Mindfulness for Nurses: How to Navigate Emotional Flooding in the Hospital

(Can I be honest with you?)

Something happened recently that emotionally flooded me—sent me straight into that pit-in-your-

stomach, tornado-of-the-brain stress cycle.

You probably know the feeling.

That moment on the unit or just before shift change when your inner critic kicks in and says:

“This is all your responsibility. You need to fix this!!”

But instead of spiraling, I paused.

And I turned to one of the most powerful tools we practice at MOOXLI: mindfulness in the clinical setting.

A Real-Time Mindfulness Practice for Nurses

I took a breath.

I gently interrupted the rumination and asked myself:

What are your values in this situation, Darling?

It wasn’t a magic solution—but it gave me a lifeline.

Boundaries vs. Responsibility in the Hospital Setting

Here’s what I remembered:

✨ I have healthy boundaries.

✨ I need to stay clear about where I end and others begin.

✨ I cannot fix people.

✨ I cannot control others' actions or choices.

The only thing I can do is show up with honesty and love, anchored in who I am—and belonging to myself, even in the high-stakes world of healthcare.

MOOXLI--Sarah Bergakker Substack is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Practicing Authenticity on the Unit

Next, I asked:

What does it look like to show up authentically right now—in this moment, in this hospital setting?

And then I did something simple but powerful:

I set a few quiet intentions.

Not to fix anything. Not to control the outcome.

But to move through the clinical situation in alignment with my values.

The Outcome? Still Hard. But Better.

You know what happened?

It was hard.

And also—so, so good.

That’s what this work is. Not ease. Not perfection.

But the slow, courageous return to yourself—even in the middle of a busy hallway or a stressful shift.

This Is the Work We Do at MOOXLI Retreats

These moments—of overwhelm, self-awareness, and quiet re-alignment—are exactly why MOOXLI exists.

It’s the heart of what we’ll be practicing together at the Spring 2025 MOOXLI Retreat:

No fixing.

No perfection.

Just space to remember who you are.

And support to live it out—even in the hospital.

Nurses, are you Ready to Say Yes to Yourself?

There is one spot left for the Fall 2025 MOOXLI Retreat, and it’s not for the version of you who’s trying to hold it all together. It’s for the one who’s ready to come undone—in the best way. To reclaim your wildness.To stop twisting yourself into shapes for systems that were never meant for you.

This isn’t a retreat to escape your life. It’s a return to the one that’s been calling you all along.

20 CEs. Mountains. A river that remembers. A community that sees you.​And the tools to stop living on autopilot and start living on purpose.

​ One spot. One chance. Let’s go.​

With love,

Sarah