Reconnecting With The Nurse Within
Interview with Elizabeth Scala, MSN/MBA, RN
As an author, keynote speaker, workshop facilitator and Reiki Master, Elizabeth Scala partners
with hospitals, nursing organizations and associations to help transform the field of nursing
from the inside out. A former psychiatric nurse on one of the most acute inpatient units in
the state of Maryland, she says she lived (and worked) “too busy, too stressed and too overwhelmed.” And all of that “too much” took a toll on her relationships and physical, mental, and
emotional well-being. Elizabeth’s books and online conferences help nurses resuscitate the
passion they once felt for their nursing careers and reconnect them with their purpose, improving job satisfaction, employee morale and teamwork. Health eCareers chatted with Elizabeth recently about her work.
How do you help nurses develop both professionally and personally?
Nursing is an absolutely amazing profession, but I hear more than ever that our nurse professionals are feeling overwhelmed, over-extended and under-supported. While the reality of
resources shortages can’t be denied, I help nurses become aware of their inner landscape and
what’s going on within them both emotionally and spiritually. Once that awareness is created,
they have the ability to shift to more opportunistic ways of thinking and start seeing situations
as lessons for learning and opportunities for growth. They become more accountable in their
work and their life, and use newfound skills to create a healthy outlook and real enjoyment in
their profession and beyond.
There’s an overpowering “lack” mentality in nursing that can really negatively affect the culture of an organization…not enough IV pumps, too little staff, budget cuts, etc. This collective
perception breaks down the ability of staff to function well together, and one of the topics I
explore has to do with the language we used to describe our environment and how that language really affects the energy of a community.
How did you find yourself on this path?
Well, I’m sorry to say that I was once a “Negative Nancy Nurse” myself! But while I was pursuing my master’s degree, I had the opportunity to work in a wellness center and see the work
they do in promoting health by preventing chronic illnesses. The concept of well-being resonated so much with me that I ended up putting those ideas into practice by starting my own
business with the mission of promoting emotional and spiritual wellness within the nursing
community.
What are some of the common questions you receive?
There are so many! I do see a lot of requests for advice lately is the area of nurses starting
their own businesses. With more and more NPs exploring the opportunities associated with
full practice authority, I get a lot of entrepreneurial questions around how to launch and build
a practice where the NP may be a sole practitioner. Many nurses don’t even see themselves as
business owners with their own company and brand. They have to figure out how to do things
they’ve never done before…market their services, bill patients and provide customer service –
it’s a tall order.
Any final thoughts?
Much of the work I do with organizations centers around identifying the things that we can
control to make a positive impact in our professional lives and relationships. While certain external realities might be fixed and unchangeable, we do have the ability to shift and adjust our
mindset and how we react to those things. I’m motivated to help nurses make the mental shift
needed to better maneuver the challenging realities of being a caregiver in today’s healthcare
society. I like to show my workshop participants how to go from ‘under the gun’ to having fun
– it’s a trip worth taking!
Read Elizabeth Scala’s NP Articles:
•Nurse Practitioners Turned Entrepreneurs: Practical Strategies to Starting Your Business
•Nurse Practitioners Turned Entrepreneurs: Mindset Shifts for a Thriving Practice