The role of the neonatal nurse practitioner is one of the most pivotal in your unit.
As such, consistent constructive feedback and ongoing appreciation are important as you engage in life-saving work.
As nice as it is to feel consistently valued by those around you, we know that it isn’t always a consistent experience, especially for healthcare professionals. Just imagine how fun it would be to get daily high fives from your colleagues and supervisors. Or, perhaps, receive a “nurse of the month” facial and massage. Even “free lunch Fridays” and consistent feedback during performance reviews would be nice ways to feel thanked for all your hard work.
Yet, in the day-to-day lives of medical professionals who, like you, are busy and under stress, this isn’t always the reality. Colleagues and managers may not have the time or bandwidth to provide the appreciation you so definitely deserve. Here’s how to boost your sense of workplace appreciation nonetheless.
Start by appreciating yourself
This is a great way to begin experiencing the enrichment that appreciation in the workplace provides in a new way. It’s validating to receive support and props from others, but far more important that you actively appreciate yourself. Below are a few useful strategies for practicing good self-care and satisfaction.
- Raise your standards – If you go home each day feeling like you gave your all and your best, be proud. Feeling great about your work is a reward in and of itself. Bask in the knowledge that you met all of your personally-set standards and goals. And remember to give yourself little rewards for a job well done.
- Remain present – You’ve probably heard of the term “mindfulness”. By practicing real-time awareness you can stay calmer and develop a greater capacity to release tension. A simple strategy for staying present is to tap into your five senses. What does the room look like? What sounds can you hear? Notice the varying textures and temperatures of things you touch, etc. It’s a great way to ground and give your mind a much-needed break between tasks.
- Be kind to yourself – How can you welcome any kind of appreciation when you are so hard on yourself? A typical NNP with a typical type-A personality is notoriously self-critical. As Type-A’s, it’s common to beat ourselves up when we feel we haven’t done well and beat ourselves up even more when we’ve done something well but think it could be better.
- Appreciate others – Paying it forward, in the form of gratitude, is a technique that inspires positivity and good cheer for both you and those you touch, in even the smallest ways. Acknowledge and appreciate others around you for what they do; this will come back to you in immeasurable ways.
As humans, we possess abilities and skills that enhance our contributions on the job. A savvy team of NNPs will realize this, and encourage you to play to your unique set of strengths. (Now that’s appreciation!) When you’re feeling under-appreciated, we find that it can also be helpful to remember why you started in the first place — everything from the variety of responsibilities, income, and most importantly, the emotional rewards of the job. You perform life-saving measures daily, and very few people can do what you do.
At the end of the day, it’s simple: The world needs the special gift that you have.
Expand your horizons
Recognition also takes the form of professional development and growth. Seek out opportunities for academic education, mentorships, and earning new certifications. You’ll expand and strengthen your skill sets, and gain recognition amongst colleagues and supervisors—a win-win for both you and your team.
- Learn a new skill – Attend an extracurricular training or course, or temp in another NICU and gain a new skill that no one else has. Then share your knowledge with those on your team. Yet another good way to spread the love and feel valued.
- Volunteer – Fundraising activities, special events, and projects outside of your normal role. Again, these short-term gigs get you more involved, both with your team and intra-departmentally. All of which helps increase your profile and opens up new opportunities for recognition.
- Set goals for yourself – Isn’t it nice to leave work and feel good about your accomplishments? It helps when you set realistic tasks and deadlines and reward yourself when you complete them.
- Find a partner or coach – Sometimes it helps to team up with an “accountability partner” on the job. You can cheer each other on each day and celebrate each other’s achievements, no matter how large or small.
- Request a performance review – Maintaining a tight feedback loop on your performance and expectations is critical. Not only is this a chance for you to constantly improve, it’s also a reminder to management that you are fully engaged in your role and constantly striving to do your best. If nothing else, regular performance reviews are an excellent way to lay the groundwork for increased workplace appreciation and job satisfaction.
It’s a fact: the role of an NNP can be very stressful. And just the smallest show of appreciation can transform a good day into a great day. The most practical way to achieve this feeling of satisfaction is to practice “appreciation from within.”
We’d like to know — do you have a strategy for workplace appreciation that we missed? Let us know in the comments section below!
