THE GIFTS OF EMPOWERED NURSES
When a nurse comes to me for representation before the Licensing Board, each one of them has said “I am a good nurse and never thought I would have to appear before the Board.” I wondered why these nurses found themselves in this position and started noticing commonalities in those I represented. Each one was very caring and dedicated to their profession but made a mistake. Why did these mistakes happen? I knew if I could figure this out, I could help a lot of nurses.
I then sat down and made a list of those similarities in an attempt to determine why these nurses were getting into trouble. What I saw was certain ways of being that empower nurses and certain ways, when not used, allowed nurses to get in trouble. I put these together and call them “GIFTS.”
When empowered nurses use their GIFTS, they are able to speak their mind, stand in their power and be a change agent to improve patient care. When empowered nurses do not use some of their GIFTS, then that is when they are more likely to make a mistake.
You’re probably asking, “What are these GIFTS and how can I get them?” Well, you already have them.
“G” stands for “giving.” You might think nurses give to their patients. That is true but giving is more than just patients. Empowered nurses not only give to their patients but they give to each other as well. They look for what is wanted and needed on the nursing unit and take care of it because they act like a team and because everybody matters. When nurses do not act as a team or communicate, mistakes can happen.
“I” is for “integrity.” Integrity means honest and having strong moral principles. Empowered nurses are authentic and are true to their word. If they say they are going to do something, they will do it. They act with the utmost integrity. They are a leader on their unit. A nurse who is being honest like on job applications, license renewal applications or even in charting will help protect their license.
“F” stands for “follow through.” When an empowered nurse does something, they follow through to make sure that everything is okay. For example, when a patient is given pain medication, she follows through to make sure it is effective. Empowered nurses follow through on everything they set out to do. The trouble comes when nurses lose focus and forget something.
“T” is for “trust.” Empowered nurses are trustworthy and they also trust their gut, that little voice inside of them that says “this patient doesn’t look right…something is going on.” When a nurse does not listen to her gut and say something, that is where a problem can arise.
“S” stands for “source.” Empowered nurses realize that they are the source of everything that happens on their unit. They realize they can create the positive things that happen on their unit as well as the negative. By being the source, they stand in their power to create positive changes. When a nurse is not the source, things happen to them rather than things happen because of them. An empowered nurse is the source of creating a care plan and following through on what the patient needs so the patient gets the best outcome.
In every case I worked on for a nurse, one or more of these ways of being was missing though not intentional. Take a look at a time where you made a mistake and what GIFTS were you not using. It takes practice for Empowered Nurses to use all of their GIFTS to give their patients the best care and be the source to improve our profession.
Are you an empowered nurse? Take the quiz and find out at www.areyouanempowerednurse.com.
