The Paradox of Putting Ourselves First in Nursing

I’ve been where you are.

Tired. Burned out. Wondering how much longer I can keep doing this… but staying anyway.

Because if I leave, who will take care of the patients?

It’s the paradox we face as nurses. We tell ourselves we’re protecting our patients by staying. And in a way, we are. But the truth is, staying in a situation that’s draining the life out of us solves one problem—making sure there’s someone on the floor—but it doesn’t solve the problem of burnout.

It just postpones it. Until it swallows us whole.

I know what it’s like to bite my tongue because I was afraid to be seen as a troublemaker. To keep quiet because I didn’t want to be labelled as “difficult” or—worse—risk my job.

So I stayed in unsafe, unhealthy environments longer than I should have. And like so many nurses, I told myself, this is just the way it is.

But here’s what I’ve learned—waiting for someone else to fix the system is not working.

We hold the solution.

And yes, I know that sounds scary. Speaking up, advocating for change, setting boundaries—it feels risky. But here’s the thing: if we keep showing up without saying a word, we’re putting Band-Aids on wounds that need deep healing.

We can’t reclaim our profession if we’re too afraid to use our voices.

Much of this fear, guilt, and shame comes from our programming. I call it the Good Girl Operating System—the belief we learned early in life that being “good” means putting everyone else first, never making waves, and working harder than anyone else.

In nursing, that programming is amplified. We become the peacekeepers, the rescuers, the ones who silently shoulder the burden. But over time, that “good girl” conditioning leaves us feeling like victims of a dysfunctional system. And yes—nurses are victims of a broken healthcare system. But we’re not powerless.

I see it. I’ve lived it. And I help nurses break free from it.

Through the Energy Leadership Index Assessment (named one of Forbes’ best assessments) and Core Energy Coaching from iPEC, I help nurses shift from feeling stuck and powerless to seeing opportunities, making conscious choices, and creating better situations for themselves.

Because when nurses reclaim their power, they don’t just protect themselves—they protect the future of our profession.

It’s time to stop waiting.
It’s time to start leading.
It’s time to put ourselves first—because when we do, everyone benefits.

You hold the solution. Speaking up feels risky—but it’s the only way we reclaim our profession and protect ourselves from burnout.

💬 Join my free masterclass “Reclaim Your Voice: How to Be Heard, Set Boundaries, and Get the Respect You Deserve” and start leading change—without guilt.
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