Nursing is often called the “caring profession.” Many of us enter nursing because of our concern for the suffering of others. And it is the rewards of supporting others in their healing that keep many of us here. Yet, I recently spoke with a new grad who felt consistently unsupported and overly criticized by many of her new colleagues. She pondered wistfully, “Why are nurses so hard on each other? I first saw that in nursing school, and now I am feeling it all over again. I hate that about nursing.”

Is it that some new nurses aren’t very realistic? After all, they are new. There are so many things that they have not yet seen. Maybe they need to develop hardened shells in order to maintain their sanity in frequently stressful situations. But, there are also so many wonders that they have not yet witnessed. It is also possible that their colleagues and professors are suffering from some level of burn-out.

Perhaps it’s time for each of us to step back and reflect on our own behavior. Do you still feel the wonder of healing that occurs all around you? With so much sadness and sickness, it can be hard to remember to celebrate even the smallest victories. So, why not remind each other that they are there?

What makes a nurse dare to care – for patient, family, or colleague? And, what makes some nurses seem to stop caring for any of these individuals? We spend so much time performing vital tasks and mandatory documentation. How can we simultaneously keep our caring lamps lit? What makes them burn out?

Remember, at your pinning ceremony, when you held your Nightingale lamp and recited her famous pledge? Are those words still relevant? How can we keep our care warm and full of wonder? Please share your thoughts and inspiration.