Self-care is vital for practice nurses

The importance of encouraging self-care for patients has been big on the health agenda for several years—it is thought to give people greater control over their health, prevent ill-health, improve outcomes in long-term conditions and save the NHS money. We all know that it is key to encourage patients to manage their own health by eating well, staying active, finding time for relaxation, avoiding smoking, and drinking alcohol in moderation.

But one thing has been missing: the need for nurses to take care of themselves by doing these things. It is more important now than ever for nurses on the frontline to practise what they preach.

Long days and shifts, with hardly any time to grab a quick lunch, let alone have time to go for a walk to get some exercise, make it hard to take part in healthy behaviours at work. Whilst writing this article, the author conducted