Gratitude

When I was growing up, I would often say to my father, “that’s not fair,” when something did not go my way. He would sagely respond, “Karen, life isn’t fair—so what are you going to do about it?” At the time, I didn’t always take kindly to his words. However, as we come to the close of an extraordinary 2020, I keep thinking of his wisdom and am filled with an abundance of gratitude because he certainly groomed me for a year like this!

As I reflect on this year, I am grateful not only for the opportunity to be a nurse leader during 2020, but also for the resiliency I’ve been privileged to see in my nursing leaders as they’ve stepped forward to courageously face this pandemic—an unknown frontier to us all. We didn’t have the protocols or pathways for this unpredictable virus. While this all seemed so unfair, I witnessed nurses, often bone-tired ones, who responded to the challenges with innovation, compassion, tenacity and resolute dedication to their calling—caring for our patients. During the worst year in my career as a nurse, I have seen the best.

When most people think of leadership, they think of attributes like honesty, integrity, critical thinking, empowerment, and courageous presence. Gratitude usually doesn’t make the list. A growing body of research has uncovered the impact of gratitude in every area of life. Research from the Harvard Business Review draws the conclusion that gratitude and appreciation matter. Emmons and Anjali Mishra discovered that gratitude lowers stress and “enhances effortless goal striving.” Nicole Lipkin writes that leaders should cultivate gratitude because it breeds engagement, more positive interactions, and builds resilience. More than ever, this crazy year has reinvigorated my belief in the simple power of having and showing gratitude.

As a nursing leader, I am thankful for the unwavering response from nursing professionals when coronavirus reached pandemic status. I am thankful for the leaders who came together to allay fears, embrace tears, and encourage innovation. 2020 brought many gifts for me—including being part of a phenomenal nursing team that achieved our goal of becoming a Magnet-designated organization during the COVID-chaos. This year has taught us all how to maintain and build new relationships in a more virtual world and has forced us to learn to smile with our eyes (since our masks cover our half our faces now!). We may be tired, but I believe we are also much more resilient and flexible than we were at the beginning of the year. And I hope I have expressed my heartfelt gratitude to those with whom I work, to those nurses and clinicians who continue to care for our community with such compassion and love.

It has been nearly 14 years since my father passed, and I am forever grateful for my parents and especially for my father’s wisdom. While this has not been a “fair year,” it has certainly been one where the profession of nursing met the challenges and delivered their hearts to their patients. I am grateful to be part of this sisterhood and brotherhood of nursing professionals and caregivers.

Wishing everyone peace, time with your loved ones and renewed gratitude in 2021.

Karen Baggerly
SPONL President