The Spiritual Nurse
I don’t think you can be a nurse without having an intuition or sixth sense. Actually, I think everyone has it, but some have the trait better developed.
That sixth sense is when you go into a patient’s room and you know that something is wrong. You take vitals, do your assessment and everything seems to be fine with the patient. Yet, there’s a nagging feeling in your gut that says something is wrong.
You’re afraid to call the doctor because you think he will yell at you and think you’re crazy. Yet, you know that something is amiss.
Our gut is there for a reason. There are times we need to act on our gut feeling no matter the consequences because it might save a life.
When I was in nursing, I had a patient who I knew had something wrong even though I couldn’t put my finger on it. I was new, I was green, I was scared, I didn’t know what to do.
Within 5 minutes, she was screaming, “Lord, I’m coming!” She was stroking out and immediately was transferred to the ICU. Those few minutes could have been very helpful had I acted on my gut and identified this a little earlier.
So, what can you do to develop your intuition, your sixth sense? My intuition talks to me with a very quiet voice but at times it is overshadowed by that loud, screaming, annoying, demeaning voice in my head.
The art is to put that latter voice that is not serving you to the side and focus on the quiet, calm voice of your intuition.
Another thing I do to calm my mind is meditation. I meditate daily and prefer to do so with some guided meditation rather than just quietly sitting there.
I believe that mediation calms and grounds me. I always have a much better day on the mornings when I can meditate.
I also do yoga to quiet my mind because while doing that I am totally in my body rather than thinking about the day facing me. It really helps center me.
Taking a walk-in nature and being with the beautiful sights and sounds while being truly present can go a long way in helping you connect with your higher self.
In nursing school, we learn that we should take care of the whole person, body, mind and spirit so that may mean if your patient wants to spend a minute to pray with you, you take care of their needs. Spirituality is defined as “the quality of being concerned with the human spirit or soul as opposed to material or physical things.”
Everyone practices or experiences spirituality differently, but we get to bring that part of ourselves to address the spiritual needs of our patients.
What do you do to access your intuition and how do you bring spirituality into your workplace? Share with us your comments below.
