Journaling: The Simple Daily Practice That Can Be a Nurse's Path to Personal Growth
Feeling overwhelmed by the countless experiences and emotions that come with being a nurse is not uncommon. Throughout my years in nursing, the desire to express myself allowed me to consider documenting my journey. Journaling can serve as our personal "documentation," capturing not only the events but also our emotional responses to them. It has the potential to improve our well-being and facilitate individual development. It can be a powerful tool for us as nurses, allowing us to document our journeys, reflect on our experiences and grow personally and professionally.
Should I Journal?
Yes! Journaling involves recording your thoughts, experiences, and insights in a private, non-judgmental space. It offers significant health benefits such as stress reduction, lower blood pressure and improved immune system.
How Do I Begin and Maintain My Journal?
Beginning a journaling habit can be challenging, but these tips can help:
Short, simple daily practice: Set a short daily routine for journaling. Just a few minutes can make a difference.
Choose your best time to write: It doesn’t have to be lengthy or at the same time each day, but journaling in the morning or before you sleep might be easier.
Focus on what matters to you: It could range from what’s on your mind to something that happened to you.
Use prompts if you get stuck: Prompt starters like, “I’m thankful for…”, “I remember when…,” or “A person once told me…” can be helpful.
Express an attitude of gratitude: Gratitude transforms negativity by shifting our perspective. Writing down things you’re grateful for encourages positivity, especially in tough times.
The Power of Nurses Exchanging Stories and Listening to Their Patients' Stories
Once you become more comfortable with journaling, think about sharing your stories. Writing and sharing experiences can help educate others about nurses' important work.
Nurses’ stories are nothing short of heartfelt, touching and inspiring for their clinical teams. Never hesitate to share yours! Sharing your stories with other nurses encourages exchanging experiences that provide valuable learning opportunities. Listening to your patients’ stories brings you closer to them.
So, please share your experiences, journaling and stories with me.
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Be Curious! Your Patients Have a Story to Tell!
When I was the Executive Director of a large nursing home in Milwaukee, I always arrived at my office early in the morning to get a head start before a busy day. My office door was always open, and many days, a patient named Walter appeared hesitantly at my door. He was known to talk seldom, other than to ask for "a buck," which I always gave him. I knew that he had no visitors and he hated taking a shower.
One day, when he appeared, I said, "Walter, please come in and sit down."
To my surprise, he did just that.
I asked, “Where were you born?”
There was no response, so I had to come up with another question.
Then I asked, “Do you have family?”
He glanced at me and said, “They are all gone!”
Then, there was more silence. I was curious about him and wanted to know more. Trying to engage him further, I asked, “Were you in the military?”
He replied, “Yes, and I did bad things in Germany.”
This response evoked such intense emotions that he began to leave. At that moment, I realized there must be something positive that can connect us and bring us closer together.
So, I said, “Walter, tell me about your mother.”
His face perked up with a child-like smile, and he said, “She loved me!”
I exclaimed with relief, “Oh, Walter, that’s wonderful!”
Then I asked him, “What kind of a little boy were you?”
He grinned from ear to ear, tears streaming from his eyes, and cried, “I was a good little boy.”
I rose from my chair, and I embraced him. It was an unforgettable and incredible experience that taught me something about my patients.
Since then, he has often returned for a “buck” without many words, but he always had a smile.
He inspired me to remember that we can never forget that our patients are more than just health, vital signs, and wellness. They have stories to tell, and we need to ask them to tell us.