Evoking the essence of caring: experiences from a Peruvian adventure relevant for leaders in healthcare today

There are times when an experience is so powerful that it evokes caring in its purest form. This is what happened when a group of healthcare providers traveled together on a trip to Peru. This article recounts a harrowing experience that called each person to give caring and receive learning regarding his or her own journey. It is about how caring can simply happen with ease and purpose. Communication and collaboration occurred effortlessly. In this experience, there was a remembering of the passion and purpose that exists when we are called to serve in healthcare settings. The learning gained included 4 key elements of caring: intent, presence, action, and surrender. This learning offers insight, direction for healthcare environments today. Healthcare leaders must be responsive to creating cultures and providing opportunities to support those serving patients to intentionally think about their caring approaches. It is possible to evoke caring through providing opportunities that help healthcare providers transcend the daily barriers to being present and be more effective in their caring. It is imperative that they experience ways to examine their ability to care for themselves and others and to reconnect to the passion of choosing the healthcare profession.