Unifying Vision: Strategies that Influence Nurse Self-Care Practices

Abstract

Background: Self-care is about physical health and includes the individual\u27s emotional, mental, and spiritual aspects. Self-care behaviors are tailored to an individual\u27s perceptions and values. Stress among nurses has been linked to high turnover rates and nursing shortages. When nurses experience job-related stress, effectively managing a patient\u27s care becomes difficult. Purpose: This project aimed to create a website presenting creative strategies that encourage a healthy lifestyle and teach nurses how to engage in self-care practices. Through interviews with executives at a privately owned, multi-specialty physician clinic, stakeholders identified the need for easy access to information supporting nurses\u27 ability to practice self-care. Design Method: The Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) Model for Quality Improvement was used for this project. A systematic review of the literature was performed to ascertain the effectiveness of self-care strategies for nurses. Conclusion: The Unifying Vision website on self-care strategies for nurses increases awareness of self-care practices among nursing staff in a multi-specialty physician clinic. Implications for Nursing: Self-care practices are perceived as crucial in improving nurses\u27 work-life quality, and influencing nursing staff\u27s quality of care. Self-care is essential to improving mood, reducing anxiety, and creating a healthy relationship with oneself and others. Engaging in a self-care routine has been clinically proven to reduce or eliminate anxiety and depression, reduce stress, improve concentration, minimize frustration and anger, increase happiness, and improve energy. Keywords: self-care, patient outcomes, self-care strategie