Getting all your ducks in a row.

?

Something I’ve been thinking about a lot recently is preparation.

As senior nurses and AHP’s, how do you prepare for something? Whether it’s an event, an assessment, or an interview. Or a meeting with someone who you know can be a challenge to talk to. ?

It will mean different things to all of you, and will be context driven.

Whatever it is, you do something to get yourself ready. It might be undertaking some research, some revision, writing a presentation, or doing some deep breathing.

Or maybe you don’t.

In the case of that difficult conversation, you spend days, or even weeks ruminating over the potential challenge, not sure how to prepare. ?

Maybe your previous interaction with that challenging colleague was spontaneous, opportunistic, a chance meeting and you needed to put your point across.

The result wasn't what you wanted, you felt small, unprepared and unable to respond appropriately.

Sometimes its hard to come up with the answers to determine what it is you really want and how to get there. It really helps to look at your professional relationship challenges from a different angle to determine what it is you want.

I came up with the simple metaphor of 2 buckets. ?? ??

1 full of wet sand, the other full of stones, sticks, some grass and other materials.

?? The bucket full of sand, reminded me of walking barefoot on a beach near the shoreline on a sunny day. The sand moving between my toes as I let my mind wander, to be creative, to think freely.

Avoiding standing on the shells, just admiring their colours and shapes. It’s hypnotic, and completely in the moment. Appreciating my surroundings and the warmth of the sun on my back like a blanket of support.

I am inspired by the blankness of my existence, and use it generate new ideas and reflect on old experiences, good and bad, in preparation for an event. There’s no rush, the time is mine to use as I see fit.

?? Now I have the bucket of stones. Which reminded me of walking across a dry river bed when on holiday. I’ve got the right footwear on and I’m navigating the rocks. Some big, some gravelly.

I’m using the bigger sticks I find as leverage to get over the rocks. I avoid getting caught in the low hanging branches, or I use them as pulleys to climb up the bank and snatch a softer bit of grass to walk on as I progress.

I’m concentrating on my footing, and using what’s around me to get to my destination. I feel resourceful, capable and resilient. Accepting help from my husband when the rock clambering gets a bit tough! Stopping for refreshments, and taking stock of our journey when needed.

Now have a think about some of the words I used that can be interpreted into the language you use in your clinical environment.

For example:

??Bucket 1: Creativity, free thinking, mindfulness, reflection, self-care, preparation, acceptance, support, gratitude, and giving yourself time.

??Bucket 2: Resourceful, resilient, capable, asking for help, planned, preparation, self-care, nourishment, adaptable, versatile, reflection and audit.

?All familiar terms in healthcare.

?Which bucket would you chose to make your situation easier and what made you decide?

Perhaps you can think of your own metaphor for a preparation scenario, or draw what you are thinking. You’d be surprised what comes out of your head!

If you would like some help in preparing for your next interaction, drop me a message and let’s have a conversation.

?

#seniornurse #AHP #alliedhealthprofessional #preparation #coaching