Few would argue that the nurses on 5B experienced trauma and adverse experiences. Resilience is defined as the ability to positively adapt to difficult and trying situations. Building resilience in nurses and other healthcare workers can serve as a protective factor against negative outcomes related to the job, including burnout, anxiety, and depression, and can improve patient outcomes. One strategy for promoting individual nurse resilience is promoting expression of gratitude. Defined as the quality of being thankful, gratitude can be practiced in several ways. One of the simplest ways to foster gratitude is through meditation and breath control. Deep breathing and consistent focus allow the mind to settle down and gather itself. As a result, one feels more relaxed and connected with oneself.
Questions and exercises to consider with classmates and/or colleagues:
Developing Resilience to Combat Nurse Burnout Quick Safety Newsletter, The Joint Commission, July 2019
7 Habits of Highly Resilience Nurses Blog by Diane Sieg for Sigma Nursing
Yilmaz, E.B. (2017). Resilience as a strategy for struggling against challenges related to the nursing profession. Chinese Nursing Research, 4(1), 9-13. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cnre.2017.03.004
Kester, K. & Wei, H. (2018). Building nurse resilience. Nursing Management, 49(6), 42-45. doi: 10.1097/01.NUMA.0000533768.28005.36