Recognizing the Impact of Nurses

Are you thinking about, or applying for fellowship questioning your impact? please read this : You might think: “I don’t have a DNP yet.” “I haven’t published in a journal.” “I’m just a bedside nurse.” "I don’t work bedside anymore." "I haven’t been a nurse for 20 years" But here’s the truth: you don’t need a title to be a leader or perfection to be a changemaker. Your impact is personal and authentic. It’s rooted in empathy, shaped by experience, and driven by purpose. It's not going to be the same as someone else applying for fellowship. While your impact is personal, its ripple reshapes the profession. Impact looks like… 💡 Precepting and mentoring nurses to lead with confidence, curiosity, and compassion. 📝 Policy work at every level of nursing (unit, hospital, organizational, local, national). 📣 Advocating publicly for the nursing profession and our patients when it would’ve been easier to stay silent. 🤝 Creating space for belonging in a system that wasn’t built with all of us in mind. 🧠 Speaking openly about burnout, trauma, and mental health, and making it okay for others to do the same. 🧭 Supporting nurses who’ve left the bedside but not the profession. 📚 Shaping policy, education, or innovation, even if your work no longer includes a stethoscope. 📢 Using your platform to role model what’s possible in scrubs, in advocacy, and in leadership. 🎓 Championing professionalism and certification as part of nursing excellence. 💬 Using your voice to uplift, challenge, and remind others: you still matter here. Fellowships aren’t just for those who’ve “made it.” They are for those still in the work, showing up, speaking up, and holding the door open for someone else. It’s for those who want to continue their work to make this profession better for everyone in it. Imposter syndrome says you haven’t done enough. Self reflection shows you’ve done more than you realize. Your impact isn’t small. It’s just familiar to you. If you are thinking about it, apply. Sometimes, the most powerful move isn’t waiting to be invited to a seat, it’s pulling out the chair yourself. The answer is always "not right now" if you don’t apply.

Reflecting on the impact and influence one has on others is a necessity! I am grateful for the Black Nurse Collaborative, Inc and our members who create #safespaces for each other to be #vulnerable. #Nurses carry emotional trauma that is masked by longer hours, feeling inadequate, not speaking truthfully about situations and holding on to trauma that they neither created nor contributed to. Today, I want to shine a light on the emotional burdens that many Black nurses carry every day. As vital members of our healthcare system, we not only provide exceptional care, but often navigate the additional challenges of racial stigmas and systemic barriers. The weight of trauma can be immense, compounded by the experiences of injustice, both within and outside the workplace. These brave professionals show resilience, strength, and unwavering commitment to their patients while managing their own emotional scars. It's crucial for all of us to acknowledge these challenges and foster an environment that supports mental well-being. Let's actively listen, advocate for change, and ensure our Black nurses are valued not just for their skills, but also for their humanity. Together, we can transform the healthcare landscape into one that honors the contributions and sacrifices of all its members. Do the work to be empathetic and conscientious of how we can positively contribute to the emotional well-being of those around us. You never know what someone is dealing with, and the story that they have to share. This is #leadership! #BlackNurses #MentalHealth #Healthcare #Diversity #Support #BlackNurseCollaborative

🎶 “I got, I got, I got loyalty, got royalty inside my DNA…” — Kendrick Lamar, “DNA.” A Little Goes a Long Way Low-Cost, High-Impact Employee Recognition Strategies in Healthcare From the Desk of HR In healthcare, excellence is expected. But recognition is earned—and often overdue. Nurses, techs, admin staff, EVS workers, CNAs, and providers show up with grit, grace, and skill every day. But when was the last time someone looked them in the eye and said, “I see you”? As Kendrick Lamar reminds us in “DNA,” greatness isn’t always loud—but it’s deeply rooted. It’s in the way a charge nurse mentors a new grad. The way a transporter calms a worried patient. The way your scheduler finds coverage—again. That’s culture. That’s heart. And it deserves to be acknowledged. And here’s the truth: you don’t need a budget increase to build a recognition culture. You need intention. Here are 5 low-cost, high-impact ways to elevate recognition across your healthcare system: ⸻ 💬 1. Name the Win, and Make It Visible Celebrate small moments in huddles, newsletters, or bulletin boards. Tie praise to organizational values: Compassion. Excellence. Teamwork. Let people hear their name associated with something good. ⸻ ✍🏾 2. Handwritten Notes Still Save Shifts A sticky note from a manager: “Thank you for staying late to cover discharge rounds. You kept the unit moving.” Personal. Timely. Remembered. ⸻ 👟 3. Manager Rounds of Appreciation Once a week, leaders walk the unit—not to check, but to thank. One minute per employee. One sentence of real recognition. Eye contact. That’s how you make culture felt, not just stated. ⸻ 🤝 4. Peer-to-Peer Spotlight Boards Create a “You Make the Shift Better” board. Let staff shout each other out for unseen but essential moments. Peer praise builds culture from the inside out. ⸻ 📈 5. Connect Praise to Possibility Don’t just say “good job.” Say: “This kind of leadership tells me you’re ready for more.” Recognition becomes a pipeline when it points toward growth. ⸻ Final Thought from HR Recognition is more than a program—it’s a pulse. It tells your people they’re not just doing a job—they’re holding the system together. 🎧 So whether they’re charting vitals, cleaning rooms, placing IVs, or comforting families—say something. Say it often. Say it loud. Because they’ve got royalty inside their DNA. And your culture is stronger when you name it.