Dreams and the power of words

FigureIn the spirit of New Year's resolutions, goals, and dreams, I share my story of becoming a nurse. As a young teenager, I underwent major surgery and had a month-long inpatient hospital stay. The idea of becoming a nurse had never crossed my mind until I talked to nurses, closely observed their work, and discovered that I was powerfully drawn to nursing as a career. Not everyone was enamored with this idea, however. My mother responded bluntly, “You don't want to do that.” She had a deep aversion to nursing work and tried to project that onto me. Undeterred, after recovering and entering high school, I sought out the guidance counselor to discuss going to college for a nursing degree. I expected him to outline the classes that I needed for the best chance of acceptance into nursing school. Instead, he looked me in the eyes and said, “You are not college material”. To this day I recall the initial shock and hurt followed by a resolute inner voice that said, “Yes, I am.” Then I went about proving him wrong. It took a goal, hard work, and drive to achieve high grades to make my dream a reality. I even paid for a correspondence course with money I had earned babysitting to advance in math and enter the high school's college preparatory track. To that end, I earned scholarships and acceptance into the University of Delaware's BSN program, ultimately graduating four years later Summa Cum Laude. I share this experience because the outcome could have been very different if I allowed the counselor's words to define and deter me from pursuing my dream. Sadly, I have seen similar behavior from authority figures who told nurses that they do not have the talent or attributes necessary for success in some area and then ended the conversation. Although honest feedback is essential, it should be delivered constructively in a way that includes options to build the talent and develop the attributes for goal achievement, not stifle dreams. A roadmap is what is needed here, not a dead end. Only individuals can define themselves and what they can realistically achieve, not people who try to shut the door on their potential. Success requires being open to constructive feedback from trusted peers and mentors and making the concerted efforts necessary for goal attainment. As nurses, we can help each other to grow. Always be mindful that words can have power and long-lasting impact. Until next time, LINDA LASKOWSKI-JONES, MS, APRN, ACNS-BC, CEN, NEA-BC, FAWM, FAAN EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, NURSING2025