Nurses Discuss Relaxation Techniques To  Help Them Alleviate Stress

Caring for others is what nurses do best. But often, they are so busy doing what has to be done that they forget to take care of themselves.

At Rome Memorial Hospital’s second annual "Salute to Nurses," Cathleen Kelly, BSN, RN, HNC, RM, encouraged the nurses to "take care of yourself so you can take care of others."

The hospital’s Medical Staff donated the funds for the program, which attracted approximately 40 hospital nurses at the luncheon program and 35 nurses, nursing students and instructors during the dinner program.

Kelly, a Usui Reiki master and practitioner of reflexology, started the program with techniques to help her audience relax. With soothing music in the background, she led the nurses through exercises in deep breathing and imagery to help them find that quiet place inside where they can escape the stress.

As a registered nurse, Kelly spent 19 years caring for adults and children before her career took her in a new direction. Now, as the founder and owner of Holistic Horizons, she teaches courses in holistic nursing and Usui Reiki. She was the first nurse in Central New York to be nationally certified in holistic nursing by the American Holistic Nurses’ Certification Corp.

At her Baldwinsville office, she also offers appointments for Reiki and reflexology. Both of these techniques are based upon the theory of tapping into the body’s own energy to alleviate stress and activate the body’s healing powers.

"We are known as a caring profession, but as nurses we don’t do a lot of caring for ourselves or each other," Kelly said. "We have to learn to recognize and tune into our body’s signals and reverse the stress response, because otherwise it will only get worse until we do something about it."

Kelly urged the nurses to take time during the day to reverse the stress response. "A minute or two of deep breathing can calm the mind."

"We can learn to be focused and grounded, without being frazzled," she said. "We can take control of our thinking patterns to access our own healing because we know our thinking influences our health. Studies have shown the link between mental stress and physical illness."

Kelly recommended a model of self-care that focuses on a wellness lifestyle. "We need a healthy diet and adequate rest. We need to be supportive of one another and incorporate daily therapies, such as keeping a journal and other relaxation techniques into our lives," she said.

Rejuvenation of the spirit also comes from doing those things that you enjoy. "Culturally, we are task-oriented and focused on achievement," she said. "For many people, it’s hard for them to take time out for leisure activities. But, skiing, knitting, yoga – whatever you like to do – helps us to relax."

The nurses who attended Kelly’s lecture "walked away with a sense that they can do things to control their stress level in the chaotic environment that we work in," said Connie Jastremski, MS, RN, Assistant Vice President Nursing. "And even in the workplace, many of those things are easy to do. The simple act of turning off a light, adding soft music, and reminding our peers to take a break when they look frazzled can break the stress cycle."

"And many of the techniques that we learn and implement to alleviate our stress levels can also be brought to the patient," Jastremski added. "We’re better caregivers when we learn to take care of ourselves."