“Knowledge is everything” is a phrase that’s been said by intellectuals, politicians, and wise men throughout the years. However, this phrase is hardly ever more true than in the healthcare industry, where a single mistake can claim the life of a child, or permanently disable an individual. Despite the importance of knowledge, it isn’t the only important factor when it comes to hiring and recruiting new medical personnel. Your attitude also plays a vital role in the workplace, especially when it comes to treating patients and rendering quality services.

In an age where everyone has access to all kinds of information through the internet, topics that were once hidden in volumes of books are now readily accessible through computers and smartphones. In other words, knowledge is everywhere, and all it takes is a mind thirsty for learning to look everything up and assimilate it into their brain. With that being said, kids today are smarter than ever, and there are professionals better prepared than in previous generations. In a world where most people are expected to possess a certain degree of intelligence, what will set them apart from their peers is their attitude.

Simply put, today’s job seekers and employers are looking not only for those who can bring their A-game, but also for those with a stellar personality to match their smarts. In the healthcare industry, personality plays a vital role as it can make a difference in how a patient feels towards a specific nurse or doctor. A positive attitude (just like a negative one) is infectious; it can affect all the other staff members positively and help bring the mood up, increasing productivity and satisfaction in the workplace.

Addressing the bad

A positive attitude is tough to maintain, especially in an industry that’s always trying to get the best of you. Sometimes, the long shifts, thankless patients, troublesome peers, and sleepless nights can get to you, and keeping your chin up becomes akin to lifting a locomotive over your head: impossible.

Before addressing how to foster a positive attitude, we need to identify those factors that negatively impact your attitude in the workplace.

Is there any trouble at home that might be transferring over to the workplace?
Are the long shifts finally getting to you? Do you feel burned out?
Are you finding it difficult dealing with complicated patients? Did anyone say something that struck a nerve and you can’t shake it off?
Is there a co-worker that you cannot interact with without the discussion boiling down to a heated argument?

Before fostering a positive attitude in the workplace, it’s imperative that we identify and isolate the factors that take away from our positive mood and bring us down. Once we’ve determined precisely what makes us feel bad in the workplace, we can take steps to reduce, or even remove them from our lives.

Trouble at home can be dealt with through counseling or time off to sort your personal affairs. If you’re feeling burned out, maybe you could take one of your free days to treat yourself; go shopping, go to a spa, or invest in a hobby. Lastly, dealing with troublesome peers and patients is more difficult, but not impossible. If diplomatic means don’t get you anywhere, maybe you could seek out other departments and ask for a transfer. Also, if you’re getting harassed at work (such as by a supervisor, doctor, or other authority figures), there are anonymous hotlines that you can call to report the perpetrators.

As a nurse, you are the backbone of the healthcare industry. In other words, if it weren’t for you, there’d be no hospitals; there’d only be chaos. This can be a lot to take in, and we wouldn’t blame you if you feel overly pressured by your responsibilities. However, this doesn’t change the fact that both your knowledge and your attitude will play a pivotal role in your perception of the workplace, as well as the quality of the services you impart. In other words, if there’s something that’s detracting from your positive attitude, the quality of your services will suffer.

If you adapt adequately to the requirements of each task, learn how to deal with troublesome patients, and can isolate your personal life from your work, the odds are that you’ll keep a positive attitude at all times.

At the end of the day, people are either optimists or pessimists. When it comes to job recruitment of quality assessments, the results will always favor the former.

The ball’s in your court now. So, what’s it going to be?