Resilience is a Word I Hear Too Much I am officially over the word ‘Resilience.’ We aren’t failing to ‘snap back’—we are being stretched until we break.” Healthcare workers aren’t failing to snap back, they are being stretched until they break. The pandemic deepened the emotional burden and stressful situations, with many patients isolated from…
The night I realized something had to change wasn’t dramatic; it was silent. A day that was so busy that no one would dare utter the q word (quiet). I was charting at 3 a.m., exhausted, my hands still shaking from running nonstop for hours. A patient had thanked me for “caring so much,” and…
Written by a DNP-prepared nurse and certified nurse-midwife with labor and delivery experience. Trigger warning: miscarriage, pregnancy loss This article shares a personal experience and should not be considered medical advice. If you think you may be pregnant with an IUD or are experiencing concerning symptoms, seek care from your healthcare provider immediately. As a…
Ever finish a shift, but texts, pages, and drop-ins keep coming? I wrapped up my charge nurse night shift with two patients, stayed late to cover a birth, and then opened my laptop to renew my neonatal resuscitation license—only to be reminded that my mandatory learning modules were due the next day.When I returned to…
I took my children to see Fantastic Four. I didn’t expect to order the unlimited popcorn bucket. I also didn’t expect to tear up at the symbolism of birth and motherhood, but here I was. It made me realize how the resilience of labor echoes the resilience nurses need when facing burnout. According to the…
