[My personal and professional efficacy]

Being a nurse means there's little room for error. The work is demanding and often stressful. As a result, suggests the author, nurses are sometimes too hard on themselves, blaming themselves for things that are beyond their control. This can lead to depression, burnout or leaving the profession altogether. The article suggests performance evaluation criteria that are both realistic and achievable. A number of examples are given, using everyday situations that we have all had to confront, at one time or another, in our personal or professional lives. Effective versus ineffective evaluation criteria are presented, as well as several practical suggestions. Nursing will continue to be a stressful, demanding profession, says the author. But following these simple suggestions will go a long way towards mitigating the stress and allowing nurses to take justifiable pride in what they do.