This week, I had an interesting, delightful, and disappointing experience. It was interesting to talk with college students who had been selected to nursing program. It was delightful to hear some of their plans and interests. It was disappointing to learn that both had been left hanging by "nurse leaders" who dropped the ball. Please don't leave people hanging.
Select students in our local university in a leadership course taught by the student body president were tasked to talk to a leader in their intended discipline. The goal was to learn about the leader's growth journey and experiences. A course leader (and relative) contacted me to find a replacement nurse leader for one of his students. The initial interviewee agreed to participate, then failed to respond after the initial commitment. I readily agreed to participate. Shortly afterwards talking to my interviewer, a second future nursing student who had been similarly "ghosted" asked if I would also talk with her.
Whatever we do, we should not leave others hanging. I believe in the importance of saying "no" and having a "not to do list". I also believe in honoring commitments. If a commitment becomes impossible, explain the situation. Conflicts do arise and choices are often necessary. However, I won by having two opportunities to talk to future nursing students about leadership within our profession. Their questions reflected awareness of what leadership, as opposed to management.
In the end, neither the interview took much more than 15 minutes and I actually gained by having these interactions at the MIA nurse leaders' loss. But the experience has stuck with me as a reminder of the importance to directly bow out of commitments when conflicts arise.