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IN THIS ISSUE
Long Joins PPAI Board
Develop an Attitude of Gratitude
Lighter Notes
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What's New at
Guardian Nurses
Long Joins Advisory Board Patient advocacy is a growing field in the ever-evolving world of healthcare. Many organizations, both for profit and not-for-profit, have sprouted up to address the educational and business needs of healthcare professionals seeking a new career, perhaps their own business. Launched earlier this month, the Professional Patient Advocacy Institute (PPAI), is a membership organization aligned around the common of providing advocacy for consumers. Dorland Health, the parent company sponsoring PPAI and Anne Llewellyn, RN, Editor-in-Chief of Dorland Health invited Guardian Nurses' founder, Betty Long, to sit on the group's Advisory Board. Long, who started GN in 2003, is considered one of the 'pioneers' of patient advocacy providers.
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"Just Knowing You Were in My Corner Made All the Difference to Me and My Mom."
Many times, we receive calls from children of elderly parents who are just beginning to deal with their parents' healthcare issues.
Last month, a 30-ish year old daughter reached out to us because her mother had just been diagnosed with colon cancer.
Her mom had undergone successful surgery but the daughter "just wanted to make sure I'm doing what my mom needs." Our nurse advocate worked with her while her mom began her healing and together, they created a comprehensive game plan for the second phase of mom's treatment. Now, when mom is ready to begin chemotherapy, her daughter will be more confident and feel more helpful.
Our guidance can often be helpful when things haven't reached crisis-level proportions. As this daughter's comment attests to, sometimes it's just having someone on your side that makes all the difference. |
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Gratitude. Gratitude journals. A written journal where, every day, you make entries to consciously call attention to the things for which you are thankful each day. Remember when Oprah introduced the gratitude journal? That was 2008. And though they had been around for years, they became 'hot,' thanks to the Oprah Effect.
And dare I forget those who know not how to write cursive, there is even an app for your gratitude journal! So, right on your I-Phone or I-Pad, you can text to express your gratitude.
Regardless of how you express it, or document it, or even if you share it openly with others, there is value in being grateful. In giving thanks. As we prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving, we take a look at some of the benefits of being grateful.
Happy Thanksgiving!!
Betty Long
Betty Long, RN, MHA, President
Guardian Nurses Healthcare Advocates
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Develop an Attitude of Gratitude
Academic studies show that what we learned in kindergarten is really true: it's not things, but attitude that truly makes us happy. People who describe themselves as feeling grateful to others in general tend to have higher vitality and more optimism, suffer less stress, and experience fewer episodes of clinical depression than the population as a whole. Research scientist and psychologist, Robert Emmons from the University of California at Davis, has published studies indicating the following results:
Less Stress
Research suggests that feelings of thankfulness have tremendous positive value in helping people cope with daily problems, especially stress, and to achieve a positive sense of self.
More Friends
A variety of scientists have found that grateful people are better listeners, more generous and more likely to help those in need.
Reaching Your Goals
The participants in Emmons' study who expressed gratitude made noticeable progress toward a variety of goals, ranging from better grades to better relationships. The students were also more alert, enthusiastic and determined than others.
Feeling Happy
Grateful people felt better about their lives as a whole and were more optimistic about the upcoming week," said Emmons in his study. They also had lower levels of depression.
Good Health
The Mayo Clinic's website states that people who focus on the positive not only live longer, but they have more resistance to colds as well as reduced risk of coronary artery disease. Emmons found that the grateful people in his study exercised more and got sick less than others. And, according to British doctor Richard Davidson, negative thinking can actually weaken a healthy immune system.
Cultivating gratitude is one of the simpler routes to a greater sense of well being. In anticipation of the Thanksgiving Holiday, try these for the next few days--
- Count your blessings before you go to sleep. It's better than counting invisible sheep! Or taking an Ambien...
- Smile. If you do it enough, psychologists say that you will start to feel happy. Receiving smiles also lifts the spirits of other people as well.
- Keep a gratitude journal. List three things you are thankful for everyday. It is fine if some things make the list more than once, especially if times are tough.
Be encouraged. It takes 21 days for an attitude to become a habit. Think of the possibilities that a new positive attitude will do for you heading into the New Year! 2011---here we come!
Lest I not heed my own advice, please allow me to say "thank you" for your support of Guardian Nurses this year! Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!
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