“High fives in healthcare—taking time to celebrate your victories”

iStock | Zdenka Darula

You work hard and there is a LOT to do every day on the job. So we can understand that there isn’t always time to pat yourself on the back for every little victory or to thoroughly enjoy the good days at work.

But Brittney from The Nerdy Nurse is arguing the importance of “high fives in healthcare” and recognizing and acknowledging your own success. See what she has to say below:

Overwhelmed With Projects

Not too long ago the topic of feeling overwhelmed with projects was discussed. We talked about how we don’t have time to enjoy our success because another project is looming. But I think we are at least partially to blame for this as well. Although in the world of healthcare informatics, we are constantly going to have a mountain of projects and we will constantly be putting out fires, that is no excuse to ignore our accomplishments.

Why Don’t Nurses Celebrate [Their] Victories?

Why don’t we enjoy our success? Why don’t we share it with each other? Why don’t we get excited about the success of our care and the improvements of our patients enough to share it? Why do we think these victories are just “part of our job”?

It is part of our job to complete these tasks and provide care for our patients. But there is no shame in taking pride in a job well done. A good nurse has many successes on any given shift and a happy nurse will stop a moment and celebrate those victories.

Enjoy Being a Nurse and Share That Enjoyment With Others

I sincerely hope you still feel the rush of endorphins when you get a successful IV stick. I encourage you to smile, be proud, and ask your co-worker for a high five (after a good hand-washing, of course) the next time you change a particularly challenging dressing. Turn to the side and tell the nurse beside you how excited you are that your patient made the transfer from the bed to the chair successfully. Heck, share with your patient how excited you are that their kidneys produced an adequate amount of volume on the shift. I can’t tell you how happy I’ve had patients get when I compliment their kidneys and acknowledge their bodies’ success and our collective success of a productive and healing shift.

You chose nursing likely because you felt called to it. You care for your patients because of the feeling you get when you help them in their time of need. There is absolutely no shame in celebrating the successes you have with them. It won’t take away from the care and compassion you deliver your care with. I promise.

Responsible for Your Own Happiness

Whether you work at the bedside, IT, or administration in healthcare, we have all got to be more mindful of making sure that we take time to celebrate our victories. We are responsible for our own happiness in our careers.

Read the full story over on The Nerdy Nurse. Then, in the comments below, tell us your own thoughts on taking the time to enjoy your victories.