In recent years, studies are reporting an increase in mental health concerns such as stress and depression amongst nurses. One study by ANA Enterprise found that two-thirds of nurses surveyed report feeling stressed, while half feel overwhelmed and nearly half feel burned out. Another study by CriticalCareNurse found that critical care nurses have been found to have higher rates of depression and anxiety than the general public. In addition to a strain on mental wellbeing, long work hours take a physical toll, often leading to full body fatigue and tension. Nurses give constant care to others, and it’s important that their own health and wellness receive the same care. That’s why nurses, such as Mirella D, make it a priority to care for their wellbeing through wellness practices such as assisted stretching. Keep reading to learn more about Mirella’s journey in becoming a nurse and how StretchLab has helped her continue to care for others!

A Calling For Helping Others and Understanding the Body

Mirella is a stretch practitioner at StretchLab. When she first entered the healthcare system as a nurse, she shares it was because she felt a strong calling to give the best care possible to people who needed it. However, she also felt a strong pull to work with the body at a performance level. Mirella had a passion for understanding the human body on multiple levels, from health and sickness, to passion and performance.  Because of this, she shares that she struggled with deciding which path to follow whether it be healthcare, fitness, or holistic health.

Her first area of study was mental health, but found she wanted to work with more of the body. Towards the end of her bachelors, she recalls stumbling into an empty classroom with big, beautiful bright images of the human body systems. She learned from another student that this was the nursing department, prompting the two into a conversation about health and wellness. This conversation helped Mirella recognize that with nursing, she could work with both the mind and body. Thus, beginning her path towards becoming a nurse.

Prior to StretchLab, Mirella already had some experience in rehab as a CNA before going back to school to get licensed as a practical nurse, putting her in direct contact with people recovering from injuries or procedures related to mobility. However, Mirella’s nursing license got delayed while moving between states. During this transitional period, she found her way to StretchLab, discovering she could still bring about positive changes to the mind and body while continuing to nurture people through assisted stretching.

How StretchLab Complements Nursing

Mirella, like many nurses, has a passion for understanding the body and how to care for it. In fact, it’s not uncommon to find nurses at StretchLab as clients, and as stretch practitioners!

Being on both sides of the bench, Mirella is able to experience firsthand the impact assisted stretching can have on the health and wellness of nurses. She says, “If you are a nurse, like me, you are probably a workaholic who often will put others first to the point where you will let your back go bad… I have come across a lot of nurses and healthcare workers in general who struggle with back pain or other issues related to their work.” Clients she has worked with at StretchLab have been able to learn valuable information on how to protect their bodies from the possibility of future injuries. This experience gives them the chance to get in touch with their own body's strengths, weaknesses, and muscle balance. Mirella shares that as a nurse who puts her back under a lot of pressure, she can wholeheartedly say stretching contributes to her ability to work both of these jobs that she loves without pain or injury. 

As a stretch practitioner, Mirella shares that an unexpected joy of working at StretchLab is that none of her prior education went to waste. In this work, she is able to apply her favorite parts of both her mental health and nursing education. Katy H, another stretch practitioner who is currently in her last semester of nursing school, shares a similar sentiment, saying StretchLab has allowed her to utilize and apply her knowledge of anatomy and physiology. 

After almost 3 years at StretchLab, Mirella shares one of the best parts of this work is that she can see results. Not only that, but the people she sees dedicated to their health and wellness through assisted stretching see the results too. 

Why Nurses Should Consider an Assisted Stretching Routine

Nurses are dedicated individuals who go above and beyond to care for others. With a career like theirs, it’s important that they receive the same care and attention as well. Kassidy B, a stretch practitioner and nursing student, says, “as a future nurse who often stretches current nurses, I believe assisted stretching is imperative to the longevity of their lives. Nursing is tough, and being on the go 24/7 puts lots of strain on our bodies, and StretchLab offers a way for us to not only relax on our day off, but make going back to work easier.”

With recent studies showing the impact working in healthcare can have on mental health, it’s imperative that nurses receive care that helps their overall well-being. Kathy H says, “StretchLab has become a space where I can slow down, breathe, and reconnect with my body. It’s been a game-changer for managing stress and preventing burnout—something all nursing students and professionals face.”

Mirella herself recommends any healthcare worker to try StretchLab. She shares, “if you are a nurse working hard, self-care is important if you want to be able to help others!... It feels good to feel good. And then, you can go to work feeling better on both a physical and mental level while bringing care and nurturing to those truly in need! Because isn't that what nursing is about?”

Interested in learning more about how our assisted stretching services can support your nursing career? Find a StretchLab near you here!

Testimonial shared by Mirella D, stretch practitioner at StretchLab Marlboro
Quotes shared by Katy H and Kassidy Brown, stretch practitioners at StretchLab Anaheim Hills