Failing.

You don’t get the interview.  You got the interview and didn’t get the job.  You got the job but couldn’t make it through orientation.  Need a pick-me up?  I got you.

It’s okay. I know it hurts.  It might for some time. Go ahead, cry, binge eat a little, take a long overdue nap.  Do whatever you need to do to heal.  If you aren’t sure what you need to+- help, here are a few of my favorites:

1.      Talk it out.  This can be by yourself in your car, room, shower, or whatever safe space you can find. It can be in a journal (or even just your notes app on your phone).  If you have a person, then call them up.  However you need to talk it out.

2.      Exercise it out.  Treadmill, walk outside, kickboxing class.  This might be the hardest one to do, but getting your heart rate up and sweating it out can not only be beneficial for your body but your mind too.

3.      Reset.  That means resetting your mind, space, and/or car.  Do a full reset, cleaning, throwing away, or donating unused items.  Get yourself prepared for whatever your next chapter is going to be.

It’s important to remember that just because you didn’t succeed at one thing doesn’t mean you are a bad nurse or won’t succeed at all. Think about what happened and reflect on what will be different for your next step.  Don’t jump into anything right away. Take time to breathe, reflect, and ensure the next step is best for you.

This step in your life does not define you.  Learn from it if it was a mistake.  Move on if it was just the wrong place at the wrong time. Chalk it up as experience and keep putting one foot in front of the other.

You will be an amazing nurse.  No one has a perfect path to where they are happiest.  Take this moment as an opportunity to try again, gain experience, and move on to bigger and better things.