Have you ever woken up in the morning and said, "Gee, I don't know how to be a nurse today"?  Probably not. Nurses really know their stuff. And if you're like most, you're intensely aware that your day-to-day actions can mean the difference between life and death. Beyond honing your skills on the job, you can take advantage of conferences, classes, in-services, and all manner of educational experiences that broaden your how.

But here's what author and speaker Rich Bluni wants to know: when was the last time you thought about your why?  That's right. Bluni's passionately espoused message is that nursing is more than just a set of skills and a body of knowledge. It's a calling, a purpose, a why. And just in time for National Nurses Week, celebrated May 6^ththrough May 12^th, he urges nurses to do themselves a life-changing service: reconnect to the inspiration you felt when you first started your career.

 "Most nurses are so focused on the how of their jobs that they completely overlook the why," says Bluni, himself an RN and author of Inspired Nurse (Fire Starter Publishing, 2009, ISBN: 978-0-9749986-7-1, $24.95). "We chalk our stress, burnout, and emptiness up to the demanding environment in which we work. And we assume the passion we once felt for healthcare is simply gone, unrecoverable. After all, it's not like taking a class on I.V. drip calculations will revitalize our spirits! "But that assumption is far from true—we have the power to revamp the way we feel about the important work we do," he insists.

 "We just have to know where to start."In fact, Bluni asserts, your greatest power as a nurse lies in your crystal-clear understanding of why you are doing this sacred work. When that understanding is present, you will always feel as inspired as you did the day you first started.  Ready to take that first step back to finding your inspiration? Then read on for some remedies that might just do the trick. 

Diagnose the problem. Most nurses reach a place of despair and frustration at some point in their careers that makes them ask what Bluni calls "The Question": Why am I doing this?Maybe it happened after giving your all only to find that a patient couldn't be saved. Perhaps you worked harder than you thought possible, only to have a healthcare peer (or even a patient and family!) respond in a hurtful manner.

Whatever the circumstances, though, for you it was "The Day the Nurse Stood Still." "When 'The Question' rears its ugly head, many of us don't cry," says Bluni. "We don't scream. We just stop, feeling incredibly empty. Yes, this is classic burnout—but burnout isn't the problem. It's the symptom. Burnout is your soul's way of telling you that you need more self-care, a good dose of healing, and to connect back to your purpose. Pay heed to that voice, because it knows what it's talking about."  

Take a cue from Einstein. If you've been trying (and failing) to resurrect your sense of passion for what you do...try something else! Bluni recalls talking to a veteran nurse who came to him in tears of frustration because she could barely remember what not feeling burned out was like. When asked what she was doing differently to work on her problem, she responded, "I'm doing the same things. I work hard. I study. I take classes. I'm getting my MSN. I show up on time. I care about my patients and my team, but even doing all that, I still feel like I'm just burned out." 

 "I asked her if she knew who Einstein was," Bluni recalls. "Of course, she smiled and nodded, and agreed with me that he was probably a smart guy. Then I asked her if she knew Einstein's definition of insanity. She didn't, so I told her: 'doing the same thing over and over again and expecting to get a different result.' The lightbulb went on.

"Often, because we are so action-oriented and because we are go-getters, nurses think that earning more certifications and achieving better ratings will magically make everything better," he adds. "I'm not saying that professional improvement is bad—it's not—but if it hasn't worked for you yet, it probably won't in the future." 

Chart your gratitude... Some days, it might feel as though there's absolutely nothing that can possibly make your day at work bearable. Maybe you've been assigned to the same shift as a condescending coworker whose attitude makes you feel three inches tall, or perhaps you've been hit afresh by a wave of monotony that makes the minutes drag by like hours. Whatever your circumstances, though, there are things to be grateful for! And taking note of them can do wonders for your mindset. 

 "Whether it's in a journal, a notepad, or on a sticky note, challenge yourself to write down three things about your work that you are thankful for every day," instructs Bluni. "Make sure you can keep a running list, as this will be something you'll want to keep going for some time. If you're so down that it's hard for you to come up with anything positive, start with the basics—like indoor plumbing! All right, I might be sounding just a little ridiculous here, but you get the point. Each day, look over and add to your list." 

...then, verbalize it! Chances are, some of the "things" you find yourself writing on your gratitude list are actually people. Now, it might not make much sense to tell a piece of new equipment you're glad it's there, but there's no reason you shouldn't verbalize your thanks where your coworkers are concerned! While keeping your gratitude list going, try to notice and acknowledge individuals at work.

"Think about the coworker who always jumps in to help, the unit secretary who runs your labs for you when you're swamped, that teaching assistant who begins the class for you when you're running late, the food service employee who always remembers your lunch order," Bluni advises. "No matter who it is, extend your gratitude to someone every day. Give them a thank-you note, tell them face to face, give them a hug, send a note to their supervisors praising their awesome attitudes. I'm willing to bet your own attitude will improve as well—and you might just start a positive new trend!" 

 Design a Personal Improvement Plan... When is the last time you set goals for yourself? When is the last time you blocked off an hour or two and said, "I need to know who I am and where I am going!" Maybe it's been awhile...or maybe the answer is, "I never do that!" Nurses are so busy being caregivers to our patients, our students, our peers, our employees, and even to our friends, communities, and families that we rarely extend the same courtesy to ourselves.

We like the idea of "care"...but it's that "self" part that drives us nuts!  "Try this," suggests Bluni. "Set aside an hour or so, maybe on a day off, when you're commuting on the train or bus, or whenever. Get out a journal or pad and write the following labels on five separate pages: Mind, Body, Spirit, Love, and Prosperity.

Under each title, come up with three things that you can do, change, read about, or experience every day that would impact that part of your being. For example, in the 'Body' category you may write, 'walk a mile,' 'eat more green veggies,' and 'drink eight glasses of water.' Deep down, you already know what a majority of the things you should be doing to improve your life are. It's admitting that you need to make those changes that's tough!"  

...then, put it into action! Regardless of its conceptual brilliance, a perfectly designed battle plan is worthless unless it's also properly executed. And the same thing goes for your Personal Improvement Plan! After you've finished building your list, you'll have identified 15 new things you can do to positively impact your life.

Don't let them stay on paper. Focus on improving one area a week—yes, do all three things you've written down—and then move on to the next category. Chances are, some of the previous week's habits will stick around.  "I know, I know—your life is already beyond busy," Bluni concedes.

 "But before you panic or simply say, 'I can't,' I want to point out that these personal improvement changes don't have to be huge things. They can't be. But you must commit to doing them if you want your life and your attitude to look different. It's that easy. Yes, I said easy. It is easy to make changes in your life and to be more in touch with your why. Oh, one more thing... it's also easy not to. The choice is yours."

 Take the wheel and own your life. Would you ever rent a car and then immediately take it to a mechanic to pay for a tune-up, tire rotation, and then a good wash and wax? Of course not. It's not your car, right? Now think about it: is this how you treat your work life? Do you let situations and other people's negativity dictate how you feel? If you do, then you're renting.

If you want to have a more inspirational work life, decide to be more focused on inspiration. It's that simple. "When you own a car, you maintain it because it is yours and you want it to last," Bluni explains. "It's essential that you feel that way about your work as well. You can't wait around for someone to rescue you or to fix how you feel, because that probably won't happen. Start by practicing gratitude and improving yourself, as I've outlined. Connect with other people—don't just do the job. Opportunities to do so exist around each corner in healthcare. We forget how abundant these chances are because they are almost too obvious. Look for inspiration today. Look for ways to give. Own your life." 

Stop hanging out with psychic vampires. Psychic vampires are the people who drain your life force and who break you down with their negativity. You know exactly who they are: the folks at work who NEVER have a good day, the ones who always tell you that things are too busy or too slow.

They're the ones who complain that the boss brought in donut holes, but not whole donuts, and the ones who always refer to their department as the "step-child" of the organization, even though they've drifted through almost every department in the place! They're the ones who always seem to notice what's wrong, but roll their eyes if anyone dares to mention what's right. Aren't they fun to work with?  "Make no bones about it: these psychic vampires are draining your inspiration and stealing your why force," says Bluni.

"Commit to minimizing contact with them, or at the very least, tune them out to the best of your ability. Remember the old myths about vampires: a vampire can't enter your home unless you invite him in. That's the secret! Stop inviting vampires into your 'house'! Seek out peers who laugh easily (not at someone else's expense), who always seem to make the best of things, and who are the first to step up when someone needs help. It is amazing how these people can share their light with you and help you reconnect to your why." 

 "It's important that those of us in healthcare make a concerted effort to hold onto our inspiration and our passion for what we do," says Bluni. "The advice and exercises I have shared are tools to help you do just that. Start by doing one thing at a time and then build. My hope is that your life will change. Your why will be there to serve you. You may have to do things you've never done before, but that's okay! You are a nurse. You are fearless." VTN 

 Rich Bluni, RN, is a national speaker and coach for Studer Group. An RN since 1993, he chose the profession after seeing the impact nurses had on his father after he was diagnosed with terminal cancer. He has worked in Adolescent Oncology, Pediatric ICU, and Trauma ICU departments as well as serving as a Pedi flight and transport nurse. A Licensed Healthcare Risk Manager, he has served as ED Nursing Manager and Director of Risk Management and Patient Safety. In 2008, he won the Studer Group Pillar Award, which is given for achievement of outstanding outcomes.He and his wife, a nursing professor and former ED and Trauma nurse, live in Boynton Beach, Florida. Today, Rich works to improve patient outcomes and encourage the spirits of nurses and all healthcare professionals who have answered the calling to serve others with their hands and hearts.