Can we learn from bees?
Welcome and thank you for your time! I want to explain my comparison between the honey bee and nurses. Both are important to the survival of the world as we know it. Yet how does a simple little bee make a difference in a very complex hive? The bee knows its survival depends on the health and harmony of the hive. Neither the honey bee nor the hive can survive without the other. A tiny little bee can make a difference just like a single nurse can make a difference, let’s explore some similarities.
- A bee is a vital part of the hive.
Every nurse has an important job every time they clock in at work. There are many different types of positions, and every position is vital for the health and survival of our patients. Not all nurses must be at the bedside, just like all bees don’t gather the nectar, but everyone has an important job to do.
- Every bee has a job; they can’t all be the “Queen”.
While a hive cannot survive without a queen bee, it cannot survive without the worker bees either. The queen works very hard, not only for the population of the hive (laying eggs), but by also controlling the temperament of the hive. So, let’s take this to the C-suite, I believe that they control the number of nurses and overall temperament of the hospital. Are they approachable? Or do the nurses even know if she is there?
- Bees care for their sisters.
There are numerous stories of bees helping each other. Why? When there are hundreds of them, why do they care about the one? That is how we should be as nurses, if our coworker is struggling, do we pitch in to help or just look the other way?
- Precise math is critical.
Medication errors are unfortunately too common in medicine. Nurses are responsible for each medication that the patient receives. Calculations are also important to the honey bee. Each hexagonal cell is a precise measurement, and each cell is connected to another cell. If the measurements are incorrect the structure is compromised and what the bees need for survival will collapse.
Conclusion
These are just a few of the parallels that have sparked my fascination as a nurse with the honey bees. They know that they are part of the bigger picture and have a caring yet extremely defensive attitude toward their hive. Can we as nurses work together like the honey bee to create a sweet not sticky environment?