But Pat, Nurses Don’t Want To Get Saved

To start, let’s review What Happens To Nurses …. 

Nurses come to nursing to help people, then we get caught up in the science and technology …

Either because we are intrigued and stimulated by its science and technology,

Or because we quickly realize that if we don’t master the science and technology, we will kill people.

While focusing on mastering the science and technology, we lose sight of the mastery of authentic connections with people. Competing demands make us believe that we don’t have time to connect.      

This is not only true for nurses, it is true for nurse leaders as well.  Nurse leaders get caught in other webs —business acumen requirements, etc.

And while we’re not paying attention to cultivating our authentic caring, our inner resources get depleted

We feel trapped in and resentful of the challenges in our work —

                                    patient safety, work loads, work environment, people issues, etc.

We lose sight of the essence of nursing—   

                                    those momentary authentic connections with people in their vulnerable moments. 

All leading to compassion fatigue, disengagement, withdrawal, unhealth, attrition.

Here Is A Nurse Hierarchy of Needs

No doubt that the work environment and professional structures (shared decision making, Magnet recognition, clinical advancement models) are critical for nurse health, and job effectiveness and satisfaction.  These are illustrated in the middle levels of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs.

Nurse Fulfillment in Nuring

Nurse Fulfillment in Nursing — the highest level in Maslow’s Hierarchy — is Self-Fulfillment.   Nurse Fulfillment revolves around experiencing meaning and purpose in our practice. We know that our sense of meaning and purpose is anchored to our momentary authentic connections with patients. 

Who Is Responsible For Nurse Fulfillment?

Traditionally, nursing norms have left nurse fulfillment to each individual nurse.  This is where the importance of self-care comes in.  Self-care is at the root of nurse health and nurse fulfillment. But there’s more we can do …. 

Nurse Leaders have a role in nurse fulfillment.  We can’t expect nurses to do this alone.

We Can Help Nurses Find Fulfillment In Nursing in the Way We Lead Caring

As many of you know reading my trail of blogs, my mission is to simplify how we lead authentic caring.   

We can make this doable for nurse leaders and nurses

Yes,  This is a Rescue Mission – T0 Rescue Nurses

One thing I know for sure from my experience … We nurse leaders in the healthcare industry can help nurses find fulfillment in nursing.   We have to —growing compassion fatigue and attrition is real. 

My question today is:     Is Saving Nurses the right name ?

There is irony in this saving nurses name for me.  I don’t tend to save people.    So when a renowned nurse entrepreneur and thought leader said to me this week, “Pat, nurses don’t want to be saved.  Are you sure you want to use this name?”

I had to stop and think about it again.     Do I Want To Keep This Name?     Am I turning nurses and nurse leaders off with the name “Saving Nurses”?  What Do You Think? 

Does the name “Saving Nurses” turn you away?

Please tell me …