Recently, I had the pleasure of attending the Methodist Health Foundation 2008 Focus on Health in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA. The keynote address for the event, sponsored by the Honor Society of Nursing, Sigma Theta Tau International, was given by Nancy Snyderman, MD, chief medical editor at NBC News. Snyderman, a native Hoosier (residents of Indiana are known as Hoosiers), spoke about the importance of injecting humanity back into medical care by first taking care of ourselves. It’s a sentiment relevant to us all, medical professionals or not.

As director of educational resources and constituent services at the honor society, I know just how hard Hoosier nurses are working, not only to care for their patients’ broken bones and infections, but for their spirits and souls as well. Nurses are often on the front lines of medical care: They’re the first to interact with you upon walking into a doctor’s office or emergency room, and they’re often the last to wish you goodbye. They dispense medicine, certainly, but they also dispense a caring touch, a kind word and comfort—elements of health care too often overlooked, yet vital to the body’s healing process.

Snyderman, a surgeon, stressed the importance of high-quality nursing care. She said that while she learned her surgical skills from her surgery professors, the nurses she worked with taught her how to be a good doctor.

From frazzled nerves to serious health complications, forgetting to put ourselves first is risky.

At the honor society, we know that, to provide exceptional care, nurses need to be supported through every stage of their careers. Whether providing a nursing student with a mentor, awarding research grants to nursing teams or continuing to educate even the most veteran nurse through professional development seminars, the honor society is the go-to resource for nurses seeking help in managing their careers. Our members have access to a wide variety of resources that not only strengthen them professionally, but also provide their patients with the best care possible.

Yet, we first must take care of ourselves before we can effectively take care of others. This couldn’t be more relevant for our nurses. They work long hours, performing challenging physical and psychological tasks. When their shifts are over, many nurses return to the demands of their families and other personal commitments. Of course, this isn’t an issue just for nurses. As Snyderman points out, we all have to juggle many balls. Some of them are rubber (folding the laundry), some are crystal (raising our children), but the juggling act goes on. Taking care of ourselves is all too easy to overlook, but the price we pay for this is dire. From frazzled nerves to serious health complications, forgetting to put ourselves first is risky.

Barbara Robinette and Nancy Snyderman

Snyderman graciously shared her personal story, one that likely resonates with many of us. She cares for her elderly parents. She’s raising a family (she has two adult daughters and a son still at home). She’s busy with her work, both in the media and in the hospital. Then, like the rest of us, she faces a laundry list of to-dos—running errands, maintaining friendships, organizing the garage that seems to get messier with each passing hour. Yet, Snyderman makes time to ride her horses, hike with her son and get a good six to eight hours of sleep every night. If she can do it, the rest of us can, too.

Just as flight attendants caution passengers during pre-flight instructions, you must first put on your own oxygen mask before attempting to help anyone else. Likewise, tend to your own mind, body and soul, and you’ll be better equipped to provide quality care to others, whether you are a nurse or not. RNL

Barbara Robinette, RN, MSN, is director of educational resources and constituent services at the Honor Society of Nursing, Sigma Theta Tau International.