DBT Informed Skills: Nursing’s Secret Stress-Relief Weapon?

In the ever-demanding world of healthcare, where expectations are high and stakes even higher, nurses often find themselves at the forefront of stress. Balancing patient care with long hours, exposure to secondary trauma, and handling emergency situations can weigh heavily on even the most seasoned professionals. While the challenges are many, there’s a secret weapon that’s proving to be an invaluable ally in the fight against stress: Dialectical Behavior Therapy based (DBT) skills. Welcome to The Code Team’s insight into how skills based in this theory can be the game-changer you’ve been searching for.

🌟 Takeaway 1: DBT as a theory base offers practical coping techniques and skill sets.

Summarized by the Cleveland Clinic, Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a cognitive-behavioral, psychotherapy approach that helps people manage their emotions and improve their relationships. Originally designed by Dr. Marsha Linehan PhD in the 1970s and 1980s to treat individuals with chronic suicidality with borderline personality disorder. DBT has since proven its effectiveness across a wide range of mental health issues, including stress and anxiety. Specifically, DBT-based techniques can be applied to an array of situations and needs that focus on emotional regulation, limiting self-destructive behaviors, and finding positive behaviors to engage in.

What makes DBT as a theory particularly alluring for application in the world of nurses is its practicality. DBT theory, in practice, is chock full of real-world techniques tailored to help individuals cope with challenging situations. Adapting similar techniques allows new skill sets to be practical solutions for nurses and others in high-stress, emotionally charged environments to have as effective tools. Here are a few examples that can be a lifesaver for nurses:

1. Mindfulness: Rooted in the present moment, mindfulness encourages individuals to stay connected to their current experiences without judgment. For nurses, this can mean a sharper focus on tasks and a deeper connection with patients.
2. Distress Tolerance: Rather than escaping a difficult situation, distress tolerance teaches you to cope with intense emotions. This skill can be crucial when faced with emergencies or challenging patients.
3. Emotion Regulation: Learn to identify and label current emotions, and then act on them in a way that aligns with your values. This can aid in managing the emotional roller-coaster that often comes with nursing.
4. Interpersonal Effectiveness: Improve communication, say ‘no’ without guilt, and maintain self-respect in interactions. A necessity in a field that requires teamwork and patient interaction.

Takeaway 2: Nurses can reduce daily stress dramatically.

Let’s face it, the world of nursing isn’t getting any less hectic. But with DBT-informed skills, adapted for nursing’s unique environment in your toolkit, the way you respond to stress can change dramatically. Imagine facing the next high-pressure situation with a deep breath, a clear mind, and a strategy to navigate through it without it leaving a lasting negative impact.

Studies have shown that consistent use of these skills can lead to reduced symptoms of stress and a heightened sense of well-being. For nurses, this not only means a healthier mental space but also the ability to provide better care to patients. After all, a calm, centered nurse is more likely to make sound decisions, communicate effectively, and stay attuned to the needs of their patients.

Moreover, implementing these skills daily can create a ripple effect. As you start responding to situations with more balance and clarity, you’ll find that those around you – your colleagues, patients, and even family – begin to benefit from your newfound calmness. Stressful situations become manageable, conflicts are resolved with more equilibrium maintained, and the chaotic world of healthcare becomes a tad bit more navigable.

Your Path to Thriving Awaits at TCTH.org

Craving more calm in your nursing journey? You’re not alone. And while the demands of the job might remain constant, your reaction to them can transform the situation. Dive deep into stress-relief strategies tailored just for you at TCTH.org. We understand the unique challenges nurses face, and we’re committed to offering solutions that work.

And if you’re truly keen to elevate your stress-management game, explore our exclusive class for nurses that is launching this year. This specially curated course delves deep into the world of stress reduction for nurses, offering hands-on techniques, real-world examples, and expert guidance. Equip yourself with skills that not only enhance your professional life but enrich your personal one too. In the meantime connect with our podcast, The Ritual Nurse, as early previews and some of the special adaptations in practice will be rolled out to listeners first, prior to the class launching. If you are a nursing leader, this is the pulse you want to be watching!

Remember, in the world of nursing, you’re not just any professional; you’re a beacon of hope, a pillar of strength, and above all, a caregiver. And as you care for others, let The Code Team be the place where you come to care for yourself. #healfirstnursebetter