The Final Bow
By: Joie McBryan BScN, RN
Nurse in Charge Supervisor Whitehorse Health Center October 31/2021
I have been a nurse for 35 years; my experience includes rural and remote, community and public health in cross-cultural environments. I have been a member of different health care teams as a direct care-giver in a hospital, a outpost clinic, community based and public health clinics. I have been a mentor, a teacher, a learner, a supervisor, a manager. I have represented nurses at a federal level. I have had the greatest nursing career. It has been rich and diverse, full of challenges and successes. There has never been a dull moment and I have never been without a job or prospect of a job. It has been an honour and a privilege to be part of so many lives, nursing provided me the opportunity to grow as a person. I love nursing.
As stand on my stage of professional life contemplating a final bow, I look to the audience to see if I have inspired in a meaningful way, if I leaving them with something that will provide meaningful support in their foundation.
My eye falls to our young and enthusiastic nurses of the future; if I could speak to my younger self this is what I would say. “Imagine standing at the edge of a forest, and that you want to reach the other side. Would you walk a straight line through it? Or, might the path meander in every possible direction, around boulders, between trees, along a stream, feeding the deer, conversing with the owls, and roasting marshmallows? Yeah, every possible direction, because this is how things are in a forest.” While I did not write this quote, I wish I had heard it 35 years ago. Life is not about “what”, its’ about “how”. There will be things that are far out of our control, even the best-laid plans will present a boulder or a stream that you didn’t see when the plans were first made. Think about how to move past the obstacle with joy and peace. Give yourself time to breathe, to laugh and to love. Embrace your educational and professional journey as if you are walking through a forest. Stop once in awhile and take in all the forest has to give, warm sunshine on your face, the sound of wind moving through the leaves, the smell of nature. Make a decision to move with intent and enjoy the experience. Find joy and happiness in every day. Learn to laugh at yourself and bring yourself joy. Practice
compassion and generosity of spirit for yourself and others, this will ripple into all relationships you have. Look at your educational journey as a process, there is no right or wrong, only opportunities to learn. Nursing is all about supporting clients to be their best selves. Relationship is the key to meaningful support, learning how to be with clients’ starts with learning about how to be with yourself. It is life long journey; every aspect of our lives is intermingled with the other.
The legacy in nursing that I would like to leave is a quiet imprint. If I touch someone’s life, let it be a positive embrace. If I have tossed the pebble, let the shores that this wave touches be bathed in grace, joy and peace.
There will be challenges; this provides us with the opportunity for growth. There will be uncertainty and fear, to that I will say: “Those of us who choose to continue to show up in spite of self-doubt, confusion and disappointment, have already succeeded.”
Show Up, do your best and look for new paths through the forest.