The Fourth Quarter is Ours

It is October, the first month of fourth quarter year. Fall has arrived, and weather where you are may be changing. Local stores have likely updated their inventory from fall décor to that upcoming holidays celebrated in final 2 months coffee shops filled with aroma pumpkin spiced lattes other delightful pumpkin-based treats. For some us, it brings joy one America’s favorite past-times, football. In football, THE quarter. The finale. last opportunity secure win. players dig give all help team If ever watched at beginning quarter, on ahead typically hold up 4 fingers indicate theirs alone. All hard work about displayed field. They prepared for or years this moment. This especially important if a playing championship contest. close deal. need finish strong. You ask, what does do nurse practitioners? A lot. Think yourself your colleagues. We spent countless hours our respective nursing programs studying, testing, applying concepts we mastered courses clinical situations. After graduation, decided travel path was best fit us: clinician, educator, administrator, researcher. continue attend conferences, grand rounds, continuing education learning opportunities grow profession area expertise. Outside nursing, parents, family members, friends, more. That means pour into those around us little regard own health needs. There no question it. stressed, overworked, overwhelmed. Our loads high, long. type setting, whether clinical, academia, research, not matter. geographic location, domestic international, story remains same. Various studies document impact past 19 mental, physical, emotional, spiritual health. burnout posttraumatic stress experienced among real. During time, responsibility each personally responsible self-care promote colleagues.1Crane P. Ward S. Self-healing nurses.AORN J. 2016; 104: 386-397https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aorn.2016.09.007Crossref PubMed Scopus (30) Google Scholar Self-care includes addressing goal techniques reduce response body. Such include, but limited to, exercise, nutrition, deep breathing exercises, relaxation physical affection, mindfulness, therapy, reestablishing sense peace.1Crane simply develop perspective daily lives its challenges. current pandemic, alternate between hopeful hopeless. What true desire serve meet needs patients families as well students. empathy, commitment, compassion carry forward. altruism battles mental exhaustion daily. However, still here doing best—caring time working diligently positively patient outcomes. From another, thank you. Thank showing up. extending grace patients, families, students, And done so while, extend grace. reading this, raise air remind ourselves colleagues this. time. will prevail because ours! Let strong!