How Nurses Can Inspire Their Patients

We, as nurses, have a lot of influence on our patients. We may not always know it and the patient may not always know it, but we do. For 19 years in a row, the nursing profession was in the #1 for most trusted profession according to the Gallop Poll. That is amazing! How wonderful it is to be a part of a profession that is trusted for its honesty and knowledge.

So, know that we know this, how can we use this knowledge to inspire our patients to help improve their health?

We listen to them. The great thing about nursing is that we have the opportunity to develop a relationship with a patient, their family members, and possibly even their friends. A part of the assessment portion of us providing care to our patients is to find out how they are processing their illness or condition. Do they fully understand the illness/condition? Are they in denial? Are they willing to take steps to prevent any further damage from their illness/condition? Do they have the resources to prevent any further damage from their illness/condition? We have the opportunity to find answers to these questions and more. We have the opportunity to help them fill in the holes of missing information. Through this exchange of information between us and our patients, we are developing that important relationship. Be their educator.

That is where the trust comes in. You took the time to really understand them… You took the time to really understand their desires and their fears. Granted, most of us work in the hospital and you may not have the time as clinic nurses or home health nurses to establish a relationship. However, you can still make the most of your time with your patient while in the hospital.

Now that you have established trust, protect that trust.  Patients can still be unsure about what his or her medical treatment plan or what his or her health professionals are recommending.  That is understandable. You, as a nurse, can be the mediator.  You have the opportunity to clarify information especially when it comes to medical terms.  You have the opportunity to stand up for the patient by being his or her voice.  You know his or her story, you know how the illness is affecting them, you know his or her desires.  Be their advocate. 

By being the educator and the advocate, nurses can develop a plan to help the patient improve his or her health.  Now, it is not always easy to inspire your patients to follow their health improvement plan.  Your patients have his or her mental and physical limitations, just like anyone.  However, the ones that you do inspire, in which that inspiration turns into action, will be thankful you took the time to educate them and advocate for them. 

You are part of one of the most trusted professions.  Through your time in nursing school and on the floor or in the clinic, you have learned and developed the skills of a trusted health professional.  I am almost positive that you have already inspired many patients already.  I encourage you to continue to do be that trusted and ethical health professional.  I encourage you to continue to develop meaningful relationships with your patients.  I encourage you to continue inspire…not just your patients but other nurses who are looking how to be a good trusted and ethical nurse.  You are the inspiration!