As a keynote speaker for nursing conventions, nurse conferences and nursing schools I often receive feedback from the audience. Just yesterday, after my motivational self-care speech for a hospital Nurse’s Week celebration, a nurse in the audience came up to me. She shared how grateful she was to hear my topic, revealing to me how she recently made a difficult decision regarding her nursing career.

While driving home, this got me thinking about nursing feedback. You know that dreaded part of the professional evaluation or that difficult conversation no nurse seems to want to have. What is it about nursing feedback and why is it all wrapped up in negative vibrations?

Last night during the Art of Nursing wrap up call, we allowed time for Q&A. I opened up the conference lines and allowed for participants to share comments, questions or feedback. One nurse, named Mary, our last participant to share on the call blew us all away. She shared honest feedback about how she had been thinking about the Art of Nursing program all month and the supportive container it would provide to nursing professionals. She also complimented me for creating this space that allows nurses to be heard, listened to and valued.

Another example of nursing feedback, and not the nasty kind! So I reflected this morning and realized that nursing feedback does not have to be ‘negative’ or ‘positive’ in any shape or form. It is just another opportunity for growth, healing and learning.

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Laurel Lewis, my co-host for last evening’s synthesizing call, very eloquently stated that as she answered a nursing student’s question on how to keep up her own spirit of healing while going through nursing school. Laurel shared that each option, every twist and turn, the moment-by-moment decisions we make as nurses every day are all choices. We can look at these as opportunities for professional growth and personal development.

So I ask you, is nursing feedback good or bad? Can you just take and give it for what it simply is?

An opportunity to expand and grow into that nursing leader that is within?

And before we close, let us each take a moment to share a bit of nursing feedback with each other. To tag onto the great Renee Thompson’s call for Nursing Pay-it-Forward and Andrew Lopez’s continuation with the effort on social media- would you leave a comment below that shares uplifting, encouraging and gratifying nursing feedback with a colleague, friend or family member?

Thank you for reading and Happy Nurse’s Week to you!