Author: Liz Healy
Well in Mind: Managing Stress at Work
Health care workers prioritize the needs of others over their own needs,so self-care can be complex and challenging. During work shifts, try to engage in these behaviors:
- Working in partnerships or in teams
- Regular check-ins with colleagues, family, and friends
- Brief relaxation/stress management breaks
- Regular peer consultation and supervision
- Time-outs for basic bodily care and refreshment
- Self-monitoring and pacing
- Regularly seeking out accurate information and mentoring to assist in making decisions
- Doing your best to maintain helpful self-talk and avoid overgeneralizing fears
- Focusing your efforts on what is within your power
- Acceptance of situations you cannot change
- Fostering a spirit of fortitude, patience, tolerance, and hope
Well In Mind is here for you. Call 815-933-2240 to schedule an appointmentor to ask about your EAP benefits.
In Memory: Angela J. Tindle
Angela J. Tindle-James
2.1.1974 – 3.30.2021
Angela James was many things to many people – a dear friend, confidant, teacher, mentor, coach, daughter, sister, aunt, soul mate, care giver. To know her was to love her!
Following her education at Olivet Nazarene University, she started working at Riverside Medical Center as a Medical Health Tech twenty years ago, which led to a significant leadership role in the outpatient children’s day treatment program which was so near and dear to her. She thrived in this role and really helped to build the program.
Angela was a humble servant. She was a hard worker, dedicated to the children and to all patients of any age in her care. The kids loved her, as did their parents. Many returned to visit her, just to say hi and thanks. She inspired and instilled in them a sense of hope for a brighter future. She was kind, passionate, patient, understanding. She often reminded them “You are a promise with a capital P – you’re a great big bundle of Potentiality!” She was extremely positive and had the ability to lift others. She listened and learned. Her laughter was loud and contagious. She found such joy in the simplest of things. She was a person of strong faith.
During those more challenging days, there was rarely an issue before her that couldn’t be fixed with a heart-felt conversation with a friend, or a bottle of Pepsi, chewing on a cup of ice, or even a little tabasco sauce on her eggs or pizza. She learned how to keep a proper perspective.
On Tuesday, March 30th 2021, our Riverside family changed forever. God in His infinite wisdom called Angela home despite the healing hands on her, asking and hoping she could stay. She unexpectedly passed away in our presence. We are deeply saddened and broken-hearted by her sudden passing. She will never be forgotten. Her legacy is long-lasting and continues. Her Riverside journey was truly remarkable – she was truly remarkable. And for those of us who were fortunate enough to be able to work so closely with her and to know her, we say thank you Angela James!
Congrats to DAISY Award Winner Ryan W.
This month’s DAISY Award winner is Ryan Whitesell, an RN in our 3ICU area. He was nominated by the family member of a patient who experienced significant loss yet found solace in the kindness and compassion towards their family, stating in part: “… Ryan was my dad’s nurse on Friday and Saturday. He was very kind and wanted to explain everything to us in detail. He provided updates, and the manner in which he spoke to us was very soothing. He would go in the room and just sit with my mom and talk about whatever she wanted to talk about. He checked on my mom, often asking if she needed anything. He was present- you could tell he was sincere and that he genuinely cared about our family. When it came time to take my dad off the vent, it was Ryan who, once again, calmly walked us through what would happen, and he said, you just tell me when you are ready. Then he sat with my mom again. At one point, he even said, “thank you for sharing your stories about your husband with me. I wish I would have had the chance to know him before all of this happened.” That statement just touched me because- again, he was present and genuine and kind as if my dad was his own family member and his only patient.”
The nationwide DAISY award program recognizes the exceptional clinical skills and compassion shown by nurses. To nominate a nurse, or learn more about this program visit bit.ly/Riverside_Daisy
Call for Mother’s Day Partners in Caring Baskets
Would your department be willing to donate a basket for the 2021 Mothers Day Basket Auction fundraiser? Proceeds benefit the Partners in Caring Fund, a financial assistance program to help Riverside employees in times of crisis.
Auction Date: Thursday, May 6
Please deliver all baskets to Kristi Gerrish in the Foundation between May 3-May 5.
To sign up to donate a department basket, please e-mail our co-chair Colleen Wepprecht!
Well in Mind: How to Support Someone who Self-Harms
How to Support Someone who Self-Harms
- Recognize that self-injury is usually a symptom of serious psychological distress
- Avoid any negative reactions to the self-injury
- Discuss the situation calmly, let the person know you have noticed the injuries and are concerned
- Focus on ways to stop the distress
- Encourage the person to speak to someone they trust the next time they feel the urge to self-harm
DO NOT:
- Focus on stopping self-injury (although not healthy, this is a way of coping, and if there is no alternative coping in place their distress could actually become even more severe)
- Trivialize the feelings or situations that have led to self-injury. You don’t have to agree with why they feel the way they do, just focus on how they do feel and focus on that.
- Punish the person
- Threaten to withdraw care
Well In Mind is here for you. Call 815-933-2240 to schedule an appointment or to ask about your EAP benefits.
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