The beginning of a new year always seems to be a good time to reflect on the past, assess the present and plan the future. Research has shown that nurses who have career goals, even if they end up doing something else, are more satisfied with their jobs. It s the sense of moving toward something rather than wandering aimlessly that brings about fulfillment. Nursing is a team game, whether we re taking care of a patient or recruiting new students or staff. We fuss about what s wrong with nursing, but in our hearts, we know the rewards.
Personal goals are equal to or more important than professional goals.
Feeling good about yourself as a person and taking care of yourself are prerequisites to feeling good about yourself as a nurse. We ve filled this issue of NurseWeek with articles on ways nurses have found to take care of themselves. From yoga, to relieving stress through the arts, to finding healthier food to take to work, we ve tried to give you some ideas as you create your personal goals. To assist you in creating longer-term personal goals, we ve also included a feature story on financial planning for nurses. If none of these solutions appeals to you, then commit to finding some that do.