How can you use resilience to advance your career in patient advocacy?

Resilience isn't just about displaying grit or sheer willpower in the face of adversity; it involves being comfortable with oneself and demonstrating the agility to adapt to circumstances without harm to oneself or others. It's crucial for patients to advocate for self-care and show empathy towards themselves. The journey of patient advocacy requires sustained attention to mental and physical well-being, and being vigilant against burnout and mental exhaustion. In essence, resilience is the capacity to effectively manage one's wellbeing while navigating challenges.

Resilience in end of life care is to overcome obstacles found in even mundane tasks or small take care from providers. As a patient advocate, it is our job to give all of the information and treatment options in order for patients to make the best decision for themselves. It is not easy to have difficult conversations when a person is nearing the end of their journey, but by staying resilient and keeping care patient focused, you can never go wrong.

Resilient patient advocates can adapt to changing circumstances, handle stress more effectively, and remain focused on their mission to provide the best care and support. This ability to bounce back and grow in the face of challenges is not just beneficial for their own well-being but also crucial in fostering a supportive environment for service users who are dealing with their own set of challenges. Moreover, resilience in this field facilitates better collaboration with other healthcare professionals, as it involves learning from various interactions and feedback. Ultimately, it's a cornerstone for achieving both personal and professional aspirations in a field as demanding and rewarding as patient advocacy.

Resilience is a skill honed over time, shaped by life’s challenges and our responses to them. In patient advocacy, it’s crucial. It’s about bouncing back amid adversity and rejection, persisting in our mission to support and fight for our patients. More than that, resilience is about managing our emotional well-being, staying composed in the face of heart-wrenching patient stories. It’s not just about serving others; it’s also about maintaining our strength to be the support our patients need.

Resilience is what I have learned from immigrants like myself. I came to the US from India at the tender age of 18 with nothing except a strong desire to succeed. Fast forward to the present, after close to 3 decades, I stand as a testament to many others like myself, that with resilience and a positive mental attitude, anything is possible!

Assessment of one's own resilience is a periodic process, without which true advancement is not possible. One needs to use one's own progress as the true yardstick for success, and resist comparison with others.

Assess resilience through self-reflection on how you respond to challenges and manage self-care. Seek feedback from mentors on growth areas. Use validated scales to benchmark and track resilience levels over time. Notice inner dialogue and self-compassion. Framing setbacks as learning opportunities promotes resilience. Evaluate work-life balance and joyful activities. Self-care and meaning cultivate resilience. Regular assessment via metrics, feedback and reflection provides clarity to build greater resilience.

When one is resilient by nature, it can be difficult to self-assess. Periodically asking people you work, have worked with, or even those you just spend time with regularly may be helpful.

Assessing resilience level involves reflecting on various aspects of life and how to handle stress. In my experience and practice, I consider these steps: 1)Self-Reflection: I evaluate how I respond to challenges and setbacks and I reflect on my coping mechanisms and emotional responses. 2)Problem-Solving Skills: Assessing my capacity to analyze problems and develop effective solutions as resilient individuals tend to be proactive in addressing challenges. 3)Past Experiences: Reflect on how I’ve coped with past difficulties. Ability to learn and grow from challenges can indicate resilience. By honestly considering these aspects, one can gain insights into her resilience level and identify areas for potential improvement.

While resilience assessment tools like the Resilience Scale and Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale are valuable, consider incorporating mindfulness practices into your daily routine. Research shows that mindfulness can significantly enhance resilience by helping individuals better manage stress and setbacks. Simple mindfulness exercises, such as deep breathing or meditation, can be powerful tools for patient advocates to build emotional resilience. By integrating mindfulness into your advocacy practice, you can not only enhance your own resilience but also better support your patients in their healthcare journey.

Resilience skills are taught by life - the worse off the situation you face, the better chances of applying resilience to overcome it!

I agree with cultivating a growth mindset. Resiliency is about altering our mindset, as to how we perceive the obstacles we inevitably face in our journey toward bringing our clearly defined goals to fruition. We can choose to view the circumstances we’re in, and the trials and tribulations we face as either insurmountable obstacles, or alternatively, as necessary obstacles to overcome in order to create new opportunities that contribute to our personal and professional growth, and ultimately help us to achieve our goals. Adopting the right mindset to consistently perceive our trials and tribulations as opportunities to grow and get closer to our goals, contributes to the ongoing strengthening of our resilience.

Incorporate storytelling as a tool for resilience-building in patient advocacy. Sharing personal or patient success stories can be a powerful way to inspire and motivate both yourself and others. Narratives of overcoming challenges and achieving positive outcomes not only reinforce a growth mindset but also create a sense of community and connection. Encourage patients to share their stories as well, as this can empower them and foster a supportive environment. By weaving the power of storytelling into your advocacy work, you not only enhance your own resilience but also amplify the resilience of those you advocate for, creating a richer and more inspiring healthcare journey for all involved.

Building resilience acknowledges our inner world with external factors, especially our nervous system's crucial role. Our vagus nerve is a key regulator of resilience:Tools: 1️⃣ HRV support apps regulate heart rate variability, enhancing resilience. 2️⃣ Exercise. 3️⃣ Stanley Rosenberg's reset technique rewires our stress response. 4️⃣ Regulating melatonin using blue-blocking glasses improves sleep quality. 5️⃣ Hydration maintains body equilibrium. Above all, connection holds the most significance. Research shows its role in improving resilience. Taking a moment to check in and find what works for you can make a BIG difference: Nature? A pet? A loved one? These connections rejuvenate us, fostering resilience and well-being.

Practice self-care through healthy habits that nourish you. Cultivate a growth mindset by viewing challenges as learning opportunities and replacing negative self-talk with encouragement. Seek support and mentoring by clearly communicating needs and asking for help early on. Being proactive about self-care, positivity, and relationships builds resilience over time to handle adversity and thrive in any role.

The SMART goal-setting approach has helped me achieve a lot. However, beyond that, two (2) techniques that have helped me apply resiliency at work are mindfulness practices and maintaining a growth mindset. Mindfulness aids in grounding oneself during stress, fostering focus and calmness. A growth mindset, embracing challenges and seeing failures as opportunities for growth, is crucial. It's about evolving one's approach based on experience, seeking constructive feedback, and staying open to continuous learning. This wholesome approach, combining goal-setting with emotional intelligence and a learning-oriented mindset, helps me navigate complexities effectively.

Consider incorporating 'resilience workshops' into patient advocacy programs. These workshops can provide patients, caregivers, and advocates with practical tools and techniques to build and apply resilience in the face of healthcare challenges. Through interactive sessions and group discussions, participants can learn to set SMART goals, manage their emotions effectively, and share their experiences to collectively strengthen their resilience. By fostering a community of resilient individuals, patient advocacy can become an even more powerful force for positive change in healthcare, benefiting both advocates and the patients they serve.

Set SMART goals - Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-bound goals help you stay focused and motivated. Manage emotions effectively using self-awareness, self-care, and healthy expression. Don't let setbacks derail you. Reflect often to gain wisdom and improve. Identify lessons learned and how to adjust strategies. Collaborate with colleagues to get support and avoid burnout. Practice flexibility, adapting to change when needed. Focus on what you can control, letting go of what you can’t. Celebrate small wins with gratitude. Acknowledge efforts, not just outcomes.

Patient Advocacy provided via remote application requires very effective communication skills to help ensure that patients understand, accept, trust, and follow through on health recommendations. Educating with empathy is the key. Resiliency in this field is enabled by the Advocate's flexibility in adjusting their approach to a goal, by appropriately acknowledging a patient's autonomy, and by not putting a period where there should be a comma in the dialogue or decision process. I maintain an external focus on the patient by choosing to fully evaluate the patient's responses with an analytical mindset to determine how they are processing pertinent information. This focus on their response circumvents needlessly internalizing reactions.

C'est un concept de psychologie individuelle qui concerne la capacité d'une personne à surmonter des situations difficiles et stressantes au travail. Cette capacité nous permet d'assumer, de manière flexible et réfléchie, les situations pénibles au travail.

What has worked for me? 1. I emphasize personal growth stories at every chance I get to do so. 2. I showcase instances where adaptability and a positive mindset led to overcoming professional hurdles. 3. When I use the STAR framework, I focus on resilience and learning from each Situation and Task. When discussing Actions, I highlight innovative solutions and coping mechanisms. For Results, I emphasize personal growth and positive impacts on my work environment.

When presenting your abilities to potential employers, it's crucial to showcase resilience through specific examples from your professional history. Emphasize positive outcomes resulting from challenges, using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) for clear and concise communication of your resilience in various contexts.

Sou flexível, um bom ouvinte e aplico técnicas de comunicação eficaz. Estou em um processo de autoconhecimento e acredito que, com o tempo, surgirão mais aspectos a serem aprimorados.

Cultivate a network for support and knowledge-sharing. Adaptability is key in navigating complex healthcare landscapes. Advocate not just for patients but also for your professional growth. Embody resilience as a force for positive change, fostering collaboration and elevating your impact in an unpredictable world of patient advocacy.

Remember this…everyone can learn to be resilient. Start by practicing some common characteristics of resilient people and focusing on your existing strengths. Becoming more resilient may take time so be patient with yourself. The investment you make will have big payoffs on your health and well-being. Resilience is important for our mental health and how we approach our clients.

Resilient people are confident that they will succeed, despite any setbacks that they experience. They have the self-belief to take risks, and they understand that failure is just another step toward success

Resilience is a vital asset for advancing a career in advocacy, encompassing adaptability, continuous learning, and effective communication. Embrace change, stay informed on issues, and cultivate strong relationships to navigate challenges. Strategic planning, including anticipating obstacles and developing contingency plans, is crucial. Prioritize self-care to sustain mental and physical well-being. Celebrate achievements, no matter how small, to boost morale. Maintaining passion for your cause serves as a powerful motivator during tough times. Resilience isn't about avoiding difficulties; it's about facing them with determination, ensuring an impactful career in advocacy.

Resilience is an ongoing process requiring self-compassion, optimism and finding meaning in one's work. Mentors and community uplift and illuminate the path. Listen to your mind and body - self-care enables service. View setbacks as opportunities to grow rather than failures. Focus on progress over perfection. Share struggles and celebrate successes. With consistent nurturing of one's spirit, resilience develops, equipping patient advocates to handle adversity with wisdom, strength and grace.