Inspiration Destinations: 3 "Spiritual Stretches" To Help Nurses Stay Connected To The Difference They Make
Excerpted from Inspired Nurse (Fire Starter Publishing, 2009, ISBN: 978-0-9749986-7-1) by Rich Bluni, RN
1. Take 10 Minutes of Purpose. Before leaving your house for work today, allow for ten extra minutes. Get up earlier, shut off the T.V., and ask the family to give you some "me" time. Sit someplace peaceful and quiet. If you need to do this on the bus, or train, that' fine too. Just be sure to carve out that ten minutes.
During this time, think about an occasion when you felt that you made a difference as a nurse—an occasion in which you felt connected to your purpose. Perhaps think of this moment as your "most inspiring nursing experience ever."
Now, close your eyes and relive that experience. Remember the sounds and the sights. Hear the voices. Hear the monitor bells; see the defibrillator reach its charge. Get back there. Your goal is to recreate the whole experience for yourself.
Embrace the feeling of purpose. Feel the sense of pride, of accomplishment. Your mind doesn't know the difference between it really happening and the memory. Feel that inspiration. Feel all the feelings that you felt. The joy. The spirit. Stay there for several minutes.
When your ten minutes are up, open your eyes. How do you feel? If you haven't felt close to your purpose for a while, this is a good way to get started. Use this exercise to prepare for your shift, or your lecture, or your nursing management meeting. This is far superior to starting your day with anxiety or dread over your assignments, deadlines, or patients.
2. Thank a family member (or friend) for his or her support. What family member, significant other, or friend has been a key to your nursing success? Maybe a sibling babysat your kids so you could attend class? Maybe your mom brought you dinner to your dorm room? Maybe your dad "loaned" you the money for nursing school and then as a graduation gift told you not to worry about paying him back? Maybe your friend drove you to school in the morning?
Few of us took this journey without anyone' help. Who was it who offered you support? Does she know how much you appreciate what she did for you? Tell her. Write her, call her, bring her flowers.
By feeding you, or paying your way, or driving you, or being a shoulder to cry on, that person made it possible for you to save lives. Give credit where credit is due. Let her know that every time you comfort the suffering, teach a new nurse, lead a team, or bring peace to the dying, she is right there with you. This will be an unforgettable experience.
3. Notice the miraculous. During your time as a nurse, have you experienced something that you can't explain? An amazing recovery? A healing that left the team scratching their heads in disbelief?
If you haven't yet experienced that personally, do you know of someone who has? What was his or her story? Maybe in your life outside of work you have been witness to something "miraculous" or have a family story that has been passed down to you. Where has the miraculous touched your life?
Today, take notice of the miraculous. Maybe you are a spiritual person and believe in a Higher Power. Or maybe you are more aligned with science and believe that mysterious phenomena could be explained scientifically. It really doesn't matter.
What is important is that you get in touch with that which is bigger than you. Journal about what a "miracle" is to you. If it is a story that you recall, write it down. If it is something that you are hoping for, whether it be for a patient or a friend, journal about it.
Journal about the miracle you were part of. Journal about the miracle you heard about. Journal about the miracle that you would like to see happen. It is inspirational to connect to that which is "miraculous."
