School Nurses and Self-Realization

This chapter explores what self-realization means for school nurses and what it entails in their daily practice as a school nurse. Norwegian school nurses are a group of nurses who tend to remain in practice, and the chapter illuminates that for them, self-realizing means taking a stand and aligning their work with what truly matters to them as a nurse. This way, they realize who they want to be and what they are capable of being as a nurse. Moreover, for school nurses, self-realization includes confidence in their professional abilities as well as aspiring for appreciation and accomplishing self-care. Accordingly, self-realization is concerned with them striving to do what is of worth. In turn, self-realization represents a work-life the school nurses enjoy – a work-life they desire that align with their aspirations as nurse.