|
The Six Keys to Nursing Success Series
2nd Key- Shifting From Selflessness (being last on the list) to Self-care
There are 6 essential
keys for nurses to embrace to move from surviving to thriving in nursing:
-
Shifting from the “one- up” position
(as the expert, mentor, caretaker) to equal partnership
-
Shifting from selflessness (being
last on the list) to self-care
-
Creating work/life balance
-
Establishing boundaries
-
Identifying and learning to live
their passion
-
Discovering and integrating personal
values into your life
This is the 2nd in our nursing success article series with the overview of each of these
essential keys. The 2nd key is shifting from
selflessness (being last on the list) to self-care.
A shift is defined as a
change, transfer or transformation; to exchange one thing for another; to
provide for one’s own needs (or the needs of the organization); a change in
attitude, judgment or emphasis;
We define the shift in this 2nd key
as shifting from caregiver to practicing extreme self- care. Awareness of
the shift is the 1st step. Then focus on specific actions that
queue you in to consciously making the shift each and every day. The
average tendency is to take care of everyone else first before yourself.
This is stereotypically even truer of women than men. As a nurse, you ARE
THE caregiver. But, you can’t give what you don’t have!
Strive to fill yourself up to
overflowing by adopting personal practices in all areas of your life that
support your physical and mental well being. Denounce the “old school”
beliefs that the “cup is half full or half empty”. By filling yourself up
to overflowing you create reserves so that when you give of yourself, your
time and efforts you are not depleted, spent and burned out.
Personal Practices are daily
healthy habits that support you in every area of your life. (Examples:
exercise, drinking water, good nutrition. sleep, yoga, reading, fun,
music,…) Create a personal practice journal to keep track of your new action
steps that support you in creating these reserves. [Watch for the monthly personal practice tip in
this newsletter]
Extreme self care may involve areas
such as healthy, consistent daily nutrition that provides your body with
what it really needs to thrive, sleep sufficient to restore and refresh you,
fun to take you away from it all, time for spiritual reflection and
allowance for beauty and joy in your life. Create connection for yourself
by developing and sustaining significant relationships with family, friends,
significant others or pets. Be purposeful about spending time with nature. Rejuvenate yourself. Exercise, participate in sports, garden, pick flowers,
go fishing or go on a picnic. You’ll be surprised how quickly you bloom!
A key piece to shifting from
selflessness to self-care is giving yourself credit. Self-talk is the
conversations we all have with ourselves. Be aware of the language you use
in your self- talk. Too many times we are VERY judgmental and focus only on
the negative. Shift your language to positive words that reward your efforts
and accomplishments and not your perceived shortcomings.
“If you keep on
doing what you’ve always done, you’ll keep on getting what you’ve always
got!”
- Anonymous
Insanity is doing the
same thing over and over and expecting different results.
Internalizing and practicing the
Six Keys to Nursing Success is critical in moving nurses from surviving to
thriving! The August issue of the Shift Change newsletter will explore the
3rd key to nursing success. Until then, practice the 1st and 2nd keys and report your ideas and successes on the Shift Change Blog @ Shift Change Blog.
Best regards,
Merrily Sable, RN, BSN and Betsy Smith, PhD
 
| 
