Words have power. Our conversations and intentions influence thoughts and actions in ways we cannot always foresee. Case in point: I met Olivia when she took our dinner order in a restaurant where my husband and I were celebrating my birthday. Because I have food allergies to certain additives, I asked Olivia to check a couple of menu items. She not only reviewed the ingredient lists but looked up the specifics about the additives and made alternative, safe menu recommendations in a way that inspired trust. Her attention to detail and caring behavior prompted me to ask if she was a nursing student. She said she did not think she could handle being a nurse when patients die. I offered that although not all patients can be saved, there is peace in knowing that being there for them made a difference. I gave her my business card with the sincere request that she contact me if she wanted to discuss nursing as a career.
Olivia did indeed follow through. We corresponded and spoke. I advised that she work in a hospital to learn about the environment and experience patient care, preferably for an employer that provided tuition support for nursing school. Olivia sought hospital employment and was hired, became a certified nursing assistant, and eventually became a monitor technician after passing ECG interpretation courses. As she gained real-world experience, she was accepted into an affiliated nursing program, which she completed while working full-time at the hospital during the pandemic. Olivia juggled it all as a single parent. Her graduation demonstrated to me how a casual conversation with sincere intent can undeniably change lives.
A nursing career is no easy ride. Yes, the journey can be beset with bumps, hazards, barriers, detours, and closures. At the same time, it is also filled with challenges and satisfaction that only come from making a difference in people's lives at their most vulnerable or difficult times, and the closeness of working with team members who become like family. There is also the camaraderie and quiet understanding that our lived experiences as nurses, no matter how different, form a unique bond that connects us all. To Olivia and all nurses: May your words and actions elevate, inspire, and energize future generations to become nurses and realize their potential. May you also be healers to each other and to our nursing profession.
Be well,
LINDA LASKOWSKI-JONES, MS, APRN, ACNS-BC, CEN, NEA-BC, FAWM, FAAN
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, NURSING2022