i‌‍‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‍‌‍‍‍‍‌‍‍ need a response to this discussion: Since the beginning of

i‌‍‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‍‌‍‍‍‍‌‍‍ need a response to this discussion: Since the beginning of the pandemic I believe all healthcare workers have struggled with excessive stress levels. We started out with very little knowledge of the virus and how to handle it, to reusing N95’s, and working with surges in patient loads. I have personally experienced more stress than ever before due to the pandemic and working so short staffed. Hospitals are treating the same amount of patients with each surge, but with less and less staff. This current surge of Covid has been especially difficult because not only have we had an increase in the number of patients, but half of our staff has been out with Covid themselves. Stress levels are affecting my sleep, energy, and weight currently. Working extra shifts to cover for short staffing has limited my time to participate in stress relieving act‌‍‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‍‌‍‍‍‍‌‍‍ivities. I have a group of friends that I work with and there are times all we can do is be silly and laugh. It’s amazing what a good laugh will do when you are having a difficult shift at work. Laughter can make you feel better immediately by releasing feel-good endorphins into the bloodstream (Ellis, 2019). Exercise is a great way to relieve stress and my goal is to make time for myself to exercise more often. Several studies have found that exercise is a powerful stress reliever. Intense physical activity releases endorphins into the bloodstream, which is why healthcare professionals recommend at least 30 minutes of exercise per day (Ellis, 2019). Ellis, A. (2019, September 28). Nurses: Here are 13 easy things to do to relieve stress. The Doctor Weighs In. Retrieved January 7, 2022, from