Choosing the right attitude

AORN Journal, Dec, 2000 by Brenda C. Ulmer

The classic novel David Copperfield by Charles Dickens begins, "Whether or not I shall turn out to be the hero of my own life, or whether that station will be held by anybody else, these pages must show."(1) The end of one year and the beginning of the next is a good time to contemplate if you will be the hero of your own life or a hero in the life of someone else. One way to be a hero in nursing and in your personal life is to develop a "can do" attitude. The attitude a person has often determines whether he or she is successful. The attitude we all have about perioperative nursing helps attract others into the profession and ensures that the confidence our patients have in us continues.

Displaying a positive attitude about our profession and ourselves will become increasingly important as the nursing shortage continues. A recent article in JAMA projects that by the year 2020, the supply of RNs will fall 20% below requirements.(2) We must work to attract and keep good men and women in nursing in general and perioperative nursing in particular. Leading by example is one of the best ways I can think of to do this.

We often are an example to others whether we know it or not. Why not consistently display the "can do" attitude that frequently is the hallmark of a perioperative nurse? Make a promise to yourself today and throughout the new year to make that attitude your own.

DEALING WITH CHANGE

One of the greatest honors ever bestowed on me by my peers resulted from events that I was totally unaware of at the time. The occasion was just after the opening of the new hospital where I was director of surgical services. This opening was the culmination of four long, hard years of work by many dedicated people. A total replacement facility was built from blueprints to bricks and mortar. Nothing from the old facility was moved to the new one. Every table, instrument, and trash can for the new hospital had to be ordered, organized, and assembled. As if that were not enough, we were adding a neurosurgery service, as well as new surgeons from every specialty. Those who have been through this process understand the magnitude of the task we undertook.

As the building progressed, we encountered numerous trials and tribulations, but we faced our challenges and worked to overcome them as a team. We helped each other, and the strengths each of us brought to the team made it stronger than any of us were individually.

The opening of the new hospital was celebrated publicly, and we celebrated among ourselves. We actually moved patients one day and ran a surgery schedule the next day. That is something I do not recommend if you can avoid it.

After the move, we worked to establish new routines and get the bugs out of the system. The three head nurses on my team presented me with a gift for my new office after the opening. They gave me a name plaque for my desk--the kind that is two-sided. One side had my name and "Director/Surgical Services." The other side of the plaque had the date and their names. In quotes beneath their names was the phrase, "I can do that."

They told me that during the good, as well as the trying, times of the previous four years, they frequently had heard me utter those words. They said it had become my mantra. They told me that my willingness to do whatever needed to be done had inspired them to do the same. Until that moment, I had not realized that I even had such a mantra, but I had three excellent witnesses to the fact.

I was deeply touched by their gift, and it inspires me to this day. The plaque is in my office still; whenever I feel overwhelmed or tired, glancing at it brings an instant smile and the knowledge that I can indeed achieve whatever I set my mind to achieve through teamwork and determination. Believing in ourselves and working together for the good of the whole will help us succeed, in spite of overwhelming odds.

THE IMPORTANCE OF ATTITUDE

I am reminded of the story of a 10-year-old boy who decided he wanted to take judo lessons, even though he had lost his left arm in a car accident. Children often think they are invincible and have no limitations, so the boy began lessons with an old Japanese judo master. The boy tried very hard and did well, so he began to question the judo master after several months because he had learned only one move. The master reassured the boy that he would never need to know any other judo moves. The boy did not understand, but he believed in himself and his teacher so he continued to train.

Months later, the judo master took the boy to his first tournament. With the guidance of the judo master, he won the first two matches easily. The third match was harder, but when his opponent finally charged, the boy used his one move to win the match. The boy was amazed to find himself in the finals. In the finals, his opponent was bigger, stronger, and more experienced, and the boy appeared to be out of his league. The referee was concerned that the boy might be hurt so he called a time-out. He was about to stop the match when the judo master said, "No--Let him continue."