As nurses, we are trained to think about breathing in life-and-death terms. We employ basic ABCs to assess critical situations, carefully analyzing our patient’s airway, breathing, and circulation. We regularly evaluate patient respirations according to rate, rhythm, character, and breath sounds. We scrutinize ABGs and oxygen saturation readings. And, we assist our patients with incentive spirometers and breathing devices. All of these procedures are fundamental to nursing. They are all patient-oriented.

There is another dimension of breathing that is integral to a safe and healthy nursing practice. I am talking about our own breathing habits. We all know the value of deep breathing. How often do you remind your patients, family members, and colleagues to “stop and take a deep breath”? But, do you ever remind yourself?

Under stress, we may unconsciously alter our breathing patterns. Our respirations are likely to become shallow and rapid. This can become a vicious cycle. The more irregular our breathing, the harder it is to get a deep breath. Before stress takes over your workday, try to remind yourself to breathe. This is especially important when you feel overwhelmed by a heavy work load, or are struggling to help a patient stabilize.

When you approach a stressful situation, or find yourself in the middle of another nursing crisis: Simply pause and breathe. Take a moment to consciously inhale and calmly exhale. Like the OR “time out,” pausing for a few deep breaths can help nurses regain our perspectives and focus in the midst of intense situations.

Whether we are at work or at home, or simply caught up in our daily commute, we all need the chance to stop long enough to catch our breath, emotionally and physically. So, next time you hear yourself reminding a patient or colleague to take a deep breath, consider your own breathing habits. Stop, breathe, and calmly assess the situation. It can do wonders for your nursing practice.