The nursing profession is traditionally associated with the steadfast commitment of one individual caring for another in need. While this concept holds true, it's essential to acknowledge that the well-being of the nurse, too, requires attention and nurturing.
In recent times, an increasing number of nurses are grappling with secondary trauma, burnout, violence, fear, and overall dissatisfaction with their careers. The challenges in healthcare were brought to the forefront during the COVID-19 pandemic, garnering temporary support for nurses. However, as the spotlight waned, so did sustained assistance. These issues existed long before the pandemic, but their impact intensified in the face of global health crises.
Remarkably, experienced nurses are leaving patient-facing roles in unprecedented numbers, leaving the task of training new nurses to novices, thus compromising the foundational support needed. Emergency departments and intensive care units are now populated by newly qualified nurses lacking the necessary time, training, and education for critical thinking skills, jeopardizing both patient care and the well-being of the nurses themselves. This shift is eroding the wisdom within the nursing profession, creating a culture with a compromised foundation. Strengthening the core of nursing is imperative to prevent staffing shortages, violence, systemic problems, safety concerns, and ongoing compassion fatigue.
Ask yourself: Would you reside in a home lacking a strong and supportive foundation?
It's time to redirect our focus and prioritize the care of every nurse first. We've demanded nurses to show up, depleted of their own energy, while expecting them to find the reserves to care for multiple patients over extended hours.
The solution lies in collectively acknowledging the importance of self-care for nurses and providing them with the tools to achieve it.
Enter "Yoga 4 Nurses: A Holistic Approach to Wellbeing (Y4N)," a pioneering initiative aimed at revitalizing a profession that has been serving communities since 1854. Yoga, a transformative practice, offers nurses a pathway to reduce stress, enhance concentration, increase flexibility and strength, and promote overall well-being.
Moreover, yoga equips nurses with mindfulness and self-care skills, empowering them to deliver compassionate care to their patients.
As a Registered Nurse and Registered Yoga Teacher, I firmly believe that yoga can be a powerful tool to help nurses manage stress, improve physical and mental well-being, and elevate their overall job performance. A regular yoga practice cultivates mindfulness, compassion, and empathy, contributing to a higher standard of patient care.
The "Y4N" program, a 10-week online specialty program offered through the Integrative Nurse Coach Academy, integrates the ancient wisdom of yoga with nursing practice. Through recorded videos and live interactive sessions, participants will explore physical postures and philosophical aspects of yoga, fostering present-moment focus, releasing distractions, and connecting with deeper aspects of themselves.
This program encourages participants to apply lessons learned on the yoga mat to their daily lives and nursing practice through group discussions and self-reflections. Participants will acquire tools such as breath awareness, self-reflection, and presence to cultivate compassion and non-judgment towards oneself and others. By aligning the Ethics of Yoga with Nursing Ethics, participants will gain a holistic perspective and embark on the journey of aligning the art & science of yoga with the art & science of nursing.
The Y4N program limits the number of students to ensure personalized guidance and support for effective learning, reflection, and growth. Upon completion, participants will receive 40 CEUs approved by the ANCC, focusing on the health and energy of YOU, the nurse.
Cohort 3 commences on January 22nd, 2024, and with limited seats available, we encourage you to sign up promptly @inursecoach.com/course/yoga-for-nurses
I look forward to welcoming you to the yoga mat, where healing begins.
Lisa Ostler
Y4N Course Creator/Instructor
RN, BSN, NC-BC, FMN, RYT
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