December 7, 2018 – Bismarck, North Dakota – NDSU School of Nursing at Sanford Health students are not only building their technical nursing skills, but also understanding the importance of managing a fast-paced and sometimes stressful profession that they will join in the future.
Throughout final exams week, students also are learning the importance of stress management in nursing, with a variety of activities to choose from.
- Friday, Dec. 7, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. - Furry Friends in the nursing library
- Monday, Dec. 10 - Sensory tubs in library all day
- Tuesday, Dec. 11, Noon to 1 p.m. -Yoga in library classroom
- Wednesday, Dec. 12, at 8 a.m. – Bread Poets goodies
- Thursday, Dec. 13, De-stress through coloring - library all day
- Friday Dec. 14, from 1 p.m.-2 p.m., Trivia contest in the library
“Nursing is a very satisfying and wonderful profession with excellent career options,” said Wendy Kopp, director of the NDSU School of Nursing at Sanford Health in Bismarck. “But like many helping professions, nurses must often learn to cope with a fast pace and how to manage stress to be effective in their roles. Showing the nursing students the importance of managing stress becomes part of their education as well, so they can be effective nurses over the course of their careers,” said Kopp.
The nursing library within the NDSU School of Nursing at Sanford Health is showing students first-hand during finals week some hands-on options to de-stress, according to Rebecca Liedtke, library associate. “The options over finals week show students that de-stressing can sometimes help them take a break and then perform more effectively by managing stressful times.”
A study in the journal Nursing Research and Practice found that nurses experiencing high stress who weren’t equipped with coping skills affected their ability to work with patients, co-workers and took a toll on their own health. https://www.ishn.com/articles/106701-study-stress-takes-toll-on-nurses-health
“We hope that activities during the week of final nursing exams help underscore to students the importance of taking care of patients as well as themselves, and applying such tools throughout their nursing careers,” said Kopp.
Students shared their comments about stress relief for the nursing profession during a visit with KFYR-TV in Bismarck.
On December 12, NDSU School of Nursing at Sanford Health will graduate another group of nurses to care for patients in their communities. The Pinning Ceremony occurs at 5 p.m. in the Bavendick Stateroom at BSC. NDSU School of Nursing at Sanford Health admits students each semester to help address the shortage of nurses in the region. Applications are being taken for the spring semester through December 10, 2018. Call 701-224-3804 for information.