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About Our Committee
The Nurse Wellness Committee was relaunched in March 2023 but the work of this group dates back over 20 years with wellness activities led by nurses dating back to 2002. We are a formal VUMC Shared Governance group that started in 2012. Due to the COVID pandemic, the committee took a hiatus from 2020-2023 but committee members continued their work to improve nurse well-being, including unit visits and individual support. Among our many vast initiatives and accomplishments, highlights include: |
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"Take Your Break Campaign" (2002) Developing a Workplace Violence Taskforce (2008) Yoga Breaks for Nurses (2013) Support of Unit-Based Well-Being (2018) COVID Response Critical Incident Debriefings (2020) |
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| With the committee's relaunch, the work and mission of the Maturing Workforce Committee was absorbed by the Nurse Wellness Committee as common goals were shared, including: | |||
| • | Improving the well-being of nurses 55 and older | ||
| • | Empowering nurses of all ages and experiences to improve their well-being | ||
| • | Addressing physicality changes that nurses experience throughout their career and incorporating best-practices solutions |
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Our Purpose
The purpose of the Nurse Wellness Committee is to: |
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| • | Develop and evaluate programs and services based on the identified work/life balance needs of nurses with a multidimensional approach to addressing wellness through the sectors of occupational, social, emotional, financial, intellectual, spiritual, environmental, and physical. |
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| • | Advocate for the health and wellness of nurses and the nursing team. |
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| • | Educate Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) nurses and staff on wellness initiatives and resources offered by VUMC as well as general health education focused on overall wellness. |
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| • | Serve in an advisory capacity to the Nurse Wellness Program and other work/life balance initiatives. |
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Nurse Wellness Committee Members
Nurse Wellness Committee Executive Sponsor |
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Sarrah Spohnholtz, MSN, RN Director of Nurse Safety and Well-Being Nursing Strategy and System Integration Vanderbilt University Medical Center |
Nurse Wellness Committee Co-Chairs |
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Susan M. Smith, DNP, RN, NPD-BC Director, Clinical Education & Professional Development Vanderbilt Health Regional Hospitals & Clinics |
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Hadassah Wardle, BSN, RN, PMH-BC Psychiatric Nurse Vanderbilt Behavioral Health, Vanderbilt Psychiatric Hospital |
Our Committee comprises representatives from: |
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| • Employee Assistance Program |
• Nursing Education & Professional Development |
| • Nursing Leaders | • Staff Nurses |
| • HealthPlus | • Shared Governance |
Committee Resources
• Become a Role Model • Get Involved with the Nurse Wellness Committee • Teams Channel • Past Agendas • Agenda Submissions |
A Shared Governance Committee |
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| The Nurse Wellness Committee is a Vanderbilt Shared Governance Committee focusing on Nursing Excellence. Visit Shared Governance Committees for opportunities to get involved. |
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Join the Nurse Wellness Committee! |
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Vanderbilt Staff who are or support Nursing are welcome! Meetings First Thursday of the month 1:30pm - 2:30pm via Teams Click to get involved |
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Nursing Across |
