Is Your Nursing "Check Engine" Light On?

Do you know the check engine light that occasionally (or frequently) makes itself known on your dashboard? That light is generally a warning that something under the hood needs attention (unless it's my truck, and it just comes on whenever it feels like it). So, nurses, how do you know that your personal  check engine light is on and your nursing engine is potentially in danger of overheating? Unfortunately, our bodies and minds don't have a visual dashboard that we can simply glance at when we get behind the wheel, thus more introspective powers are called for in the absence of a personal check engine light (or until an app is developed that does it for us).Have You "Checked Out"? In the hubbub of 21st-century life and professional nursing, we're constantly deluged by the demands of others, financial pressures, the rigors of our work, the demands of family life, and the ceaseless onslaught of emails, information, news feeds, media, and entertainment. Our jobs in nursing can eat up our energy and attention, and this can lead to problems. Amidst this cultural, professional, and societal pandemonium, it's pretty easy to lose touch with ourselves, our true desires and motivations, and the things that really light us up. Thus, to some extent, we check out emotionally and spiritually; even though we're still in the driver's seat of our life, it's common at this juncture to unconsciously switch on the automatic pilot. Checking InSo, if you're feeling checked out, and your...
Source: Digital Doorway - Category: Nursing Tags: burnout prevention nurse nurse self care nurses nursing wellness Source Type: blogs