Stress Management Tips for Nursing Home Administrators

Being a nursing home administrator can be one of the most rewarding healthcare careers. It can also be one of the most challenging and demanding roles. Tasked with ensuring that residents receive quality, compassionate care while also maintaining a highly trained staff, dealing with corporate mandates, and mounting regulations, it’s no wonder that stress levels have become a growing concern. With the healthcare industry facing an across-the-board increase in demand primarily due to an aging population, many within this sector now struggle with increased levels of stress, including the top-of-the-ladder position of administrator.

An awareness of how stress impacts your job performance, as well as your physical and mental health, is crucial to avoiding burnout and realizing meaning and purpose in your work. While eradication of stress isn’t possible, administrators can choose strategies for managing the stress that comes with leading a long-term care facility. Consider these coping tactics that can lessen the impact of stress.

The practice of flexibility

Consider this a cousin to the suggestion “major on the majors and minor on the minors.”  Things happen, plans must be adjusted, sometimes even tossed in the rubbish heap and coupled with a jog back to square one. Your physical, mental, and emotional self will thank you each time you make a conscious effort “to not sweat the small stuff.”

Make self-care a priority

The demands on administrators can lead to a host of stress-related maladies, including extreme exhaustion. Feeling overwhelmed because of too much to do and too many expectations is a sure-fire recipe for burnout. As stress increases, joy in and from the position often decreases.

Take advice from others who have ‘been there/done that.” Try to find a mentor who has been in the same position as you. It can be extremely beneficial to talk with someone to share ideas, goals and even vent your frustration at times. You can find a mentor by reaching out to your state health care association or by connecting with colleagues at a state or national healthcare conference.

Just breathe

Before you dismiss the suggestion as too simple, consider how many times during any given day that—

• Something goes haywire in a minor or major way
• A phone call completely rearranges your day
• An email brings notice of the latest “fire” that needs your attention ASAP

Now multiply that by five days a week, times four-plus weeks a month. That’s too many pulse-raising scenarios not to take relaxation techniques as simple as the following breathing exercises seriously.

• Breathing Exercises - Dr. Andrew Weil’s4-7-8 breathing technique consists of inhaling a breath for four seconds, holding it for seven seconds, and then exhaling for eight seconds. Repeat in sets of three as often as needed. Some folks find the less constrictive “belly breathing” technique to be more comfortable. This relaxation method combines breathing and touch, with one hand on your chest and one hand on your stomach. Breathe slowly through your nose as your belly expands.
• Meditation – There are many ways to reduce stress and meditation is another way. You don’t need a special location, just the right mindset. This article shares some suggestions on how meditation can reduce negative emotions, control anxiety, and even enhance self-awareness.

Despite the many responsibilities that culminate into the sum of an administrator’s job description, the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of seniors motivates administrators to weigh the challenges against the rewards and remain on board.

Anna Heinrich offers 9 natural remedies for reducing stress. Although her article was written for nurses, her suggestions, which include items like getting more exercise, taking a mental health day (with instructions), and making healthy eating/sleeping choices, is written for nurses, but very applicable to NHAs.

Don’t overlook your stress load until it’s too late. Take steps today to implement strategies that will help you cope with the ‘stress factor’ of a rewarding career.