The public continues to rank nurses as the most trusted profession, which has consistently been a great reflection on the difference that nurses make in the multitude of roles they serve. However, while striving for excellence, it is easy for nurses to remain focused on perfection, becoming our own worst critic and overlook our influence on those around us. It's easy at the end of the day for nurses to reflect on what we could have done better or different.
Focus on the Good
Let's turn this around and ask ourselves how often we consider the blessings of life and feel thankful for the variety of good things in our life? Taking the time to consider one's blessings and feel gratitude may improve emotional well-being.
Gratitude is defined as the state of being grateful and thankful. The key to gratitude isn't just being grateful for others. Particularly for nurses who work in stressful environments, gratitude involves a consistent, internal focus on observing, recognizing, and appreciating the good and positive aspects of life. It is a practice rather than a state of being.
Practice Gratitude
The first step in any gratitude practice is to choose to think and reflect on the good things that have happened in your day. This can be as simple as getting a great parking spot or enjoying a rich cup of a hot beverage. Allow yourself this moment to enjoy a positive experience, no matter what negatives exist in your life. Let positive feelings of gratitude bubble up. Like building muscle, strength in an activity can take time.
Gratitude List
How often does something occur in the workplace for which we're grateful, but we don't do more than say "thank you"? Instead, write a note or e-mail someone at work thanking them for what they did. Better yet, rather than sending it to them, go read it to them in person. Observe how this action provides more happiness than just sending the e-mail or letter. When you make gratitude a regular habit, it can help you learn to recognize more good things in your life despite the challenging things that may be happening.
Gratitude Tips
We as nurses are all in this together. We need to build each other up, work as a team, and practice gratitude and appreciation for each other. Use the following tips if you're looking to get started:
* Commit to avoiding criticism and gossip of others.
* Be mindful when someone has done something nice for you, no matter how small.
* Write inspirational quotes on a 3 x 5 card. Place in your pocket or in a place you can view it frequently.
* Use words of affirmation and encouragement with yourself and others.
* Write a thank you note to someone.
* Start or end your day (or both!) with a gratitude thought.
* Invest in a gratitude journal or app.
* Relive positive moments. Try to notice positive moments when they happen.
In a world where we seem to be increasingly accosted with negativity and doubt, practicing gratitude allows us to focus on our positive experiences. Use that attitude of gratitude to focus on the good and not the negativity.
Create positive emotions by being thankful every day.
Gratitude Apps
There's an app for that. Go search under "gratitude app" in your respective app store or go to http://www.positiveroutines.com; http://www.livehappy.com; or https://gratefulness.me.
Our mission as the NAON Foundation is to support the goals and mission of NAON by providing funding for grants and scholarships to advance orthopaedic nursing practice, education, research, and leadership. Please donate to support scholarships of orthopaedic nurses. Go to http://www.naonfoundation.org.
As the NAON Foundation, our attitude of gratitude is of thanks to all of you, orthopaedic nurses. Without any doubt, we agree with Gallop polls, naming you as the most trusted profession. You, make a difference in every patient and family with whom you come into contact. We move forward "Celebrating the Stars of Orthopaedic Legacy" and living the theme of the 2021 NAON Congress.
The NAON Foundation Board