I always describe the healthcare field as a jungle. You are sure to meet a variety of life…from lions to snakes to delicate butterflies. I strongly believe every single type of personality in the world is encountered if you work in healthcare.
With so much external stimulation, emotions, and high-risk situation, a nurse’s self-confidence is bound to get jabbed one, two, or let’s be real, a hundred times.
That is why I am sharing with you 25 ways nurses can grow their confidence!
I have something very special for you towards the end, but make sure you read this post in its entirety first! Don’t go scrolling down just yet.
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Doubting yourself on a daily basis is actually incredibly normal during your nursing career. I know that sounds sad, but it’s true.
Do you feel unsure of yourself or your skills? Do you keep finding yourself in new nursing situations that you just aren’t confident in?
That’s perfectly okay. In fact, most nurses feel this way believe it or not. I know it doesn’t feel good and you just want it to stop, but that’s why you are here.
You are here to educate yourself and better yourself. You’re seeking assistance, so please know that you should be so proud of yourself for that.
Confidence as a nurse does not come easily. A lot is expected out of a nurse, and people don’t understand how one person simply cannot do it all.
Before spreading yourself too thin, getting so burnt out you just want to quit, and having your self-esteem tank… let’s take a breath. Iiiiin…and ooout. There you go.
Now, let’s figure out how you can boost your confidence and be proud of the nurse you currently are and will become!
Dig even deeper and grab my eBook, 31 Days To Becoming A Confident, Badass Nurse!
25 Surefire Ways For Nurses Can Grow Their Confidence
Identify what you’re good at
Everyone has strengths are weaknesses. Take some time to identify what some of your strengths are. You are definitely good at some things others aren’t. If you need help, ask some friends or colleagues– and don’t be embarrassed! This is part of your self-confidence journey.
Utilize your strengths
Once you know what you’re good at, use them to the fullest. Is staying organized your strength? Or maybe it’s listening to others. Whatever it is, give them the attention they deserve and showcase this fabulous strength of yours!
Ask for feedback
We can’t see ourselves in the same perspective others see us. Sometimes, it’s so helpful to ask others for feedback about the kind of nurse you are, where you need improvement, and where you’re thriving. Any type of feedback is feedback- it’s about what you want to do with it!
Get creative
Creativity is one of my favorite solutions to tough times. When feeling insecure and low in confidence, allow creativity to help out. If it’s a specific topic you’re unsure about, make a nice outline or note cards to help you out in remembering.
Accept you don’t know it all
It takes years and years for someone to become an expert in a specific topic, and even then they are constantly learning. Don’t beat yourself up if you don’t know it all. Even when you know a lot more than you do now, you’ll feel like it’s not enough. This feeling is going to linger forever, so get used to it and learn to accept it.
Rest and recharge
Insecurity and low self-esteem,especially in your career, is exhausting. Give yourself grace and rest/recharge.
It’s important to take breaks and to detach from work every now and then. Your brain cannot be on nurse mode 24/7. You are more than a nurse!
Celebrate the small wins
Every win, regardless of the size, should be celebrated. Got some good patient feedback today? Hooray! Celebrate that. Understood why a patient’s prognosis was what it was? Amazing, celebrate that.
You are so capable of being a confident, badass nurse, but you may be forgetting that the journey to getting there is just as amazing.
Grab my freebie that will IGNITE your confidence right away!
Surround yourself with positivity
So much confidence is mental, and so much of your mental comes from your surroundings. Surround yourself with positivity – this means people, environments, and situations.
If you have negative, toxic energy in your life, it was become harder to grow that confidence. Go on energy cleanse and know that it’s OK to detox negative people, environments, and situations from your life.
Don’t fear constructive criticism
It’s extremely important to have a clear understanding of judgment and constructive criticism. Many times, people misinterpret constructive criticism for judgment, and it serves as a barrier to growth.
Of course, there are some people out there who do straight-up judge and negatively criticize you but make sure you are able to distinguish that from those who are just trying to help.
Constructive criticism is very powerful and can really help you boost your confidence. Oftentimes, it’s very effective to get feedback from people who see you from the outside.
Work hard
This may seem straightforward, but you need to work hard for something as big as growing your confidence as a nurse.
There are a lot of challenges and barriers in healthcare, so hard work and focus are definitely going to be needed.
Exercise
Physical movement has a very strong connection to confidence.
Exercising ignites power and self-pride, and these are necessities for growing your confidence.
Self-reflect
Self-reflection, when done right, is incredibly impactful. Taking designated time out to focus on yourself and your self-esteem helps in understanding your confidence journey.
It’s integral to self-reflect and not get caught up in the daily ins and outs too much.
Eat clean
When you fuel your body with good and healthy nutrients, you just function better overall! The human bodies are like machines. You should give it with premium fuel if you want it to the person at an optimal level.
When you eat well, you feel good. When you feel good, your confidence is easier to build and grow.
Stay consistent
Consistency is one of the biggest factors to success and accomplishment. Keep up with your good habits and over time, you are going to see a significant improvement in your confidence level.
Click to grab my eBook to boost your confidence as a nurse today!
Practice firm handshakes
Confidence is easily shown and spread with a firm handshake. It immediately shows the other person you are confident and sure of yourself.
This little gesture goes a long way, so start practicing those handshakes today!
Provide encouragement to others
Being other people’s cheerleaders is an indirect way of being confident. Remember, you have to fake it til you make it. This means that there needs to be a whole lot of “acting confident”. One way to do this is by helping others.
I know you don’t know it all. I know you question if you’re doing things right. But, you do know how to be supportive and positive! Compliment a peer for doing something good or say encouraging words to someone who is feeling defeated.
Accept yourself as an individual
Humans are notorious for comparing themselves to others. It is the silliest thing we can do…but we all do it.
Well, listen up. When it comes to your confidence level, which is something so personal and life-dependent, comparing to others is just useless.
You have to first accept that your life experiences are so unique and individual to you. They are what carry out your confidence level. So how can you be like anyone else if their experiences aren’t the same as yours?
You are here because you want to grow your confidence, right? So accept that you are the only you, you’re extremely unique, and your confidence level will NOT always be the same as someone else’s at the same time.
Teach others
Whether on the clock or off the clock, start teaching others what you know. This could be your own patients, colleagues, peers, or family members. When you teach, you are portraying yourself as an expert in a specific topic, and others view you as a knowledgeable resource.
Over time, this will feed your confidence level.
Clear your mind often
Remember to pause often in your life. Take a step back and just do things that make you feel loose, free, and at ease.
It is important to pour into your own cup daily, as well as take a break from your daily responsibilities, even if it’s for 15 minutes.
Exercise, sit in your backyard, take a walk, meditate, listen to your favorite songs, take a bath, read a chapter in a book, try a new recipe, chat with your partner/best friend, and the list goes on…!
Change up your look
One way to give your confidence a mega boost is to change up your look! While we are focusing on growing your confidence from within, we have to give a little attention to the outside too.
Whether this means a new hairstyle, new clothing pieces, or just self-grooming, when you look good, you feel good.
Ask for help
Believe it or not, so many people respect and admire people who ask for help.
We often stay in our heads and think we are just annoying others when asking for help. Change your perspective about this and understand that asking for help benefits you by learning, benefits the other person by teaching, and instantly shows others you are not afraid to seek assistance.
Cut off negativity
A confidence journey has no space for negative people. If you have anyone in your life that puts you down, judges you, or belittles you, cut them off.
If you work with someone like this, keep your distance, kill them with kindness, and show zero weakness.
See the good in the bad
You are going to have bad days.
Some days are going to feel like they’re your worst. However, reel yourself back when you find yourself in these days and remind yourself: I am exactly where I need to be right now.
Acknowledge that you are aware of yourself, and your thoughts, and are willing to make a change.
What Else You Can Do:
Read:
- Why Being A Healthy Nurse Is So Important
- How Nurses Can Prioritize Their Mental Health
- How To Handle The Biggest Challenges In Nursing
Visit:
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