…Ahh… so I wrote this entire blog post and then it got deleted.  So I hope I can capture my thoughts from a couple of minutes ago, haha!  But maybe it was a subtle sign to shorten it as the word count was long… So here we go again!…

…I have had two recent experiences that were wonderful at my job; my part-time role as a Clinical Nurse Research Fellow at Hopkins.  We are involved in a study where we are testing Health Coaching as an intervention with patients who are discharged from the hospital to the home on four or more medications.  While I have come up against many challenges with using health coaching in this population: patient disinterest/lack of cooperation, environmental/social/family, basic needs not being met… to name a few; we also have had some wonderful success stories!…

…Yesterday I visited a man, who was newly placed on full-time oxygen and had many of his home medications changed at discharge.  I found that there were many medication errors and discrepancies and we straightened it all out for him.  He understood the severity of what we found and was so grateful for our visit.  He just kept thanking us and was confident with his plan to speak with his primary care doctor to get all of his dosages corrected.  He really appreciated our visit to his home.  Then today, I called a man for his 60 day follow-up call to find he has come up against some challenges with some of his goals.  He is working towards becoming enrolled in an educational program that will help him become a substance abuse counselor who can teach others.  At the end of talking with him he was so thankful.  He said “I really appreciate you calling me and talking with me like this.  It has gotten me stirred up!”  He was energized and excited to take action…

…It was so wonderful to have these two experiences with my patients; as this study has not always been successful and empowering.  And this brings me to my questions: why do we look to compliments, “Thank-you’s,” and recognition/praise to feel valued?  What is it about us that we cannot just recognize a job well done and value ourselves from within?  How come so often we look to our bosses, peers, or others to tell us we have done well?…

…Well, as I can see I need to take my own advice in this one.  But here are some suggestions I offer:

• Be Patient: Know that you are doing a good job each day you are at work.  You might help one person.  You might do many tasks, but not really know what they are doing to pay off.  But in the long run you are making strides, you are taking steps, and you are planting seedlings.  Know that what you are doing each and every day is helping someone and in the long-term, that person is going to be better off because of having met and worked with you.
• Trust Yourself: You are doing a great job.  You are an expert.  Even if it feels as if you do not have all of the answers or that you cannot help everyone; you are a role-model.  Patients, the general public, knows little to nothing about health care.  It is so difficult to navigate, it is so hard to keep track of or keep up with; you are knowledgable and are a teacher, a guide, and a leader to many.  Trust your educational background.  Trust your career insights.  You have what it takes to be successful.
• Value You: Stop looking elsewhere for praise and recognition.  Living in that way is risky, at best, for you do not always know where the kind words will come from.  Love you.  Say kind things to yourself.  Give yourself a pat on the back.  You are doing hard work; and you are doing a great job!
• Slow Down: Take a moment to just breathe and be.  Maybe you are not valuing you because you are rushing from here to there totally unaware of how great you are doing.  Take a moment to live in the now.  Breathe and recognize yourself.  Take a break.  Pamper yourself.  Have a spa day.  Whatever you can do to recognize and value yourself!

…So writing these words has empowered and reminded me that I am worth it!  I do not need to look to outside resources for my own value.  I do not need to wait for the praise and the “Thank-you.”  I can thank myself.  I can value me.  I love who I am and am grateful for my chance to serve and help people…

Where do you look for recognition?  Are you able to pull value from within?  Or do you seek outside sources of praise?