Mother Nature Supports Nurses, What Can She Do For You?

Preface:  If I had a dollar for every time someone said to me, "I don't know how you can be a nurse.  I could never do that," I could have retired YEARS ago.  Nursing tests your mind, body and spirit.  Finding ways to sustain ourselves personally, and professionally, is imperative.  I am delighted to see more nurses developing a relationship with Mother Nature and sharing this important connection with others.  Please welcome guest blogger, Ashley, and be sure to share your thoughts in the comments below.  Thank you, Sue Allison-Dean

Nature and Nursing. These two may seem to have much in common, but getting out in nature helped me become a better nurse. Maybe it could help you become better at what you do too.

I started getting outdoors as a stress reliever during the pandemic and was quickly hooked! The more time I spent in nature, the more I realized how it helped me to be a more confident, calm nurse. Here are the ways that time outdoors can improve your life: 

1. You slow down. Many of us continuously live in a “fight or flight” state while working. I know healthcare workers are prime examples of this. We are constantly working at a very fast pace in an ever-changing environment. In nature, we have time to slow down. Being in nature allows our parasympathetic nervous system to take over. The parasympathetic nervous system is a network of nerves that relaxes our bodies after stressful episodes. Knowing this about nature has been helpful to remind me to take time during stressful shifts to go slow down, take a few minutes to go outside & take a moment to breathe. This helps prevent me from making mistakes and allows me to return to attend to my patients in a more positive headspace. 
2. Having gratitude for life. In healthcare, unfortunately, we can be surrounded by a lot of negativity and death. It can be difficult to find beauty in the world around us when sadness & uncertainty constantly surround us. Nature reminds me that beauty is around us every day. It refreshes my soul. Appreciating the clouds, flowers, and animals are simple reminders that fill me with small moments of gratitude. Connecting with our natural world helps me appreciate how beautiful life can be and why we nurses work so hard to help save lives.
3. Thinking ahead. To remain safe in the outdoors, we need to plan ahead. We have to gather supplies, look at the weather, and assess the trail conditions before we go. This preparedness can cross over to our nursing practice as well. It ensures that we have the proper supplies before entering a patient’s room or making a plan of how we will plan our shift. 
4. Gain confidence. There is nothing that builds our confidence like navigating a trail and keeping ourselves safe in nature. There can be a lack of resources and technology when hiking or camping. This causes us to be reliant on ourselves, giving us an opportunity to figure out the solutions to situations on our own. This is a major confidence booster! When critical situations arise in the medical field, we have to use that confidence to think quickly to solve problems and save lives.
5. Gives us something to look forward to. We all have bad days.  In healthcare, there are a lot of days that challenge our minds, our bodies, and our spirits. It is so important to have a proper outlet to help relieve stress & improve our mood on those tough days. Looking forward to getting out in the sunshine, breathing in the fresh air, and hitting the trails can be that motivation to help propel us through those difficult shifts. 

 
If you feel like the heavy weight of nursing or anything that you are devoting your time to, is starting to become overwhelming, consider spending more time outside. You may be surprised by how much better it can make you feel.
 
About Ashley: Ashley is a registered nurse with 6 years of experience in bedside and outpatient nursing. During the pandemic, she started to spend more time outdoors and realized how beneficial it was to her physical and mental health during an incredibly stressful time. This has inspired her to motivate others in the healthcare field to spend more time outdoors to prevent burnout. She hosts Minnesota trash cleanups and group hikes to help other healthcare workers connect. In September she is hosting a group camping trip to teach others how to hike & camp in a safe and welcoming environment! Connect with Ashley on Instagram @theroamingrn