There are some things that most of us nurses can agree upon.

• Fact: nursing is hard work.
• Fact: being a nurse can be stressful.
• Fact: as a nurse, we have to handle difficult patients, providers and tense situations.
• Fact: nursing happens with a team; there are lots of people involved with patient care.

At times, I have experienced some pushback with my approach. My stance is this: while nursing can be tough work, with challenging situations, we still have to stay accountable for our own selves.

Yes, I have heard about nurse bullying. I have seen communication breakdowns in my practice. There is no doubt that the healthcare environment can be abrasive. However, I believe that there are things we can and cannot change.

We cannot make another adult do what we want. There is no way to tell what another person is thinking; we can’t get into their mind. Some of the organizational, political or financial pressures are outside of our control.

But guess what?

[Tweet “We have an amazing opportunity as nurses.”]

There IS one thing we can take ownership of. And it’s the easiest, most convenient thing… Want to know what that is?

It’s us.

As nurse professionals, we have control over our own thoughts, feelings, beliefs and ultimately actions. We have the amazing capacity to shift our inner perspectives so that we can more fully enjoy our external environments.

[Tweet “Here’s a quick four step process to help any nurse enjoy their nursing career.”]

• Pause. Having awareness is the most powerful piece. When we are conscious of our thoughts we have the capacity to choose.
• Let go. I’m not saying avoid, ignore or push away the negative. I encourage you to feel what you are feeling and release that which you no longer need. Releasing tension makes space for forward movement.
• Allow and appreciate. Now that there you have made the room, you have a chance to allow the good to more easily flow to you. Pay attention to what is going well and you will have more to watch out for.
• Your authentic self is what will impact the level of joy that you feel. As adults, we can wake up in a life that we have no interest in. Other people pushed us into decisions that were not the best. Make sure you are showing up as your true you, acknowledging and allowing your values. Be yourself and enjoy your nursing career.

I encourage you to take a stab at trying the above process. Let me know how it goes for you. Is there anything you would add to this list? What has helped you enjoy your nursing career, amidst the chaos and confusion? Leave a comment below.