Writing Your Own Prescription for a Transformative Career in Nursing

Nancy S Brook, MSN, RN, APRN-BCStanford Hospital and Clinics

Palo Alto, California

Nursing

One of the Oldest Professional Careers

Florence Nightingale, London 1860

First Training Program in United States, 1873

First University Based Program,

First Masters Degree Program, 1923

Training Programs

Hospital Based

College or Community College

University

Nursing

A Safe and Predictable Career

Job Security

Stability

Nursing...

The 1990’s

New Technology

Increased Life Expectancy

Population Explosion

New Job Description - New Opportunities

Designing a Career

That you Love

That Makes a Difference

That is Transformative for Your Patients, Your Organization, Yourself

The Body Compass

Take a breath, close your eyes and hold the memory of a very positive experience in your life. Notice how your body feels with this memory.

What does it feel like? Where do you feel it?

Assign it a number from 1-10

Do the same for a very negative experience in your past. How does it feel? Give it a name and a number.

The Body Compass

As you consider your options, pay attention to how your body reacts with the thought of each option. Is your reading positive or negative?

Bypass the thoughts and fears that can cloud your mind.

Tips for Success

Don’t be Discouraged by Others

Don’t Settle for Average

Embrace Confidence

Don’t be hindered by the past

Have aVision

Steps to Make it Happen

List Three Career Related Dreams (Be Specific)

Take a Turtle Step

Consider your “Why”

Imagine Yourself Doing it

How Do You Want to Feel?

The Research...

Research in psychology studying happiness found that situational elements people crave; money, status, possessions, don’t reliably lead to an experience of well being.

Finding joy in the present (focusing on experiences you really want to have leads to increased health, life satisfaction, and allows us to live a longer life and more satisfying and fulfilling career.

*Journal of Experimental Social Psychology

Rx: Your Prescription

You know how!

Assess the Needs

Evaluate the Deficits

Nurses are Specialists!

What do you need?

Rest

Friendship

Spirit

Body

Medical Care

Pets

Music

Your Prescription

Rx:

Things you love

Outside of work

Well Deserved

Nurses

Selfless

Experienced and Knowledgable

“We can tell you what to do, how to do it, hook you up with resources, provide you with the evidence......”

We don’t practice what we preach

Write your Prescription

Write your Rx

Fill It

Follow the Directions!

Write the Prescription (continued)

Results Will Be Evident

Status will Change

Transformation will Occur

Rx

Thank you and Aloha!