I’d like to piggy-back off a blog post I read today on the Nerdy Nurse’s blog. Brittney Wilson wrote an article for the recent Scrubs Blog Carnival round on storytelling in nursing, which was hosted on Adrienne’s blog Nurseables: Educational Nursing Fables. (OK, enough links but I just like to give credit where credit is due. And this blogging round ROCKED as I love storytelling and the benefits it allows for).

Back to Brittney’s Post on the Nerdy Nurse.

If you don’t have time to read her entire article, I’ll share with you my major take-away. I LOVED how she pointed out that hosting a blog is not just another place to complain about nursing.

Brittney writes, “It’s not enough for us to complain around the water cooler about the things we hate about our profession. We have to make a bigger commotion. We have to offer solutions. We have to connect with others and form movements.”

Fed Up with the Complaints

I believe (now I’ve been writing this blog for some time now so I apologize if I cannot find the exact post) that I wrote on this awhile back. I think this past summer I shared how I am sick and tired of reading about nurse’s holding their pee, not taking breaks, and doing other sorts of bodily harm to themselves that I find maddening in every way, shape, and form.

I won’t even post it here because I think giving energy to something that you don’t like by sharing it along and talking about it only fuels the fire, but there are these photo images and icons shared all over Facebook that highlight the martyrdom of nursing. To me, it’s quite absurd.

Want the Good News?

The great news is this doesn’t have to be ‘the way it is’. We can all change. And how? Through choice.

You may not be viewed as part of the in-crowd- you may even find yourself getting made fun of now and then. But it’s not always easy to be different. No it’s much more than that.

It’s Empowering!

How Do I Know You Can Change?

Quick example: I never used to eat fruit. In fact I didn’t like any at all. (Weird, right? I know). Well, one summer when I was setting out to change my body, mind, and spirit I decided to make a goal. Eat one piece of fruit three times a week. That slowly increased over time. And then it was on to vegetables.

And now I eat spinach for breakfast! Who knew?!?

My point is you don’t have to run with the crowd. You aren’t ‘set’ in your ways. It isn’t too late to change.

Nursing Is Ready for a Shift

I believe our profession is ready for a major change- in fact I am dedicating my work to reinventing nursing from the inside out. You can be a part of this shift. All you have to do is make a conscious choice.

• How will you respond when they tell you that you can’t take a break?
• What will you do when you don’t have enough staff on a shift?
• Where will you go for positive and uplifting support?

Spend some time reflecting on how you’d like your nursing career to look in 2014. Sit quietly with yourself. Journal. Meditate. Go for a walk. Do whatever you like to do to listen to your inner voice.

How will you help uplift and empower our profession?

I’d love to hear from you! 

Leave a comment below and let’s discuss the solution-based orientation from which we can grow, heal, and change.