This article provides 25 motivational quotes for nurses navigating the profession. No one understands nurses like a nurse. I know the frustrations of the profession, working long hours doing stressful work, but there is huge value and beauty in what nurses do! Nurses shouldn’t feel stuck or limited but instead empowered and uplifted. Use these motivations as reminders to get you through your shift, as a springboard to making a career transition, or as catalysts to creating a business or change in healthcare!
25 Motivational Quotes for Nurses: Words of Wisdom
1. You are a great nurse! It’s not you, it’s the healthcare system.
Don’t blame yourself, remember that you are a micro part of a greater healthcare business. A lot of times your goal of wanting to help others looks different from a larger business model of generating profit. Don’t let this stop your desire to provide good care.
2. Trust the process, you’re right where you’re supposed to be at this time!
No matter if you’re just starting, on a unit you don’t enjoy, making a transition, going back to an old job, or anywhere in between don’t compare yourself to others. You’re not behind so embrace where you are and gather all the knowledge and value that you can in whatever season you’re in.
3. You grow through what you go through!
Similar to phase 2, everything is a learning opportunity. View yourself as a life learner and be open to growth.
4. You can do hard things, you made it through nursing school!
Do you remember how hard nursing school was? How about how hard it was to get accepted into nursing school? Many wish to be a nurse, but fewer become one. So remember this the next time you think something is too hard.
5. You are doing the best you can and it doesn’t go unnoticed!
If you continue to do your best, it will show. But work smarter, not harder. New opportunities and doors may be opened because of your efforts.
6. You are impacting patients in ways you may not be aware of!
People are always watching whether we are aware of them or not. You sometimes never know how your care, words, or demeanor truly impact your patients and their lives.
7. You are a hero and a lifesaver, but it’s okay to put yourself first!
It’s easy to get into the mindset of caring for others to the point of exhaustion because caring for others is the “good thing” to do. However, lives are on the line and you need to have proper self-care practices.
8. If you want to switch units, you can!
Don’t feel limited to just one unit or one style of nursing. Branch out and explore the different possibilities of nursing.
9. Ask for the raise! You are a great nurse and deserve more!
A closed mouth doesn’t get fed. If you want a raise then work for it, ask for it, or move jobs for it. When you value yourself, you demand more and accept nothing less. So ask yourself, do you want more?
10. Being a nurse is a gift, not everyone can do what you do, so embrace and cherish it!
Everyone can’t take care of others, utilize critical thinking, delegate, stomach the sight of bodily fluids, prioritize care, and wear so many different hats to save lives. Don’t take what you do lightly or belittle it, you are valuable and needed.
11. Call off, you can’t pour from an empty cup!
You might’ve heard this in nursing school, but you can’t help others if you haven’t first taken care of yourself. Self-care is important.
12. If you don’t see the opportunity that you want, then create one for yourself!
Seek out the opportunities, knowledge, or answers to your problem. Don’t settle instead be creative, take initiative, speak up, and be a change-maker. Perhaps, it’s time to think differently and start a business of your own!
13. Be the change that you want to see in healthcare!
If you feel stuck or discouraged about what you do or don’t see in healthcare, then I challenge you to be innovative and revolutionary. Look for ways that you can create a door for yourself and others. The world will respond when you take action! Many advancements in nursing and healthcare are because of the nurses who were unafraid to strike and demand more for the profession.
14. Change can be scary, but don’t be afraid. Do it scared!
Don’t allow fear to limit you from your desire. We all have to deal with fears (of the unknown or even of success), but push through the fear and do it scared! Take the leap!
15. It’s okay to ask for help. It’s not a sign of weakness, but a strength!
Asking for help from your team not only helps you but helps the outcomes of your patients. Utilize delegation and teamwork!
16. Gratitude can get you through the toughest shifts!
Gratitude can shift your perspective almost instantly. Focus on things to be grateful for to combat the most difficult patients or moments of a shift. Complaining isn’t effective if it doesn’t lead to actionable solutions.
17. Dream big and take it one shift at a time!
Take small actionable steps toward your biggest dreams. Don’t get discouraged, but continue to imagine the best for yourself.
18. Don’t limit yourself. The only limits in life are the ones we put on ourselves!
You have control. Don’t put a ceiling on yourself when the sky is the limit.
19. If your gut feeling is off, pay attention to it!
Many times nurses have a hunch or an inclination that they may not be able to concretely explain about their patient, but they should inquire and respond when something feels wrong or off. Prompt response is life-saving.
20. You are not limited to just nursing. Use the other days off to foster your passions!
If you like to do woodworking, social media marketing, speaking, singing, playing softball, writing, or anything else, then do it! The beauty of working 3 days a week like most nurses is that you can explore these passions almost fully.
21. Nursing is a great profession. Unlike other careers, it offers flexibility with decent pay so that you can live the way that most people aspire to!
Not many professions offer 4 days off, above-average wages, variability, options, and flexibility like nursing. Also, many nurses don’t have to take work home with them, it stops when they clock out.
22. Nurses are very skilled, high in demand, and the most trustworthy profession. Use this to your advantage!
This is a huge opportunity for any nurses looking into entrepreneurship. The title of a nurse symbolizes trust and reliability that can create great entrepreneurial options.
23. Even if you don’t work a traditional bedside role, you’re still a valued nurse!
Non-traditional nursing roles can be difficult to adjust to for nurses who believe that hospital bedside care is the only “real nursing”. However, as a nurse, you are in the health and service industry so you can offer value in many non-traditional roles.
24. No one understands nurses like nurses so find a a good nursing community
You can go further and learn more when you have a community. A great place to start looking for a nursing community would be Facebook groups. Here’s a link to my Facebook group of nursing professionals.
25. Even rejection is still progression
Despite what we were told in nursing school, nurses can also struggle to find a desirable job. Navigating nursing can be difficult especially when you feel stuck in a role after receiving a rejection letter from an application. However, the sooner you can learn from it and move forward then the better you will be. Rejection can be an opportunity to learn better resume writing and interviewing tips or help you do some great self-reflection to refine your job search. In all things, change your view on rejection to a form of progression moving you closer toward your goals.
Conclusion
These are some motivations that I was told or wish someone told me along my nursing journey. Even though we are in the caring and service industry, it’s okay to demand more of the profession for ourselves. As nurses sometimes we feel frustrated with work, hopeless, or limited to just one version of nursing. However, I want to offer a different perspective. As a skilled and in-demand nurse, you have so much value and potential to offer the world! So no matter where you are on your nursing path you can use these motivations. Be encouraged!
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Also, comment below with your favorite motivation!