Looking for the Silver Lining: 3 Strategies to Productive Nursing Careers

by | Apr 21, 2015 | 2 comments

Last month I had a very interesting experience. I was invited to a meeting with a group of clinical nurses to discuss their interests in, challenges with, and opportunities for self-care. As I left the room, my heart sank and all I wanted to do was curl up in my office and cry.

Why is that?

Well, for one- the group was quiet, unresponsive and seemed disengaged. Most of the nurses in the room had a flat affect and appeared as though they weren’t even listening to me. Now mind you, it was early in the morning and there was a slight possibility that many of them had just worked the night shift before.

I didn’t give up.

Nursing Career Tips: How to Love Your Job #nursingfromwithinSo, yes- while it was a challenging experience that in the heat of the moment (right as I left and walked out to my car, feeling dejected), I wouldn’t let this one event get me down. As I started driving, I realized there were many positives from this group and meeting with them to talk self-care.

What did I learn and how can this help you?

Now very quickly, before I share the three tips to a more productive nursing career, I’d like to point out this very valuable lesson: there is opportunity in everything. What can feel, seem, or even appear to be an unpleasant experience, an outright disaster, or a total failure in the moment is totally not.

You can learn from every single thing that you go through. You can take your life situations, relationships, and interactions and turn them into lessons learned. You truly can choose to learn, grow, heal and change from everything that happens in life (and at work).

[Tweet “Here are 3 Strategies to a More Productive Nursing Career”]

  1. Read the room. As I shared above, I was met with blank stares, poor eye contact and flat affect. I could have just kept on with the agenda I set up to introduce or I could (which I did) opt to change it up some. You’ve got to meet people where they are at. If you’re message isn’t getting through to them; figure out what they can and will hear- and deliver that.
  2. Nursing Career Tips: Advice to Love Your Job #nursingfromwithinListen to the group. While the group did share their complaints, obstacles, barriers and challenges- quite easily, in fact- they also gave me something more. On one hand, these ‘problems’ are actually pure ‘gold’ to someone like me. The more I hear of the challenges that people are faced with, the more I can come up with solutions that they actually want and need. Secondly, even though there was a lot of venting going on in that room 2-3 people did speak up with wonderful suggestions for solutions, questions, and desires. You bet I was taking notes on all of that! So for you, listen to what’s being presented to you. Listen before speaking. Listen to learn.
  3. Be of service while learning from them. Rather than pressing on with my own agenda, I put what I wanted to talk about ‘on hold’. In the moment, I realized I had to take another route. First and foremost, I listened. I allowed them to speak (or not) and then offered multiple ways that they could follow up with me, if they desired. I answered questions and gave creative suggestions. I tried to help, best that I could in the short time that we had together. No matter what- be part of the solution and always look for ways to support others.

I’d love to hear from you. In what ways have you learned from your challenges? How would navigate a difficult situation? Go ahead and leave your comments below; and thanks for reading.

About the Author: As a speaker, workshop facilitator, and Reiki Master, Elizabeth partners with hospitals, organizations, associations, and nursing groups to help transform the field of nursing from the inside out. As the  host of the Your Next Shift Workshop, Elizabeth guides nurses and nursing students to a change in perspective, helping them make the inner shift needed to better maneuver the sometimes challenging realities of being a caregiver.

2 Comments

  1. Puri SK

    My learning from this post is that we must listen I observe in me also there is a tendency to churn my thoughts in my head instead of listening. I cannot of use till I have the desire to understand the other. I do hope Elizabeth, my experience matches.

    Reply
    • Elizabeth

      Thank you for sharing your experiences, Puri SK. I appreciate the comment. Enjoy the day, Elizabeth

      Reply

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