Tag:

Nurse burnout

What Lifestyle Design Really Means for Burned-Out Nurse Leaders

by Amy Felix November 5, 2025

written by Amy Felix

Have you ever heard the term lifestyle design?

If you haven’t, you’re not alone — and you’ll learn more here.
If you have, kudos to you. Maybe this will give you another perspective.

The best way to understand lifestyle design is to think about this:
Have you ever looked around your life and thought, “This can’t be all there is”?
Has that thought crossed your mind in the last week, month, or year?

You’ve worked hard, followed the steps, checked the boxes and yet something still feels off.

That was me.

I had the career, the title, the family, the travel, and what looked like success on paper. But inside, I felt like I was running on autopilot. I didn’t hate my job; I just couldn’t imagine spending the next 20 years living that same day on repeat.

That’s when I stumbled into the concept of Lifestyle Design and everything started to shift.

When Success Didn’t Feel Like Success

It was 2021 post-COVID. Nursing eadership felt confusing, and honestly, life just wasn’t feeling right. I knew it wasn’t unique to me as so many of us were questioning everything during that time.

At work, even though the world had reopened, the hours were still long. We were still holding back-to-back virtual BlueJeans meetings (is that still even a program?), while being expected to come in daily to the office. We survived the initial crisis, but the reality of leadership, the constant demands, the exhaustion, the lack of growth, made me pause and ask, Is this really how I want to live and work?

As I started thinking about taking a sabbatical, I was presented with the opportunity to apply for a Senior Director of Nursing role. I remember being flattered and appreciative for the consideration, but not… excited.

My first question to the person who recommended me was simple:

“What does your day-to-day actually look like?”

I already knew what life looked like for me now and I wasn’t loving it. So I needed to know what my quality of life would look like for that title and salary.

They began describing their routine:

“In the mornings at 7:30am, while I walk my dog, I listen to the hospital’s daily update call. Then I drive in, take meetings, manage crises, meet with staff….”

There’s a pause here because I blanked out and my heart sank. My spirit felt what my head couldn’t say:
No thank you. This is not it.

The Moment I Realized “More” Wasn’t the Goal

Somewhere in that season, I stumbled across The 4-Hour Workweek. I don’t even remember how I found it — probably buried in my long list of “books I should read” in the Notes app on my phone. Either way, within the first chapter, I thought, finally someone else gets it.

That book was a turning point. Tim Ferriss talked about what he called the “deferred-life plan” — the idea that we spend our healthiest years working endlessly for a retirement we might not even enjoy. He challenged that narrative by asking, what if freedom, joy, and adventure weren’t things we had to wait for?

That hit me hard. I realized I had been living with the similar mindset of want to experience some freedom, job and adventure now while I work. Not later when I retire.

In the margins of one of the pages, I had written:

“I only want to do things that bring me joy and excite me!”

That still stays true today. Sure, there are always things we have to do but overall, the work I choose and the life I’m building should light me up. That’s the new standard.

And while that season was full of reflection including conversations, journaling, prayer, and grounding, the biggest shift came when I finally gave myself permission to redesign how I live and work even if it looked different than the norm.

I laughed when Ferriss wrote about working four hours a week because I thought, I’d settle for four days! Maybe that will be my retirement plan. But for now, lifestyle design is about finding that sweet spot by working in ways that fuel me instead of drain me, so I don’t have to keep running away just to feel alive.

What Is Lifestyle Design?

Lifestyle design is the intentional act of building your life around what you value most not what others expect.

It’s not about quitting your job, becoming an influencer, or moving to Bali. It’s about rethinking how you spend your time, what you say yes to, and what truly makes you feel alive. It’s the art of aligning your outer life with your inner truth so your days actually match your dreams.

At its core, it’s about:

Designing your life around your values.
Aligning your time and energy with what truly matters.
Creating rhythms that support your health, creativity, and peace.

You can’t always control everything, but you can take ownership of your yes and your no.

✨ Reflection prompt: What would your life look like if your calendar matched what actually matters most to you?

3 Ways to Start Designing a Life That Feels Good Now

You don’t need to overhaul everything overnight. Lifestyle design happens through small, intentional shifts that build momentum.

1. Audit Your Energy

Write down everything you do in a typical week, from meetings to meal prep , and ask: What fills me up? What drains me?

If you’re a nurse or mid-career professional, you might realize that you’re spending 12 hours managing staffing crises, attending compliance meetings, and putting out fires but zero hours on the strategic leadership development that actually energizes you. You’re managing everyone else’s career growth except your own. You keep saying yes to everyone else but what might shift if you said yes to yourself, just once this week?

Action step: Protect one block of time this week (even an hour) for something that restores you. Schedule it like a meeting you can’t cancel.

Ask yourself: “Where does my best energy go and where do I want it to go instead?”

2. Redefine Success

For years, success meant promotions, titles, and productivity. Now, for many of us, it’s peace. It’s balance. It’s waking up excited about our day, not dreading it.

Your definition of success can evolve. It should evolve.

Ask yourself: What does success look and feel like for me in this season?

Maybe it’s time freedom. Maybe it’s being more present with your kids. Maybe it’s building something new.

Action step: Write one sentence that defines what success feels like not what it looks like.

Example: “Success feels like having dinner with my family without interruptions”

3. Build Mini-Sabbaticals Into Your Routine

You don’t have to quit your job to take a break. Try one “mini sabbatical” day each month with no work, no errands, no guilt.

Use it to rest, journal, explore a new hobby, or do something that reconnects you to yourself.

If you’re not sure where to start, begin small. Maybe it’s a solo walk, a quiet beach morning, or just a few hours unplugged from everyone’s needs but your own.

Pro tip: Add these mini-sabbaticals to your calendar now, before life fills the space for you.

Need inspiration? Check out my blog, “The Myth You Have to Blow Up Your Life to Take a Sabbatical.”

Closing Thought

I never did take that Senior Director job and it turned out to be one of the best “no’s” of my life.

Because every time you say yes to something, you say no to something else.

The question is, what’s worth your yes?

Lifestyle design isn’t about living a fantasy life. It’s about creating a real one with space for joy, rest, and meaning that feels like yours.

Take care, Take Breaks

Amy

November 5, 2025 0 comment

Nursing

Why Self-Care Is Essential for Nurses (And How to Actually Do It)

by Amy Felix October 15, 2025

written by Amy Felix

Compassion Fatigue: The Wake-Up Call That Started My Self-Care Journey

In my first few years as a PICU nurse, I was full of passion and drive. I took pride in being the one people could count on by stepping up for the sickest patients, mentoring new staff, and leading when needed.

But then I noticed something shifting. I was always tired. The emotional toll of watching children decline or die started to weigh heavier and heavier. One day, I decided to take advantage of the hospital’s EAP and met with a therapist. She listened carefully and then said something that stopped me in my tracks:

“What you’re describing sounds like compassion fatigue.”

I was stunned. I had gone to a top nursing school, yet I had never even heard the term. No one had taught us that taking on everyone else’s pain without an outlet could drain us to the core.

That conversation was the first spark that made me realize: nurses need support too. And more than that, we need self-care practices that go beyond bubble baths and slogans.

Why Is Self-Care Important for Nurses?

Nursing is consistently ranked as one of the most trusted professions. But trust comes with weight. Nurses are often the first to arrive, the last to leave, and the ones holding everything together in between.

The reality is that without rest, reflection, and restoration, we can’t sustain our ability to care for others. Fatigue impacts judgment. Stress affects communication. Burnout makes us short-tempered with colleagues, patients, and even loved ones at home.

Self-care isn’t selfish. It’s a safety measure. It protects our ability to provide safe, compassionate, high-quality care.

Common Self-Care Deficits in Nursing

Let’s be real — a lot of us fall into the same traps, and I’ve lived every single one of these:

Overworking

Saying yes to “just one more” shift, even when you are tired. A nurse recently told me that she was on her 60th hour of work and was asked to come in for a few hours tomorrow. She mentioned that boyfriend suggest that she rest, but she still felt guilty saying no. That guilt is real.

Skipping Meals

My first NP job was in a GI clinic, and Mondays were brutal. Morning clinic was supposed to end at 11:45 — but it never did. By 12:30, no matter what I ate for breakfast, I was ravenous. My medical assistant once leaned over and whispered, “Do you want a snack?” . I felt like the Snickers commercial. That was the moment I realized how often I was pushing past my body’s signals.

No time for recovery

If you’ve worked three 12s in a row, you know that “day one off” isn’t a day off. It’s recovery. Yes, you now have 4 days off, but you probably need 1-2 days off just to recover. You’re groggy, foggy, and just trying to feel human again.

Always being available

This one hit me hard. Once, I offered to be a “pinch hitter” for covering a smaller ED near my home. I suggested I could come in for a few hours if they needed extra help. They said they would let me know. One week later, It was 10 p.m. when I got a call while still seeing patients at another site, asking if I could drive 30 minutes to cover. My heart wanted to say yes, but my body said no. I had to admit it – I was exhausted. I never made that offer again.

Losing identity outside of work

Work can swallow up our whole identity. If you can’t remember the last time you had a hobby, or when someone asks “what do you do for fun” you draw a blank. It may be a sign that work has become your life.

Does any of this sound familiar? I know, me too. Here’s the good news, these patterns don’t have to be permanent.

Self-Care Strategies for Nurses That Actually Work

During my sabbatical and even in my part-time clinical work now, I’ve learned that self-care is both evidence-based and deeply personal. Here’s what I’ve found truly helps:

Joy in work

Even on my hardest days, I find joy when I hear kids giggle, when I make a child feel better, or when I can comfort parents who are terrified. Holding onto joy, even in small doses, keeps the spark alive.

Gratitude

My gratitude practice is simple — noticing the sun, enjoying a really good cup of tea in the morning, laughing with friends on the phone, or just hanging out with family. With all the chaos around us, those little joys remind me that each day is a gift.

Mindfulness and Meditation

I used to fail at this all the time. How do people just sit and not think? I’d sit down, try to breathe, and my to-do list would rush back in. Now I use the Peloton meditation app. Something about the music, the voice, and the guidance helps regulate my heart rate and even helps me sleep after shifts.

Rest and Naps

I don’t always get them, but when I do, naps are glorious. A 30-minute nap can reset my brain more than any caffeine ever could.

Movement

For me, movement has to stay interesting. I’ve done 5Ks, a half marathon, Pilates, kickboxing, walks, light strength training and now pickleball and pilates lessons are part of my rhythm. Switching it up keeps me from getting bored and gives me energy.

Food as care

I’ve been guilty of eating too fast at work (who hasn’t?), but I’ve learned the power of slowing down. Pack snacks. Plan meals. Take the time to actually taste your food. Patients will still be there when you finish eating.

Self-care is not a one-size-fits-all checklist. It’s about experimenting until you find what helps you feel human again.

How to Prevent Nurse Burnout Through Daily Habits

The biggest myth about self-care is that it only happens outside of work. Truth? You can build small habits into your shift that make a big difference:

Take 5-minute walks

Patients will still be there when you get back. A quick loop clears your head. My favorite walk is to the gift shop, or outside just to get fresh air during a shift.

Music for energy

On the way to a 12-hour shift, I blast music that lifts my energy. I’ll never forget one evening shift — the ED was packed with psych patients waiting for placement. It was heavy. I walked in with good energy on purpose, knowing I couldn’t fix the system that day, but I could shift the vibe for my team.

Set limits on days off

I only give myself three things max to do on recovery days. Everything else can wait. For years, I followed her ways of always being productive. Funny enough, now she’s the one reminding me to rest. Sometimes she even tells me to nap before work if I’ve been up early writing. Oh, how the tides have turned.

Working 4 days in a row and sleeping the 1st day of vacation

Unplug intentionally

At two of my jobs, I lived just 20 minutes away. Whenever the weather and daylight allowed, I’d walk home after my shift. Those walks were magical as they were the perfect way to clear my head and shift out of “work mode.”

Use your breaks

Lunch is not optional. Pack snacks. Have a plan for food. And if you have enough time, walk during lunch and invite a friend. I promise, it will replenish you.

None of this is glamorous. But these daily resets are the difference between feeling constantly depleted and building the resilience to keep going.

Redefining Nurse Self-Care for a Sustainable Career

Nursing is not just a job — it’s a calling. But even a calling can’t be sustained on empty.

Sustainability comes from choosing the ways you want to work:

Do you thrive on 12-hour shifts, or is it time to move to 10s or 8s?
Would part-time or admin work allow you to recharge?
Could you bring more balance by exploring hobbies or side gigs that energize you?

For me, sustainability has meant refusing to chase the money at the cost of my health. It’s meant honoring the fact that I don’t bounce back like I did at 22 — and that’s okay. What matters is re-building a career and life that doesn’t steal my soul.

Taking Care of Yourself Is Part of Caring for Patients

The first time I heard the words “compassion fatigue,” I felt both shocked and seen. Now, the key term is burnout, which is very real. Either way, the research (like the National Academy of Medicine’s findings on clinician well-being) is clear: self-care is not optional — it is essential.

If you are exhausted, irritable, or feeling like you’re only surviving shift to shift, please know this: it doesn’t have to be that way.

Self-care is not about being perfect. It’s about being whole.
Because when you take care of yourself, you’re not just protecting your well-being — you’re protecting your patients, too.

Take care, take breaks.

October 15, 2025 0 comment

Sabbaticals

Is a sabbatical a good idea?

by Amy Felix November 3, 2022

written by Amy Felix

Sabbaticals are a time of leave from a job for self-exploration and rejuvenation. While there has been an increase in sabbaticals or career breaks due to the Great Resignation and the pandemic, there are still many skeptics about this sabbatical idea since it is not a mainstream concept.

If you thought about taking a career break or sabbatical and decided to share the idea with a friend, family, and/or colleague, I am sure there was a pause, exasperation, or a crazy look. I say this because I experienced it. Then there was the flurry of questions, what will you do, what about insurance, how will you pay your bills? These questions can stop you dead in your tracks and make it feel impossible.

However, taking a sabbatical is a good idea! Especially if you are a nurse!

Here are the myths regarding the downside to taking a sabbatical, and I am here to bust them.

Nurses don’t need breaks!

It is always mind-blowing to me the irony in nursing. We are caretakers, healers, and cheerleaders of our patients. And yet we don’t do the same for ourselves. We can do anything! In the various settings, the majority of nurses and even health care providers would not take breaks. In the emergency department, nurse practitioners would say

“I can’t eat. There is no time for that.”

And they wear it as a badge of honor. I could never abide by it because I get “hangry” when I don’t eat. ( Yes, like the Snickers commercial!) Yet, we know the effects of not eating or hydrating, or taking breaks. If our patients look exhausted, we tell them to rest. We need to do the same!

I recently watched an episode of Abbott Elementary. One of the teachers was given 2 classes in the same classroom. She kept repeating to herself that she’s got it.

One of her peers said, “ We are an OG,we can do this!” The question really is you can do it.. you can do anything.. but do you really want to? Is it depleting you more than rejuvenating you?

It is not a bad thing to say that you need a break! Nurses should take breaks. You are not weak or considered different. You are brave to recognize what you need and to move towards it.

You can’t get a job after a sabbatical

With the job market in it is current state, there is no scarcity when it comes to jobs in general. As a nurse, you will always be able to find a job. At times, we may let fear dictate our next steps because we are unsure if moving against the grain will give us what we truly desire. I, myself, fall victim to this train of thought.

In describing a sabbatical as rejuvenation and self-exploration, the outcome should not be focused on you finding another job. The focus should be on you finding the ideal job for you. Your needs in a role, how it supports your lifestyle and your family. In applying for a new position, be clear on what you want from the role to yourself. When preparing for the interview, practice how you will respond to the gap in your resume. Maybe you describe your reason for taking the break, your experience, and how it has helped you. Employers would love to know a new hire has the enthusiasm and or energy to start a new role. And if they don’t, then honey, that job is not for you.

Will a sabbatical hurt my career?

Imagine you are watching a movie at home, and you leave the room to answer a call, when you return the movie is still going. You will have to play catch-up and either rewind or be debriefed on what happened. Same concept. You are walking away to take a break but work will keep moving. Promotions will occur. Your interim person may outshine your previous work.

If the idea scares you, then a sabbatical may not be right for you at this time. However, if you truly are thinking of a sabbatical and know what you want out of it, none of those factors matter.

“And when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.”
The Alchemist – Paul Coelho

I genuinely believe in the universe conspiring for your good. With that being said, regardless if your sabbatical is paid or unpaid, or if you are in a leadership position, there will be a change when you return back to work from your sabbatical. You can view the change as damaging to your career or as an opportunity to start afresh. The choice is yours.

I will be broke after a sabbatical

With proper planning, you will not be broke. Remember your sabbatical could be partially paid if it is through your employer. If you are taking an unpaid sabbatical, read my previous post on how to afford your sabbatical. I know it can be really scary…

But nurses, our skill sets are truly valuable in any field. There are opportunities to do something weekly or maybe monthly. If you are in a clinical unit, your sabbatical could look like going per diem and only doing the minimal. You don’t miss too much but you are not in the daily grind.

Vaccine clinics are popular right now with the Covid Booster Shot, Monkeypox, or Flu vaccine needing to be given. These are great options that are typically low-key, with great use of your skill set and expertise, and usually not very demanding. These jobs can be found in a hospital, clinics, and on job boards.

Teaching a simulation or a clinical is also another great way to add income during a sabbatical. Universities and colleges are ALWAYS looking for instructors. Dabbling in teaching will indeed expose you to new things. While the pay is not as great as a clinical role, the experience is invaluable.

My experience

My sabbatical has truly been a blessing in disguise. I have explored teaching at my Alma Mater, starting a blog, working in a vaccine clinic, learning about business, and managing a tech company. I am not sure if all of these things would have occurred without my sabbatical. People will always discourage you if you are doing something against the norm. However, if you truly think a nurse sabbatical is for you, now is the time to make it happen….

I am here to have other nurses take a sabbatical. Send a comment or an email if you are interested in learning more.

November 3, 2022 0 comment

Me Nursing Wellbeing

Burned out, take a Sabbatical!

by Amy Felix June 23, 2022

written by Amy Felix

I love being on Sabbatical! Every day, I pinch myself, Is this real? Is this my life? Yes, it is my life! I am recovering from burnout!

At the beginning of my sabbatical, I vowed to create the life that I love by 40. In May, I celebrated my 40th birthday ( the entire month) by traveling to San Antonio, Dallas, Cancun, Tulum, Boston, Daytona Beach, and Miami. It was amazing to be able to spend time with my family and friends and be fully present. I enjoyed each moment to the fullest. . As I write this, my sabbatical has truly helped me create the life I love. In addition, It has given me time to reflect on my burnout.

In my first blog, I shared with you the challenges of my role as a nurse leader and how COVID took its toll. Prior to leaving my role, I was co-leading the hospital’s well-being initiative for Advanced Practice Nurses and Physician Assistants. Through my research, I learned that physical signs of burnout include lack of sleep, chronic fatigue, and headaches. Here I was promoting the idea of self-care, creating boundaries around work, and yet I was a walking commercial for what burnout looked like.

What does burnout feel like?

For instance, my typical morning would start with reading the bible, practicing gratitude, meditation, and riding my Peloton to increase my energy for the day. Often, a text, call, or email, would quickly interrupt the morning routine. Upon arrival at the office, I would greet everyone with my normal demeanor, smile, laugh, and check on others. Given COVID restrictions, most of my day would include sitting in an office on back-to-back virtual meetings, with short breaks to grab food or use the bathroom. Yes, it was exhausting!

Late hours at work allowed me to actually do the work and check on my team members. In talking with my mom on my 15-minute drive home, I would always yawn and she would say, “Geez, you need to rest.” I was mentally exhausted. I felt like I was acting. How, could I have so much energy for my colleagues and peers but so little for myself.

In addition, when I would arrive home, and sometimes have to sleep immediately due to a migraine. Like an alarm clock, I would awaken at 3 am thinking about what I forgot or the next crisis I would have to fix. The next day REPEAT! The Next Day Repeat! I rarely had the energy to participate in any fun social activities after work, because I always had to mentally prepare for the next day.

I am burned out!

A New York Times article in February 2022 highlighted,

When people are under stress, their bodies undergo changes that include making higher than normal levels of stress hormones such as cortisol, adrenaline, epinephrine and norepinephrine. These changes are helpful in the short term — they give us the energy to power through difficult situations — but over time, they start harming the body.

Moyer. Feb 15th, 2022. NYT.

This made sense! I was harming my body. In my mind, self-care is synonymous with massages, and getting your nails done (which is a component of it). However, caring for yourself mentally is just as important. Sitting in front of a computer screen all day is not healthy. Not hydrating enough is not healthy! Making your mind work non-stop for 8-9 hours straight is not healthy. Something had to change.

How do I fix burnout?

However, I think the first step in my journey was truly calling it for what it is. Burnout. And it was ok! I lived through a pandemic that affected the industry that I worked in and the WORLD! Nursing leadership of 35 advanced practice nurses and physician assistants was not easy. In addition, I was still processing the death of the patriarch and matriarch of our family. And if the physical signs of burnout were not enough, I realized I needed a break when I showed up to work with two different shoes on.

And yet, there was a part of me that was fighting it. I wanted to be like everyone else who seemed to be functioning fine. My colleagues and I would laugh on a daily basis about the stress, trying to normalize it. However, was it normal? Or did it have to be? The Nursing field is one of self-sacrifice, and there are moments with that sacrifice you sacrifice your emotions. As I witnessed a child passing away at the age of 23, and had to support the family through the moment, I could not cry. Or If I had to assist with the collection of a rape kit on a young child, I could not express the anger, I may have felt for the circumstances. It wasn’t part of what we did!

Are you burned out?

The first step is recognizing burnout. Ask yourself these questions:

Do you enjoy the work you are doing?

Are you always tired and or fatigued?

Are you losing interest in your day-to-day work?

Do find yourself with less patience? Reacting quickly or in a snappy manner?

Are you experiencing physical ailments recently like headaches, insomnia, weight loss or weight gain?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, it may be time to re-evaluate.

Take some time to reflect on your nursing career (or your career in general).

What have you loved about it, and what do you wish you can change?

Then, start deciding what kind of life you want to live.

There are so many nursing jobs out there, the world is truly your oyster. Don’t wait until you dread walking into work. Act now!

Feel free to share your comments in the chat. Next, I will be sharing how to prepare for a sabbatical. Stay tuned!

June 23, 2022 0 comment

Nursing Wellbeing

Yoga is not the cure for burnout!

by Amy Felix April 7, 2022

written by Amy Felix

Wellbeing is the new buzzword alongside resilience and mindfulness. Many industries are experiencing burnout. In my opinion, all healthcare professionals have probably experienced some form of burnout in the last 2 years, even if they are not aware.

The definition for wellbeing is:

A state of happiness and contentment, with low levels of distress, overall good physical and mental health and outlook, or good quality of life
APA dictionary

Hospitals are ramping up their well-being activities with yoga and mindfulness classes. But I’m here to say, Yoga is not the solution for burnout!

How do you assess burnout?

When I ventured into leadership, I wanted to make a difference by advocating for Advanced Practice Providers (Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants) in their role, but I didn’t know where to start. With the support of my physician colleagues, I surveyed my team to assess for burnout and determine the biggest challenges in their role. The results of the survey revealed that 60% of the APPs met the threshold for burnout. How do I manage a team that is burned out? And so began my interest in burnout and wellbeing practices.

Many clinicians and even my previous staff would hear the word wellbeing and would immediately roll their eyes. If I added a wellbeing topic to a meeting agenda, a few would not participate or would say it is a waste of time. My physician colleagues have told me, “Well that’s an individual thing. It’s upon the individual to determine their wellness.” And I agree, well partially. A person should take some accountability in supporting their mental and physical well-being, and their happiness. However, what if they are not able to do so in their work environment?

For example, it would drive me crazy when my team members would say, “No, I can’t eat today. The ED is too busy.” Or I would remember my days in the PICU when we did not use the bathroom the ENTIRE 12-hour shift, and then bladder scan ourselves at the end of the day to determine how much urine we could hold. 😬🤦🏽‍♀️ Once masks mandates were instituted during the pandemic, do you know how hard it was to remain hydrated in between patients? Or find a place to eat safely, 6 feet away from everyone else? It was near impossible!

Leadership gives you the opportunity to change culture

One of the great things about leadership is that it exposes you to opportunities to make a difference. In my last role, I co-lead the APP enterprise-wide committee to support the 700+ APPs in creating a culture of wellbeing. I worked with an amazing NP (Thanks NL) who taught me so much about advocating for APPs and pushing the boundaries just enough for change to occur. Our work involved assessing APPs for burnout, supporting wellbeing programming for APPs, and collaborating with hospital leaders to implement system changes that would support the workforce and increase their wellbeing. However, the most important part of this work was meeting with various leaders on how we could shift to a culture of wellbeing through minimizing challenges in documentation, scheduling, and increasing psychological safety. The work was exhilarating but challenging!

Recently, the National Academy of Medicine held a webinar entitled “Clinician Retention in the Era of COVID: Uniting the health workforce to optimize wellbeing.” The US Surgeon General, Dr. Vivek Murthy, who is leading this task force told leaders that it’s not just about creating wellbeing programming or suggesting that clinicians do their individual practices but it’s about creating a culture that allows time for patient care, documentation, etc. Hospitals across the nation presented their initiatives and spoke about the importance of having well-being advocates in the C-Suite.

How do nurses promote wellbeing?

Nurse leaders (and even leaders in other industries), the well-being of your team (and yourself) should be a top priority! Think about it, if your staff does not feel supported or well at work, there will be:

Currently, many organizations are beginning this work and creating centers of wellness or wellbeing with the support of their C-Suite. If you are a nurse leader, and these conversations are not occurring at your hospital, you can be the beacon of change. When you meet with your boss, director, or leader discuss why this is important for your institution.

If you want to determine how to start this work within your clinical, here is a starting guide.

To all my fellow nurse leaders who are working tirelessly to maintain the healthcare system, I completely understand this does not seem like a top priority. But it is! If you consider your team’s well-being as part of your decision-making, you will make a difference for your staff, patient care, engagement, and retention. Offering wellbeing practices is helpful as well nurses but it is not the complete answer. As a leader, you can champion this change in your setting. If not you, then who?

Want to hear more, listed to interview on Dr. Tomi Mitchell’s podcast. I love brainstorming about creating cultures of wellbeing in nursing. Let me know your thoughts in the chat or send me a message.

April 7, 2022 0 comment

Nursing

Nurses are SUPERHEROES!

by Amy Felix March 31, 2022

written by Amy Felix

In January, during the height of the last COVID wave, I found myself with a runny nose and 2 recent COVID exposures. Aww man, “I probably have COVID”, I thought to myself. Like everyone at that time, I searched for testing immediately, since I had my 1^st trip of my sabbatical planned for the following week. There were no home kits available. Hospital lines were long. There were even fraudulent companies setting up pop tents in Philadelphia for COVID testing. I discovered a community site, thanks to Dr. Ala Stanford’s group, that offered free rapid COVID tests. (If you have not heard about her, please check out her phenomenal work to create equitable healthcare in Philadelphia.)

Upon my arrival at the site, there were at least 30 people in line outside waiting to be tested. As we approached closer to the door, I realized that there was another line inside the building. However, as I entered, I saw an amazing and very organized display of a public health initiative.

We were instructed to fill out a form and have a seat. My phone was at 10% battery life which allowed me to focus my attention entirely on my location. There were 4 tables at the front of the hall where the testing was occurring. Each table represented the nurse’s workspace, with 2 chairs on opposite ends of the table. For each person, the nurse would:

Review the test -> Complete the lab forms -> Clean hands -> Swab the patient -> Change gloves -> Clean hands.

And then repeat. As I continued to observe the nurse, I noticed that she would bend at the hip each time to write out the lab slip and verify the person’s information. I’m sure her back was probably going to hurt by the end of the day.

Immediately, I started thinking about the best ways to optimize how the nurses were performing the tasks at hand. The table needed to be elevated. Someone should be filling out the lab slips for her. However, the nurse diligently provided care to each person which such enthusiasm that I wanted to applaud her. Nurses will work under many conditions that may not be easy in order to help people. That’s one of the best qualities of nurses!

The nurse was testing each person every 3-4 minutes. I moved up a chair. They announce that they ran out of rapid PCRs since the city only provides a certain allotment. Move up a chair. People are upset. This woman is getting angry next to me now that there are no more rapid tests available. Really?! Move up a chair.

And then the nurse takes off her yellow linen protective gown. Everybody watches her see what she’s doing. She’s going to the bathroom. At that moment people were wondering,

“Where is she going?” “How can you go to the bathroom now when it is almost my turn?” “Can she move faster? I have other things to do.”

But nurses are so selfless that we often put others before ourselves. And yet, it is stressful to expose yourself to COVID daily where you could possibly expose family members.

The nurse returns. I move up another chair. A family of four approaches the table, and the nurse ensures there are enough chairs. They have a 4-year-old boy who is crying before he even sits in the chair. The nurse is patient with them and provides instruction on how to hold him for the test. The nurse remains calm even though he is screaming. Wow, I love seeing nurses providing excellent care. It is truly an honorable profession. We are real-life SUPERHEROES!

SUPERHERO NURSE POSTER *(accessed 30 March 2022)*

Nursing qualities

Stan Lee, an American comic book writer who is known for his work with Marvel comics, describes a superhero as

A superhero is a person who does heroic deeds and has the ability to do them in a way that a normal person couldn’t.
–Source

In my opinion, those are the qualities of a nurse. Think about it. Nurses work all hours of the day to take care of the population. If you call your primary care office for an emergency, who do you talk to first, a nurse? When you have been sick at school, who did you see first, a nurse? If you are admitted to a hospital, who takes care of you first, a nurse?

Watching the nurse on that day, reminded me of the most gratifying parts of my career as a nurse. In the Pediatric Intensive Care unit, watching how my nursing skills improved a sick child’s life. Or the moments, when my patients would draw pictures to thank me for the care I provided or the extra time that I spent with them during their appointment. Or the moments when I took care of a family in the Emergency Department, and they asked if I had a business card so I could be their child’s primary care provider. These were the moments that reminded me of why I chose the nursing profession.

What do you say to recognize a nurse?

I finally made it to the testing chair. She completed my information and reviewed how I could obtain my results. I sat there patiently as she explained the same thing to the other person, and then she performed the COVID test. I asked her “What time do you finish today?” She replied, “However long it takes to process all of these tests”, smiling underneath her mask. At that moment, I thanked her for what she was doing. She said you’re welcome.

Throughout the pandemic, when I would tell someone that I was a nurse, they would immediately respond “Thank you for your service”. Thank me for my service?! The first time I heard it I was shocked! I have only heard those words in relation the those who have been in the army, navy, etc. But never in healthcare! However, nurses are superheroes and should be thanked for all that they do. If you know a nurse, thank them today and applaud their efforts to continue to care for others during this challenging time in healthcare!

March 31, 2022 0 comment

Sabbaticals

Why I Took a Sabbatical: A Nurse Leader’s Story

by Amy Felix February 28, 2022

written by Amy Felix

**Updated September 12th, 2025 with new insights**

I quit my job. That’s how my story begins.

But the truth is, I didn’t quit nursing. I didn’t quit my purpose. I quit the exhaustion. I quit the daily migraines. I quit the version of work that kept demanding more while giving less. What I needed wasn’t another title or a promotion. What I needed was a break.

For months, I was trying to outpace the signals my body was sending. Every Wednesday morning (literally on hump day), I had to drag myself out of bed to go to work. By 3pm, each afternoon, after a string of back-to-back meetings, the migraines would start. My eyes would ache. The throbbing in my head forced me to dim the lights in my office. I bought a salt lamp. I tried keeping a plant alive on my desk, but no matter what I did, it always withered (probably a sign). My ritual became running out for a Starbucks Zen Green Tea, just enough relief to push me through the rest of the day.

I was filling my body with small fixes to keep performing when what I really needed was to stop.

Vacations no longer restored me. Disconnecting was the only way I could breathe enough to show up the next day. I refused to admit it at first, but the cycle was no longer sustainable.

The fear of staying was louder than the fear of leaving.

Burnout rituals at work, including tea and salt lamp, became daily survival strategies

The Profession I Loved and the System That Drained Me

I love nursing. I love caring for children and watching them get better. I love representing the nurses and clinicians at the leadership table.I love the impact, the healing, the purpose. That has always been my passion.

But the system I was working in? That was different.

Healthcare feels like it is dictated by time and money now more than people or care. As a leader, I was expected to be available around the clock, to stretch beyond exhaustion, to make miracles happen with limited resources.

I still remember a conversation with fellow department leaders about nurse practitioners with sick calls. The suggestion was that I step in to cover their shifts so the work would not go undone. But I was already working 9 to 5, managing projects, supporting teams, and keeping up my own clinical shifts twice a month. Was I really supposed to just do it all?

That mindset revealed everything that was wrong with the culture: keep pushing, no matter the cost. But patients deserve clinicians who are rested and well. Anything less isn’t safe for them or for us.

The longer I stayed, the clearer it became. I couldn’t keep doing this like this.

“Nurse leader reflecting in a hospital hallway, symbolizing the weight of healthcare leadership.

Identity and Community

Leaving wasn’t just about walking away from a role. It meant stepping away from an identity.

For years, when people asked what I did, it was easy: “I’m a nurse.” Everyone understood that. Saying, “I’m on sabbatical” was harder. Saying, “I’m a nurse entrepreneur” was harder.

I also lost my work community. My colleagues reached out, but it wasn’t the same. They couldn’t quite understand what I was doing, and in some ways, I couldn’t blame them. I had stepped onto a path few nurses or people ever take.

But I’ve never been a status quo woman. My path has always been different. I never strived for the traditional trajectory of womanhood. I chased dreams, ideas, and experiences, with people that I loved.

The Blackboard Moment

By October 2021, I knew I had to decide.

In my home office sat a black chalkboard rimmed in gold. On it, I had written the things I wanted for my daily life. With my therapist, I had been working through three practices: writing out 300 things I wanted in life, visualizing the big picture, and naming what I truly envisioned for my future.

One Sunday afternoon, staring at that board, the thought came: What if you just stopped working?

I remembered speaking with a doctor years earlier about her university-sponsored sabbatical. I remembered a friend at brunch asking me, “If you don’t find a new job, will you leave anyway?” At the time, I said no. But staring at that board, all of it came together.

And in that moment, God gave me the clarity: Take a nurse sabbatical.

I Googled the word. It fit. Then my practical side took over. I pulled out my Excel sheet and started crunching numbers. Could I really take three months off and survive? Could I cover my condo, my expenses, and still live the way I wanted?

The answer was yes.

Once I knew that, my decision became my North Star. On my blackboard I wrote: Give notice by October 31, 2021.

But I didn’t give notice right away. I waited because I was nervous and unsure. I had just received a national award for my leadership. I was being asked to consider applying for a Senior Director of Nursing role. On paper, it was everything I had worked for. But inside, I felt exhausted and unmotivated.

I went on vacation, hoping sun, sea, and sand would give me clarity. It didn’t.

When I came back, I was told I would now be put in charge of building a new team with 12 more people to manage. I said I didn’t have the bandwidth. They assured me that I would have time before starting. But as soon as I got to my desk, there it was: my name on the email. The decision had been made for me. That was the sign. I had to go.

I gave my notice in the most calm way as possible even though my heart was beating so fast. As I left office, I held my stomach wondering what I had done. I told my parents about my resignation that night over Facetime.. My dad’s first reaction was, “What?” Then the tears flows. And I said, “I can’t do this anymore.” He simply said, “Okay.”

Every day until the day I left, I grew more convicted in my decision. I felt lighter. On my last day, when I handed in my keys and my work phone, I exhaled. For the first time in years, I felt free.

Chalkboard with personal goals symbolizing the clarity that led to taking a sabbatical.

What 2021 Amy Didn’t Know

If I could go back, I’d tell 2021 Amy: You are about to go on a radical ride of self-discovery.

The sabbatical wasn’t just a pause. It was the first step in building a life by design.

Since then, I’ve launched a tech company. Learned how to run a business. Closed the same tech company. Consulted for a startup. Joined boards on nursing innovation and well-being. Given talks about burnout and rest.

Throughout this journey, I am so proud of the lifestyle I designed. I live in Florida with no winters and snow. I wake up daily, see the sun and trees. On my daily walks around my lake, I see birds, turtles, ducks, sometimes ducklings, and I say good morning to neighbors. Almost every Wednesday, I go to the beach.

I still work part-time clinically, because it keeps me connected to the challenges clinicians face today. Some days are tough, but that work gives me the freedom to keep building what’s next. I live in phases, and each phase brings me closer to the life I’m designing.

Along the way, I have met amazing innovators and changemakers who aren’t satisfied with the status quo and are striving to make the world a better place.

orning walk by a lake with ducks, symbolizing reflection and new beginnings after a sabbatical

What I Want You to Know

If you are exhausted. If your body is sending you signals you’re trying to silence. If you’re dragging yourself through the week and patching yourself up with small fixes just to make it through. Please hear me: you are not weak.

If you love your profession but feel trapped in broken systems, you are not alone.

If you are afraid of leaving, remember: sometimes the fear of staying is bigger.

Taking a sabbatical gave me rest. But it also gave me clarity, freedom, and a new vision for what’s possible.

I want you to walk away from my story with all three: inspiration, permission, and proof.

Because if I can do it, so can you.

Take care, take breaks.

February 28, 2022 0 comment