“I’m just a nurse.”
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard that expression from fellow nurses throughout my career. I cringe every time I do.
Nursing is a highly honored and honorable profession, and all nurses should be proud to be a part of the profession.
In fact, every year Gallup releases a list of the most trusted professions in America. Nurses consistently top the list. This year they received a ranking of 76% compared to the next highest ranking for grade-school teachers at 61%.
That’s a significant difference and one to be very proud of.
Nurses Play a Critical and Highly Impactful Role
Think about this: nurses are often the first hands to touch newborns as they enter this world and the last to say goodbye to patients in hospice. They have a major impact on people at every stage of their lives—an impact that can have a huge influence not only on patients’ outlooks, but on their clinical outcomes as well.
Yet nurses often overlook their own impact. Why? Because they are, by nature, focused on others. They are part of a caring profession that serves others at some of the most vulnerable moments. The constant nature of caregiving can lead nurses to overlook the profound difference they make with each interaction they have.
When I was writing my book Reclaiming the Passion; Stories that Celebrate the Essence of Nursing, I had the opportunity to interview many experienced nurses, some who I were mentors of mine. I was surprised, though, that even some of the most experienced and compassionate nurses struggled to come up with examples of how they had made an impact in the lives of their patients. The reality is that they do it every day so it’s all in a day’s work. The competent, compassionate care becomes commonplace for the nurse but are indelible memories for the patients impacted.
Taking Time for Reflection
One of the things that can help nurses gain better insights into their impact is taking time for reflection. That’s something that I stress all the time as I’m working with nurses.
It just takes a few minutes at the end of each day to think about “What lives did I touch today? “What lives did I make better today through the work of my hands, my head, and my heart?”
How many lives did you touch today? Remember, you’re not just a nurse. In the eyes of your patients, you’re a hero and a trusted partner in caring and compassion. Own it!
Tags: most trusted profession, nurse communications, nurse patient communications, nursing, nursing profession
