The Value of Physical Exercise Programs for Nurses
Nurses are one of the first lines of nursing staff who have to put much effort into coordinating care and providing it at a high level. It has been noted that nurses have one of the highest levels of anxiety and stress, which contributes to their mental health (Du et al., 2020; Nagel & Nilsson, 2022). As such, support for nurses is critical to maintaining and improving their health (National Academy of Medicine, 2021). Existing support programs are varied, and among these programs may be of the utmost importance.
Programs offer a personalized approach that can be supplemented with effective psychological practices. Of note is the effectiveness of a customized approach and creating a unique training pathway based on an individual’s goals and objectives (Moe-Byrne et al., 2022; Søvold et al., 2021). An individualized approach coupled with online mentoring and the availability of needs-based support can address issues specific to each nurse and the nature of their work (Henshall et al., 2023).
Organizations should consider physical activity when shaping coping strategies and creating an optimal environment for psychological counseling for nurses (Leridis et al., 2023; Sacgaca et al., 2023). According to Janeway (2020), the individualized approach will always dominate over other modalities, as this is the only way to ensure comfort from the support provided. Accordingly, the value of customized support programs for nurses should be embraced.
The Use of Particular Exercise Programs for Nurses
It is worth taking a closer look at some of the tailored exercise programs that can be used among nursing staff. The overall value of physical activity is relatively high (Das et al., 2021), so its use should be a priority to improve well-being (Brunet et al., 2020; Owusu-Sekyere, 2020). Depending on the program chosen, participants are offered sports such as soccer or Zumba, which positively affect female staff and alleviate their mental and physiological burdens (Barene & Krustrup, 2022). Mohebbi et al. (2019) and Rao et al. (2020) note that exercises such as aerobics are also a way to control stress levels. Mohammed & Ghalab (2022) report that physical activity changes behavior and attitudes toward work. Thus, physical activity increases job satisfaction and makes work more effective.
Many organizations form support groups for their medical staff. Considering the individual workload and stress nurses receive allows for creating small group target groups with small numbers of participants and personal goals to achieve overall health gains (Gerber et al., 2020; Brunet et al., 2021). In small groups with varying workloads, nurses assess their condition, monitor workloads, and strive to address them consistently (Lee et al., 2023; Crowther et al., 2021). Given the complexity of managing shift schedules, nurses must receive individualized sleep to improve sleep, emotional, and mental well-being (Lauren et al., 2020). Physical activity can improve nurses’ well-being and motivate them to continue exercising.
Adjustment of Exercise Programs to Individual Needs
Nurses receive high-stress levels and worry a lot about maintaining a high quality of care. Interventions are critical to promptly managing their well-being, as burnout and permanent fatigue lead to health abnormalities (Melnyk et al., 2020; Dall’Oraet al., 2020; Mahindru et al., 2023). Ross et al. (2019) and Worley et al. (2022) point to the high value of linking individual plans and eating patterns. It has been noted that adjusting for physical activity without consideration of chronic disease, desire to exercise, and personal factors dramatically lose value (Anderson & Durstine, 2019; Brand & Cheval, 2019). In developing individualized plans, age, prior physical activity, and availability of outside support should be considered (Wada et al., 2019; Jungreitmayr et al., 2022). Organizations will be effective as long as they understand and represent the value of the abovementioned factors when developing support programs.
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