Often there are things in our nursing careers that we would like to wish away. Some of the tasks, skills or requirements that nurses must complete can become tedious, boring or even overwhelming and annoying. However each piece is part of the puzzle of nursing practice and can be instrumental to our nursing careers.

Last week we had an extremely rainy day. I mean it poured rain non-stop. As I was leaving the hospital, I overheard a conversation that struck me. A woman approached another lady and both shared their hellos. One of the women asked the other how she was doing. Her response: “Better when this rain ends.”

Now even though we only had on day of rain (instead of an entire week or multiple days linked together), this reaction made quite an impression on me.

We need the rain. It fills our bodies of water; nourishes our vegetation; allows us to take showers. Rain is cleansing, refreshing and allows for new beginnings. Each aspect of nature (rain, wind, sun and clouds) are all important in their own ways.

Similar to our nursing practice.

What part of your nursing career do you love? Which areas of your job would you like to just wish away? Thinking about our nursing jobs as they relate to this analogy of nature may make it a bit easier to flow through the tasks, skills, policies and procedures that are not our favorite things to do.

Each part of nursing practice is like a piece to entire puzzle. The masterpiece may not look quite the same had we overstepped that area of our nursing careers.

I would love to hear from you. What are your thoughts on how these concepts from nature can be applied to your nursing jobs? Are there any pieces of your career as a nurse that you may allow to flow more easily having viewed it in this way?