Skip to main content
Chamberlain University, College of Nursing and Health Professionals
Menu

Mobile Main navigation

  • About
    • Accreditation
    • Alumni
    • Blog
    • Chamberlain Care
    • Diversity & Inclusion
    • History
    • Newsroom
    • Online Education
    • Our Vision
    • Student Consumer Information
  • Academics
    • College of Nursing
      • 3-Year Bachelor of Science in Nursing
      • RN to BSN Option
      • RN to MSN Option
      • Certificate Programs
      • Master of Science in Nursing
      • MSN - Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner
      • MSN - Family Nurse Practitioner
      • Doctor of Nursing Practice
    • College of Health Professions
      • Public Health Certificate Programs
      • Master of Public Health
      • Master of Social Work
    • Academic Resources
      • Academic Calendar
      • College Catalog
      • Curriculum Plans
  • Campus & Online
    • Campus
    • AZ - Phoenix
    • CA - Sacramento
    • FL - Jacksonville
    • FL - Miramar
    • GA - Atlanta
    • IL - Addison
    • IL - Chicago
    • IL - Tinley Park
    • IN - Indianapolis
    • LA - New Orleans
    • MI - Troy
    • MO - St. Louis
    • NV - Las Vegas
    • NJ - North Brunswick
    • NC - Charlotte
    • OH - Cleveland
    • OH - Columbus
    • TX - Houston
    • TX - Irving
    • TX - Pearland
    • TX - San Antonio
    • VA - Tysons Corner
    • WI – BSN Online Option
    • Online
      • RN to BSN Option
      • RN to MSN Option
      • Master of Science in Nursing
      • MSN - Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner
      • MSN - Family Nurse Practitioner
      • Doctor of Nursing Practice
      • Master of Public Health
      • Master of Social Work
  • Admissions & Financial Aid
    • Admissions
      • Transfer Guide
      • Catalog
      • Academic Calendar
      • Military Information
    • Financial Aid
      • Tuition & Expenses
      • Types of Financial Assistance
      • Financial Forms
      • Educational Healthcare Partners
      • Loans
      • Work Study
      • Grants
      • Scholarships

Mobile Secondary Navigation

  • Apply
  • Request More Info
  • Request More Info
  • Call
  • Apply
  • Request Info
  • Request Info

Mobile Utility Navigation

  • Current Students
  • Prospective Students
  • Transfers
  • Military
  • Alumni
  • Partners
  • Employers

Top Utility Navigation

  • Student Portal
  • Information For
    • Current Students
    • Prospective Students
    • Transfers
    • Military
    • Alumni
    • Partners
    • Employers
  • Chat
  • 877.751.5783
Chamberlain University, College of Nursing and Health Professionals

Main Header navigation

  • About

    About

    Chamberlain University has a 130-year history preparing extraordinary nursing graduates and healthcare professionals. 

    • Accreditation
    • Alumni
    • Blog
    • Chamberlain Care
    • Diversity & Inclusion
    • History
    • Newsroom
    • Online Education
    • Our Vision
    • Student Consumer Information
  • Academics

    Academics

    Whether you're an aspiring nurse looking to launch a rewarding career, a nursing professional looking to advance your career, or a professional looking to impact public health, Chamberlain offers the degree programs, options and resources to help you succeed.

    • College of Nursing
      • 3-Year Bachelor of Science in Nursing
      • RN to BSN Option
      • RN to MSN Option
      • Certificate Programs
      • Master of Science in Nursing
      • MSN - Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner
      • MSN - Family Nurse Practitioner
      • Doctor of Nursing Practice
    • College of Health Professions
      • Public Health Certificate Programs
      • Master of Public Health
      • Master of Social Work
    • Academic Resources
      • Academic Calendar
      • College Catalog
      • Curriculum Plans
  • Campus & Online

    On Campus & Online

    Interested in becoming a nurse?
    Earn your BSN at one of 22 campuses located across the country, in just 3 years

    • Campus
    • AZ - Phoenix
    • CA - Sacramento
    • FL - Jacksonville
    • FL - Miramar
    • GA - Atlanta
    • IL - Addison
    • IL - Chicago
    • IL - Tinley Park
    • IN - Indianapolis
    • LA - New Orleans
    • MI - Troy
    • MO - St. Louis
    • NV - Las Vegas
    • NJ - North Brunswick
    • NC - Charlotte
    • OH - Cleveland
    • OH - Columbus
    • TX - Houston
    • TX - Irving
    • TX - Pearland
    • TX - San Antonio
    • VA - Tysons Corner
    • WI – BSN Online Option
    • Online
      • RN to BSN Option
      • RN to MSN Option
      • Master of Science in Nursing
      • MSN - Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner
      • MSN - Family Nurse Practitioner
      • Doctor of Nursing Practice
      • Master of Public Health
      • Master of Social Work
  • Admissions & Financial Aid

    Admissions & Financial Aid

    Chamberlain is committed to providing quality and accessible nursing education. Our team is with you every step of the way, providing the information you need to make the decisions that best serve you.

    • Admissions
      • Transfer Guide
      • Catalog
      • Academic Calendar
      • Military Information
    • Financial Aid
      • Tuition & Expenses
      • Types of Financial Assistance
      • Financial Forms
      • Educational Healthcare Partners
      • Loans
      • Work Study
      • Grants
      • Scholarships

Secondary Header Navigation

  • Apply
  • Request More Info
  • Request More Info
  • Call
  • Apply
  • Request Info
  • Request Info

Featured

daisy foundation logo
Recognizing the Winners of 2020’s DAISY…
jill price
Chamberlain Educators Volunteer to…
Kate Cook
How our Faculty Supports RN to BSN…

Tags

Browse articles by category
Alumni
Campus News
Careers
Health Professions
Nursing Today
Tips for Students
  • Home / Blog / Care For You / Four Tips for Managing Emotional Well-being
Care For You

Four Tips for Managing Emotional Well-being

May 09, 2014 by Jennifer Bouchard
cycle

While nurses are dedicated to caring for others, they must also remember to care for themselves. Learning to grieve is an integral part of emotional well-being as most nurses will experience the loss of a patient at some point in their career. It is important to take steps to help prepare for those emotionally difficult moments.

“I encourage all nurses to have a grieving plan in place so they can process this loss in a healthy way,” said Susan Waltz, DNP, MSN, BSN, RN, an associate professor in the Master of Science in Nursing degree program at Chamberlain College of Nursing who has professional experience as a grief counselor.

Waltz provides the following four steps for establishing a grieving plan:

1. Identify a support system

Nurses should identify a safe outlet for sharing their feelings. “Several nurses I know have close friends or family members they lean on when grieving,” Waltz noted. “I’ve worked with other nurses who prefer to seek support through online chat or support networks, such as griefshare.org and Resolve through Sharing, or crisis hotlines. Others find it helpful to keep their thoughts in a journal, access mental health services in their area or seek out a faith community.”

Nurses who feel more comfortable seeking support from friends and family are encouraged to identify one or two people and let them know that they would like to count on them in that support role. They can then discuss how these people can be of help throughout the grieving process. Waltz added, “Identify what helps you heal, whether that is talking on the phone, exercising after your shift or having some quiet time alone. Spend time doing something you enjoy.”

2. Know yourself

Knowing yourself and your personality is crucial for identifying and dealing with grief. Taking a personality test before you experience a loss can help identify your personality traits. Personality traits guide how you may grieve and interact with a loss. Personality Plus: How to Understand Others by Understanding Yourself  by Florence Littauer is a proven helpful resource to identify your personality, and others’, and develop an understanding of how you interact with others.

For nurses who have a nurturing personality, interacting with the patient’s family may help all involved cope with the loss. Detail-oriented nurses may find it helpful to create a checklist of action steps they need to take so they aren’t paralyzed by their grief.

“Everybody grieves, but people grieve differently,” Waltz explained. “Be patient and understanding with others who may not seem to be dealing with their emotions the same way as you. Don’t be afraid to cry with them.”

The Elisabeth Kubler-Ross Foundation provides an outline of the five stages of death and dying: denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. People experiencing grief progress through these stages at various times, order and intensity.

3. Seek resources

Upon beginning a new nursing role, identify resources and benefits available through your employer. Many employers offer on-site grief counseling services and chaplain services and provide out-patient counseling via insurance benefits.

If your employer does not offer these resources, funeral homes and churches are often helpful in identifying quality literature and services in the community to help you cope with loss.

4. Go back to basics

Be sure to get a full night of rest and maintain a healthy diet, even if you don’t feel like eating. Physical activity is important for mental well-being, too.

“I often encourage grievers to take a walk or window shop,” Waltz explained. “Identify a place you can retreat to when you feel overwhelmed – nature, a nail salon or a favorite coffee shop. Find what works for you.”

Remember: You are important. Your well-being is essential to the extraordinary care you provide every day.

How do you process grief? We would love to know your personal tips for managing grief in a healthy way.

Share

  • facebook
  • twitter
  • email

More from Care For You

View all >
nurse resolution 2019
4 Resolutions Every Nurse Should Make in 2019
Read more
opioid crisis
Healthcare Professionals Determined to Take Down the Opioid…
Read more
susan
Nurses Must Commit to Self-Care First So They Can Care for…
Read more
fnp-immersion weekend
8 Photos from FNP Immersion Weekends
Read more
Show more >

Request More Information

To receive the Chamberlain University Program Guide, including associated career paths, please select a program of study.

Footer Social Media Navigation

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube
  • Pinterest

Secondary Footer Navigation

  • Apply
  • Request More Info
  • Request More Info
  • Call
  • Apply
  • Request Info
  • Request Info
Chamberlain University, College of Nursing and Health Professionals

Chamberlain University
500 W. Monroe St, Suite 28
Chicago, IL 60661

Footer Menu Mobile Column 1

  • Current Students
  • Student Consumer Info
  • Alumni
  • Partners
  • Transfers
  • Military

Footer Menu Column 1

  • Campus Locations
  • Online Programs
  • Alumni
  • Military
  • Leadership

Footer Menu Column 2

  • Student Portal
  • Student Consumer Info
  • Accreditation
  • Parent Organization
  • California Disclosures

Footer Menu Column 3

  • Careers
  • Privacy Policy
  • Sitemap
  • Terms of Use
  • Contact Us
  • Accessibility
  • † Chamberlain University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (www.hlcommission.org), a regional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. The baccalaureate degree program in nursing, master’s degree program in nursing, Doctor of Nursing Practice program, and post graduate APRN certificate program at Chamberlain University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, (https://www.aacnnursing.org/CCNE). For the most updated accreditation information, visit chamberlain.edu/accreditation. See accreditation and state authorization information or view a full list of program approvals by state.

    To report unresolved complaints to the Illinois Board of Higher Education visit their webpage at http://complaints.ibhe.org/ or by mail to 1 N. Old State Capitol Plaza, Suite 333, Springfield, IL 62701-1377. View Chamberlain's complaint process.

    Chamberlain University is a member of Adtalem Global Education, Inc. www.adtalem.com
    ©2021 Chamberlain University LLC. All rights reserved.