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 8
You are so much stronger than you know. You have made it to this point for a reason. You are meant to touch the lives of so many individuals that you have yet to meet. Through life, everyone has a journey that looks different, we all have our ups and downs, our triumphs and challenges. What I can promise you is that those challenges will set you apart and allow you to become an even better nurse. Remember during those challenging times that there will be a time when the challenge is not so challenging anymore.
That will be your time to realize that your challenge has become a triumph. During my struggle as a new nurse, I always kept one specific phrase in the back of my head: “Do not run away from the things that scare you. Run toward them, then one day, they will not be so scary anymore”. These experiences that we perceive as scary or challenging allow us to grow. Remember not to run away, but keep fighting for what you have worked so hard for. Just be sure to take care of yourself along the way. Keep doing the things that make you happy, and step away from those that do not make you feel joy.
Please always know that you are not alone in your struggle.