Quotes by Michele G. Kunz

Introduction

This page features some of the most meaningful and enduring quotes from The Art of Mindful Nursing Primer—a practical and heartfelt guide for nurses who want to stay grounded, resilient, and present in one of the most demanding professions on earth.

Michele wrote this book after decades at the bedside and in the classroom—teaching thousands of nurses how to care not just for their patients, but also for themselves. These quotes come from that lived experience. They’re not abstract theory or textbook advice. They’re the quiet, essential truths that carry you through shift after shift, year after year.

If you’re a nurse searching for purpose, presence, and peace in the middle of the chaos—you're in the right place.

1. “Mindfulness isn’t a luxury in nursing—it’s a lifeline. It keeps you steady when the floor starts to shift beneath you.”
—Michele G. Kunz, MSN, ANP, RN, NPD-BC, The Art of Mindful Nursing Primer

2. “Mindfulness won’t change your workload—but it will change how you carry it.”
—Michele G. Kunz, MSN, ANP, RN, NPD-BC, The Art of Mindful Nursing Primer

3. “Nursing teaches you to act fast—but mindfulness teaches you when to pause.”
—Michele G. Kunz, MSN, ANP, RN, NPD-BC, The Art of Mindful Nursing Primer

4. “A mindful nurse is not only more centered—they’re more effective, more present, and more human.”
—Michele G. Kunz, MSN, ANP, RN, NPD-BC, The Art of Mindful Nursing Primer

5. “Mindfulness isn’t about perfection—it’s about showing up with awareness, again and again.”
—Michele G. Kunz, MSN, ANP, RN, NPD-BC, The Art of Mindful Nursing Primer

6. “Mindful practice helps nurses transform chaos into clarity.”
—Michele G. Kunz, MSN, ANP, RN, NPD-BC, The Art of Mindful Nursing Primer

7. “The small act of breathing mindfully can turn a stressful moment into a healing one.”
—Michele G. Kunz, MSN, ANP, RN, NPD-BC, The Art of Mindful Nursing Primer

1. “The most healing thing you can offer your patient isn’t a drug or device—it’s your full, undistracted presence.”
—Michele G. Kunz, MSN, ANP, RN, NPD-BC, The Art of Mindful Nursing Primer

2. “You’re not just caring for patients—you’re shaping the emotional climate of every room you walk into.”
—Michele G. Kunz, MSN, ANP, RN, NPD-BC, The Art of Mindful Nursing Primer

3. “You don’t need to fix everything. Sometimes just being fully there is enough.”
—Michele G. Kunz, MSN, ANP, RN, NPD-BC, The Art of Mindful Nursing Primer

4. “A nurse’s presence is often remembered long after her words are forgotten.”
—Michele G. Kunz, MSN, ANP, RN, NPD-BC, The Art of Mindful Nursing Primer

5. “Listening deeply is one of the most powerful healing tools a nurse can use.”
—Michele G. Kunz, MSN, ANP, RN, NPD-BC, The Art of Mindful Nursing Primer

6. “Even in silence, your presence speaks volumes. Be there with your whole heart.”
—Michele G. Kunz, MSN, ANP, RN, NPD-BC, The Art of Mindful Nursing Primer

1. “Burnout doesn’t mean you’re weak. It means you’ve been strong for too long without rest.”
—Michele G. Kunz, MSN, ANP, RN, NPD-BC, The Art of Mindful Nursing Primer

2. “You can’t pour from an empty cup—and nurses keep trying anyway. That’s why mindfulness matters.”
—Michele G. Kunz, MSN, ANP, RN, NPD-BC, The Art of Mindful Nursing Primer

3. “Resilience isn’t about bouncing back perfectly—it’s about rising up, one breath at a time.”
—Michele G. Kunz, MSN, ANP, RN, NPD-BC, The Art of Mindful Nursing Primer

4. “The bravest thing a nurse can do is rest, recover, and return with intention.”
—Michele G. Kunz, MSN, ANP, RN, NPD-BC, The Art of Mindful Nursing Primer

5. “You are not alone in your exhaustion. Naming it is the first step toward healing.”
—Michele G. Kunz, MSN, ANP, RN, NPD-BC, The Art of Mindful Nursing Primer

6. “Taking a mindful pause is not quitting—it’s choosing to care for yourself with purpose.”
—Michele G. Kunz, MSN, ANP, RN, NPD-BC, The Art of Mindful Nursing Primer

1. “The more self-aware you are as a nurse, the more present you can be for your patients.”
—Michele G. Kunz, MSN, ANP, RN, NPD-BC, The Art of Mindful Nursing Primer

2. “Mindfulness helps you hear the quiet voice of your intuition amid the noise of the shift.”
—Michele G. Kunz, MSN, ANP, RN, NPD-BC, The Art of Mindful Nursing Primer

3. “You grow as a nurse every time you stop and ask yourself, ‘What do I need right now?’”
—Michele G. Kunz, MSN, ANP, RN, NPD-BC, The Art of Mindful Nursing Primer

4. “Awareness of your own emotions helps you hold space for the emotions of others.”
—Michele G. Kunz, MSN, ANP, RN, NPD-BC, The Art of Mindful Nursing Primer

5. “When you give yourself permission to pause, reflect, and grow—you become a wiser nurse.”
—Michele G. Kunz, MSN, ANP, RN, NPD-BC, The Art of Mindful Nursing Primer

1. “The heart of nursing isn’t found in tasks—it’s found in presence, intention, and care.”
—Michele G. Kunz, MSN, ANP, RN, NPD-BC, The Art of Mindful Nursing Primer

2. “Nursing is not just a job—it’s a calling to show up fully, even when it’s hard.”
—Michele G. Kunz, MSN, ANP, RN, NPD-BC, The Art of Mindful Nursing Primer

3. “Your compassion is your superpower. It transforms routines into rituals of healing.”
—Michele G. Kunz, MSN, ANP, RN, NPD-BC, The Art of Mindful Nursing Primer

4. “Every patient encounter is a chance to offer dignity, hope, and humanity.”
—Michele G. Kunz, MSN, ANP, RN, NPD-BC, The Art of Mindful Nursing Primer

5. “When you bring your whole self to the bedside, you remind the world what nursing truly means.”
—Michele G. Kunz, MSN, ANP, RN, NPD-BC, The Art of Mindful Nursing Primer

1. “Boundaries don’t mean you care less—they mean you care with wisdom.”
—Michele G. Kunz, MSN, ANP, RN, NPD-BC, The Art of Mindful Nursing Primer

2. “Saying no with kindness is one of the most loving things a nurse can do.”
—Michele G. Kunz, MSN, ANP, RN, NPD-BC, The Art of Mindful Nursing Primer

3. “Protecting your peace protects your power to care.”
—Michele G. Kunz, MSN, ANP, RN, NPD-BC, The Art of Mindful Nursing Primer

4. “You are allowed to rest. You are allowed to say enough. That’s how you last in this career.”
—Michele G. Kunz, MSN, ANP, RN, NPD-BC, The Art of Mindful Nursing Primer

5. “Self-care is not a reward—it’s a requirement for sustainable compassion.”
—Michele G. Kunz, MSN, ANP, RN, NPD-BC, The Art of Mindful Nursing Primer

6. “Balance isn’t something you find—it’s something you create, choice by choice.”
—Michele G. Kunz, MSN, ANP, RN, NPD-BC, The Art of Mindful Nursing Primer

Read the full story behind these quotes in The Art of Mindful Nursing Primer — available now on Amazon.
It’s not theory. It’s the hard-earned wisdom of a nurse who’s been there.

You’re welcome to quote and share—just credit:
Michele G. Kunz, MSN, ANP, RN, NPD-BC, The Art of Mindful Nursing Primer