuring strategy for managing anxiety. The variable format of the NCLEX features a range of questions, spanning from 75 to 265, instead of one set number that each RN candidate must answer. The point of this format is for great test takers to not have to answer so many questions and for people who struggle with testing to have ample time to demonstrate their knowledge. Test-takers are administered questions until enough information is gathered to determine a pass or fail, all within five hours, including breaks.

Content Categories and Weightage

The NCLEX is structured in four major client needs categories: safe and effective care environment, health promotion and maintenance, psychosocial integrity, and physiological integrity. Understanding question types, the variable question count, and the weightage of the four client needs categories is vital for effective preparation.

2. Prepare a Study Plan

An effective NCLEX study plan will include timelines and goals for tackling different content areas of the test. Having the right resources is instrumental in preparing for and passing the exam for RN candidates.

• Practice test questions
• Work with a Tutor
• Get together in study groups
• Go back to your textbooks
• Keep your nursing program course notes handy
• Use other commercially available NCLEX-RN prep materials

3. Identify NCLEX-Specific Stressors

Navigating the NCLEX comes with its unique set of stressors, which can significantly impact aspiring nurses. Common sources of stress and anxiety often stem from the high stakes of the exam, as passing is crucial for obtaining an RN license. Addressing performance pressure is essential, ensuring that you approach the NCLEX with confidence and a well-prepared mindset. Some ways to manage this pressure are to visit a mental health professional, learn more about the NCLEX-RN requirements, and to remind yourself you can take the NCLEX-RN more than once if need be.

4. Get to Know NCLEX Test-Taking Strategies

Taking the NCLEX requires not only a comprehensive understanding of nursing knowledge but also a mastery of effective test-taking strategies. As this examination encompasses a variety of questions and  can present a challenging time constraint, having a well-structured approach is essential.

Time Management Techniques

Effective time management is a critical aspect of success when facing the NCLEX. This includes setting time limits for each question, avoiding getting stuck on challenging items, and ensuring that there’s ample time for review. Time management techniques help test-takers maintain a steady pace, ensuring they have the opportunity to address all questions and reduce the risk of rushing through the later sections of the exam.

Dealing with Uncertainty and Guessing

Dealing with uncertainty and guessing can be inevitable on the NCLEX, where not all questions may be answerable with absolute certainty. It’s crucial to avoid getting bogged down on a single question and to make educated guesses when necessary, using hints or clues within the question to make the best-informed choice.

5. Adjust Your Approach Different Types of Questions

Navigating the NCLEX’s diverse question types demands a multifaceted approach to ensure success. Understanding the unique requirements of each question format is key. By tailoring your approach to each question type, you can maximize your performance on the NCLEX and demonstrate your readiness to excel as an RN.

• Multiple-choice: Carefully read the stem and all answer choices before selecting the best response.
• Select All That Apply (SATA): Identify all correct options by considering each choice independently and assessing whether it appropriately answers what the question is asking.
• Prioritization: This requires a keen understanding of client care and the ability to rank interventions effectively.
• Math Calculation: Necessitate precision in solving mathematical problems, keeping in mind rounding instructions and standard conversion rates when applicable.
• Chart/Exhibit-Based: Require the interpretation of a larger amount of data for a thorough response.
• Audio: Involve attentive listening to provide accurate answers.
• Fill-in-the-blank: Follow specific rounding guidelines if provided while entering the correct answer.

6. Prepare Mentally for the NCLEX Exam

Mental preparation for the NCLEX is a crucial aspect of success. Embracing mindfulness and meditation techniques can help calm nerves and improve focus during the test. Visualizations and positive affirmations are powerful tools to boost confidence and alleviate anxiety, enabling candidates to approach the exam with a positive mindset. Incorporating breathing exercises for relaxation can further aid in maintaining composure throughout the testing process. These mental preparation strategies equip aspiring nurses with the inner strength and resilience needed to tackle the NCLEX with confidence and achieve their professional goals.

7. Create a Supportive Environment

Creating a supportive environment is pivotal in ensuring a successful NCLEX journey. Building a robust support system can provide the motivation and encouragement needed to persevere through the challenging preparation period. Open and honest communication with family and friends helps establish a nurturing atmosphere, as they can better understand the demands and offer essential emotional backing. Handling social media and peer comparisons is equally vital. It’s important to avoid getting entangled in the stress-inducing cycle of comparing one’s progress to others. Fostering a supportive environment that prioritizes emotional well-being can significantly enhance one’s ability to stay focused and composed throughout the NCLEX preparation process.

8. Manage Test-Day Anxiety

Managing anxiety is a critical component of NCLEX success. Preparing the night before can significantly reduce stress by ensuring that all necessary materials, identification, and any essential documents are organized and ready. Proper nutrition and staying hydrated on the day of the exam are fundamental to maintaining optimal mental and physical condition, allowing for clear thinking and sustained energy.

Additionally, practicing positive visualization before the exam can help instill a sense of confidence and composure. These strategies collectively contribute to a calm and collected test-day experience, empowering candidates to approach the NCLEX with the utmost readiness and focus. Try to schedule the examination so that you have appropriate time for self-care both before and after the exam. Self-care can go a long way to alleviating stress.

During the NCLEX Exam

Managing your mindset and approach during the NCLEX is necessary for a successful outcome. To avoid panic during the test, it’s essential to stay composed and not let challenging questions disrupt your overall rhythm. Using breaks effectively is crucial for recharging and regaining focus. Taking short, purposeful breaks can help maintain mental sharpness. One ten minute break every 50 minutes has been shown to recharge ones mental acuity and focus. Staying focused and confident throughout the exam is essential. Believe in your preparation and ability to tackle each question, maintaining a positive and resilient mindset.

Post-Exam Coping Strategies

After completing the NCLEX, it’s crucial to employ effective post-exam coping strategies. Debriefing and reflecting on the exam can help you identify areas of improvement and better prepare for future attempts if necessary. However, it’s equally important to avoid post-exam rumination, as excessive dwelling on the test can lead to unnecessary stress. Instead, reward yourself for your efforts and dedication. Celebrate the journey you’ve undertaken, regardless of the exam’s outcome, and acknowledge your hard work.

Coping with NCLEX Results

To cope with NCLEX , begin by understanding the NCLEX scoring system to grasp your performance and identify areas for improvement. Managing expectations and emotions is essential, as your results may not always align with your expectations. Stay resilient and adaptable in the face of varying outcomes. If a retake is necessary, create a well-structured plan to address weaknesses and enhance your chances of success in subsequent attempts. These coping strategies help candidates navigate the challenging terrain of NCLEX results, ensuring they remain focused on their ultimate goal of becoming a registered nurse.

9. Maintain Overall Well-being during NCLEX Preparation

Ensuring overall well-being while preparing for the NCLEX is a paramount concern. Balancing study and self-care is crucial, as it prevents burnout and maintains mental and emotional stability. Physical exercise plays a significant role in stress management, as it releases endorphins and enhances overall resilience. Moreover, the impact of nutrition on managing anxiety should not be underestimated, as a well-balanced diet can provide the necessary energy and focus for effective study sessions. By addressing these aspects, aspiring nurses can optimize their well-being throughout their NCLEX preparation journey, setting the stage for success.

10. Seek Professional Support

Seeking professional support during your NCLEX preparation is a wise step to ensure that you’re equipped to navigate the challenges effectively. Recognizing when you need help is an important first step. Accessing various mental health resources can provide valuable guidance and emotional support during the stressful preparation period. Joining supportive study groups and communities can foster a sense of camaraderie and shared learning experiences, reducing feelings of isolation. These avenues for professional support can significantly enhance your overall readiness and well-being, helping you confidently approach the NCLEX with a robust support network in place.

The journey to becoming a registered nurse, culminating in the NCLEX, is undeniably challenging. It’s not just a test of knowledge but also a test of mental and emotional resilience. To succeed, we’ve explored a range of strategies, from understanding the exam’s format and unique question types to maintaining overall well-being and seeking professional support when needed.

Yet, as you stand on the cusp of this significant milestone, it’s essential to remember that managing stress and anxiety is an integral part of the process. Embrace mindfulness, visualization, and positive affirmations, as well as practicing effective breathing exercises. This can reduce anxiety and bolster your confidence on test day.

As you enter the NCLEX exam room, take a deep breath, trust in your abilities, and recall the reasons that led you to this moment. With mindfulness, visualization, and a positive mindset, you can navigate this challenge with confidence.

Whether you’re beginning your healthcare journey with our ASN program, pursuing a traditional BSN degree or accelerated BSN program, advancing through our RN to BSN program, or reaching higher with an MSN degree, discover which nursing program aligns with your career goals by exploring our nursing school.

To help you prioritize healthy living, we’ve put together seven easy lifestyle hacks you can work into your own daily routine to keep thriving!

1. Get everything ready the night before

How many times have you pulled out of the driveway and realized you forgot your phone charger, or your lunch, or your work shoes? Worse, how many times have you gotten all the way to your workplace and realized you forgot something crucial? Avoid these late-making habits by getting everything ready the night before and place your things beside the door. If you need to keep something in the refrigerator until the last minute, leave yourself a note or place something colorful or unusual by the door to jog your memory.

2. Lunch smarter, not harder

Bringing a lunch to work is a great way to save money and time. Shop for and pack all the healthy things you want your future self to eat, especially high energy foods like fruits, nuts, beans, and whole grains.

One great way to prepare in advance for lunchtime is to double the recipe of every meal you make at home. Make small portions and freeze them in lunch-ready containers. So when it’s late or you’re tired and you still need to get ready for the next day (see step 1), you’ll have a lunch portion ready and have one less thing to worry about.

Related resource: How to Create a Healthy Work Environment in Nursing

3. Bike to work

Yes, it takes a little more preparation, but biking to work might become one of the best parts of your day. In addition to being a great, low-impact form of regular exercise, riding your bike gets you out of traffic and makes your daily routine more interesting … all great stress relievers. You’ll also get to meet different people and see different parts of the city. Bonus: You’ll save so much money on gas!

4. Politely remove yourself

We’ve all been there: on the receiving end of a long conversation that we don’t have time for but just can’t seem to pull ourselves away. If you work in healthcare, this uncomfortable interaction can take up significant time that you need for your work. It can be very liberating to cultivate a A good place to start: “I enjoyed our conversation, but I have to go and take care of another patient. I’m not far if you need me.”

5. Watch and workout as you watch TV

Any sane medical professional knows that to have a life while raising a family or going to school, you have to multitask. So make a rule for yourself: If the TV is on and you’re watching it, you’re also doing something productive. This may be yoga stretches, folding laundry, or fixing that shirt that’s been missing a button for months. It won’t take long to make this habit stick. You’ll be amazed at the amount of laundry that can get sorted during a single episode of “Game of Thrones.”

Related resource: How to Balance Nursing School With Work and Family Life

6. Healthy feet, healthy head

Nurses, medical assistants, and other healthcare workers, you must take care of your feet! You’re on them all day, and you only have two. In fact, A few basics to keep in rotation:

• Wear good shoes. Yes, they’re expensive, but so is a hip replacement.
• Stretch. All. The. Time. Here are
• Elevate, massage, and use cold packs when you’re at home.
• Soak your feet. Epsom salts work wonders; salt absorbs water and reduces swelling.
• Use orthotics; they are your friends.
• Take NSAIDs to prevent short-term swelling.

Related Resource: Foot Care for Nurses

7. Power down at night

There are many reasons to turn off your phone two hours before bedtime. Whether you’re checking the status of a patient or cramming for a test the following day, it can be hard to appreciate the quiet stillness that precedes sleep. But the light of a phone screen delays your body’s release of sleep-inducing melatonin, and electronic communication also stimulates cognitive brain waves that prevent sleep. So turn that screen off, and pick up a book if you’re still not quite ready to catch some zzz’s.

Related resource: 10 Tips for Better Sleep During Nursing School

Despite the stress that many vigilant medical professionals experience during the regular course of their jobs, it’s important to take a few steps to achieve a healthy balance in a demanding field.

At �������������, we take a holistic approach to healthcare education, so making sure our students stay healthy is a priority for us. Whether you’re beginning your healthcare journey with our ASN program, pursuing a 3 year BSN degree or accelerated BSN program, advancing through our RN to BSN program, or reaching higher with an MSN degree, we’ll help you develop healthy habits that last throughout your career. Discover which nursing program aligns with your wellness goals by exploring our nursing school.

A career in nursing can be uniquely rewarding for anyone raising kids, but it does come with unique challenges. If you’re a parent in nursing school or starting your nursing career, consider these seven pieces of practical advice.

1. Establish Priorities From Day 1

When you’re a nurse raising kids, you usually have a lot of lives depending on you—at home and at work. Neither your patients nor your children can be prioritized over the other. You have to show up for every nursing shift fully present, and you have to raise your kids, attending to their physical and emotional needs. It can be difficult because nurses are notoriously busy, but it’s easier for everyone when you set clear parameters and priorities from the start.

Be open when you talk with your family and supervisors. You may not be able to attend every soccer game or piano recital, but you can commit to some, and you can show your kids your efforts to secure the best shifts for them. Coworkers, too, will occasionally ask you to swap shifts or to talk with them after work, and sometimes you should, but not at the expense of a family priority.

2. Simplify Your Life

As you’re establishing priorities, you may find yourself unable to drive or arrange carpools for every activity your kids—or you—want to do. Life can become very complicated very quickly, and juggling your work schedule plus a dozen other responsibilities is almost impossible for anyone, but it’s harder for nurses who lack the set schedule of a 9-5 day job. Create plans to simplify meal planning, housework, and your kids’ schedules. Just like a cluttered workspace inhibits productivity, a cluttered and complicated schedule will impede your work-life balance.

Related Resource: Try These De-Stress Techniques During Nursing School

3. Use, But Don’t Rely, On Your Training

Kids get sick, and nurses raising kids have a unique ability to spot symptoms right away. It’s a great asset for you and your family to be able to bandage wounds and assess your children’s health, but don’t forget they need regular medical care just like any other kid. Being a parent who’s a nurse can save you doctor visits if you don’t like the sound of that cough, but don’t always rely on your nursing experience. Providers who aren’t family members can provide a more empirical assessment.

4. Depend On Your Support Network

Whether it’s your spouse, parents, siblings, or neighbors, there are people who love you and your children, and it’s okay to depend on that support network sometimes. Nurses can do a lot, but they can’t do everything—like be in two places at the same time. When you have a 12-hour shift, especially, it’s okay to look to loved ones to be with your kids after school and make sure they’re fed.

Related Resource: What You Should Know ������������� Mental Health and Nursing

5. Bring Your Experiences Home With You

A work-life balance doesn’t mean pretending your work life doesn’t exist when you’re home, or vice versa. As a nurse raising kids, you’re going to experience moments of humor, wonder, and tragedy that parents with a desk job never do. Your children can benefit from the stories and lessons you bring home with you, so don’t totally close them off from that other world.

6. Remember Your Children Aren’t Your Patients

That said, remember that your patients aren’t your children. Angry, disagreeable patients can frustrate you, and your kids will sometimes do the same, but this is when a work-life balance is essential. Learn to separate your emotions so it doesn’t negatively affect how you treat your patients or influence your patience level with your children.

Making this distinction can also help you deal with loss, especially when you work in pediatrics, or had a patient whose laugh reminded you of your daughter. Those comparisons and associations can make the grief especially devastating, but never forget your patients are still your patients, not your children. Facing the reality of mortality can be terrifying, for parents more than anyone, but it’s also a reminder that life is precious.

Related Resource: How to Cope with Loss As a Nurse

7. Find Some Time for Yourself

That may sound impossible to any parent, much less a nurse raising kids, but it’s a critical part of avoiding burnout. Your work and your home life both require a lot of physical, mental, and emotional energy, and if you only give and give and give, eventually you’ll be drained. Carving out a little time for yourself, whether it’s 15 minutes with your coffee before your kids get up or a matinee once a month, can refresh you. Even consciously making your commute time your time can prove beneficial. Try to push away all of the thoughts about what you’ll have to do as soon as you get home or begin rounds and devote that time to yourself.

Related Resource: Nursing Burnout Is Real, and Here’s How to Fight It

At Joyce, we understand the challenges of being parents and nurses. We’ve juggled those roles ourselves, and we want to help our nursing students who are parents succeed in school and their careers. Learn more about our nursing faculty and programs in Draper, Utah.

At �������������, we understand the challenges of being parents and nurses. Our experienced nursing faculty has juggled these roles themselves. Whether you’re beginning your healthcare journey with our ASN program, pursuing a 3 year BSN degree or accelerated BSN program, advancing through our RN to BSN program, or reaching higher with an MSN degree, we’ll support you in balancing your education with family life. Discover which nursing program aligns with your career goals by exploring our nursing school.

Your education, your experience, and your feet may be your three most important assets as a healthcare worker. Follow our suggestions below to take care of those feet so you can get back to enjoying your work.

9 Ways Healthcare Workers Can Promote Foot Health

What is Compassion Fatigue?

is a state of emotional and physical exhaustion resulting from prolonged exposure to trauma or traumatized individuals. According to the , compassion fatigue happens as a result of the depletion of ones ability to cope with ones everyday environment. Professionals who are regularly exposed to trauma or high-stress environments, like those in healthcare, emergency, and community service, are likely more susceptible to developing compassion fatigue.

Related Resource: What is Compassion Fatigue?

Compassion Fatigue in Critical Care

Critical care nurses, perhaps more than most, experience trauma every day, and that repeated exposure can put them at particular risk of compassion fatigue.

The solution, of course, is not to simply avoid this line of nursing work. From their very name, these nurses are critical to saving lives and improving patient health. This means the work can also be particularly fulfilling, but only as long as critical care nurses monitor their own mental health. If you’re a nurse in adult, pediatric, or neonatal critical care, remember that you’re making a huge difference and doing necessary work, but also realize you’re at risk of compassion fatigue. You need to be on emotional guard for losing your compassion for patients, and you need to take care of yourself and your mind as you care for others.

Related Resource: Practical Advice for Choosing Your Nursing Specialty

Compassion Fatigue With Terminal Illness

Similar to critical care nurses, oncology healthcare workers are likely to have high rates of compassion exhaustion. The reason is obvious: Nurses and medical assistants who work with cancer patients day after day see a lot of death. That constant loss can sap even the most compassionate healthcare worker in a matter of years, regardless of how impactful the work is. Your efforts may seem futile when you constantly experience loss. That, of course, isn’t true. Oncology and terminally ill patients need and deserve compassionate, dignified care as much as anyone. If you’ve chosen this or a similar line of healthcare work, your reservoir of compassion may be tested, but your sense of purpose should never be.

Related Resource: What is a Hospice Nurse?

Compassion Fatigue From Lack of Support

Nurses — and all healthcare workers — who lacked peer support may be more likely to experience compassion fatigue than those with a strong, unified team. Your non-healthcare friends and spouse can be a nice escape from the trauma you witness at work, but you need your peers to process your grief and your confusion, because they know what you’re going through. Often, they’ve experienced the same thing themselves, and their support can sustain and even replenish your compassion when you feel drained.

Related Resource: How to Create a Healthy Work Environment in Nursing

Compassion Fatigue From Unstable Management

You’ll experience it at some point in any healthcare job: A manager you knew and loved leaves, and their replacement will be a manager who doesn’t know the role, the hospital, or the team as well. This kind of change is inevitable, and often it can ultimately be beneficial to staff, but the transition period puts more pressures on you and your coworkers. You may feel a lack of guidance and assistance, or just more tasks in addition to your normal duties. Either way, new management can stretch healthcare workers thin, at least for a few weeks, and in that time you’re more likely to experience fatigue.

Related Resource: Top 5 Qualities of a Great Nurse

Compassion Fatigue From Stress at Home

There will be times (like in periods of transition) when your work will be stressful, but this can be managed as long as you have time to recharge at home. If you don’t, or if your home life adds additional stress, this will exacerbate the normal challenges of working in healthcare, which can inhibit your ability to feel compassion. As a healthcare worker, you need to be able to separate the emotions you experience at work from those at home in order to continue working and living well. If you find yourself stressed even before you put on your scrubs, identify the cause at home, and address it.

Related Resource: 7 Life Hacks for Healthy Living as a Medical Professional

At �������������, we know how important healthcare work is, so we strive to equip all of our graduates with the tools they need to succeed for the rest of their lives. Nurses and OTAs run on compassion, and it’s important that you are aware of how to protect it.

In just about every nursing specialty, you’re going to come across death, and part of learning to become a nurse is learning how to cope with loss. Whether you knew them for 15 minutes or 10 years, when patients die, it will be hard, sometimes painful, but it’s part of the job of being a nurse. As you gain years of experience, you’ll become better at managing your emotions and grief, but wherever you are in your nursing career, keep these pieces of advice in mind.

Nursing school requires a lot, so avoiding stress entirely just isn’t always realistic. Some days you have to accept the reality of nursing school stress, but you can always stress less, and sometimes defeat it entirely with a few techniques.