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The essence of our future—capturing polarity and balance - Editorial

AORN Journal, Sept, 2002 by Brenda S. Gregory Dawes

It is inevitable that nurses who are caught in career struggles or are challenged by people questioning the benefits of the nursing profession might be focused subjectively on change as it affects their livelihood and individual being. Challenges such as the aging of perioperative providers and the worsening nursing shortage make it difficult for us to understand our opportunities. The pace of today's world easily can result in our missing the big picture and overlooking critical events that will influence the future of perioperative nursing. We are working our way through difficult times with unpredictable potential that are different from any scenario we have experienced previously. When we are swimming in change, it is difficult to focus and realize what our roles can be and how we can improve challenging situations.

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TRANSITIONAL EVENTS

Most people are aware of historical transitions that shifted economic structures and culture, including the move from a rural-centered society to an urban-centered society and the Industrial Revolution. There also are events that shape our profession and influence our ideas. One example might be the shift from the surgeon being considered the "captain of the ship," although after many years, there has not been a complete change in mindset on this subject. There also was a period of time when sacred cows were a known influence on decision making and choices. Another transitional health care event is the change from staffing the OR with 100% permanent staff members (ie, employees of the health care facility) to staffing the OR with a high ratio of nurses scheduled on an as needed basis, traveling nurses, or nurses working for an agency. These examples do not even take into consideration the technological and procedural changes that perioperative nurses manage constantly.

Transitional events create unexpected changes and sometimes leave us questioning `why' and `to what end' as we hope for stability and an end to the feelings of chaos. Transitions can leave us reacting to what seem to be problems coming from all directions. As the pace of change accelerates, we are forced to make choices about our priorities, balance, and influence.

POLARITY AND BALANCE

In Chinese culture, the poles of cosmic energy are yin (ie, negative) and yang (ie, positive). They are associated with feminine and masculine energies, respectively, and represent qualities such as weakness and strength. We tend to think of polarities as opposing one another and the opposites as good or bad, one overcoming the other. Other cultures view polarities not as opposites but as different aspects of the same system. The positive and negative poles of electricity do not compete; one is not better than the other; one will not overpower and eliminate the other because both are necessary parts of the system.

Polarities also exist in humans. We sometimes feel we are the exact opposite of another person, which can cause conflicts. If we view polarities as different parts of the same system, we cannot choose one solution and overlook another. The objective is to manage both poles to use the strengths of each while avoiding their limitations.

The ability to complement other people and create harmony is the spirit of balance. We often talk about balance in our personal lives (eg, spending time with children versus doing something for ourselves). There also should be a balance among team members or peers in professional situations. Balance allows each individual to bring his or her unique talents and ideas into the equation. Being out of balance can result in conflict and inferior outcomes because too little or too much of anything can shift the balance to a point of adversity. As in most balancing acts, it is vital that we incorporate the right amount of what is required and use consistent, specifically demonstrated practices so that the act of balancing permeates thoughts, actions, and communication.

Balance does not always occur naturally. There are times when balance requires individuals to critically evaluate their personal skills and behaviors to recognize their power or the power of others so that it can be used effectively.

SPHERE OF INFLUENCE

We live in an era in which nursing practice is shifting toward knowledge-based decision making. Nurses can and should influence the future of the profession by communicating their knowledge. Task orientation and other traditional work factors will remain a necessary component of patient care, but the influence of knowledge workers (ie, those who apply information) will be a key factor in determining outcomes. The polarity and balance that we recognize in our team and among our peers can be a wealth of power as we determine how, where, and when to communicate our knowledge.

When we accept that we must be unified and continue to use our wisdom to generate energy for the cause, we will establish nursing as an indispensable, vital profession. Now is not the time to give up and wait for someone else to take the lead. All perioperative nurses--not only AORN members--should stand up and be seen; embrace brutal optimism; share facts; and link the ordinary to the extraordinary. (1) Our ability to accept and benefit from change will produce a long-term influence on the profession and patient care. Perioperative nurses who have observed the multitude of health care changes have earned the respect of those who are questioning which way to turn and those who easily could be influenced by incorrect or incomplete information. Now is the time to take advantage of that respect for the benefit of our future.

Health Care Industry

The essence of our future—capturing polarity and balance - Editorial

AORN Journal, Sept, 2002 by Brenda S. Gregory Dawes

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