Each year millions of people make New Year’s resolutions. We make a decision to do something, change something, not to do something–whatever the case may be–only to get to month 3 and fall off the wagon.  Let’s start making New Year’s goals and aspirations. In nursing, our documentation format used to be APIE–Assessment, Planning, Implementation, and Evaluation. Using that format let’s do this!

This year resolve to 1. Assess yourself. Am I happy with myself, my career, my finances, and my life as it is now? What do I want? What do I need?  After answering those questions, Set goals, then… 2. Plan. what do I need to do to get where I want to be? What are the steps to achieving the goals I’ve set for myself? Write it down. Step by Step.  Set a time frame for goal achievement. 3. Implement. Spring into action. Start doing those things that you wrote down in the planning phase. Attack each step one by one. 4. Evaluation. Each month, review your goals and determine how effective you have been at achieving them or completing the steps towards achieving those goals. Then Repeat. 5. Re-assess and start the cycle all over again until you achieve your goals. 

Get started. You Got This!