Got Soul, Nurses?

Nurses, what does it mean to have soul? Does it mean that you've read "Chicken Soup For The Nurse's Soul"? Does it mean that you listen and dance to James Brown? Does it mean that you cook with spicy food? Well, it could mean those things, but it's a whole lot more.Having soul is allowing your soul to shine through you. It means that your soul---or spirit, if that feels better---isn't crushed by the imperatives, limitations, restrictions and burdens of nursing. Having soul means that you know who you are, what you want, where you're going, and you don't feel that your job is crushing you into oblivion, squeezing your energy until there's nothing left.Having soul means that your soul is able to survive your work and thrive beyond it. Soul means that nursing may be what you do and part of who you are, but knowing simultaneously that you're bigger than that. You're bigger than the bullies. You're bigger than the administration that wouldn't know patient (and nurse) satisfaction if it hit them on the head. It means that you're bigger than it all, and nursing doesn't define you in a way that puts you in a box from which it feels there's no escape.Your soul---your spirit---should not be crushed by nursing and being a nurse. Your spirit should soar. And if your spirit isn't soaring, there's something wrong. Yes, we all need to earn a living and put food on the table. But if our jobs are deadening, numbing or not feeding us on more than just the physical plane, then there's inner ...
Source: Digital Doorway - Category: Nurses Tags: compassion nurse nurse self care nurse wellness nurses nursing self-care Source Type: blogs