Emotional Well-Being Role Models

My name is Jade M., BSN, RN. I have been at Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) since 2020.

I currently work as a Clinical Staff Leader on the Vanderbilt Interdisciplinary Care Program (VICP) unit. I chose to focus on emotional wellness because bedside nursing can be incredibly taxing, both physically and emotionally. VUMC has the tools to help me achieve my goal including the Employee Assistance Program (EAP). I began with small steps such as utilizing the EAP services, journaling post-shift, and sharing the EAP resource to my nurse colleagues. I previously struggled with pre-shift anxiety. By implementing the tools provided by EAP, I now utilize talk therapy and post-shift journaling to analyze those challenging emotions felt during my shift. Another valuable resource I find helpful has been the Keener journaling app.  

Because of my journey to emotional wellness, I have encouraged my nursing team to participate as well. We now work on emotional wellness together through morale events like hot chocolate/coffee bars and birthday celebrations to bring a little joy to our work shifts. I also encourage my direct reports to take short breaks to grab coffee when needing a mental wellness break during a hard shift. I have referred several staff, both nursing and non-nursing, to take advantage of the EAP services. The EAP team is easily accessible, and they make me feel safe and validated with each interaction. In addition, they were able to provide references to outside therapy options that aligned with our insurance. Whether needing it short or long-term, EAP is a wonderful place to start and can help with coping when this job takes its toll.  

It's never too late to take care of your emotional wellness!  

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