The Hidden Dangers of Self-promotion in Nursing

If we want to be respected, we need to be mindful of how we present our accomplishments.

Whether you're a novice or experienced nursing professional, excessive self-promotion can hinder your career growth.

Here lies the actual challenge.

Many of us might not realize when we're falling into this trap.

Self-promotion is when we constantly highlight our personal achievements and skills.

It's where insecurity and the desire for recognition intersect. The realm of ego.

We might engage in self-promotion thinking it will enhance our image.

But it often has the opposite effect.

The American Nurses Association (ANA) emphasizes "professional caring and respect" in all areas of nursing practice.

This respect extends to patients, their relatives, and critically, our fellow nurses.

There's little room for self-promotion in this equation.

Here are 3 common questions about self-promotion in nursing and how we might think about them:

• Is self-promotion really that harmful?

When we praise ourselves excessively in front of patients, it can create problems for everyone involved.

A Finnish study found that self-praising nurses often:

? Displayed envious characteristics

? Used it as a coping mechanism

? Unintentionally provoked jealousy in colleagues

This aligns with the ANA's definition of bullying: "repeated, unwanted harmful actions intended to humiliate, offend, and cause distress."

For example, imagine a nurse saying to a patient: "You're lucky to have me today. I'm much better with setting intravenous lines (IV) than the newer nurses." This could humiliate and offend colleagues, especially those struggling with IV insertions.

Bullying is pervasive, whether it's done intentionally or unintentionally.

It doesn't respect hierarchy or age differences in this context. It needn't be overt aggression either.

• Will self-promotion make patients trust us more?

100% no. It often creates a vicious cycle:

For instance, nurses take turns each shift to dress a patient's wound. An experienced nurse might boast, "Only I know how to dress this wound properly."

The next day, the patient resists a new nurse and insists on the experienced one. The new nurse feels pressured to promote herself.

And the cycle continues, breeding envy, toxicity and undervaluation of less-experienced nurses in the workplace.

• Does self-promotion improve nursing practice?

Not at all. In fact, it undermines the essence of nursing.

The idea of the perpetually kind, fragile and modest nurse is just that - an idea.

And the concept of a "good nurse" is compromised when we harbour envy and jealousy against our colleagues, even unintentionally, through self-glorification.

Ethical nursing practice requires:

? Community spirit

? Good knowledge of what to communicate

? Group achievement recognition

? Self-reflection through writing not glorification

? Staying current with trends by reading

Read more about this here .

So how can we address this challenge?

Here are four things to consider:

Focus on others. We're here to serve. It's that simple.

Self-glorification can harm our reputation; humility often breeds genuine respect.

Skills and teamwork compound positively; ego and isolation can compound negatively.

The most effective nurses often quietly do the work, prioritizing patients every day.

In Summary

Overcoming the urge to self-promote can be challenging but is essential for our profession.

Self-glorification may diminish our worth in the eyes of patients and colleagues alike.

Let's strive to be ethical. Our true value lies in competence and compassion, not self-promotion.

If you found these insights valuable, there's more to explore. Join our growing community of nurses committed to better nursing: Confessions of a Nurse

Together, we can elevate nursing through humility and unwavering dedication to patient care.