 People with a high degree of emotional intelligence know what they're feeling, what their emotions mean, and how these emotions can affect other people.
For Nurses, having emotional intelligence is essential for success. After all, who is more likely to succeed – a Nurse who shouts when under stress, or a Nurse who stays in control, and calmly assesses the situation? According to Daniel Goleman, an American psychologist who helped to popularize emotional intelligence, there are five key elements to it.
Self-awareness If you're self-aware, you always know how you feel, and you know how your emotions and your actions can affect the people around you. Being self-aware as a Nurse means having a clear picture of your strengths and weaknesses , and it means behaving with humility . So, what can you do to improve your self-awareness? 1. Keep a journal – Journals help you improve your self-awareness. If you spend just a few minutes each day writing down your thoughts, this can move you to a higher degree of self-awareness. 2. Slow down – When you experience anger or other strong emotions, slow down to examine why. Remember, no matter what the situation, you can always choose how you react to it. Self-regulation Nurse who regulate themselves effectively rarely verbally attack others, make rushed or emotional decisions, stereotype people, or compromise their values. Self-regulation is all about staying in control. So, how can you improve your ability to self-regulate? 1. Know your values – Do you have a clear idea of where you absolutely will not compromise? Do you know what values are most important to you? Spend some time examining your "code of ethics." If you know what's most important to you, then you probably won't have to think twice when you face a moral or ethical decision – you'll make the right choice. 2. Hold yourself accountable – If you tend to blame others when something goes wrong, stop. Make a commitment to admit to your mistakes and to face the consequences, whatever they are. You'll probably sleep better at night, and you'll quickly earn the respect of those around you. 3. Practice being calm – The next time you're in a challenging situation, be very aware of how you act. Do you relieve your stress by shouting at someone else? Practice deep-breathing exercises to calm yourself. Also, try to write down all of the negative things you want to say, and then rip it up and throw it away. Expressing these emotions on paper (and not showing them to anyone!) is better than speaking them aloud to your team. What's more, this helps you challenge your reactions to ensure that they're fair! Motivation Self-motivated Nurses work consistently toward their goals, and they have extremely high standards for the quality of their work. How can you improve your motivation? 1. Re-examine why you're doing your job – It's easy to forget what you really love about your career. So, take some time to remember why you wanted this job. If you're unhappy in your role and you're struggling to remember why you wanted it, try the Five Whys technique to find the root of the problem. Starting at the root often helps you look at your situation in a new way. 2. Know where you stand – Determine how motivated you are. Be hopeful and find something good – Motivated Nurses are usually optimistic, no matter what problems they face. Adopting this mindset might take practice, but it's well worth the effort. Every time you face a challenge, or even a failure, try to find at least one good thing about the situation. Empathy For Nurses, having empathy is critical to our profession. PERIODT! Nurses with empathy have the ability to put themselves in someone else's situation. How can you improve your empathy? 1. Put yourself in someone else's position – It's easy to support your own point of view. After all, it's yours! But take the time to look at situations from other people's perspectives. 2. Pay attention to body language – Perhaps when you listen to someone, you cross your arms, move your feet back and forth, or bite your lip. This body language tells others how you really feel about a situation, and the message you're giving isn't positive! Learning to read body language can be a real asset in Nursing, because you'll be better able to determine how someone truly feels. This gives you the opportunity to respond appropriately. 3. Respond to feelings – You ask your co-worker to work your weekend – again. And although they agree, you can hear the disappointment in their voice. So, respond by addressing their feelings. Tell them you appreciate how willing they are for working your shift. If possible, figure out a way to work one of their weekends, and reciprocate the favor. Social Skills Nurses who do well in the social skills element of emotional intelligence are great communicators. They're just as open to hearing bad news as good news, and they're expert at getting their peers to support them and be excited about a new mission or project. Nurses who have good social skills are also good at managing change and resolving conflicts diplomatically. They're rarely satisfied with leaving things as they are, but they don't sit back and make everyone else do the work: they set an example with their own behavior. So, how can you build social skills? 1. Learn conflict resolution – Nurse must know how to resolve conflicts between their patients, families and their co-workers. Learning conflict resolution skills is vital if you want to succeed. 2. Improve your communication skills – How well do you communicate? To be effective, Nurses must have a solid understanding of how their emotions and actions affect the people around them. The better Nurses relate to, and work with others, the more successful he or she will be. Emotional Intelligence is the foundation of the Personal Preceptor Club. Being a new nurse is challenging all itself. Learning how to manage your own emotions, how you come off to others, how to protect your peace when the world is falling apart around you is how you survive nursing. Take the time to work on self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy, and social skills. Working on these areas will help you excel in the future. And join us in the Personal Preceptor Club!  A few days ago I was questioned about the colors used in this graphic I posted on the New Nurse Academy IG page.
I made this infograph on Canva in 2019 to illustrate the NCLEX-RN fail rates from January - March 2019. "Why are the failed ones Black?" was the DM I received. My response was that I used the dominate brand color for New Nurse Academy, gold, to be primary, and black as a supporting secondary color. The intention was not to indicate White vs. Black students. I would have never thought this graphic would be interpreted as an implication that Black student Nurses fail at a higher rate than non-Black student Nurses.And I had to check my own implicit bias about the matter. And then as an Educator, I had to do some research to see what the facts are. Per recent NCSBN stats, 86% of all eligible Nursing students in the United States who took the NCLEX-RN between January and March 2020 passed on the first try. That's 60,007 newly licensed Nurses of all race,creed, gender preferences and cultural backgrounds. But how many were Black? According to a study done by Williams, Bourgaut and Valenti (2018), the probability of underrepresented minority students (URM) passing the NCLEX on their first attempt is determined by barriers to completion, financial concerns, quality of faculty advising, quality of non-faculty teaching, and faculty gender representation. Results of this study found the following:
In my research for this email, I didn't find an article with detailed racial statistics of exactly how many Black student Nurses failed the NCLEX within the past 5 years. So I ask myself, does that statistic even matter? If I knew the numbers, what would it change? If future Black Nurses are failing the NCLEX at a high rate on the 1st try, it delays the rate of Black Nurses entering the workforce. And the world needs Black Nurses, ASAP! What can I do to help?
Do you believe that?
This quote was said to me by one of my mentors and it's been on my mind since our conversation. In my analytical brain, that means ANYONE can be a manager, right? Does that also mean that anyone can be a Leader? Ehh, I don't know if that's true. I believe leaders are born - they're not made. A leader is someone who can see how things can be improved and who rallies people to move toward that better vision. Leaders can work toward making their vision a reality while putting people first. However, just being able to motivate people isn’t enough — leaders need to be empathetic and connect with people to be successful. Leaders can be Managers, but every Manager can't be a Leader. I often get asked why I don't apply for Nurse Manager positions. Simply put, I don't want to. It's a stressful job! It's not my calling to be responsible for staffing, budgets, patient satisfaction scores, incidents and the like. A Nurse Manager is someone who has decision-making powers and control over certain processes in an organization. However they may not have what it takes to lead people to make change. As a Nurse Educator and Professional Development Specialist, I am a Nurse Leader, and I take that role extremely serious. A Leader can influence others through effective communication and insight. Leaders have a vision for the future that they inspire others to pursue. Nurse Leaders, also have a set of skills that set them apart from Managers. Credibility is the foundation of leadership -- if people do not believe in you, they are unlikely to follow your lead. Here are nine traits that define great leadership:
One of the best ways to develop leadership skills is through nursing education. My favorite quote is "Knowledge is power. But sharing that knowledge is powerful." My daily responsibility to be a nursing content expert so I can share that information with aspiring, future, new to practice and experience Nurse. That's literally why New Nurse Academy, LLC. was created. I say all this to say, I take my job as your personal Educator and Preceptor. I am here to be your servant Leader. Whether you've formally worked with me by booking a session, or you read the newsletters and follow my IG page. I am here to help you connect the connects to get you to Nursing success. What are your thoughts? Do you agree with my Mentor? Can all Managers be trained?  Our first ever #ReNegadeoftheWeek is none other than the fabulous Tiffany! Check out her story and tips below! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ “I was a Certified Pediatric Nurse working at the bedside for 8 years when I interviewed for my current position as Nurse Educator.
My interviews (all 3 of them) went extremely well, and I was offered a position as a Clinical Nurse Educator. I remember the HR recruiter calling me on the phone while I was on vacation in the Bahamas tell me I get the job, and I nicely turned it down when I heard how much they were going to pay me. I was a BSN prepared Nurse with a specialty certification, who was enrolled in a MSN-Nurse Educator Program at the time of the offer. I knew my worth and wasn’t going to leave a job where I made money by the hour working nightshift for a salary that was less than my base pay. Their rationale was as a new Educator, my salary would start at the lower end of the spectrum. I thanked them for their time. Two days later I received a call from the same HR rep with a new number – one that made me smile. I accepted the position and 3.5 years later here I am. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ My tip: Know your worth, advocate for yourself and negotiate based on your value. Identify what your non-negotiables are, and be open to compromise. Not all perks need to be about pay. You can negotiate hours or days worked, holiday requirements, education and conference compensation and continuing education.”  Nurse Educator is often a forgotten about role, however it’s probably the MOST important advance nursing role there is. Who else is teaching and preparing the NPs, CNM, CNS, and CRNAs to be great? It’s the Educator.
Nurse Educators play a vital role in ensuring that the next generation of nurses is prepared to pass the NCLEX and are safe and competent to meet the growing demand for healthcare services. Nurse Educators are also instrumental in shaping the future of the nursing profession, by creating curriculum, teaching clinical and technical skills and redefining the depth of knowledge needed to help advance quality of patient care. Sounds like a very important role right? It is! So how does one become a Nurse Educator? Here’s what you need to know. Nurse educators are Registered Nurses with advanced education, Masters in Nursing Education, who are also teachers. Most have worked for many, years before deciding to turn to a career teaching future nurses and mentoring/coaching experienced nurses. Most nurse educators have extensive clinical experience, sometimes in a specialty area, and many continue caring for patients after becoming Educators. You can find Nurse Educators in academic settings like nursing schools, community colleges and technical schools. Some also work in health care settings as professional development specialists or clinical supervisors. And unlike other advance degree Nurses, Educators typically do not work 12-hour shifts. A good portion of an Educator’s time is spent in an office or a classroom, preparing for classes, giving lectures, advising, assessing for competency, attending meetings, handling administrative work and keeping up with current nursing knowledge. Educators who oversee students in clinical settings may divide their time between being a clinical instructor and teaching lectures. For a Nurse Educator in an academic setting, there are often research and publishing requirements to be met. Nurse educators are often expected to participate in professional organizations and attend or speak at conferences. They may serve on peer review and other academic committees or be asked to write grant proposals to bring new funding to the school. Nurse Educators in a hospital setting are commonly referred to a Professional Development Specialist (PDS). The PDS has knowledge and skills in adult learning principles, nursing career development, program development and management, continuing education, and leadership. These experienced Educators help nurses engage in lifelong learning to develop and maintain their competencies, advance their professional nursing practice, and facilitate their achievement of academic and practice career goals. Studies show that a great majority of Nurse Educators are highly satisfied with their work. They find interaction with students rewarding, and they take pride in the role they play in preparing nurses to care for patients and mentoring nurses. Dear Soulmate Client,
I’m here to serve you. I understand how disappointing, embarrassing and shocking it was when you failed the NCLEX the last time you took it. It’s been years since you graduated Nursing School and you haven’t been in a classroom in so long that you forgot certain content, and that’s scary. I know. Not to mention, life happened. You had babies, Big Momma get sick and you and bae are beefing right now. Also, the bills never stopped coming in, and since you’ve been out of school for more than 6 months, Sallie Mae and Navient are calling your phone asking for their money. So to continue to maintain the household, and to keep yourself in the middle of healthcare, you kept your job as a PCT and CNA. Or you’re working at The Gap, or the clerk at the LTC facility. However, we know that check and pay rate isn’t enough for you to be debt free, move into a bigger home, or save for your rainy day fund. And when you are ready to take your cape off, put yourself first and actually sit down to study for the NCLEX at the end of the day, you get distracted, because baby girl didn’t go to sleep on time, you worked a 12 hour shift. and you’ve been awake since 5:30am. You’re tired, Sis. That’s why you don’t remember what metabolic acidosis is, and taking the practice test from UWorld is frustrating because you keep getting all the maternity questions wrong. I know. I know you’re afraid of failing again. The thought of it is so overwhelming it’s paralyzing to you. You’ve dreamt of being a Nurse since you were a teen when the visiting Nurse came to the house to check up on your Grandfather. You changed your career to become a nurse when baby girl was born 5 weeks premature and you spent over a month in the NICU. And you saw how the Nurses cared for your baby, educated you on the plan of care and made you feel at ease. But you’re scared. That’s why you haven’t scheduled the re-take yet. I know. I get it. Your test taking anxiety has the best of you. Your body is off, stomach is weak, palms are sweating. You’re stuck, and don’t know what to do. Guess what I got you, Sis. I’m here to help you adjust your crown. I’m here to be your tutor, mentor and coach. I’m here to be your accountability partner and get you #PreparedToPass. To affirm your goals of becoming a Licensed and Registered Nurse. To achieve your dream. To accomplish your goals and to have the career you’ve always dreamt of. Sincerely, Tiffany This open letter is for my Soulmate Client only – I’m not for everyone. And I’m not supposed to be. Just like in any relationship, there needs to be a good fit, good energy… a vibe to make it work and to see the benefits. My gifts are for a select few, and those who are deserving understood the message in this open letter.  In October 2007, the Mayo Clinic announced that research proves that relaxation must be on the top of everyone’s list of priorities. This is true not only for all of you who are work-a-holics but for stay-at-home moms and everyone who wants to remain in good health. According to the report relaxation reduces wear and tear on the mind and the body. For example, they state that relaxation reduces blood pressure and heart rate while increasing blood flow to the major muscle. It also reduces back pain, headache and muscle tension while improving concentration, which is so super important! The likelihood of emotional responses such as anger and frustration are also reduced with rest and relaxation.
It is important to note that relaxation does not mean being a “couch potato.” Instead, relaxation calls for a change of pace from the daily routine, according to Mayo Clinic. So activities such as walking, or using relaxation techniques like deep breathing and muscle tension reduction and meditation or visualization, reading, writing a journal and other activities are extremely helpful helping you rest and relax. Did you know there are 9 types of rest? I didn't . For me, rest and relaxation is sleeping, binge watching TV and being idle in my yard. I have started scheduling rest breaks in my days so I'm not working non-stop and making myself. This means, walking away from my laptop, closing my office door, putting on Pandora streaming service and jamming out to music. Or I'll close my eyes for 15 minutes, or scroll IG. This week I challenge you to rest throughout the day. It's so important for your mental well-being. Also, I'd like to know how do you rest and relax?  There are many different ways of taking notes in school or at the university. Some prefer to take a structured approach and use an outline method to take notes, some may prefer a visual way and draw mind maps, some may even use no structure at all. However, there is one note-taking technique that is superior to others in many cases and science has proven that it is not only more efficient but also makes it a lot easier to review notes, for example when preparing for an exam. The technique we‘re referring to is called “Cornell Note Taking”. It is a system for taking, organizing and reviewing notes and has been devised by Prof. Walter Pauk of Cornell University in the 1950s. How to use itIt requires very little preparation which makes it ideal for note taking in class. The page will be divided into 4 — or sometimes only 3 — different sections: Two columns, one area at the bottom of the page, and one smaller area at the top of the page. The idea behind this is very easy. All actual notes from the lecture go into the main note-taking column. The smaller column on the left side is for questions about the notes that can be answered when reviewing and keywords or comments that make the whole reviewing and exam preparation process easier. When reviewing the notes, a brief summary of every page should be written into the section at the bottom. Besides being a very efficient way of taking great notes in class, Cornell note taking is THE perfect tip for exam preparation. Why you might ask. The system itself encourages students to reflect on their notes by summarizing them briefly in their own words. Often, this can already be enough to remember study notes and to successfully pass an exam. When reviewing your notes it is useful to reorder objects on the page, for example, to add a solution to an answer on the side to the notes. Check out the Study Resource page for a quick guide on notes taking. Would you use the Cornell Notes method? |
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