Looking after your own mental health as an agency nurse

A woman is sitting at a table talking to a doctor.

By their very nature, agency nurses tend to everyone else’s emotional and physical needs. Caregiving is a primary role for any nurse. From the moment they enter nursing school until the day they retire, agency nurses are taught to prioritise the health and well-being of others. Oftentimes, that causes their own mental and physical health to suffer.

Over the last 18 months, the global pandemic has shone a light on the need for nurses and other healthcare professionals to take steps to protect their psychological health. Small lockdowns and border closings personally affect hardworking nurses and midwives. Taking time out for themselves is not selfish. It is a necessity to preserve their health so they can continue to care for others.

Focusing on everyone else can leave nurses and midwives at a loss for how to take care of their own well-being. Here are some helpful tips for keeping a healthy state of mind.

Stay connected with friends

Personal connections are an integral part of maintaining psychological resilience. Physical distancing and other covid mitigation efforts can make it more challenging – but not impossible – to enjoy time with your pals. Making use of technology is a great way to bridge that gap for now.

Consider having a weekly check-in with a friend or group of friends over Zoom, Google Meet, or any other platform designed to help people keep in touch virtually. It may not have the same feel as getting together in person, but meeting for weekly tea or sharing meals from your respective homes while chatting online can help travelling nurses and midwives focus on themselves.

Indulge in some “me” time

Everything to everyone is the mantra of most healthcare professionals. Nurses and midwives can be conditioned to believe that giving precedent to their needs is selfish. The exact opposite is true. Practicing self-care makes them better caregivers. This means engaging in regular “me” time, where the focus is on engaging in activities that make them happy. Carve out some dedicated time each week to enjoy hobbies, get a massage, or take a walk to enjoy some quiet time in nature. Not sure what activity to choose? There are no right or wrong options. Pick something that brings joy and promotes relaxation, and commit to it for a set number of hours each week. Here are some tips on 20 amazing me-time activities.

Practice mindfulness

Mindfulness-based stress techniques can be a lifesaver for agency nurses and midwives. Mindfulness exercises do not take much time and can be done just about anywhere (including during work-day break times). Not sure where to start? Pick a quiet spot, sit comfortably, and then begin by taking four to five long, slow, and deep breaths. Breathe in through the nose and out through the mouth, focusing attention on how the body and mind feel to become calmer and more settled. The caveat: they must be practiced regularly to enjoy the full benefits.

Here are some great mindful apps:

Seek help when needed

There is no shame in recognising and seeking out the help of a mental healthcare professional when struggling. Agency nurses and midwives have challenging jobs under normal circumstances. Toss in a global pandemic and the stress factor elevates exponentially. When nurses and midwives are unsure how to take time for themselves, or have committed to it and still grapple with mental health issues, it is time to seek out counsel with a professional who can help.

Help Mental Health Resources & Services:

Life-changing conversations

First Choice Care helps its agency nurses and midwives maintain their mental health, even during the most trying times. We believe in having life-changing conversations focused on ensuring our team has the support needed to navigate through challenging situations. We encourage others to ask nurses and midwives if they are OK. Listen to them. Encourage them to prioritise their mental health and check in with them often.

Interested in joining a team that recognises and endorses your mental and physical well-being? Apply to work with First Choice Care Nursing Agency today.

< Older Post

Newer Post >

More articles

Nurse of the month February 2025 – Holly

By Matthew Power • February 17, 2025

Congratulations to our Nurse of the month for February – Holy! She’s an incredible nurse who puts a lot of care and effort each day for her patients. We absolutely love working alongside you! You can hear all about Holly’s time as a nurse at the interview below: What do you like most about FCC? I appreciate the assistance and communication from the allocation team when a shift has been cancelled and how they try to provide a shift. I like that I deal with the same allocation staff if I call to change a shift or need information; I have my two main men, Michael and Tait, who help me with anything I need. Why did you want to be a nurse? I have always wanted a career that continues to teach me something almost every day; this career has no end to gaining knowledge, educating oneself and sharing that with patients to help them understand their situation in a caring and informative way. Being an agency nurse, you are constantly placed in different environments and departments, learning a new procedure or medication or dealing with a different hospital protocol on matters; it is fascinating. What has been the highlight of working with FCC? Being able to work in multiple hospitals, obtaining rapport with NUM's and permanent staff. I like the challenge of trying to fit in when times are stressful and busy. Would you recommend FCC to other nurses and why? I have recommended FCC to many nurses; none have yet made the leap, but I am pleased with the services they provide and the support. I explain the flexibilities of the role and how the learning of new protocols and procedures is forever keeping me on my toes, the hourly wages making up for the occasional cancelled shift. Forever learning and being challenged, I couldn't love it any more.

Nurse of the Month January 2025 - Robyn

By Matthew Power • January 28, 2025

Congratulations to our Nurse of the Month for January 2025 - Robyn! We want to recognise the incredible levels of care you put in each day. Your patients are lucky to have you, and we're always grateful to have you on our team. Robyn has provided us with an amazing interview below! Check it out: What do you like most about FCC? It can be hard to choose just one reason but one of the things I like most about FCC is how consistently connected they are to their nurses. There is never a time while on contract that I feel unsupported or isolated and they are genuinely passionate about making sure that I am valued and heard. Whether it’s Easter, Christmas, birthdays or any other special occasions that I’m on contract they always let me know that while my own family may be a long way from wherever I am, I still have my work family looking after me. Not just a bit, every single time! Why did you want to be a nurse? I have had a number of different career paths in my lifetime; from fitness to aviation and just about everything in between. I became a nurse because I wanted to do something by which I could make a contribution in, not only my community but also my family. The question we ask children about “ what do you want to do when you grow up?” for me while my answer was seated in what a kind, generous, well respected and community revered role it appeared to be to say “Nurse” kind of just fell out of my enthusiastic child’s brain and never entered it until a very much family member suffered a devastating stroke that “to be a nurse” changed both our lives. I watched the nursing team show knowledge, skill and just as importantly compassionate care that made such a positive impact on my whole family that I decided I wanted to learn the same and hopefully give some of the same back. What has been the highlight of working with FCC? The highlights of working for FCC have been many. The new adventures each contract brings, the opportunities to meet new people who have similar interests and sharing those adventures with new friends who become old friends who also become the same friends I recommend my agency with. Would you recommend FCC to other nurses and why? Of course!!! Two of them are now on contract with me in Lismore!! I always tell people who I’m signed up with because I’m really proud to belong to such an amazing team.

A nurse is smiling for the camera in a hospital hallway.

Nurse of the month August 2024 - Kat

By Matthew Power • August 23, 2024

At First Choice Care (FCC), we take pride in celebrating the incredible work of our nursing staff. For August, we are thrilled to announce Kat as our Nurse of the Month! As a dedicated travel nurse, Kat has made a lasting impact on patients across Australia while balancing her personal and professional life. Here's a closer look at her journey with FCC. What do you like most about FCC? "One of the things I like the most about FCC is the variety of contracts on offer to nurses throughout Australia and the work/life balance I've been able to achieve working as a travel nurse." Why did you want to be a nurse? "I chose to become a Registered Nurse because the profession offers a unique combination of personal and professional fulfillment. The ability to provide care, support, and comfort to patients during some of the most vulnerable moments of their lives gives me a profound sense of purpose. Furthermore, I have always been fascinated by the human body and how its complex systems work in unison to sustain life. You can probably guess some of the subjects I enjoyed most whilst at university!" What has been the highlight of working with FCC? "The best part of working with FCC has been the opportunity to improve my clinical skills, meet new people, and explore locations I wouldn’t have discovered if I had continued working solely in Brisbane." Would you recommend FCC to other nurses and why? "I would recommend my consultant, Sasha, to any of my nursing friends considering travel nursing. I have found Sasha to be dependable, an excellent communicator, and proactive in securing contracts for her clients." Conclusion Kat's passion for nursing, her adventurous spirit, and her dedication to delivering top-quality care make her a shining example of what it means to be part of the FCC family. We are proud to have her as our Nurse of the Month for August and look forward to supporting her continued success as she travels and makes a difference across Australia. Congratulations, Kat!