Only human
I wrote this in my journal last night after a pretty emotionally exhausting day. Not for me, but for a co-worker going through a really tough time. It bears repeating.
Before I am a healthcare provider, I'm a human being.
I think that there's this stigma associated with HCP's in general that we are these careless and robot like beings. It just isn't true. We have things we are going through, questions in our own lives we are seeking the answers to. So many great and wonderful things thrown in there too. But in order to provide great care to our patients, we have to take care of ourselves first. And for so many of us our self-care has taken a backseat.
Because what is 100+ hours of overtime going to achieve? What is working 3 or 4 double shifts in a row going to achieve? What is coming in with a poopy attitude and passing the buck going to achieve?
A lot of anger.
Resentment.
Fatigue.
Burnout.
Leaving.
Because I have seen really great nurses leave because of it or they're constantly in the shadows over those who constantly have something to say yet do little to nothing to help what's going on right in front of them. There's so much focus these days on not getting that extra bonus, and the blinders to everyone and everything else go right up. Oh God, take me back to the why when I am tempted to wander. Light the fire in me if it goes out. And if I see someone struggling along the way, help me to lend an ear or an encouraging word, whatever they need. And help remind me that my only Master is You; not jobs, not those bonuses, not being in charge. You. You are the only one that matters at the end of the day. May everything that I do and say be reflective of you. Amen.
Listen. I understand wanting to help out and pitch in. But it IS ok to say no to that extra shift. It IS ok to come in, do your 8 hours (or 12) and go home. Believe me; nobody is going to fault you. Listen. I understand that bonus is important and helpful. But we all need to take our blinders off and see what is going on around us. If you're sitting calmly and your cohort is running around like a lunatic, find out why and offer to freaking help out. These things, in my opinion, weed out the good nurses and the great nurses.
Before I am a healthcare provider, I'm a human being.
I think that there's this stigma associated with HCP's in general that we are these careless and robot like beings. It just isn't true. We have things we are going through, questions in our own lives we are seeking the answers to. So many great and wonderful things thrown in there too. But in order to provide great care to our patients, we have to take care of ourselves first. And for so many of us our self-care has taken a backseat.
Because what is 100+ hours of overtime going to achieve? What is working 3 or 4 double shifts in a row going to achieve? What is coming in with a poopy attitude and passing the buck going to achieve?
A lot of anger.
Resentment.
Fatigue.
Burnout.
Leaving.
Because I have seen really great nurses leave because of it or they're constantly in the shadows over those who constantly have something to say yet do little to nothing to help what's going on right in front of them. There's so much focus these days on not getting that extra bonus, and the blinders to everyone and everything else go right up. Oh God, take me back to the why when I am tempted to wander. Light the fire in me if it goes out. And if I see someone struggling along the way, help me to lend an ear or an encouraging word, whatever they need. And help remind me that my only Master is You; not jobs, not those bonuses, not being in charge. You. You are the only one that matters at the end of the day. May everything that I do and say be reflective of you. Amen.
Listen. I understand wanting to help out and pitch in. But it IS ok to say no to that extra shift. It IS ok to come in, do your 8 hours (or 12) and go home. Believe me; nobody is going to fault you. Listen. I understand that bonus is important and helpful. But we all need to take our blinders off and see what is going on around us. If you're sitting calmly and your cohort is running around like a lunatic, find out why and offer to freaking help out. These things, in my opinion, weed out the good nurses and the great nurses.
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