Humble Nurses Do This

J.Adderton, BSN, MSN

A Time I Lacked Humility

Early in my nursing career, I worked as a home health nurse. I took much pride in my work performance. My team leader boasted on how we formed the "A-Team" and I worked hard for this label. Mrs. X was my patient for over a year. Mrs. X had end-stage heart failure and did not wish to visit ED for symptom management. The physician recommended hospice care. Mrs. X did not want another nurse to visit. Her son was also concerned stating "we love you, what can the hospice nurse do that you can't?”.

I was confident I could continue to meet the patient's needs and she remained on home care services. Several years later, I accepted a hospice position and realized Mrs. X didn't have the benefit of symptom management at the end of life. I lacked the knowledge and experience needed to provide the same level of end of life care as a hospice nurse. With all my pride and hard work, I fell short on humility. Although I had only good intentions, I failed to acknowledge my limitations. The truth? Mrs. X's end of life goals could have been better met with hospice.

Knowledge and Expertise is not Enough

Nurses practice professional humility when they realistically look at their strengths, weaknesses, knowledge and abilities. Humility often comes easier for new nurses who tend to be less confident and are open to learning from others.. As we move through our nursing careers, we develop many skills and gain expertise. Patients value nurses who are confident in their abilities. However, they also want nurses who are aware of their limitations and willing to seek assistance when needed.

When caring for Mrs. X, I truly wanted what was in her best interest. Unfortunately, my overconfidence caused me to lose focus on the patient. As a result, Mrs. X didn't benefit from what another nurse could provide.

A Humble Nurse Does This

Being humble has great benefits. Humility allows you to put aside ego and appreciate what others can offer. We learn to pay attention and listen to the patient's needs. Here are a few simple ways you can practice humility in your day to day practice:

Ask for assistance when needed
View support as an opportunity to gain new knowledge
Admit when you make a mistake
Know your weakness and work to improve them
Apologize when needed
Be open to new ideas and differing opinions
Treat people with respect
Be patient with the weaknesses of others
Be tolerant of your own inadequacies
Talk less and listen more
Show appreciation to others
Seek honest feedback and welcome constructive criticism

Whether you are a student, new nurse or have had a long career, there is always more to learn.

Avoid Jekyll and Hyde Syndrome

Do you ever reach a point when your mild-mannered and calm self morphs into an impolite, blunt and rattled alter ego? How do you respond when a new nurse asks you to help her insert a catheter 15 minutes before shift change? Are you rude or frustrated and does it show? These moments are opportunities to practice humility. When you do "snap" and your Hyde ego takes over, be sure to apologize once the storm has passed.

The Litmus Test of Humility

To practice humility, we need to understand how people perceive us. A good litmus test is how your friends, co-workers and family would describe your personality. It may even be necessary to actually ask and tell them to be open and honest. Most likely, the feedback will include both positive and negative characteristics. Are you approachable and polite or curt and impatient? Are you irritable, grumpy and withdrawn? Understanding your Hyde alter ego will allow you to move forward by answering the question "how do I want people to perceive me?”.

Freedom From Ourselves

Humility in nursing means to see to our limitations and weaknesses. Nurses who are humble view their own importance as equal to others. When mistakes seem like a blow to your ego, humility provides an opportunity to improve and move on to better. Humility allows us to grow in our relationships and benefit from the contribution of others. But most importantly, humility brings freedom by taking the attention off of ourselves.

Wadell, P. (2017).  Humility: An indispensable virtue to learn for practicing with excellence, Catholic Health Association of the United States, Sep-Oct.

Grande, D. (2018). The imperative of humble leadership, American Nurse Today, 13(3).