By Rose O. Sherman, EdD, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN
During a recent workshop, I asked nurse managers what they felt was the biggest workforce problem they face today. Without hesitation, they talked about the mismatch between what new graduates expect nursing to be and what they find it to be when they enter practice. The late Charlie Munger was Warren Buffett’s lifelong friend and professional colleague. He was well known for his practical advice and life wisdom. Charlie has been quoted as saying the following, which seems applicable to what these managers were discussing:
“The first rule of a happy life is low expectations. If you have unrealistic expectations, you will be miserable your whole life. You want to have reasonable expectations and take life’s results, good and bad, as they happen with a certain amount of stoicism.”
The problem seems widespread – consider this story from a nurse manager:
After many conversations with new graduates who told me that “nursing is not what they thought it would be,” I asked about expectations when interviewing new staff. Not surprisingly, many recent graduates were very unrealistic about nursing. Some told me that they were looking for “the perfect job.” When I asked what that meant – it usually involved getting the schedules they wanted, light patient assignments, and quickly building friendships at work. When I would tell them they needed to manage their expectations about the professional transition to practice – it seemed like a foreign concept. I don’t think this is being taught in our nursing programs. Disappointment about unmet expectations is a massive driver of turnover. I am now very blunt about the good, the bad, and the ugly. I don’t think some new graduates believe me, but honesty is the best strategy.
This nurse manager makes an important point. An essential fact that can impact our well-being is unmet expectations. Our expectations are based on our values — what is most important to us. Social media does little to help us manage our expectations when most post only the best parts of their lives – their highlight reels. We expect what life will or should be like and then project what is important to us onto others. We hope others act as we would – to value what we value. When they don’t, it can trigger a strong emotional response, resulting in stress and anxiety.
All of us have expectations. When our expectations are unmet, we react emotionally without understanding why. Sometimes, this takes a toll on our well-being. 2024 has been a turbulent time in healthcare. There are huge generational shifts in the workforce, and with that comes a change in values and beliefs about nursing. Helping new nurses lower and manage their expectations might help them achieve a high level of well-being.
© emergingrnleader.com 2024
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