We recently connected with Abronique Berger and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Abronique, appreciate you sitting with us today to share your wisdom with our readers. So, let’s start with resilience – where do you get your resilience from?
To be honest, I think it is just a part of my core. There is not a single situation or person that comes to mind that I feel would be the culprit. It would be a combination of situations or interactions. As far as I can remember, I just had to be. I think about how I was in full blown labor turning in a test in nursing school. Or how my grandfather was patient in my ICU and I was in charge. He was very sick, but I had to not only be there for my team, but trust my team more than ever. It is engrained in me, I can’t choose every situation or outcome that is given to me. But I can choose my response. My response is to always push forward.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
My entrepreneurship journey is in the exciting beginning stages. However, nursing and mentorship is and will always be a passion of mine. Whether it was training new nurses or heading a committee. It is clear that helping others see themselves in the most positive light and encouraging them to dig into potential, just feels right. During the COVID-19 pandemic, I was house supervisor in a Level 1 trauma center. During that time, I witnessed and endured situations, in which resilience felt like my only option. It collapsed our world and systems. As we began to rebuild, I noticed residual effects of the burnout of nurses causing the exiting of the profession. That also meant…new nurses. But, these nurses did not “grow up” like my colleagues and I. Their foundation was tainted by chaos and reaction, not proactivity.
My purpose as a Nurse Coach is to help provide new nurses a foundation that will allow them to be proactive, with the forever evolving world of healthcare. A few points of emphasis are: time management, knowing the warning signs of nurse burnout, and the recognition of compassion fatigue. This will help them be their best selves, leading them to provide the best care.
January 2024 I am opening my calendar for one on one Nurse Coaching and launching my first “I’m New Here” New Nurse Cohort.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Looking back, the three things that were most impactful in my journey were my support system, humility, and flexibility. My family is very close knit and it took me a while to realize that a lot of people don’t have that support. I am extremely blessed to have a family that supports me. Their support helped me to understand and navigate different dynamics of relationships. I have met quite a few people in my line of work. I feel for certain, my ability to connect and see humans flaws, comes from a foundation of love. I truly believe that I am on this earth to serve and to be the hand and feet of Jesus (Yes, I LOVE Jesus). You cannot effectively serve without humility. Flexibility is also a must. Every aspect of our lives change and evolve. Maintaining your values and standards, while being able to pivot, is essential. My advice to anyone, no matter where they are in their journey; is to be open to learning and seek out opportunities. Sometimes opportunities feel like there is not a tangible return, but everything matters.
All the wisdom you’ve shared today is sincerely appreciated. Before we go, can you tell us about the main challenge you are currently facing?
My biggest challenge is wanting to give 100 percent to everything all the time. However, I have realized that as a wife, a mom of three, a leader, and inspiring entrepreneur, 100 percent to everyone and everything is not balance. I recently have been trying to give myself more grace and it feels good. There is still a little pressure, but it does not feel taxing.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: coach_abronique
- Facebook: A.E. Berger
- Linkedin: abronique-berger
- Other: Website and calendar to come. Please connect with me on Facebook and Instagram for updates.
Image Credits
Genetics Photography- Charlotte NC Just Meghan Photography- Martinsville VA
