Do you remember feeling pride, relief, and sheer joy on the day the board of nursing granted your license to practice as a nurse? What are some of the sacrifices you made during nursing school? How many years did it take to become a registered nurse? I remember counting the Christmas holidays as milestones throughout college. At the time, I wasn't even thinking about all of the holidays and celebrations I would miss out on post-graduation. Was it all an illusion?
Long hours, unplanned overtime, sleep deprivation, safety incidents, mergers with new strategic directions, emotional strain from patient care, workplace bullying, conflicts, turnover, and staffing shortages take a toll on the well-being of healthcare workers. It's no surprise that so many of our colleagues suffer diminished professional satisfaction. And it doesn't take long. It is estimated that one in five registered nurses leave the profession within one year of hire, while up to one-third leave within two years. Furthermore, according to the "United States Registered Nurse Workforce Report Card and Shortage Forecast: A Revisit" published in the American Journal of Medical Quality (2018), a shortage of registered nurses will continue in the years leading to 2030.
Yet, nursing talent is critical. We need nurses to stay the long haul at every point along the broad spectrum of healthcare. How then does one not only survive day to day but also thrive? Is there a way to reclaim happiness, revel again in the passion, and become a successful healthcare leader?
