Nursing Shortage

What type of nurse and person are you? Do you encourage your coworkers and other people in your life? Are you critical of nurses who are not as knowledgeable and competent in their skills as you? Are you quick to vocalize your dislike and criticism of inexperienced or "young" nurses? Do you advocate for positive changes? Do you teach "young" or inexperienced nurses "tricks" you have learned through experience to master skills such as hitting the vein successfully each time when inserting an IV? Do you treat others with kindness and patience, or do you think these "young" inexperienced nurses should "toughen up" and "do their job" or "get out"?

Do you wonder why there is a nursing shortage? Do you wonder if there is anything you can do to help with nurse retention at the facility where you are working? Do you want to improve the nursing crisis by attracting and retaining nurses?

Well, I personally know there of several nurses who are no longer working as nurses or no longer working in hospitals, and it isn't just because of the patients. It is because of how nurses (and sometimes management) treat nurses. It's true that there are way too many nurses who "eat their young". Otherwise known as "bullying". These are nurses (and people in any position) who are critical of others who are not as knowledgeable or skillful in completing skills. These bullies are too critical and opinionated and often time come across as being superior. These nurses forget an important role of nurses to be educators. Everyone doesn't learn the same way, everyone is different in learning style, and yes, learning curve. 

From what I have learned and still learning, that we need to create an environment of acceptance, kindness, encouragement, and accommodation. There is apparently a "vibrational wave of energy" that radiates outward from each person which impacts other people in the vicinity. The positive and loving energy vibrates at a higher level and criticism and bullying vibrates at a lower level. Think of this as positive and negative energies. Most people desire positive energies which creates a positive work environment. I am allowing the fact that there may be some people who likes negative energy which creates a toxic work environment. 

Which work environment do you want to work in? It's as if there is good and evil. People showing the fruits of the spirit and people showing fruits of the flesh. Good versus evil. Which do you choose? It's up to you. I personally think if the work culture changes to a positive, caring, supportive, servant and accepting work culture, then there would be less nurses leaving the profession and improved nurse retention.

I do hope and pray this will encourage someone and inspire someone to take a step towards making some positive changes.