Revision as of 02:31, 17 April 2023 (edit)192.241.80.162 (talk) (Created page with "Most nurses didn't choose this career due to great hours and working conditions. As trite as it may sound, many people entered the profession of caring to help people within t...") Revision as of 05:05, 17 April 2023 (edit) (undo)192.241.80.162 (talk) Newer edit → Line 1: Line 1: −Most nurses didn't choose this career due to great hours and working conditions. As trite as it may sound, many people entered the profession of caring to help people within their toughest times. I often say that nursing is really a calling. That is why we sign on and stay on.<br /><br />Yet on the times once the workload is too great, on the days that people can't take all the pain away, after the shift when we go back home with achy feet and achy hearts, those will be the days we must be reminded of why we do what we do. We have to reignite our passion for nursing.<br /><br />One of the better ways to do that is by recalling and sharing our stories. I learned the crucial importance of this when I read over 2000 stories to select the top 101 for Chicken Soup for the Nurse's Soul, then 2000 more for the second edition, the Second Dose. Clearly, when nurses share their stories, they remember why they entered this profession, and just why they stay.<br /><br />What exactly are your stories? To put the fire back your belly for nursing, take time to recall them.<br /><br />When did you know you wanted to be considered a nurse? Was it once you bandaged a nearby cats or reluctant little brothers? Was it once you saw someone role modeling what it had been like to become a great nurse? Did you watch a compassionate nurse look after someone you love?<br /><br />What is your very best story about being truly a student? What was your first day of nursing school like? Who was the initial patient you ever looked after?<br /><br />When was the first time you (nearly) fainted? (Or even better, when your classmate did!)<br /><br />For all of us "seasoned" nurses, how did you are feeling once you received your nursing pin or donned your cap for the first time? (Tell the "young" nurses just what a cap was!)<br /><br />What was the funniest thing which has ever happened for you as a nurse? That which was the scariest? What was one of the emotional moments?<br /><br />What patient left the feeling on you? Which "healed" you or taught you an important life lesson?<br /><br />What patient relative impressed you probably the most?<br /><br />Who was a favorite mentor or the one who "showed you the ropes?" Why was he / she so special?<br /><br />How perhaps you have grown as a person because you certainly are a nurse?<br /><br />When did a health care provider teach you a lesson or two? When did you teach a health care provider a lesson or two?<br /><br />What are other special memories about people or medical circumstances?<br /><br />Reminisce often about these caring moments. Scribble them down in a spiral notebook or journal. It doesn't must be fancy or well crafted. (Your English teacher won't grade it.) Read your stories often. Share them with others, verbally even.<br /><br />Many nurses have told me that, to begin with their shifts with inspiration and hope, they together read a tale from Chicken Soup for the Nurse's Soul. That is a great idea. (Needless to say!) A different one equally great or better would be to share your personal true stories at the moment. One hospital I use calls these "Heart Moments."<br /><br />At other hospitals where I really do retention events, I learned they created their very own book of stories compiled by staff. What a smart way to boost morale and retention.<br /><br />Still other hospitals have "Best Story" contests. What a wonderful solution to engage employees as each department gathers and chooses the most notable stories from their unit. Sometimes I might function as final judge, then a prize is given to the individual or department with the "Best Story." Some have different categories (funniest, most compassionate, etc) and multiple winners are awarded.<br /><br />Although some people might say, "We don't have time because of this," I submit that we must devote some time make time to enrich our spirits and soothe our souls and reignite our passion for nursing.<br /><br />We answered the calling to care. Our stories prove the privilege we have to literally touch and save lives.<br /><br />That is surely the best calling of all.<br /><br />LeAnn Thieman LPN, CSP, CPAE is really a Hall of Fame Speaker and coauthor of Chicken Soup for the Nurse's Soul and Chicken Soup for the Nurse's Soul, Second Dose. She actually is a specialist on nurse recruitment and retention. For more information about her books or presentations, visit+Most nurses didn't choose this career due to great hours and working conditions. As trite as it may sound, many people entered the profession of caring to help people in their toughest times. I often say that nursing is really a calling. That is why we to remain and stay on.<br /><br />Yet on the times once the workload is too great, on the occasions that people can't take all of the pain away, after the shift when we go back home with achy feet and achy hearts, those will be the days we have to be reminded of why we do what we do. We have to reignite our passion for nursing.<br /><br />One of the best ways to do this is by recalling and sharing our stories. I learned the crucial need for this when I study 2000 stories to choose the top 101 for Chicken Soup for the Nurse's Soul, then 2000 more for the next edition, the next Dose. Clearly, when nurses share their stories, they remember why they entered this profession, and just why they stay.<br /><br />What exactly are your stories? To put the fire back in your belly for nursing, take time to recall them.<br /><br />When did you know you wanted to be considered a nurse? Was it once you bandaged the neighborhood cats or reluctant little brothers? Was it once you saw someone role modeling what it was like to become a great nurse? Did you watch a compassionate nurse care for someone you love?<br /><br />What is your very best story about being a student? That which was your first day of nursing school like? Who was simply the initial patient you ever cared for?<br /><br />When was the first time you (nearly) fainted? (Or even better, when your classmate did!)<br /><br />For all of us "seasoned" nurses, how did you are feeling when you received your nursing pin or donned your cap for the very first time? (Tell the "young" nurses what a cap was!)<br /><br />That which was the funniest thing that has ever happened to you as a nurse? That which was the scariest? What was one of the emotional moments?<br /><br />What patient left an impression on you? Which "healed" you or taught you an important life lesson?<br /><br />What patient family member impressed you the most?<br /><br />Who was a popular mentor or the one who "showed you the ropes?" Why was she or he so special?<br /><br />How perhaps you have grown as a person because you certainly are a nurse?<br /><br />When did a health care provider educate you on a lesson or two? When did you teach a doctor a lesson or two?<br /><br />What are other special memories about people or medical circumstances?<br /><br />Reminisce often about these caring moments. Scribble them down in a spiral notebook or journal. It generally does not have to be fancy or well crafted. (Your English teacher will never grade it.) Read your stories often. Share them with others, verbally even.<br /><br />Many nurses have told me that, to begin with their shifts with inspiration and hope, they together read a tale from Chicken Soup for the Nurse's Soul. That is clearly a great idea. (Needless to say!) Another one equally great or better is to share your own true stories at this time. One hospital I work with calls these "Heart Moments."<br /><br />At other hospitals where I really do retention events, I learned they created their own book of stories compiled by staff. What a great way to improve morale and retention.<br /><br />Still other hospitals have "Best Story" contests. Just what a wonderful way to engage employees as each department gathers and chooses the very best stories from their unit. Sometimes I might function as final judge, then a prize is directed at the individual or department with the "Best Story." Some have different categories (funniest, most compassionate, etc) and multiple winners are awarded.<br /><br />While some people might say, "We don't possess time because of this," I submit that we must devote some time make time to enrich our spirits and soothe our souls and reignite our passion for nursing.<br /><br />We answered the calling to care. Our stories prove the privilege we must literally touch and save lives.<br /><br />That is surely the highest calling of all.<br /><br />LeAnn Thieman LPN, CSP, CPAE is a Hall of Fame Speaker and coauthor of Chicken Soup for the Nurse's Soul and Chicken Soup for the Nurse's Soul, Second Dose. She is an expert on nurse recruitment and retention. To learn more about her books or presentations, visit Revision as of 05:05, 17 April 2023 Most nurses didn't choose this career due to great hours and working conditions. As trite as it may sound, many people entered the profession of caring to help people in their toughest times. I often say that nursing is really a calling. That is why we to remain and stay on.Yet on the times once the workload is too great, on the occasions that people can't take all of the pain away, after the shift when we go back home with achy feet and achy hearts, those will be the days we have to be reminded of why we do what we do. We have to reignite our passion for nursing.One of the best ways to do this is by recalling and sharing our stories. I learned the crucial need for this when I study 2000 stories to choose the top 101 for Chicken Soup for the Nurse's Soul, then 2000 more for the next edition, the next Dose. Clearly, when nurses share their stories, they remember why they entered this profession, and just why they stay.What exactly are your stories? To put the fire back in your belly for nursing, take time to recall them.When did you know you wanted to be considered a nurse? Was it once you bandaged the neighborhood cats or reluctant little brothers? Was it once you saw someone role modeling what it was like to become a great nurse? Did you watch a compassionate nurse care for someone you love?What is your very best story about being a student? That which was your first day of nursing school like? Who was simply the initial patient you ever cared for?When was the first time you (nearly) fainted? (Or even better, when your classmate did!)For all of us "seasoned" nurses, how did you are feeling when you received your nursing pin or donned your cap for the very first time? (Tell the "young" nurses what a cap was!)That which was the funniest thing that has ever happened to you as a nurse? That which was the scariest? What was one of the emotional moments?What patient left an impression on you? Which "healed" you or taught you an important life lesson?What patient family member impressed you the most?Who was a popular mentor or the one who "showed you the ropes?" Why was she or he so special?How perhaps you have grown as a person because you certainly are a nurse?When did a health care provider educate you on a lesson or two? When did you teach a doctor a lesson or two?What are other special memories about people or medical circumstances?Reminisce often about these caring moments. Scribble them down in a spiral notebook or journal. It generally does not have to be fancy or well crafted. (Your English teacher will never grade it.) Read your stories often. Share them with others, verbally even.Many nurses have told me that, to begin with their shifts with inspiration and hope, they together read a tale from Chicken Soup for the Nurse's Soul. That is clearly a great idea. (Needless to say!) Another one equally great or better is to share your own true stories at this time. One hospital I work with calls these "Heart Moments."At other hospitals where I really do retention events, I learned they created their own book of stories compiled by staff. What a great way to improve morale and retention.Still other hospitals have "Best Story" contests. Just what a wonderful way to engage employees as each department gathers and chooses the very best stories from their unit. Sometimes I might function as final judge, then a prize is directed at the individual or department with the "Best Story." Some have different categories (funniest, most compassionate, etc) and multiple winners are awarded.While some people might say, "We don't possess time because of this," I submit that we must devote some time make time to enrich our spirits and soothe our souls and reignite our passion for nursing.We answered the calling to care. Our stories prove the privilege we must literally touch and save lives.That is surely the highest calling of all.LeAnn Thieman LPN, CSP, CPAE is a Hall of Fame Speaker and coauthor of Chicken Soup for the Nurse's Soul and Chicken Soup for the Nurse's Soul, Second Dose. She is an expert on nurse recruitment and retention. To learn more about her books or presentations, visit