Just a Nurse? | Debra Albert, DNP, MBA, RN, NEA-BC | TEDxNYU Langone Health

Key Concepts

• Nursing as a profession of empowerment and impact
• The nurse-patient relationship as a therapeutic and bidirectional connection
• The art and science of nursing
• Advocacy in nursing
• The nursing shortage and its impact on healthcare
• Professional identity and fulfillment in nursing

Early Perceptions and Initial Doubts

The speaker, Debbie, recounts her initial reluctance towards nursing, influenced by societal expectations and a limited view of the profession in the 1980s. Her father suggested nursing or teaching as suitable careers for women, allowing time off for family. Debbie initially resisted, fearing nursing would be "just a job" involving mundane tasks and subservience. She desired a "successful fulfilling career" that empowered her to impact others.

The Reality of Nursing: Challenges and Rewards

Debbie describes her first shift as overwhelming, feeling unprepared for the responsibility of caring for sick patients. She acknowledges that some aspects of nursing, like cleaning incontinent patients, were unpleasant and aligned with her initial fears. She recounts an experience of being urinated on during such a task.

However, she contrasts these challenges with the profound rewards of building relationships with patients. She shares the story of a patient with recurring fevers and his eventual cancer diagnosis. Despite the lack of a "happy ending," Debbie emphasizes the importance of providing care, support, and a sense of hope during his illness. She highlights the relief and trust the patient and his wife expressed upon seeing her, illustrating the "sacred nurse-patient relationship."

The Nurse-Patient Relationship: A Therapeutic Bond

Debbie defines the nurse-patient relationship as "a therapeutic relationship built on trust, respect, and empathy" where the nurse uses their knowledge and skills to support the patient's physical, emotional, and spiritual needs. She emphasizes the bidirectional impact of this relationship, where both the patient and the nurse are affected. She realized that through these relationships, she had the ability to make an impact on others in ways she never could have imagined.

Defining Nursing: Art, Science, and Advocacy

Debbie cites the American Nurses Association's definition of nursing, emphasizing the integration of "the art and science of caring." This includes:

• Promotion, protection, and optimization of health and human functioning
• Prevention of illness and injury
• Facilitation of healing
• Alleviation of suffering through compassionate presence
• Diagnosis and treatment of human responses
• Advocacy in the care of individuals, families, groups, communities, and populations
• Recognition of the connection of all of humanity

She argues that anyone who embodies these principles is an "empowered professional" capable of changing the world "one patient interaction at a time."

The Nursing Shortage and the Importance of Empowerment

Debbie addresses the national and global nursing shortage, projecting a worldwide shortage of 4.8 million nurses by 2030. She connects this shortage to limited access to quality care and poor patient outcomes. As a leader responsible for almost 10,000 nurses, she stresses the importance of attracting and retaining talented individuals who are passionate about the profession. She argues that empowering nurses to recognize their unique value and impact is crucial to addressing the shortage. She poses the questions: "Can you see cleaning an incontinent elderly patient as a means of alleviating suffering and preventing injury or do you see it simply as being urinated on?" and "When you hear a nurse say 'I think we ought to,' do you hear advocacy in the care of an individual or family or do you hear a complaint or an affront to your judgment?"

Conclusion: Embracing the Role of a Nurse

Debbie concludes by urging nurses to embrace their role as empowered professionals who integrate science and compassionate care. She emphasizes the importance of nurses understanding the unique value they bring to patient care and feeling empowered to impact others. She asserts that the healthcare system needs professionals who can recognize and respond to human needs and proudly proclaim, "I am a nurse."