A nurse emailed me with a dilemma. She shared that she went into the field of nursing to be able to use holistic modalities and integrative therapies for patient healing. While she lived in a progressive geographic area who readily accepts complementary therapies, the hospital she worked in was a bit behind the times. This is common in healthcare… in fact, I hear it a lot from holistic nurses that I know.
While this video isn’t necessarily about getting holistic modalities into the workplace (if you’d like more information on that topic, check out Lourdes Lorenz’s interview during the 2016 Art of Nursing program) it IS about how to have success in your nursing career.
So often nurses go into the nursing profession to be able to help patients. They enjoy the teaching, advocacy, or helping nature of the work. When they get into their actual nursing careers… they are often surprised by how little they are able to actually do the things they love to do. So this video will share tips and strategies for staying flexible, using your resources, and networking with like-minded colleagues.
What did we miss? I’d love to hear how you increase your capacity for change. Leave a nursing career tip in the comments below. Thanks for reading!
About the Author: As a keynote speaker, bestselling author and virtual conference host, Elizabeth partners with hospitals, organizations, associations, and nursing groups to help transform the field of nursing from the inside out. In her bestselling book, ‘Nursing from Within‘, Elizabeth supports nurses to make those inner shifts that are required to more fully enjoy our nursing careers.
Great tips, Elizabeth! I feel for that nurse, as I am and have been dealing with the same issues around introducing integrative therapies where I work. I would add that she should just keep talking to people in and outside of her department. Because I have done that, I have been invited to participate in the research committee and an upcoming study on nurses and self-care. I am also able to introduce some integrative therapies on my unit as part of my clinical ladder project. And don’t be afraid to use your knowledge in your bedside role. Offering a gentle back and foot massage during a bath, reiki for that patient who is anxious and can’t sleep, or a short guided relaxation to help a patient relax or manage their pain. Those things are all within your scope of practice as an RN. Look for allies within your facility who can help you champion your ideas. They are not always in obvious places, but whoever is over HCAPS will probably be very interested in your ideas if you can show them research that shows its benefits. And I didn’t notice the construction noises at all!
Wonderful! It’s great to hear this specific example, April. Thank you for sharing this with the readers. And yes, data speaks volumes. Great work, April!!
Great post Elizabeth! I’ve heard this comment many times also. At the previous AHNA conferences I attended, it was a popular table conversation at meals. Love the video, and I didn’t hear any of the yard work issues. 🙂
Nice! And… you bring up AHNA Conferences… will you be joining us next year in Palm Springs?