I explain to my charges that compassion literally means to suffer together.
Nurses, and others who work with people, can suffer from compassion fatigue, where stress, anxiety, difficulty sleeping, the pressures of personal and professional responsibilities, and vicarious trauma, are ever present. Television and other forms of social media are saturated with tragedy, having the added potential of dulling otherwise caring people to the suffering of others. Leave your troubles at the gateMy first nursing supervisor barked orders at me as if she were a drill sergeant. I realized she never mentally left the Army, yet her voice softened with me over the years. At the tender age of 22, I learned quickly to leave my troubles at the gate. My supervisor was all about the patients. She could care less what was going on in your personal world. You were expected to report to work. Lateness was unacceptable. Period. Despite her hard-edged, autocratic style, I respected my supervisor's focus on excellent patient care. I have kept the patients as my priority throughout my career, no matter what role I have served. Self-CompassionWhile never having experienced compassion fatigue, my life journey caused a period of overwhelming physical, emotional and spiritual fatigue at times. In June, 1999, at the age of 37, I faced my fragility and humanity at the hands of a drug-impaired, armed man in a hostage incident that played out over 46-hours. I experienced the other side of the bed rails, hospitalized for four weeks, as I recovered. And seventeen years later, I remind my students of the need to be ever mindful of their vulnerability. Self awareness and self care are paramount along life's journey. "Fragile" sung by Sting and Stevie Wonder reminds me of our universal vulnerability. Self-careRecognizing and addressing your own stress and need for self care is the most compassionate thing you can do, for yourself and those you love and work with.
My self-care plan includes:
In taking care of myself, I am better able to take care of others in a compassionate manner. My thanks to my sister for sharing this video clip with me from MSN. It’s short but mighty powerful. These kids are the best teachers in showing us how to have compassion, even in victory. ShoutOutsUntil next week, wishing you peace and purpose,
mar
22 Comments
Mike
9/7/2016 10:14:20 am
Hello Maria - Compassion, what an excellent subject this morning. The nursing profession is so lucky that you found them. The video of the kids was great.
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9/7/2016 10:40:50 am
Prof. Mahreer,
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This brought back my day's as a student nurse. I had an instructor who would toss a dime on my freshly made bed, if it bounced she tore all the bedding off and I remade it. Before the end she was a good friend, she just wanted the best. I adored the video. Thank you...
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Dear Maria, I believe compassion is the most important requirement in the nursing profession. How on earth can one be a nurse or doctor if they don't have compassion? This post of yours should be part of an international course. Why not publish a book that contains thsee kind of 'lessons'. 'How to be the nurse you should be', could be the title. Hugs, Martie.
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Dear Maria,
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I love that quote from the Dalai Lama, dear Sannel.
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Compassion is truly an attribute that we hope to find when we need it most, if we end up as patients or even as a patient advocate. Instilling this in your students is truly valuable and important. Thanks for what you do to train the future caregivers on this essential part of their role.:)
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Gail Sobotkin
9/8/2016 02:44:51 pm
I was in awe of my first supervisor who was everything I aspired to be---professional, compassionate, organized and well respected by staff, including doctors.
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Charlotte
9/8/2016 09:04:56 pm
Mar, that was beautiful! It does mean a lot when our nurses have compassion. My first and only nurse, was in an air force hospital. I had my one and only son there. She was so ugly to me, made me cry after she left the room. It is so wonderful, you impress new nurses to develop empathy and compassion for their patients, as well as for themselves. We can't Give something we don't already have to give!
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Shauna
9/9/2016 11:28:46 am
Mar, this is a beautiful post. It all boils down to "do unto others as you'd have others do unto you". We never know when the tables turn and we find ourselves on the other side, as you so eloquently wrote above.
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Theresa
9/13/2016 08:34:27 pm
Dear Maria,
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