The ultimate balance: caring for yourself--caring for others

We all know that caring is both a traditional as well as a contemporary value in nursing, and yet how many of us are as good at caring for ourselves as we are at meeting the needs of others? It's time the ethic of caring was expanded to include caring for the caregiver, as well as the more traditional emphasis on the patient's needs. Before you can care for others well, you must first know how to care for yourself. This article is an invitation to interact with the material. If you merely read the words you will miss the opportunity to reflect more closely on the balance between caring for others and caring for yourself. So take out a pen and some paper and spend some introspective time. Use this article as a mirror for personal reflection and a springboard for professional action.