I’m getting really tired of hearing all of the negativity that’s associated with nursing. One that recently rubbed me the really wrong way: nursing obesity. There is an overwhelmingly amount of research out there describing the problem. There’s even a good deal of literature offering solutions. And that’s where it stops.
To me, no one is ready or willing to take action.
People understand the problem (or do they?); they can articulate the solutions. And that’s where the story ends. No one wants to actually ‘do’ something about it.
An age-old dilemma surfaces: yes, we want healthier, happier nurses. No we are not willing to do anything to get ourselves there.
Notice above where I wrote in parenthesis: ‘or do they’? That’s mainly what I want to talk about with you today.
I was sitting in a room full of very wise, highly experienced health care professionals. From all scopes of practice, a variety of educational backgrounds. We were talking about nurses’ well-being and how to improve it.
Well after an hour or so of discussion, we were no closer to an agreed upon solution so the leader of the meeting paused and said: “Well, if we have to pick one thing to focus on- what’s the one thing our nurses struggle with the most?”
The unanimous answer: stress.
As usual, I was slow to agree. In a very gentle, authentic way I slowly began to rock the boat.
“I agree that stress in nursing is an issue; and I feel there is(are) an underlying cause(s) that create the feeling of stress. Stress is merely a symptom which is exacerbated by some much deeper and very real issues,” I slowly spoke up.
Oh! The commotion I created.
Some people outright disagreed with me. Others were more able to open up and hear my point. More discussion ensued. It was quite fascinating to watch the series of events in this room. And it gave me more reason to believe that nursing (healthcare) is stuck.
We say we want solutions and we’re unable to open up to creative, outside-the-box ideas.
So stress is the one thing that nurses struggle with; or is it?
As I was walking my dogs this morning, I replayed this scene over and over in my head. I also thought about stress, underlying issues and what creates inner turmoil. I am brought back to my idea of Nursing from Within.
First of all, as nurses if we are unable to express our inner nurse this creates a push-pull within. We want to provide good nursing care; we take pride in what we do. Yet often the environments, circumstances and situations we find ourselves in leave us feeling undervalued and unappreciated. The ‘nurse’ we so want to be is unable to express itself.
Secondly, what I’ve observed, is that there is a greater cultural issue that plagues today’s nurse. Human beings are meant to be unique expressions of their innate spirit, their highest self. Somewhere along our way, through education, training and organizational systematization we lose our sense of ‘self’. We’re trying so hard to fit in. We want to do good by our bosses. We are pleasing everyone around us except the person that matter most:
Us.
So today you have some homework. Think about what’s ‘stressing you out’. Know that stress creates physical dis-ease within the body system. And while you may be eating right, exercising and getting proper rest- if you find yourself unable to maintain a healthy body weight or struggling with high blood pressure- it could all just be stress-induced.
Once you admit that, yes I am a bit stressed, then you can make some changes. Where do the stresses come from? What do you have control over that you can change? How can you do things differently?
And finally, think about taking some time to get quiet and tap into the inner you. What is your true self looking to do in this world? Are you fulfilling your life’s mission? Do you do the things that light you up and provide you joy? Allow the inner self to reveal itself so that the outer you can release the tension. Tap into the Nursing from Within.
I’d love to hear your thoughts on this. I invite you to leave a comment, question or reaction below. I thank you for taking the time to read. And do encourage you to enjoy the day. Thank you!
You make excellent points, thank you. Much appreciated!
Nurses can certainly improve our lot, and no one else will do it for us. We can learn to better gather & skillfully employ technical & organizational innovations, people skills & power to improve working conditions & patient care, or we can endlessly process, analyze & sympathize with each other endlessly & thus avoid risk or responsibility, as we have done for far too long already.
What would Florence Nightingale tell us? It’s a no brainer to me: Nurses can make health care better for everyone, including ourselves. Of course we can, we’re Nurses! Who can stop us? Nurses find a way to get the job done when no one else cares or dares. It’s our right, our mission, and our duty to get to work fixing our crappy health care systems, starting now!
Hi Greg!
Great to see you. Love the comment about Florence Nightingale. She suggested we create the caring, healing environment so that our patients can flourish and become well. The only way we can do that is to create our own selves as healing environments as well, the conduit of healing itself.
Love your enthusiasm. Thank you for sharing your insights. Great points and I appreciate you taking the time to comment.
Enjoy the day, Elizabeth
Thank you right back!
I read a Nightingale biography sometime in the last year, and what struck me most about her is this: she faced far worse working conditions than any modern nurse ever will, with far less resources. She recruited all her own staff, had to create virtually everything from scratch, and had to force seriously recalcitrant & hostile British military officers and officials to let her do her job. She had to create every aspect of hospital administration, inculding dietary and cleaning services, supply chains, you name it, all in a combat zone – the Crimea in fact! After years of struggle, and despite her own serious health issues, she created a modern nursing operation from virtually nothing. She refused to give up her mission, even when for years her famly thwarted her plans to enter nursing in the first place.
Today’s nurses seem to remember none of that, just vaguely associating the name with vaguely good practice. If Nightingale could humble and tame the Victorian-era British Empire establishment and its incredibly thick-headed Army leadership, how dare we give up under far more comfortable conditions, with far better support, resources, and political power? We could dominate health care outright, create a new future for all patients, start the next revolution in our field, if only we’d give up our petty squabbles, stop focusing on the leaves instead of the forest, start opening our minds and taking some initiative.
We deserve better, as do our patients. A new world is ours, if we’d only create it. Let’s get to work, people! Now!!!!
Thanks again, Elizabeth. I appreciate the work you do & hope you’ll keep at it.
Greg,
You hit the nail on the head. I had the pleasure of interviewing Florence the other day (yes, I did say Florence as in Florence Nightingale… She will be the first guest at the Art of Nursing event! https://elizabethscala.com/landing/aon/#2) Anyway, I was asking her what she thought of about our modern hospitals, asking her what she thought of in terms of healing environments and nursing leadership… all sorts of fun stuff. Well in the middle of one of my questions I realized- “Gosh, we must sound so silly here. We’ve got all of the technology in the world, great working conditions (compared to the historical days) and are complaining about things!!! She must think we are all crazy…”
You bring up a fantastic point. They had it much harder, much longer, much less efficient. And they believed in what they did and DID it because they loved the work! They were on a mission and having that cause keeps one going.
It’s sort of like getting back to the ‘roots’ of nursing, if you will. Going back in time a bit, remembering where we came from. Realizing that we do in fact have it really, really good.
And thank you Greg, for the kind words of my work. I plan to keep at it and I enjoy what I do. I’m not going anywhere!!!
Elizabeth