Members are "All In"

“All In”   

Paige Merring, BSN, RN III, CCRN
Registered Nurse, MICU, Christiana Care       

Resilience is defined as “the ability to face adverse situations, remain focused, and continue to be optimistic for the future” (Kester & Wei, 2018). When I consider what it means to be All In, I think of being resilient and that is exactly what this season of life has brought for many of us over the past few months. At the beginning of 2020, none of us could have ever dreamed of the obstacles and adversity this year would bring. As nurses, spouses, parents, and as caregivers both at work and at home, COVID-19 has stretched us to our limits but perhaps it has also made us realize we are stronger than we think and can handle tough circumstances with grace and strength.

When I joyfully discovered I was pregnant with my second child at the end of February, I experienced around two stress free weeks before our communities, the state, and virtually the entire country shut down. As a nurse in a newly minted ‘COVID ICU’ I struggled in many of the same ways my colleagues did while also experiencing the added stress of first-trimester pregnancy. After taking some time to adjust and reset my mindset, I knew I had to choose resilience over everything. For me that meant choosing not to live in fear but remaining optimistic, hopeful, and positive as my team navigated new ways to deliver nursing care and care for a new patient population.

In addition to navigating the pandemic as a pregnant ICU nurse, I also am a mom of a toddler, a wife, and a graduate student pursuing my MSN. So what does it look like to be all in while juggling multiple important roles? For me, it is focusing my attention on what is good in the world rather than what is wrong. One of my favorite quotes is, “We cannot cure the world of sorrow but we can choose to live in joy.” This has been my motto during this season of life. There is still so much joy to focus on – people are still getting married, having babies, and advancing in their careers. Nurses are still taking extraordinary care of patients and going above and beyond to make them feel comforted and cared for while they are alone in the hospital. Interdisciplinary teams are working hard to bring the latest science and evidence-based practice to the bedside. Nurse leaders are showing flexibility while meetings, conferences, and gatherings are being redesigned and brought to us virtually.

The adversity COVID has brought to our profession has been difficult to navigate, but let us all use it as a reason for growth and to remain focused on hope for the future. Why should we be steadfast? Because this is our moment – we are all in!  

Kester, K., & Wei, H. (2018). Building nurse resilience. Nursing Management (Springhouse), 49(6), 42-45. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.numa.0000533768.28005.36