5 Ways to Build Resilience in Nursing

Resilience in nursing is more than just a buzzword — it’s also a survival skill. With chronic understaffing, rising burnout, and demanding schedule, nurses are expected to keep giving their best while facing some of the toughest moments life can present. Add to that the emotional reality of witnessing loss, trauma, and suffering on a daily basis, and it’s clear why resilience matters. So the real question becomes: How do you stay grounded and strong when the pressure never lets up?

If you want to know what it takes to be a resilient nurse, this article has you covered. We’ll cover key strategies to help you handle the toughest parts of the job and share real-world advice from nurses who’ve been through it all.

What Is Resilience and How Does It Affect Nursing Practice?

One study defines resilience as the capacity to adapt, recover, and — in the context of nursing — continue providing safe, effective care despite facing adversity, stress, or challenging circumstances. It’s not a fixed trait, but a dynamic and ongoing process that requires continuous nurturing, flexibility, and commitment to both personal and professional growth.

Imagine this: It’s your third night shift in a row, and exhaustion is starting to creep in. You’ve barely had a chance to sit down, when one of your patients suddenly begins seizing. Alarms beep, family panics, and your heart races — but you focus yourself, call for help, and let your training take over. That’s resilience in action — the skill that allows nurses to stay grounded and effective, even when everything is on the line.

Resilience can be broken down into two parts: activation and decompression. Activation refers to the ability to persevere in the midst of a challenge, while decompression is about learning to step back, recharge, and protect your energy when you’re off the clock. Together, they help nurses stay strong at work without burning out outside of it.

Resilience and burnout in nursing are closely connected. Resilience is often seen as a buffer against burnout — a way for nurses to push through the hardest parts of the job without losing their sense of purpose.

How to Build Resilience in Nursing: 5 Strategies

The good news about resilience is that it’s not a fixed trait — it’s a skill that can be learned, strengthened, and practiced by anyone. You don’t have to be naturally “tough” to become resilient. With the right mindset, tools, and support, nurses can better develop the ability to stay grounded and effective, even in the most challenging situations.

Nursing resilience strategies focus on a few key elements:

• Having strong social support
• Having confidence in your abilities
• Maintaining a healthy work-life balance
• Holding onto traits like humor, optimism, and realism.

Let’s explore five nursing resilience strategies you can use to build and maintain resilience in your day-to-day work as a nurse.

1. Build a Strong Support System

Nursing is demanding — emotionally, physically, and mentally. Having a strong support system is essential for preventing burnout, compassion fatigue, and moral distress. Connecting with like-minded peers who understand the unique challenges of the profession can provide a sense of community and reduce feelings of isolation.

Here are some organizations and resources that offer peer support for nurses:

• Don’t Clock Out: This initiative hosts free online support groups tailored for nurses, nursing students, and certified nursing assistants (CNAs).
• NurseGroups: A volunteer-led platform offering no-cost virtual support groups for nurses to support each other in navigating the challenges of the profession.
• Operation Happy Nurse: An online community for nurses offering discussion boards, a book club, social events, and other resources dedicated to promoting mental health and well-being among nurses.

“Leveraging my community has helped me get through some of the toughest moments during a shift. Whether it’s asking someone to listen to me vent for five minutes in the supply room or assist me with a bed change, my work friends make the seemingly impossible somehow doable.” — Rachel S., BSN

2. Learn to Recharge

Emotional resilience in nursing isn’t just about pushing through tough shifts. It’s also about knowing how to decompress and recharge once your workday is over. Taking time to care for your mind and body after a shift helps reduce stress, prevent burnout, and restore energy for the next day.

Here are some ideas you can use to recharge after work:

• Yoga or stretching: Gentle movement can lead to muscle relaxation, which is associated with stress reduction.
• Meditation: Mindfulness practices have been shown to create positive changes in the brain, and the emotional benefits can help improve mental health by reducing anxiety, depression, and social stress.
• Nature walks: Time outdoors helps boost mood and improve mental health.
• Spa treatments or massages: Relaxing procedures like massages or assisted stretches help relax the nervous system and decrease stress hormones.
• Listening to relaxing music: Music with stringed instruments, drums, and flutes has been proven to be effective at relaxing the mind.
• Sound healing: Sessions using sound baths, tuning forks, or singing bowls help reduce stress and improve spiritual wellness.
• Energy work: Techniques such as Reiki or tai chi help restore energy flow, release mental and emotional stress, reduce cortisol levels, and improve mood.
• Breathwork: Controlled breathing exercises help support greater parasympathetic tone, which can counterbalance the high sympathetic activity common in anxiety.

“On the med-surg floor I worked on I would sometimes feel overwhelmed. An LNA coworker noticed my shallow breathing and taught me how to focus on longer exhales. That tip really helped me manage anxiety when it started to build. She’s an NP now, hopefully continuing to give out great advice.” — Bonnie W., BSN

3. Seek Professional Help

Even the most resilient nurse sometimes needs extra support. Professional support offers structured strategies, accountability, and a safe space to process the emotional challenges of nursing. Here are several approaches you may want to check out as you do your research:

• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) helps recognize unhelpful thought patterns, reframe challenges, and develop practical coping strategies.
• Solution-focused therapy (SFT) emphasizes identifying solutions and building practical strategies for coping with specific challenges.
• Polyvagal therapy: Focuses on regulating the autonomic nervous system to improve emotional resilience, reduce stress responses, and build resilience during high-pressure situations.

4. Add Joy to Your Life

Resilience is also about cultivating positive experiences that recharge your emotional batteries. Incorporating small moments of joy into your daily routine helps buffer against burnout and improve overall well-being. This can include hobbies, creative outlets, or social activities that make you feel energized and connected.

“Most nursing specialties are known for long shifts and physically demanding assignments. Most of my shifts as a hemodialysis nurse can last 15 to 16 hours. Since I started, I trained myself to be physically and mentally capable by living a healthy lifestyle that includes a regular workout routine and physical activities. The mental stamina developed from experience, especially at the beginning of my career. I chose to work long shifts that included overtime and even covering extra shifts during my days off. I set up this plan during my first years in nursing with the goal of building strong experience and mental toughness early. That foundation now helps me maintain these skills more naturally.” — Maher A., RN

5. Optimize Your Shifts

Maximizing efficiency during your workday by managing your time effectively and organizing patient care strategically can reduce stress and soothe your workflow. By streamlining your tasks, you conserve energy, maintain focus, and create space to respond calmly to unexpected challenges.

Here are some ideas for how to manage your time efficiently:

• Cluster care: Combine related tasks, like administering medications, taking vitals, and performing head-to-toe assessments, to save time.
• Purposeful rounding: Use structured check-ins at set intervals to help you anticipate needs and reduce repeated interruptions during a shift.
• Delegate appropriately: Share duties with CNAs, licensed practical nurses (LPNs), or other team members to focus on high-priority nursing responsibilities without overloading yourself.
• Use structured tools: Checklists, helpful nursing apps, digital systems, and brain sheets help keep you organized and minimize cognitive load.
• Stock up on nursing supplies: Keep essential tools and accessories — like pens, stethoscopes, and medical scissors — well-stocked and within reach to reduce wasted time and make rounds more efficient.

Building Resilience in Nurses: FAQ

How does resilience relate to nurse retention?

Resilience plays a significant role in nurse retention by enhancing job satisfaction and reducing burnout. Nurses who possess higher resilience are better equipped to manage stress and adapt to challenges, leading to improved retention rates.

How does resilience impact patient care?

Resilient nurses are better prepared to handle the emotional and physical demands of their roles, leading to improved patient care. They can make swift, life-saving decisions in challenging situations, which can reduce the risk of medical errors. Resilience is also closely correlated with job satisfaction, which in turn improves patient safety.

“Another important factor that helps me stay resilient in such a demanding career is the appreciation I receive from my patients. When I see them improve in their health, it gives me a deeply rewarding feeling. Knowing that I’ve left a valuable impact on someone boosts my sense of self-actualization and keeps me motivated to continue giving my best.” — Maher A., RN

How can resilience in nursing leadership improve team performance?

Research shows that nurse leaders who foster resilience in themselves and their teams improve staff engagement, reduce burnout, and enhance patient care outcomes. Implementing programs such as mentorship initiatives, structured debriefings after stressful events, or resilience-building workshops can help healthcare systems operate more efficiently, boost morale, and improve overall performance.

“I think a great unit culture is essential for individual resilience as a nurse. On my old cardiac unit, we could be having the busiest, worst shift ever, but when you’re with coworkers who check in on each other and can laugh together, the work is just easier.” — Marie H., BSN

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