Author Description

The birth of this book arrives at a time when brokenness in healthcare has proven to have no external cure. No one can step into this arena and offer a one-size-fits-all solution. The professional trauma we have learned to carry developed and evolved from a cookie-cutter approach. However, the healing that must happen must happen in a unique and individualistic way. A soulful mending and scarring must take place within the hearts split open by the capitalistic sledgehammer of healthcare. Pre-existing behaviors and mental illness follow the nurse directly into the chosen field of work. So, when you meet a new or seasoned (and everything in between) nurse, you are also meeting the emotional baggage that has accumulated throughout the years. A nurse is not without human flaws. A nurse is not without the shortcomings of a broken soul. The healthcare industry has consistently imposed unrealistic performance goals that cannot be maintained. The soul of the broken healer cries. We have seen this in the growing numbers of physical injuries, emotional breakdowns, and substance use disorder cases, which increasingly include healthcare personnel. There is a disconnect that also deprives our healers from loving and supportive relationships. We know it takes a village to raise a child. The village also exists to sustain our safety and emotional health as we grow and age. Nurses also need their village.