MINDFULGym Nurse
Be Present, Be Calm & Be Grateful
Focusing Attention
NOWING THE PRESENT MOMENT
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This is a MINDFULGym tool that helps us to be more aware of what we’re doing by mentally labeling or silently verbalizing our physical activities.
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Sometimes we do things in autopilot mode; the mind is not fully in the present moment during activities. When this happens, we’re prone to forget things and make mistakes, e.g. forget to switch off the fan, fill petrol after paying for it, collect money after ATM withdrawal. We wear a shirt inside out/ back to front; we leave things behind (phone, purse, and laptop).
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When we mentally label or silently verbalize our physical activities, we increase our attention on what we’re doing and thus reduce forgetfulness and careless mistakes.
Multitasking is a thief. It steals away time, energy, and productivity. We can't focus well and end up making careless mistakes
It's time to focus on the
PRESENT MOMENT
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NOWING - How to focus on doing one thing at a time?
Think of physical activities that we need to focus more on to reduce forgetfulness or mistakes, e.g. when we withdraw money from ATM, use a knife, drive to a new place, count money. You may also think of situations in which we're often absent-minded or careless.
Mentally label or silently verbalize some of the steps associated with the activity, e.g. "insert ATM card," "942235" (key in pin number), "RM 500" (key in amount of money), "collect ATM card," "100, 200, 300..." (counting money).
Try to apply the NOWING practice in the following nursing activities:
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​serving medicines
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giving injections
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maintaining medical records
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observing vital signs
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feeding patients
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assisting the surgeon
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taking blood
How to apply NOWING in nursing activities?
Yesterday was history
Tomorrow is mystery
Today is a gift, The PRESENT
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Agnes Baker Pilgrim