Our lives and nursing careers have been anything but ordinary since the COVID-19 pandemic started. Drastically changing lifestyles provides an opportunity and in some cases a necessity to rethink your mental wellbeing strategies and add some well-being activities to your toolbox.
Take some time to assess your own well-being and identify those areas in your life that you would like to mend or prioritize activities that you already know bring you joy and promote healing. If you are not quite sure what those areas are, try a variety of these methods to see what works best for you. Use the list below to help you with ideas.
Do you need a minute to refresh your mind and spirit? Take an immersive wellness break. These wellness breaks are short snippets of either breathing exercises or mindful escapes to help you refocus and recharge. Constant stimulation can cause our brains to lose focus. Taking a mindful break periodically will help your brain relax and start your new task with renewed energy. Take a minute to enjoy a break and return as often as you like!
eBook and Audiobook
Reflections on Covid 19 and Cancer Care: Stories by Oncology Nurses, Volume 2
Reflections on COVID-19 and Cancer Care: Stories by Oncology Nurses
ONS Voice Articles
The ONS Voice dedicates a column to stories written by nurses. Take a look at the great stories that were published Stories: Our Spirit. Our Practice
ONS Podcasts
Download one or more of the following images to help you find a relaxing moment as you work through your day. Some ideas on how to utilize these posters are to hang in a central place on your unit, use them as a screensaver for your computer, or as a digital background for virtual meetings. We have included a post-it size (3x3) option if you would like to add it after your email signature or print and affix to a notebook or next to your computer screen.
Do you need a minute to refresh your mind and spirit? Take an immersive wellness break. These wellness breaks are short snippets of either breathing exercises or mindful escapes to help you refocus and recharge. Constant stimulation can cause our brains to lose focus. Taking a mindful break periodically will help your brain relax and start your new task with renewed energy. Take a minute to enjoy a break and return as often as you like!
Physical Well-Being | Linked resources will take you to the source on how to implement these activities |
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Sleep/Rest & Rewind | Rest, Unwind and Reflect |
Nutrition | |
Take care of your feet | Self-Care for the Soles |
Plan a Vacation | |
Spring Cleaning |
Emotional/Spiritual Well-Being | |
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Smile | Amazing Power of a Smile |
Laugh/watch funny videos | |
Meditation/Guided Imagery/Mindfulness | |
Set boundaries/prioritize your time | |
Recognize your humanness | Take These Healthy Steps to Come Back from an Unexpected Event |
Make a social connection | ONS Members' Patient and Nurse Wellness Programs Embody Black History Month |
Positive affirmations | Use a Self-Care Mantra to Boost Compassion |
Intellectual/Creative Well-Being | |
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Storytelling | Use Storytelling to Hear your Patient's Voice |
Read | You Are What You Read |
Journaling | Writing for Wellness |
Art/coloring/painting |
Color Out Your Stress and Anxiety |
Music/listen/play | |
Learn a new skill/take a free course | Search for Learning Opportunities with ONS |
Recognize a coworker program | Unit pause after a difficult event | Team building exercises |
Random acts of kindness | Themed lunches | Staff birthday calendar |
Team time with the Chaplain | Welcome bags for new grads | Boards with well-being activities |
Well-being champions | Team huddles | Create a gratitude tree |
Create a mindfulness corner | Make a vision board | Share kudos at staff meetings |
Well-being challenges | Massage pad/chair | Positive message board |
Resource | What You Will Find | |
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Oncology Nurse Retreat: A Strength-Based Approach To Self-Care and Personal Resilience |
This CJON article discusses an oncology nurse retreat that focuses on self-care | |
This CJON article discusses the effectiveness of using nurse breaks for self-care. | ||
The Thrive Program: Building Oncology Nurse Resilience Through Self-Care Strategies |
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A Call to Action: Exploring Moral Resilience Toward a Culture of Ethical Practice | p. 12 includes recommendations for organizations across practice settings to cultivate and support moral resilience. Other parts of the document include recommendations for individuals and leaders along with the research findings around moral resilience. | |
The Future of Nursing 2020-2030: Charting a Path to Achieve Health, Chapter 10: Supporting the Health and Professional Well-Being of Nurses |
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Huddle Cards
ONS Podcasts (includes free NCPD)
ONS Congress Sessions
ONS Voice has a column dedicated to nurse well-being. For additional articles, you may search ONS Voice, by typing well-being in the search bar.
You may search for additional articles in CJON at https://www.ons.org/acq-search?search=cjon
The Oncology Nursing Foundation has developed resources to support oncology nurses in developing healthy routines, learn stress management techniques, and practice self-care. This curated content includes a Wellness Wisdom video series, breathing exercises, calming yoga offerings, and much more.
For a full list of resources, you can visit their Resiliency Resources page.
Your well-being is essential—for you, for ONS, for the entire nursing profession, and now for ANCC’s Magnet recognition program.
Well-being has long been a priority for the American Nurses Association (ANA), ANCC’s parent organization. Now, the ANA Enterprise asks healthcare institutions to join its commitment, making foundational support of nurses’ well-being an application requirement in its 2023 Magnet Application Manual. Nurse well-being is essential at both the organizational and unit levels, and Magnet-designated organizations’ nurse leaders must advocate for and acquire resources to support nurses’ well-being through strategic planning and involving both leaders and nurses in direct patient care across the organization.
ONS’s well-being resources support you, personally and professionally, and your organization on its journey to Magnet recognition.