"What's Your Superpower?

 (A Question Every Hospice or Palliative Care Nurse Should Ask Themselves)

I don't know about you, but there were times in my nursing career when I felt timid.

I didn't always want to ask things of people I found intimidating — like a supervisor in another department. Or when I worked in an outpatient palliative care clinic and needed to call another department with a question before sending a referral, I'd get completely befuddled.

The thing that always helped me take that scary step was one simple question:

"Why are you doing this?"

When the answer was "for the patient," the fear disappeared. I was able to do whatever needed to be done. Every single time.

I know one of my strengths — my superpower, if you will — is that I'm a fierce patient advocate. (I've got a few stories about that. Save those for another day.)

So — What's Your Superpower?

I know you have more than one.

I encourage you to think about it. Name it. Then harness it — for yourself, for your patients, and maybe even for your colleagues.

Nothing coming to mind?

Is there an inner voice saying, "Superpower?! I can barely get through the day!"

That's okay. Here's a quick exercise:

1. Slow down. Take a deep breath.

2. Picture something that makes you smile — a color, a place, someone you love. It doesn't have to make sense. (Riding on a flying sofa counts too.)

3. Once that good feeling settles in, ask again: "What's one of my strengths?"

A thought or image might surface. You'll know it when it does.

And if nothing comes right now — that's okay too. It will, eventually.

Why This Matters

Knowing your strengths is only half the equation.

The other half is having people around you who reflect them back to you — especially on the days you can't see them yourself. Days when you're too tired, too stretched, or too far into a hard shift to remember what makes you good at this work.

That's exactly why I'm building  a community for hospice and palliative care nurses, built to hold that other half. A space where your strengths, your hard days, and everything in between don't have to be carried alone.

I'd Love to Hear From You

What's one of your strengths or superpowers? Tell me in the comments below.

And if you're a hospice or palliative care nurse ready to explore that alongside others who truly understand this work — I'd love to have you join us. Come find your people. Watch for more information as things develop.

Thanks for reading, 

Helen

---

A Note on Authorship & AI

The ideas, stories, experiences, and primary content in this article are written by the author. AI tools may occasionally be used for minor editing, such as grammar, clarity, or organization. AI is not used to generate the author’s stories, experiences, or original perspective. All final content is reviewed, revised as needed, and approved by the author before publication.