Post on 11-Dec-2015
The Self-actualizing Nurse
Knowing Self -- Knowing Other
Susan Kleiman, PhD, RN, CS, NPPE-mail: susank@humanistic-nursing.comWeb: www.humanistic-nursing.comPhone: 347 275-3669
What is self-actualization?
Origins of self-actualization as it relates to nursing
What are the qualities observed in the self-actualizing nurse?
Balancing the agenda
Becoming Self-actualized
Characteristics of self-actualization
What is self actualization?
• Self-actualization is a process of emotional and moral development that contributes to the more-being and well-being of each individual. The self-actualizing nurse is one who is engaged in the process of becoming true to herself and those with whom she goes through life’s experiences.
Self-actualization in nursing
• Self-actualizing nurses:• Place value on what they do as
nurses and nursing as a profession• Examine their own nursing experiences in
order to unconceal and illuminate the essential aspects of those experiences, bringing those essential aspects into current consciousness
• Learn to know themselves and through that knowing know others.
Origins of self-actualization as it relates to nursing
Josephine Paterson and Loretta Zderad
introduced the idea of self-actualization
into nursing some forty years ago. They
made some important observations on
self-actualization in their studies of the
experiences of over 200 nurses.
Characteristics of self-actualization
• The values and meanings expressed by
self-actualizing nurses are internally
generated not externally imposed.
Characteristics of self-actualization
• Values and meaning are unconcealed and
illuminated through reflection and
examination of nurses experiences of
being in the world and their world of
nursing
Characteristics of self-actualization
• The self-actualizing nurse expresses
these important values and manifests
complementary behaviors in both
demeanor and actions.
Characteristics of self-actualization
• Self-actualization, once experienced,
becomes a continuous process of always
striving to develop and achieve higher
levels of excellence and gratification.
What are the qualities observed in the self-actualizing nurse?
• The presentation of the self-actualizing
nurse is one of competence and
confidence.
What are the qualities observed in the self-actualizing nurse?
• The attitude of the self-actualizing nurse
radiates with positive vibes to her
patients, families, co-workers, and
community.
What are the qualities observed in the self-actualizing nurse?
• The self-actualizing nurse is a locus for
high quality care and patient satisfaction.
What are the qualities observed in the self-actualizing nurse?
• The self-actualizing nurse, by her mere
“presence,” makes a difference in the lives
of everyone she encounters.
Balancing the Agenda
• Nurses face many challenges in the pursuit of professional growth and satisfaction.
• Do any of you ever ask yourself, Why did I become a nurse?
Balancing the Agenda
• Engaging in the process of self-actualization in addition to skills training and scientific knowledge acquisition can help nurses to become empowered to alleviate and overcome gross dissatisfaction and frustration with the current health care milieu and move towards nursing practice that manifests strongly held beliefs and values.
Take up the challenge
• Know thyself
• Reflect on your experiences and
unconceal what is important to you
• Find your voice and use it!
• Re-emphasize your commitment to
making a difference in the lives of others
Becoming self-actualized
Because the concepts and modes of
acquiring self-actualization are quite
abstract and complex, it may be difficult,
although not impossible, for a particular
nurse to embark on a journey of self-
actualization.
Self-actualization is not a solitary process
• Develop a community of nurses
Seek out nurses to dialogue with
Seek out literature on self-actualization
Seek out role models
Support each other in the struggle
Seek encouragement, support, and guidance from
managers and administratorsRequest their support and emphasize that
monitoring agencies and professional
organizations are interested in what
institutions are doing to support the
development and satisfaction of their
nurses.
Seek encouragement, support, and guidance from
managers and administrators
Point out that the literature also indicates
that helping nurses to become self-
actualized will have a mitigating effect on
such important issues as the nursing
shortage, nurses job satisfaction, and
patient and nurse safety issues.
Seek encouragement, support, and guidance from
managers and administrators
There are also possibilities for educational
activities sponsored by the health care
institutions where you work.
Becoming the most you can possibly be.Self-actualized people:
• -are aware and recognize their total response within themselves to a particular person in a particular here and now and are in touch with their immediate impressions or responses to reality before labeling, categorizing or judging it.
• -display an availability, readiness, and acceptance with receptivity to the immediate experience and its uniqueness.
• -are reality-centered, which means they can differentiate what is fake and dishonest from what is real and genuine.
• -are problem-centered, meaning they treat life’s difficulties as problems demanding solutions, not as personal troubles to be railed at or surrendered to.
• -are inclined to believe that there is a difference between means and ends. They feel that the ends don’t necessarily justify the means, that the means could be ends themselves, and that the means -- the journey -- is often more important than the ends.
• have an un-hostile sense of humor -- preferring to joke at their own expense, or at the human condition, and never directing their humor at others.
• - enjoy autonomy• -display acceptance of self and others, if
some quality of theirs or others is not harmful, they let it be, even enjoying it as a personal quirk.
• -are authentic, preferring to be themselves.
• -are spontaneous and prefer simplicity.
• - display a sense of humility and respect towards others and are open to ethnic and individual variety, even treasuring it.
• - have a social interest and compassion for humanity accompanied by strong ethics, which is spiritual but seldom conventionally religious in nature.
• -have a certain freshness of appreciation, an ability to see things, even ordinary things, with wonder.
• -tend to be creative, inventive, and original.
What kind of nurse
would you like to be?
What kind of nurse do you
want to greet you or a
member of your family when
you are asking for help with a
health related concern?
• Copyright Notice
• All the materials attached hereto and contained herein are the property of Dr. Susan Kleiman. Any use of this material whatsoever without the express written consent of the copyright holder are strictly prohibited under law.