How do I identify my risk factors?
Some of the risk factors that nurses are exposed to include infectious diseases, injuries, stress, and toxic substances. SeveralSeveral things can help identify these risk factors. First, there is a need to have regular medical check up to help find out if one has been exposed to infectious diseases. Secondly, the immune status of a nurse should be determined since a low immune status can be a risk factor for diseases. Thirdly, one must know the toxic substances that they are exposed to while at work. Fourthly, there is need to pay attention to work-related injuries since they may cause significance consequences. In most cases, nurses suffer back injuries. This results from activities such as lifting patients. Such injuries are risk factors for many health complications at old age. Fifthly, one should identify the signs of work-related stress since stress is a key risk factor for psychological conditions. Some signs of stress that one can identify include loss of appetite, lack of sleep, experiencing migraine headache, lack of emotional stability, among others.
What are my strengths and weaknesses?
To do well in nursing profession, every nurse has specific strengths that enable them to navigate through work-related challenges. My main strength is being a good listener to my patients. This has enabled me to interact easily with the patients. As a result, I have developed empathy which has given me emotional-social –cognitive ability to handle the patients with a lot of understanding. Professionalism while executing my duties has made my performance very outstanding giving me a lot of personal satisfaction and motivation. The ability to work with other people has been helpful. It has enabled me to easily share my experiences with my colleagues. This has always helped me to get relieved from overwhelming work experiences. Having emotional stability is another strength that has enabled me to accept that suffering is part of human life and to deal with it accordingly. Additionally, the ability to respond quickly respond to issues has helped me to respond to emergency issues.
I have some weak areas which make my work as nurse quite strenuous. The physical demands of the nursing profession such as standing for long hours leaves me with foot problems and back pains which makes me strain a lot while working. Working with difficult patients and their families is stressing to me. In such situations, I find it difficult to maintain my composure. Witnessing various types of human suffering sometimes overcomes my emotional stability hence resulting to emotional burnout. Exhaustion is another weakness that affects me at work. Having a 12-hour shift or 15-hour shift is sometimes too hectic for me.
How do I address those risks should they arise?
The risks factors that I am exposed to include: back pains and foot problems, infectious diseases, toxic substances among others. For the back injuries and feet problems, avoiding repetitive tasks such as numerous lifting of patients can help. I can also inform my nurse manager for any support that I may need regarding my condition. Wearing the right kind of a shoe can also help me address the issue of back pains and feet problems. In the event that I get an infectious disease, I would seek medical attention from a doctor. Additionally, to prevent re-occurrence of the infectious disease, I would take precautions such as putting on the appropriate personal protective equipment. To address exposure to toxic substances, I would attend educational and training programs on toxic substances to gain knowledge on how to handle toxic chemical and keep myself safe. I would also seek knowledge on the hazard vulnerability assessment to be informed on the types of hazards that I am exposed to.
What are the concerns I have going forward?
Going forward, my concern is that as that as a nurse, I will continue being exposed to infectious diseases since I have to handle patients and its impact
on my health may be very severe in the future.
Stability
Substance use: Consumption of alcohol and drugs is a vice that has put the health of many people including those in the nursing profession at risk. The use of drugs has weakened the immune system of the consumers, making their bodies susceptible to diseases and reducing their lifespan.