 Provided by Clinician 1
At the risk of some thinking that I am “complaining,” let me preface this blog by stating, emphatically, that I am NOT doing so. This is a relatively simple concept...yet something that is NOT done nearly enough, IMHO.
Webster defines the term, “validation” as:
1. The quality or state of being valid; strength; force; especially, power to convince; justness; soundness; as, the validity of an argument or proof; the validity of an objection.
In other words, what we do MATTERS. Is there not anyone among us who wonders, at least ONCE (and most likely, often), why it is that we do what we do?
When we are counseling yet ANOTHER patient about their risk factors for CAD, DM, CHF, etc...and they end up back in the hospital again...do we take it personally? Or do we accept that they are individuals, able to pick-and-choose the options to them. Which may include indulging in that higher-salt, higher-glucose diet.
When we have to “prove” our worth to another patient that, yes, we Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants/Associates may not have MD/DO behind our names...but we still can and do provide competent, research-proven, effective care to our patients…
When we tally-up the research for our “medical home” patients and submit it to the state, even if no one else seems to give a darn about helping us...and we traverse this trek alone...often, on our own time.
YES...it does matter.
Why? What is the difference if we do...or don’t do...these things?
It affects our patients. That’s the difference that WE make!!
Did any of us really get into this profession for kudos? Really? Because if we did, then I’d wager we’d better look elsewhere. The fact is, we’re usually not going to find it with “pats on the back,” or our name up in lights. If you’re seeking that type of “kudos,” then head to Hollywood and compete with those people. (smile)
We will find our “kudos” in the following ways:
1. The heart-felt thanks from a patient—or family member—after we discovered that elusive diagnosis...yes, maybe it was even missed by a physician
2. The warm squeeze of a hand when you were there to share tears with a patient, after giving a grave diagnosis
3. A hug from a co-worker, who knew that you had “just enough” at the end of a day
4. The rare card we get in the mail from a patient, thanking us for “being there”
5. The even rarer “kudos” we get from a physician colleague—especially if it’s not one we actually WORK with daily
So, my friends, let’s resolve to tuck away those little validation points on our own. WE KNOW when we do a great job...EVERY day. Let’s also cheer on our colleagues for the wonderful things we do, shall we? Let’s validate each and every one of our peers. You never know when someone may need it.
Kim Spering is a family nurse practitioner who currently works at Brndjar Medical Associates, P.C., a family practice in Emmaus, PA. Her past experience includes the fields of medical/surgical ICU, open heart/trauma ICU, labor and delivery, nursing education, nursing supervision, and as a nurse practitioner in both family practice and OB/GYN settings. She currently serves as a NP preceptor for her graduate school alma mater, DeSales University, as well as for local baccalaureate programs. She is passionate about patient education and helping patients understand that they are ultimately responsible for their own health. She also firmly believes that the public needs to be educated on the value of NPs and PAs in meeting the health care needs of the next decade and beyond. In her free time, Kim enjoys family vacations with her optometrist husband, Mark, and her two sons, Matthew and Connor.
The viewpoint expressed in this article is the opinion of the author and is not necessarily the viewpoint of the owners or employees at Healthcare Staffing Innovations, LLC.
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