Friends Who Bail Me Out

I’m not going to lie here. Work has pushed me to my limits lately. I know I am not the only one who is struggling right now with work. I am not struggling with picking up extra, I am struggling with the lack of time I get with my patients. The healthcare system is not where I want it to be. Patient’s need one on one care to really dive into their deep rooted issues in order for them to be successful out of the hospital. As a healthcare system, we have managed to strain the nurses to their physical and mental capabilities, which in turn, reflects on patient care. If we are not mentally and physically at our best, we, the nurses are not able to provide for people. And, when we recognize this, we further go down the rabbit hole. How do we prevent this?

First, you surround yourself with positive influencers who bring you back to why you became a nurse. I have a peer who every time I am in a room with her, she brings me back to my nursing roots. She bails me out. When I get frustrated because I don’t have the right personality at the time to take care of a difficult patient, she grounds me. I look to her for her calmness and her continued loving care for the most difficult of beings. She makes me believe we are here for a purpose. She makes me believe in humanity again. She reminds me of me when I am at my best. I do strive to be at my best every minute, but at times, we are maxed out. This is when you need to take a mental break, step back, and ask yourself, “How can I be of upmost service in this situation?” Now, in nursing, this mental break cannot be an hour long conversation with yourself. It has to be a 10 second, close your eyes, take a deep breathe, ground yourself, and connect with the human who is beside you. Feel what they are feeling. What do they need at this time, to make it in this moment? Find the friend that bails you out. I have.

Second. Have the friend who reminds you to get back to your positive being you worked so hard to become. This friend has seen the change I have become to better myself in order to better others. Have one by you to keep you on track. This was a couple weeks ago where I didn’t have time to help out my peers as much as I wanted to, I was getting frustrated, and turning slowly into negative land. “Where is the positive Brooke?!” This hit hard as it should of. She jolted me. She took my old way of thinking and told it to get the hell out of here. She didn’t meet me at my level at the time, she exceeded it. She called me out. That is someone you want to be in the fox hole with. Don’t ever let those people out of your sight or mind.

Third, be your own best friend. When you get down on yourself, pick up a influencing book or look up positive affirmations. Read them and synchronize yourself to them. Mandate this when you are heading in the wrong direction. I did this the other day with a group of people because we were tired and needing a lift me up. I read a couple out loud, and I could feel the room fill with positive energy and I was ready to finish the shift with grace. Now, when I got back up to the floor, did everything go smoothly? Umm. No. Especially when it is your third shift in a row and you have already had a trying day. But, after reading positive thoughts, they stick around, and you are able to take anything head on because you know you are here for a purpose. Your/My presence was needed at this time. We are put into this movie of life in divine timing for a reason. You are the producer. What kind of adventure are you creating?