Which are you?
- A new nurse leader, overwhelmed by job demands, and with no clear picture in how to personally and positively impact nurses and their authentic caring?
- A seasoned nurse leader struggling to engage with nurses around authentic caring in everyday work settings in spite of the never-ending staffing, budget and time constraints? Or maybe …
- A nurse leader wondering what nurses need, want or if they have time for deep, authentic connections with you, or patients for that matter?
What I’ve learned …
Knowing how to put aside the pressures of staffing, budgets and time constraints for real conversations with nurses around authentic caring will keep you grounded and whole as a nurse leader.
And not only will it keep you grounded, you will personally and positively impact nurses and their authentic caring in the process.
How I got here …
As a nurse leader in healthcare organizations for years, I thought helping nurses cultivate their authentic caring was out of reach. I thought the only way to impact caring — especially authentic caring — was to roll out a comprehensive professional practice model, and do whatever education on caring and caring science the budget would allow.
And then something happened when I was a CNO. I awoke to the reality that the healthcare industry was not going to be changing anytime soon. I realized that if I wanted authentic caring to be more visible and active in my nursing organization, then I needed to put aside the pressures of staffing, budgets and time constraints and start talking about authentic caring.
I started by asking nurses about their deep caring experiences. Right off, nurses’ responses grabbed me! Nurses wanted to talk and explore their thoughts, feelings and experiences about their personal authentic caring practice. And they made time to talk. I knew I needed to keep going. The more conversations I had—however momentary— the more nurses stopped, talked and shared, even when busy.
I discovered that deep, meaningful conversations around nurses’ authentic caring were doable in-between nurses’ patients and my meetings. And these conversations had a positive impact on me and the nurses I worked with. This was worth sharing. So I wrote Getting Real About Caring and started reaching out to other nurse leaders.
How nurse leaders find their authentic leader selves takes many paths. It’s slow, marked by striking and refreshing surprises and always propelled by the personal.
Here is the goal
That each nurse leader learns ..
How You As A Nurse Leader Can Personally And Positively
Impact Nurses And Their Authentic Caring,
In Spite Of The Never-Ending Staffing, Budget And Time Constraints.
Again, which are you?
Might you write in the comment section below which nurse leader situation best describes you?
- New and Overwhelmed?
- Seasoned and struggling to engage with nurses?
- Wondering what nurses need, want and have time for?