Evidence and practice

Using journalling to support nurses’ mental well-being and self-care in challenging times

Sarah Butler Lecturer, programme director – PGCert Clinical Practice, University of Hull, Hull, England

Why you should read this article:

• To enhance your awareness of the mental health benefits of keeping a journal
• To find practical advice on the process of journalling and on different journalling formats
• To consider journalling as tool for nurses to navigate the complexities of their role

Nurses frequently experience multiple challenges and face numerous demands in their professional role, which may lead to adverse effects such as stress, depression, anxiety and burnout. Therefore, it is important to identify effective and accessible strategies that can support them. This article explores how nurses can use journalling as a tool for navigating the challenges they experience in their practice. It offers a step-by-step guide that provides nurses with an accessible and effective approach to journalling, which they can use to support their mental well-being and self-care.

Nursing Management. doi: 10.7748/nm.2024.e2136

Peer review

This article has been subject to external double-blind peer review and checked for plagiarism using automated software

@SarahLouButler1

Correspondence

s.l.butler@hull.ac.uk

Conflict of interest

None declared

Butler S (2024) Using journalling to support nurses’ mental well-being and self-care in challenging times. Nursing Management. doi: 10.7748/nm.2024.e2136

Published online: 25 June 2024

Keywords :

clinical - continuing professional development - education - health promotion - mental health - nurses’ well-being - professional - professional issues - reflection - well-being