Reengaging in Nursing

Abstract

Q I love nursing, but I am thinking about giving it up. How can I reengage in my profession?A Sarah K. Wells, MSN, RN, CEN, CNL, and Sarah A. Delgado, MSN, RN, ACNP, reply:Nursing, in its most basic form, is the act of caring for someone who is sick.1 Nurses join the profession expecting to provide skilled and informed care for others when they need it most. When care delivery does not meet our expectations, job dissatisfaction, burnout, and moral distress threaten our emotional well-being and our ability to feel psychologically safe. In addition, nurses are reporting increased violence and abuse in the workplace, which threaten physical safety.2 These experiences generate an intent to change roles and even change professions. There are many tools and strategies that can support reengaging with nursing and reigniting your nursing passion.First, nurses need to know that they are not alone in wanting to leave nursing. In its latest survey on the work environment of critical care nurses, conducted in October 2021, the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) received more than 9000 responses.3 The results showed that 67% of the respondents planned to leave their current position within the next 3 years. Reported contributing factors to this intention included poor staffing, increasing moral distress, and feeling like the quality of patient care was worsening. We face immense challenges in health care, and often they feel insurmountable.To address moral distress, AACN recommends the following steps4: There are many ways to reconnect with our nursing identity to find increased joy and satisfaction in our profession.The final decision is up to you, but the good news is that you have so many options. Nursing is a diverse and dynamic profession with many opportunities for change and growth. Whatever your interests, there is a space for you in our field.Remember, you are never alone in your journey. Whether you need time to self-reflect, recharge, or reconnect with your nurse self, AACN and the rest of your nursing community will be there when you are ready to reengage.