While a fulfilling and selfless vocation, the nursing profession can often be challenging. Despite concerns over burnout for nursing professionals, teaching and encouraging self-care practices among nurses to sustain their mental and emotional well-being remains uncommon. That’s why 2021 research in the Journal of Radiology Nursing to facilitate self-care habits among nurses. Notable works on mindfulness, such as The Mindful Nurse by Carmel Sheridan, or on cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) strategies, such as those outlined in Stress Less, Accomplish More by Emily Fletcher, have been recommended for their potential to guide nurses on a journey toward improved well-being.
Books are a crucial resource for developing self-care habits but can be a bit of a luxury given the costs per book and the hassle of bringing individual volumes around during a shift. Fortunately, the Everand digital library hosts several books on personal growth for an affordable monthly fee, including Change Your Life by Wayne Dyer and The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey, alongside the earlier mentioned titles. Its selection caters to the dynamic lifestyle of nurses by providing alternative formats, from podcasts to audiobooks, and by incorporating highlighting and offline features that enhance the reading experience. By making these resources more convenient and available to nurses, digital libraries are thus essential for helping nurses help themselves.
In the subsequent sections, we delve into four must-read books that have the potential to significantly impact nurses’ lives. This will provide tools and skills for personal growth, resilience, and overall well-being.
The Mindful Nurse by Carmel Sheridan
Sheridan’s The Mindful Nurse: Using the Power of Mindfulness and Compassion to Help You Thrive in Your Work is a comprehensive resource for nurses aiming to integrate mindfulness into their professional and personal lives. This focuses on everyday applications, stress management, and even mindful driving and eating to help nurses recognize unhelpful thinking patterns and understand what to do about them in a self-compassionate way. Therefore, the book doesn’t simply address the challenges nurses face, but by providing practical exercises, promotes self-care and improved patient care simultaneously.
Stress Less, Accomplish More by Emily Fletcher
Fletcher, a meditation expert, introduces the Z-Technique to help individuals better manage difficult situations. The book details a step-by-step process, including 2-3 minutes of mindfulness exercise, 12-13 minutes of meditation where you focus your mind on one word or sound, and 2-3 minutes of gratitude and manifestation. In total, the process takes only 17 minutes, making it practical for busy nurses to do when at home or when they’re not on call. The author warns of an adjustment period where stress detox may manifest as unusual emotions, but as the practice continues, nurses may experience reduced anxiety, improved focus, and better overall well-being.
Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy by David D. Burns, M.D.
This book delves into cognitive therapy techniques designed to challenge and reframe negative thoughts. However, by employing a reader-friendly approach, renowned psychiatrist Dr. Burns makes complex psychological concepts understandable and applicable for busy nurses who may not have the luxury of extensive reading time. This makes the resource invaluable for nurses facing the constant pressure of critical decision-making and dealing with high-stakes scenarios.
The Little Book of Ikigai by Ken Mogi
By aligning personal and professional goals with a sense of purpose, nurses can enhance their overall satisfaction and well-being. That is why Mogi’s book introduces the Japanese concept of the Venn Diagram of Purpose, which centers around discovering joy and satisfaction in life. By exploring the intersection of passion, vocation, profession, and mission, this book serves as a motivational tool for nurses looking to derive meaning from their work and personal lives and guides nurses toward a deeper understanding of their purpose.
These four must-read books offer nurses valuable insights and practical strategies to foster personal growth and positive change in their lives. Whether it’s through mindfulness practices, cognitive-behavioral therapy techniques, or finding purpose, each resource provides a unique perspective and actionable steps for nurses to enhance their well-being and thrive in their demanding profession.
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