Healing Is Not a Straight Line: What Nurses Forget to Give Themselves

Healing Is Not a Straight Line: What Nurses Forget to Give Themselves

Healing Is Not a Straight Line: What Nurses Forget to Give ThemselvesJeanese Ex, RN, BSN | Altruistic Nurse Writer
Published on: 03/08/2026

Nurses teach patients that healing takes time, then hold themselves to impossible timelines. An OB nurse shares what recovery taught her about rest, boundaries, asking for help, and letting go of productivity as a measure of worth.

nurse self-carehealing is not linearnurse recoverynurses as patientsnurse burnoutcompassion fatiguesetting boundaries as a nurseasking for helprest without guiltproductivity and self-worthover-functioningrecovery setbackship replacement recoverychronic illnessnurse wellbeingemotional health for nursesself-compassion for nursesOB Nurse Self-Care coursenurse-led continuing educationAltruistic Nurse Writer
When Caring Starts to Cost Too Much

When Caring Starts to Cost Too Much

When Caring Starts to Cost Too MuchJeanese Ex, RN, BSN | Altruistic Nurse Writer
Published on: 22/07/2026

Compassion fatigue often slips in quietly. Learn how it differs from burnout, why 77.6% of OB and GYN nurses report moderate to severe compassion fatigue, how to recognize the pattern early, and why self-care can’t replace system change.

compassion fatiguecompassion fatigue in nursesOB nurse compassion fatigueperinatal nurseslabor and delivery nurse burnoutcompassion fatigue vs burnoutsigns of compassion fatiguesecondary traumatic stressmoral distressnurse burnoutnurse self-carenurse wellbeingemotional exhaustionNIOSH healthcare worker stressImpact Wellbeingnurse boundariespeer support for nursesOB Nurse Self-Care coursecompassion fatigue CE courseAltruistic Nurse Writer