Abstract
As the most trusted healthcare profession for 22 years running, nurses are often assumed to have a great deal of knowledge and experience regarding the importance of health promoting behaviors such as healthy eating, physical activity, and stress management. However, this knowledge very often does not translate into sustainable change in their own personal and professional practice, as the evidence reveals that nurses often place their patients’ health and well-being well above their own (Linton & Koonman, 2020). Harnessing both personal strengths and leadership skills related to the challenges facing today’s nursing workforce, this presentation will support cultivating a healthy work environment beginning with self-care. Topics include eating a whole food, plant-forward diet, being physically active, prioritizing sleep, and engaging in mindfulness and positive psychology activities. Learners will complete a self-assessment to develop a personal action plan and will develop strategies to improve workplace systems to engage in effective, positive team and patient interactions. Nurses are in a unique position to serve as role models to educate, inspire and empower patients and fellow nurses to prioritize personal and professional health and well-being.
Notes
References:
1. Chung HC, Chen YC, Chang SC, Hsu WL, Hsieh TC. Nurses' Well-Being, Health-Promoting Lifestyle and Work Environment Satisfaction Correlation: A Psychometric Study for Development of Nursing Health and Job Satisfaction Model and Scale. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020;17(10):3582. Published 2020 May 20. doi:10.3390/ijerph17103582
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7277543/
2. Ross A, Touchton-Leonard K, Perez A, Wehrlen L, Kazmi N, Gibbons S. Factors That Influence Health-Promoting Self-care in Registered Nurses: Barriers and Facilitators. ANS Adv Nurs Sci. 2019;42(4):358-373. doi:10.1097/ANS.0000000000000274
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31299691/
3. Keele R. To Role Model or Not? Nurses' Challenges in Promoting a Healthy Lifestyle. Workplace Health Saf. 2019;67(12):584-591. doi:10.1177/2165079919828738
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30827201/
4. Aiken LH, Lasater KB, Sloane DM, et al. Physician and Nurse Well-Being and Preferred Interventions to Address Burnout in Hospital Practice: Factors Associated With Turnover, Outcomes, and Patient Safety. JAMA Health Forum. 2023;4(7):e231809. Published 2023 Jul 7. doi:10.1001/jamahealthforum.2023.1809
5. Linton M, Koonmen J. Self-care as an ethical obligation for nurses. Nurs Ethics. Published online July 28, 2020. doi:10.1177/0969733020940371
6. Almeida D, Figueiredo AR, Lucas P. Nurses' Well-Being at Work in a Hospital Setting: A Scoping Review. Healthcare (Basel). 2024;12(2):173. Published 2024 Jan 11. doi:10.3390/healthcare12020173
Sigma Membership
Delta Beta at-Large
Type
Presentation
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
N/A
Research Approach
N/A
Keywords:
Stress and Coping, Workforce, Health Equity, Social Determinants of Health
Recommended Citation
Craig-Rodriguez, Alicia A. and Bernstein, Melissa, "Caring for the Caregiver: Enhancing Personal and Professional Well-Being" (2025). Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE). 116.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/chwe/2025/presentations_2025/116
Conference Name
Creating Healthy Work Environments
Conference Host
Sigma Theta Tau International
Conference Location
Phoenix, Arizona, USA
Conference Year
2025
Rights Holder
All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record.
Review Type
Abstract Review Only: Reviewed by Event Host
Acquisition
Proxy-submission
Caring for the Caregiver: Enhancing Personal and Professional Well-Being
Phoenix, Arizona, USA
As the most trusted healthcare profession for 22 years running, nurses are often assumed to have a great deal of knowledge and experience regarding the importance of health promoting behaviors such as healthy eating, physical activity, and stress management. However, this knowledge very often does not translate into sustainable change in their own personal and professional practice, as the evidence reveals that nurses often place their patients’ health and well-being well above their own (Linton & Koonman, 2020). Harnessing both personal strengths and leadership skills related to the challenges facing today’s nursing workforce, this presentation will support cultivating a healthy work environment beginning with self-care. Topics include eating a whole food, plant-forward diet, being physically active, prioritizing sleep, and engaging in mindfulness and positive psychology activities. Learners will complete a self-assessment to develop a personal action plan and will develop strategies to improve workplace systems to engage in effective, positive team and patient interactions. Nurses are in a unique position to serve as role models to educate, inspire and empower patients and fellow nurses to prioritize personal and professional health and well-being.
Description
Harnessing both personal strengths and leadership skills related to the challenges facing today’s nursing workforce, this presentation will support cultivating a healthy work environment beginning with self-care. Learners will complete a self-assessment to develop a personal action plan and will develop lifestyle strategies to improve their own and workplace systems to engage in effective, positive team and patient interactions.