When Nurses Ask the Question “How Can I Reignite My Passion?”

Passion is defined by Miriam Webster “as a strong and barely controllable emotion or a strong desire. Having passion for what you do gives you a sincere reason and innermost meaning to do that which you do and keep at it and gain full mastery”.

As a nurse who has worked in post-acute settings for many years, I understand how we can lose our passion at the end of a long day, a hard week  where nothing seems to go right  for our patients or our staff, and because we are nurses we second guess ourselves and all this weighs heavily on our hearts.  Perhaps we can’t remember what drew us to nursing in the first place. Or maybe we aren’t sure that we’re really making a difference in the lives of of our patients.  When mentoring nurses who are earlier in their career journeys, I often give these words of advice: as part of a career in nursing in the world of post-acute care, it is essential to take a moment to pause and reflect on our noble profession's true purpose. It can be easy to forget why we chose this path.

I find it helpful to reflect on the mission, vision and goals that initially sparked passion for many nurses I’ve worked with. These are the guiding principles that I have turned to again and again throughout my years as a nurse.

Our Mission:

Nurses are characterized by their dedication, knowledge, compassion and integrity to positevly impact patients lives by meeting their goals and aspirations on their recovery journey.

Our Vision:

Remember the spark that ignited the flame of our dedication? Whether it was a desire to make a difference, a calling to alleviate suffering or a commitment to serve humanity, our commitment does not waiver. Nurses navigate challenges with composure and professionalism.

Our Goals:

We can exceed our expectations and make a positive impact for the patients we serve by emotional support, continual learning, and interdisciplinary collaboration fueled by our compassion.

Who We Are:

As professional nurses we assure quality patient care while honoring the values of respect, advocacy and responsibility. We are role models to the teams we lead who act with honesty and integrity.

“As a nurse we have the opportunity to heal the mind, soul, heart and body of our patients. They may forget your name but they will never forget how you made then feel”. Maya Angelou