Editor's
Note
It
begins with you
Find
time to take care of yourself in the new year
Barbara
Brown, Ed.D., RN, FAAN
Editor, Mountain West Edition
January
15, 2001
The
year 2000 has passed and 2001 is here – the time to re-evaluate
our lives, personal and professional. As I reflect on more
than 45 years of nursing and raising a family of six children,
I am reminded of how difficult and stressful our lives can
be, as nurses who care for everyone. I doubt there’s a nurse
anywhere who is not a caregiver at work and at home. We
have little time, energy or even awareness of the need to
discipline ourselves to take care of "me."
Now,
in my senior years, I take time to do water aerobics and
swim laps every day that I’m at home in Arizona. My passion
for skiing also energizes me, so I ski in Colorado as often
as possible. For seven years, when I taught skiing at the
National Sports Center for the Disabled, I skied about 100
days per season. Throughout the years, good health was a
way of life in our family. We all participated in skiing,
swimming, hiking, camping, etc. Four sons were on sports
teams. Physical activities still are a way of life for them
and their families today.
More
young women today participate in sports than in my generation.
Young women are the ones who go everywhere and do everything
to become a "supermom" and nurse. Dads who are
nurses also have responsibility. Too often, we make the
mistake, as I did, of placing too much household responsibility
on ourselves and our daughters or sons.
Men
in nursing often find different stresses. In the ’50s and
’60s, men were sometimes not allowed in many schools of
nursing. Today, fellow nurses and others are still not as
receptive to men in nursing as one might think. I recommend
celebrating being a nurse and whichever other life roles
you play.
There
is no need to be "super" nurse and mom or dad.
It just doesn’t pay off. In the long run, it is not appreciated.
Besides, you are the one who needs care. So care for yourself
as you care for others. You are the most precious gift of
God. Make each day and moment count. Yesterday is past,
and tomorrow is the beginning of the rest of your life.
As NurseWeek
begins the new year, we are asking you to celebrate your
life and the lives of special nurses. We invite you to participate
in the Nursing Excellence Awards and nominate a colleague,
mentor, leader, staff nurse, school health nurse, nurse
teacher, or anyone you know and value as a true gift to
nursing.
We hear
about what is wrong all the time, but let us take this opportunity
to celebrate our lives as nurses.
What
do you think?
Email us at
editor@nurseweek.com
