But at what cost to their health and work/life balance?The thing is, I also know excellent nurses who do go home on time (well, most of the time!)

These nurses are no less dedicated and are also doing a brilliant job.Which one are you?Learning to minimise and manage our own stress is a major part of our personal development.

When that big sabre toothed tiger you intended to kill for your supper, turned around and decided to hunt you instead what happened?

Your stress response was activated and you ran as fast as you could – the other way!Nursing stress and burnoutToday, nursing does not have sabre toothed tigers (well not where I work!).

What nurses do have are staff shortages, unpredictable workloads, dying patients, anxious relatives and emergency situations to name but a few.Nurses also have the many other everyday demands of life – caring for young or elderly family members, extra studying to keep up to date, shopping, housework, DIY and I am sure you can add the rest!Good StressIt is easy to think of stress as bad.

Stress makes us feel challenged and helps us to perform at our best.