Nursing and Happiness Are Not Mutually Exclusive

Many recent clients who have come to me for coaching are curious how to actually get what they want. Sometimes it seems we nurses are simply convinced that we need to work too hard for too many hours without being happy. This seems like a given in the profession, and some nurses see no way to create satisfaction and balance in their personal and professional lives. So is it possible to be happy as a nurse?I've been a nurse since 1996, and I've been relatively happy for most of my career. I say that I've been "relatively" happy because I experienced burnout approximately 10 years into my career, and that turning point was the moment where I was no longer willing to sacrifice my happiness and well-being for the sake of my "noble" profession.The Myths That Haunt UsThere are many myths that haunt the nursing profession, and these include the myth of the angelic saint, the myth of the sexy nurse (portrayed at many a Hallowe'en costume party), and most powerful of all--the myth of the Nurse Martyr (or Wounded Healer).The Nurse Martyr is the nurse who never takes a break, gives her "all" to the point of pathology, and otherwise crucifies herself or himself on the unforgiving altar of caring for others. The Nurse Martyr may actually receive secondary gain from her sacrifices, enjoying the praise of friends, patients, family members and colleagues who laud the nurse's apparent "selflessness" and "saintliness". Who doesn't enjoy being the recipient of unqualified adulation?However, mar...
Source: Digital Doorway - Category: Nurses Tags: burnout burnout prevention burnout recovery nurse nurse burnout nurse self care nurse wellness nurses nursing self development self-care work-life balance Source Type: blogs