RESILIENCE IS THE BEST TRAIT EDUCATORS MUST STRENGTHEN

By Teresa M. Stephens, PHD, MSN, RN, CNE, ATI Nursing Education Consultant

Greetings! I am honored to be your host as we explore the concepts of resilience and well-being. I have spent the past 12 years embedded in this research and work, driven by my own passion and commitment to the radical transformation of nursing education and practice to improve the lives of nursing students and nursing professionals. 

As you can probably imagine, I have learned a lot about resilience:

• What it is
• What it is not
• How we become resilient
• How we use resilience to successfully navigate the challenges of life. 

As I have researched and heard the stories of many highly resilient individuals — including Holocaust survivors — I have come to recognize one main point: Resilience is choosing to learn from adversity. This simple statement packs a big punch. Here’s what it means:

MEANING 1) RESILIENCE RESULTS FROM ADVERSITY

We don’t become resilient from our blissful moments. Resilience results from opportunities presented in our adversities, life challenges, or stressful experiences. Growing pains are not just for children. Resilience comes from the experiences that we frequently describe as “painful.” This is why not everyone is highly resilient.

It is during these painful (adverse) times that we choose our response. It is never easy. But it is something we can all do.

MEANING 2) CHANGE IS INEVITABLE

How we change is our decision. We can choose to become bitter or better. Highly resilient individuals choose to learn, grow, and become better and stronger because of perceived adversities. It is a process that we can learn at any stage of our lives, but we must be intentional and committed to this process, approaching it as a skill that must be practiced to become competent.

MEANING 3) LEARNING IMPLIES A CHANGE IN BEHAVIOR

When we are truly resilient, we are positively changed because of our adverse experiences. It is much more than simply “bouncing back.” We learn and grow, which affects how we respond to future challenges, improving our overall well-being.

HOW 2020 PUT RESILIENCE TO THE TEST

So, what does this all mean to us now, as we are nearing the end of 2020? We must decide how we, as individuals, will respond to this exceedingly difficult year — one that has come with many growing pains. It is serendipitous that the World Health Organization designated 2020 as “The International Year of the Nurse and Midwife” long before the pandemic became a reality. The American Nurses Association then built upon WHO’s theme, inspiring us to “Excel, Lead, & Innovate.” I believe we have gone above and beyond in all three. 

No one could have predicted the challenges, disruptions, and overwhelming stress that we would face as individuals, educators, and professionals this past year. Within the adversity, however, lies great opportunity. We have observed our colleagues respond with true resilience as they have excelled, led, and innovated to meet the needs of students, clients, and communities. We have thrown aside the “tyranny of precedent,” because we had no choice — a perfect example of resilience. Many organizations have made positive changes that will last long beyond the pandemic and, hopefully, spark continued innovation and positive disruption to propel them to bigger and brighter futures.

YOUR 1ST STEP TOWARD 2021

As an individual, no matter your role, you have a choice in how you respond to 2020. I encourage you to begin by reflecting on:

• How have you changed this year?
• How have you grown as a person?
• How have you grown as an educator?
• What have you learned?

Next, I challenge you to do something that may be difficult or feel strange. Give thanks for 2020. Gratitude is a wonderful spark for resilience. It is the true path to positive growth from adversity. While we mourn our losses, we can’t forget to celebrate our successes, even the small ones. What did 2020 give to you that you would not have experienced otherwise? Maybe it was more quality time with your family members. Did you learn how to navigate online learning or remote work? Maybe you discovered how to use a new mobile app or technology that will make your life easier beyond the pandemic.

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For myself, I learned to embrace quiet time at home, spend more time at the piano, learn about the wonders of online grocery shopping, and how to use fun Zoom backgrounds. I’ve also learned to set more clearly defined boundaries between work and life, to connect with friends and family in diverse ways, and I’ve learned to enjoy the benefits of virtual conferences.

As we begin the holiday season, it probably looks vastly different from what we expected or desired. But it can still be wonderful if we choose to adjust our perspective.

I wish you moments of peace amid the chaos, joy in the unexpected, and love for and from what matters most to you.