3 Ways to Avoid Burnout While Earning Your DNP

Earning your Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) can be a great undertaking. Balancing work, family and school can be a challenge, and can lead to some stress. During these times, you may feel an inevitable burnout approaching. Here are some helpful tips to avoid burnout while earning your DNP:

Make Time Management a Priority

Between work, family and school, the responsibilities can stack up quickly. By delaying tasks or waiting until the last minute to work on an assignment, you quickly feel overwhelmed. Create a calendar with set times for study, work, family activities, etc. By having times set aside for specific tasks, you will not feel so overwhelmed with your academic, work and familial responsibilities.

Take Time for You

It is far too easy for nurses earning their DNP to forget to take time for themselves, due to their busy schedules. However, taking time out of your day to relax your mind both physically and emotionally will not only help you clear your head, but will also allow you to be more receptive to new challenges that come your way. Take 15 minutes out of your day to read a book, journal, do yoga or perform any other relaxing activities. Not only will this calm your mind, but it will also help you to refocus on your tasks for the day!

Remember the Benefits

When close to burnout, you may begin to have doubts as to why you are attempting to earn your DNP. In times like these, make a list of the benefits you will receive after finishing the program. Here are some ideas to help you get started:

• You can expand your nursing knowledge, having an even greater understanding of healthcare information technology, population management and leadership within the health industry.
• You can advance in your field, becoming a leader in your practice.
• You may not only be able to earn a higher salary, but you may also have even more career options to pursue.
• You can make an impact on the lives of your patients and improve their healthcare with your medical expertise.

Earning your Doctor of Nursing Practice can be a positive experience. Use these tips to help you avoid burnout, and rediscover your purpose!

Want to learn more about Grand Canyon University’s College of Nursing and Health Care Professions? For more information, visit our website or fill out the Request More Information form at the top of the page.

Written by Jessica Baral, a senior earning a degree in communications at GCU.