Intro from Erin Smital, Nursing Professional Development Educator & Nurse Residency Coordinator, RWHC:
I want to take a moment and share an incredible experience I have recently been a part of here at RWHC. We offer a Nurse Residency Program that is designed for the new graduate nurse. It is structured around monthly learning sessions, with a focus on providing an interactive, reflective and enriched learning environment. The program is designed to enhance recruitment/retention of the new graduate nurse and support their transition into a competent practitioner. I am proud to announce that we recently completed year 17 of this program and in doing so asked that our participants write an open letter to "The nurse struggling right now... ". The original intention of these letters was to share them with the year 18 participants. After speaking with the participants and reviewing the letters, I realized that these kind words of support and encouragement are meant for a larger audience... they are meant for every nurse, in every position, in every stage of their career.
LETTER 6
I know you’re struggling right now. You may not even know why. But please know that you are strong, smart, brave, caring and knowledgeable. You are all these things and more. Remind yourself why you wanted to be a nurse. Reflect on all you’ve learned up to this point. Remember that this day ill end and there is always tomorrow. Remember mistakes are only lessons we all learn from. We are all human and we’ve all made them. Remember the patient who thanked you for being kind to them. You can always ask questions – and make sure you do because you will never know everything to know in this world. Stay positive and confident because you’re amazing and if you forget that tell yourself “I’m amazing”. Follow it with all the good you did today. Life is all about choices – you choose the kind of day you have, your attitude, your tone, etc… Make the choice to make a difference in someone else’s life today. Be a footprint. They’ll never forget you. “People forget what words are used, but they never forget how you made them feel”.