Over the decades, Nursing Administration Quarterly has published themed journals for, about, and by nursing leaders. While each edition has been based on a different theme, every subject has been connected to how those leaders can make a difference in the lives of patients, and in the lives of those who care for patients. This quarter, guest editors Dr Patricia Yoder-Wise and Dr Maria Shirey have compiled a selection of exceptional articles addressing the health of the latter group: nurses and our nursing care team members.

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Actually, these writings are concerned with both groups of stakeholders. Nurses care best for others when they are physically, mentally, and spiritually healthy themselves. The saying "You can't give from an empty basket" is true. Nursing is a profession in which the professionals give of both their intellect and their hearts, so those who devote their lives to it need to be sure they are continually replenishing their own baskets.

Individual nurses have a responsibility to care for themselves. Nursing leaders have an accountability to assist in that self-care by promoting and ensuring a healthy work environment, not only for nurses, but for every employee and physician who practices in our organizations. Unfortunately, sometimes, both frontline clinicians and we who serve as managers fall short in this area. For a variety of reasons including the challenge of balancing our responsibilities to our organizations, the employee team, the customers, the community, our leaders, our families, and ourselves, we don't always meet the health goals we have for all.

The articles in this issue of Nursing Administration Quarterly present information on healthy nurses and healthy workplaces, which may be new to you or may serve as a reminder that we all have an accountability to strive for these. Speaking of reminders, are you remembering to care well for yourself? Leaders need to be attentive to their own health, too. I've listed a few questions from a checklist I still think we can each use for a mini self-assessment, even though I wrote it 13 years ago.1 Do you

* Lead a balanced life by dividing your time and energy between work and home life?

* Care for your body with a good diet, exercise and rest?

* Feel worthy of your own success?

* appreciate and reward yourself for your contributions to the organization?

* Forgive yourself, just as you forgive others, when you make a mistake?

* Understand and accept that concerned and caring behaviors may not be reciprocated, but choose to care anyway?

I hope you are able to answer each of these questions in the affirmative. If not, please get busy taking care of yourself. You are essential to the well-being of more people than you can count. We need you.

Thank you for choosing to lead.

-Kathleen D. Sanford, DBA, RN, CENP,

FACHE

Editor in Chief

Nursing Administration Quarterly

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