Tue Sep 3, 2024

In summary, nursing contains skills that matter to me and I believe this work is in service to something bigger than myself.

Motivation (and its 3 elements)

In the Ted Talk: “The puzzle of motivation” Dan Pink breaks down what he thinks motivation is comprised of.

• Mastery: the desire to get better and better at something that matters
• Purpose: the yearning to do what we do in the service of something larger than ourselves
• Autonomy: the urge to direct our own lives

Using this framework, if asked: what is my motivation for nursing?

(Mastery) I desire to get better at my communication skills, especially in high pressure environments. I desire to get better at my clinical skills.

(Purpose) The work of a nurse is, what I believe as, a service of something larger than myself. Helping others in their time of need is an honorable cause in my eyes.

(Autonomy) Out of all the things I could be doing with my finite life, this is how I wish to spend my time.

The Details

Why do I want to get better at my communication skills?

First, a quote:

“…People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” ― Maya Angelou

Second, you may have good intentions when you communicate, but it often doesn’t matter if your message lands poorly with the people you talk to.

These two factors are giant hurdles for those who aren’t well-versed in communication.

To be continued…