When you think of “self-care,” what comes to mind? Vacations? Massages? Maybe a green smoothie or two?
All of those are great—but for nurses, real self-care goes way deeper than a weekend getaway or an occasional yoga class. Because let’s be honest: when your job includes trauma, high-stakes decision-making, and hours on your feet with minimal breaks, a bubble bath isn’t going to cut it.
You need sustainable, practical self-care strategies that fit into your actual life as a nurse, and that protect your mind, body, and energy long-term. Here are the top three pillars of self-care I’ve learned to prioritize as a nurse—not just to survive the job, but to stay well while doing it.
1. Prioritize Sleep. Like, Seriously
We all know sleep is important. But transitioning from high-intensity work mode to calm, restorative home-mode? Way easier said than done.
Right after a stressful shift, your nervous system is still in go-mode and it needs help powering down. Try building a simple transition ritual after your shift to help your brain shift gears.
Here are a few ideas:
🌬️ Breathwork in the car. Just 3–5 minutes of intentional deep belly breathing can calm your nervous system and help signal that the shift is over. (And make sure you notice when you’re hurrying unnecessarily, clenching your jaw, tightening up your face, and all those other small actions that we innately do that signal to our body to be tense. Relaaaaxxx and slowww it down my friends 🐢.)
✅ Tell your brain that you’re home. I know. It sounds weird. Sometimes our brain needs some time to catch up with where our body is and the situation around us. (Kind of like if you still have adrenaline pulsating after a workout and are still hyped up, even if you’re home and trying to sleep.) “I am not in the world of my patient’s anymore. I am at home, in my reality.”
📞 Quick debrief. If you need to vent, call someone to talk it out—but try to avoid replaying the shift in detail. Over-processing can actually keep your brain in work mode. Let it out and move on.
🛏️ Create a restful sleep environment. Think dark, cool, and quiet. Even small tweaks (like blackout curtains or a white noise machine) can make a big difference.
Sleep isn’t a luxury, it’s essential maintenance. Treat it like a non-negotiable.
2. Learn to Be Emotionally Objective
This one might sound a little abstract, but it’s huge.
As nurses, we feel a lot. Joy, grief, frustration, guilt, pride: sometimes all within the same hour. And while emotions are valid and important, we can’t let them dictate our self-worth or give them the power to completely run our life.
I like to think of our relationship with emotion as an ocean. And like the waves of the ocean, emotions come and go. 🌊
Some days those waves are small and steady. Other days, they’re crashing over you. But no matter what, you are the constant. The emotions may feel powerful, but they don’t define you, and they always pass.
Start separating what you feel from what is true.
💭 Feeling like you’ll never get it? Doesn’t mean you won’t.
💭 Feeling like a bad nurse? Doesn’t mean you are.
💭 Feeling guilty about a mistake? Feel it—but don’t let it consume you.
Observe your emotions, feel them, but don’t attach your identity to them. This kind of emotional objectivity takes practice, but I promise you it’s one of the most powerful tools for protecting your mental health as a nurse.
3. Nourish Your Body (Without the All-or-Nothing Mentality)
Everybody and their aunt will give this advice, but truly eating well as a nurse is hard.
We work weird hours. We eat fast. The breakroom isn’t exactly known for its health-conscious snacks. But nourishing your body doesn’t have to mean a full-blown lifestyle overhaul. Those small and sustainable changes are usually way more effective.
Start here:
🥗 Make simple swaps. If you’re used to highly processed foods, try swapping in something more whole or nutrient-dense once or twice a week.
🍎 Think in terms of fuel. What will keep you going—not just for the next hour, but the rest of your shift?
🧠 Give yourself grace. If your last few meals were takeout or vending machine runs, it’s okay. This isn’t about perfection—it’s about small, intentional steps.
You don’t need to overhaul your whole menu in one night. (We already know that never sticks!) You just need to give your body a little more of what it actually needs. Step by step.
➡️ My favorite go-to snack: I make a stacked protein drink and have it mid-afternooon.
- 8 oz protein milk (14 grams)
- 1 serving of protein powder (I love Clean Simple Eats and rotate flavors; 20 grams of protein)
- 1 scoop of collagen peptides (18 grams)
= 52 grams in 8 oz! (Tip 👉 Use a protein shaker bottle to mix it thoroughly)
Sustainable Self-Care for the Long Haul
Real self-care (especially as a nurse) isn’t about doing more. It’s about doing what matters to get yourself back to a healthy baseline. Sleep. Emotional objectivity. Nourishment. These aren’t extras, they’re essentials. And when you prioritize these things, you’re not just taking care of yourself… you’re making yourself more equipped to take care of others!
So the next time you hear “self-care” and picture a bubble bath, remember: sometimes the most powerful thing you can do is go to bed early, breathe deeply, or make a nourishing choice in a chaotic moment. 😌
Until next time,
Kati 🪴
This is a guest blog post written by fellow nurse, Kristine Shepherd, MSN, RN Thinking about medication safety is one of those things nurse leaders don’t really get to turn off. Even on days when nothing obvious goes wrong, the “what ifs” still follow you as you’re driving home and catch yourself reflecting on your…
Continue Reading Leading Safer Care: A Nurse Manager’s Guide to Medication Safety
Vitals & VibesWelcome to Vitals & Vibes—a series created just for new nurses navigating the real world of patient care – written by Kati Kleber, MSN RN. These quick reads are packed with practical tips, mindset shifts, and bedside wisdom to help you build confidence, one shift at a time. Whether you’re fresh off orientation…
Continue Reading PRN vs. Scheduled Meds: Quick Tips for Nursing Students
What does a “medical surgery nurse” do? Learn the correct spelling of “med-surg,” what it’s like to work on a medical-surgical unit, and why it’s one of the most important specialties in nursing.
Continue Reading Curious About a “Medical Surgery Nurse”? Let’s Talk Med-Surg
Let’s talk about what a med surg refresher course for new grad nurses should cover and ones to check out.
Continue Reading Med Surg Refresher Course for New Grad Nurses: What to Look For and #1 My Top Pick
Hate the ICU but still want to become a CRNA? Learn how to get into CRNA school with tips from an actual CRNA on ICU experience, prerequisites, interviews, and what it takes to thrive as a CRNA.
Continue Reading Hate the ICU but Eyeing CRNA? Here’s How to Get Into CRNA School (and Still Thrive)
AI in nursing predictions for 2026 reveal how nurse leaders expect technology to reduce burnout, support nurses, and restore patient connection.
Continue Reading AI in Nursing Predictions for 2026: What Nurse Leaders Say Is Coming Next
New grad nurse? Let’s get you ahead of the game.
Your first nursing job is a huge milestone—but let’s be real, it can also be terrifying.
You’re expected to know so much, so fast—but what if you had a solid foundation before you even stepped onto the floor?
The FreshRN® New Nurse Master Class is the course we wish we had. It’s packed with the practical, real-world guidance
you need to feel more capable, confident, and in control.
From clinical skills and critical thinking, to time management
and self-care, this course covers everything they don’t teach you in nursing school—so you can feel ready, not just hope you are.
Start Now
0 Comments