Jacqueline Vance, RN

Recently, I was at an event where the Pledge of Allegiance was said. I realized how long it had been since I had last said it, since it is “outlawed” publically in so many places, but this was a private event.

While I was concentrating so hard on the words, hoping I hadn’t forgotten them, I started thinking about them. And I asked myself: Are we really one nation, with liberty and justice for all? I don’t think anyone who follows the news can wonder why I question this. Think about it.

Why is it so important we ask ourselves this? Because our facilities really are the most diverse workplaces I know. This is the community we live in at least five days a week. We shouldn’t avoid the conversation, BUT that conversation needs to start with ourselves.

Our world right now has deep conflict. Humanity is broken. We have problems with escalating confrontation. We are a divided nation. There is discord among races and controversy concerning law enforcement measures, and multiple opinions as to right or wrong. Vigilante justice took the wrong course. We need to stop and take a breath. 

It is also the time of year when we are saying things like “peace on earth, good will toward men.” Is that just lip service or do we really mean it? If we wish to reconcile ourselves to the world this time of year, then we need to bring about restoration. Ask the hard questions, “Am I a source of unrest? Do I believe in justice for all and good will towards all men, and if so, what am I willing to do to bring that about?” Are we really willing to go deep and examine how we perceive the world? 

Healing begins with us.  Only we can self-examine and ask if we are willing to bring liberty, justice for all and goodwill for all men into our communities. What are our core beliefs and cultural contexts that were rooted in our childhood experiences? How do those cultural beliefs affect our thinking and attitudes?

If you discover you have not a reality but an imprinted belief, awareness of this can bring about needed change. Practice empathy, suspend judgment and set aside bias.

We need to bring about a sense of community, community by community. I truly believe our broken world can be healed. I believe it starts with each one of us. This is my wish for the New Year. I have hope.

Just keeping it real,

Nurse Jackie

The Real Nurse Jackie is written by Jacqueline Vance, RNC, CDONA/LTC, a 2012 APEX Award of Excellence winner for Blog Writing. Vance is a real life long-term care nurse. A nationally respected nurse educator and past national LTC Nurse Administrator of the Year, she also is an accomplished stand-up comedienne. She has not starred in her own national television series — yet. The opinions supplied here are her own and do not necessarily reflect those of her employer or her professional affiliates.