Episode 13: Nurses with PTSD, These are the signs for a New Life

This podcast advocates for adapting to new situations and addresses nurses' emotional and physical well-being on the job. It acknowledges the difficulties associated with change, especially after years of training and experience in a particular sector, but stresses the positive prospects for advancement that can be found in embracing these obstacles.

Changing one's perspective as a nurse is often all it takes to learn to adjust to new conditions. Changing departments can be an excellent way to reignite your passion for your profession. A nurse who decides to move fields (from cancer to pediatrics) can utilise their existing skills while learning new ones.

Becoming a travelling nurse is one way to alter one's situation quickly. Because of this, you may need to look for nursing work in other areas, perhaps even in other countries. 

As a nurse, you can broaden your horizons and earn vital experience by working in several settings. Whether working in a conflict zone or relaxing on a beautiful beach, becoming a travel nurse is an enriching opportunity to see the world while making a difference in the lives of others.

The podcast encourages nurses to prioritize their well-being and embrace change for career advancement.

Press play and listen to the podcast to learn more about changing one's nursing career when necessary.

Transcript

Intro
To say it’s been a crazy few years would be an understatement. We live in an ever changing world, one constantly challenging people to their very core. It is because of this we aim to create assuredness in an uncertain world. Welcome to the Project ReNew podcast, a show for nurses - and angels looking to help nurses - and anyone in
search of motivation. Let’s bring you and your passion back to where you were when you first started out. Let’s reignite that fire together. This is the Project ReNew Podcast.

Episode 14: Nurses with PTSD, These are the signs for a New Life

 Okay. You’re here. You’ve finally arrived. As a nurse, you have worked yourself to the bone. You have identified that your career, which you have poured your heart and soul into, has affected your mental health, traumatized you, and perhaps you have been diagnosed with PTSD.

You will have many wonderful memories - those special patients, the ones who lived, families thanking you with tears in their eyes, the children you’ve saved. But there are also the dark times - the COVID-19 pandemic, the restrictions, not being able to see family and friends, heading into your shift like you’re heading into a warzone. All of these had an effect on your mental, physical, and spiritual health. And you might be thinking…that it’s time for a change. Change can be scary.

 Utterly terrifying. Especially if your type of nursing is something you have specifically trained for, most likely for years. But, if your mental health and wellbeing is on the line, change can often be about survival.  

The Explanation

When you are feeling that crave for change, you simply cannot focus your time and attention on your current role. No matter how much you love your vocation, your patients, your coworkers…it won’t be enough. And is it truly fair to give your patients a nurse who isn’t 100% committed to their department?It’s not anybody’s fault. We are human, multifaceted, and as we go through life, we want different things. You may want a different career than you originally did 5, 10, 15, or 50 years ago - and that’s okay. You have permission to grow and change through life, doing what is best for you. 

This could be as a result of your working environment, which may have toxic management, or stressed-out colleagues. It could be due to a lack of training, and being asked to go over and above what you are trained and paid to do. It could be to do with a lack of ethics and morals, in a career that is supposed to be ethical above all else.

Perhaps nursing doesn’t align with your values anymore - you want to prioritize family time and wellness over a career that is burning you out. Whatever your desire is for change, know it is perfectly valid and you are free to pursue whatever your heart is urging you to do. The Solution Change is scary. But ignoring the callings for a new life is scarier. A calling for a new life doesn’t necessarily mean quitting nursing - if you are not ready to give it up. You could consider transferring to a department that you have not previously worked in, such as moving from Oncology to Paediatrics.

Learning new skills and treating different areas of  the body could be enough to pique your interest and thirst for change. You could consider becoming a travel nurse - perhaps your desire for change is purely location based. If you have the desire to carry on nursing and provide for others, but simply need to change your surroundings, travel nursing is a great option. You could work as a nurse in war-torn countries, which could fulfill your sense of danger and adventure, whilst still using your caring heart as a nurse to prepare for others. If beaches are more your thing, you could work as a nurse in gorgeous, exotic countries - often much better paid than the hospitals in your hometown!

 Of course, there are always going to be those nurses who have just had enough. Enough nursing. Those who need a completely fresh start. Those who are completely burnt out, and need a change. 

A Question to Consider When is enough, enough? How many signs is the Universe going to send you that you need a new life, a fresh start? At what point do you surrender and realize that you need to press the restart button? You can pretend all you like, but you can’t ignore the signs. They have been sent to you for a reason - you deserve a break. You deserve a fresh start. You are more than your vocation, and you deserve to put yourself first for once. If you won’t make a change, nobody else is going to do it for you. This is your sign to make a change. One step at a time!  

Sources For Help and Advice
https://feedyourneedtoread.com/6-signs-that-you-need-to-switch-your-current-nursing-position/
https://ideapod.com/signs-from-universe-change-is-coming/
https://www.yourtango.com/self/spiritual-signs-from-universe-life-about-change
https://nomadrs.com/spiritual-signs-your-life-is-about-to-change/

Outtro
We really hope you enjoyed this episode of the Project ReNew Podcast. Stay connected with us through ProjectReNew.Co. You can also join this discussion on Twitter @ProjectReNewPod, and on Instagram at @ProjectReNewPodcast. If you would like to speak with us, please send us an email through our website. As always, thank you for pushing your mindset and your heart towards a better reality. This concludes the most thought-provoking part of your day. Don’t forget to like and subscribe to stay fully up to date. Until next time, be kind to yourself, and to
each other.

As a fellow nurse, I want to take a moment to express my appreciation for each and every one of our listeners. 

As nurses, we are all part of an essential and noble profession, and our dedication and hard work make a real difference in the lives of our patients. 

As Brené Brown says, ' Resilience is the ability to move through difficult experiences and to come out on the other side with wisdom and compassion.' 

Our podcast is dedicated to exploring resilience from trauma and the pandemic, providing practical advice and reviews of symptoms to help our listeners navigate these challenging times.

It's important to note that the information provided in our podcast is for educational and informational purposes only.

 The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical or mental health advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

 Always seek the advice of your physician, other qualified healthcare provider or mental health professional with any questions you may have regarding a medical or mental health condition.

 As a colleague, I encourage you to continue to listen to our podcast, engage with the content, and use it to enhance your nursing practice and further your professional and personal growth."