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In this opening episode of a new season of The Nurses’ Breakroom with Jenny Lytle, RN, hospice nurse of 20 years Jenny  invites you to slow down and take a Monday moment for yourself.

This episode isn’t about fixing anything or adding another task to your to‑do list. Instead, it’s about naming the emotional weight hospice professionals carry—and offering reassurance that what you’re feeling is normal, human, and deeply connected to the sacred work you do.

Jenny speaks candidly about why hospice nurses often struggle to “leave work at work,” the mental replaying of conversations, the heaviness of patients’ stories, and the quiet exhaustion that can follow us home. Most importantly, she offers permission—permission to care for yourself without guilt and without believing you need to care less to survive this work.

This conversation sets the foundation for what’s coming next. In next week’s episode, Jenny will continue this discussion by sharing practical, actionable ways to begin releasing emotional stress and creating healthier transitions after your shifts.

✨ This episode is for you if you:

• Feel emotionally drained after work
• Struggle to mentally disconnect from hospice care
• Worry that prioritizing yourself might feel selfish
• Know something needs to change—but aren’t ready for a checklist yet

Gentle Takeaways:

Instead of “what to do,” this episode offers space to reflect and recognize:

• Emotional fatigue in hospice work is a byproduct of deep caring, not poor boundaries or weakness
• Loving your work and feeling weighed down by it can exist at the same time
• The challenge isn’t caring too much—it’s not having a way to set the work down
• You don’t need to get tougher or detach emotionally to keep going
• Giving yourself permission to pause is often the first step toward sustainable care

➡️ Next week: We’ll move from reflection to action, with simple, realistic strategies to help you release stress and protect your energy—without adding more pressure.

If you're feeling overwhelmed, burned out, or like there’s never enough time, I’ve got something just for you! Head to https://selfcareisntselfish.com to grab your FREE copy of my book, Self-Care Isn’t Selfish: The Compassionate Nurse’s Step-by-Step Guide to Personalized Stress Relief. It’s packed with simple, effective strategies to help you prioritize your needs—without guilt—so you can feel energized, focused, and ready to take on the day. Go to https://selfcareisntselfish.com 

Feeling stressed? Grab my quick and easy Busy Nurses' Guide to Less Stress for practical stress relief that truly fits into your life! https://www.jennylytle.com/guide

Looking for connection with people who get the stress and self-care struggles of nurses and caregivers? Check out https://thenursesbreakroom.com

Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennylytlern/

More ways to connect here: https://linktr.ee/jennylytle