Well-being is critical for us to maintain excellent health. During these times of uncertainty, it is even more important to invest in ourselves to allow us to better care for others. This coronavirus pandemic is going to be a marathon, not a sprint, and there are strategies that can help us thrive. ASPAN is committed to your well-being and health.
In 2017, ASPAN launched a research study on Perianesthesia Nurse Burnout and Resiliency. Participation was open to any of the almost 15,000 ASPAN members through completion of an anonymous voluntary electronic survey. This survey included the first use of newly created Self Identify Burn Out survey (SIBO) and this particular assessment allowed for a richer understanding of nurse burnout and resiliency.1 As the principle investigator for this research project, I used the findings from this study to create the pilot ASPAN Resiliency Workshop offered at the 2019 National Conference. As a nurse who had experienced an episode of job burnout early in my career, this experience spurred an interest later as a nurse researcher. This interest has resulted in 4 national studies and 2 single-site studies, as well as creation of ASPAN’s Well-being Strategic Work Team (SWT). As an organization and as individuals, there are many things we can do to improve the well-being of our work environment and our own wellness.
Historically, nurses ignore their own needs to meet the needs of their patients. In the American Nurses Association Executive Summary of their Health Risk Appraisal, they report that 68% of the nurses surveyed shared they put the safety, health, and wellness of their patients before their own.2 This is a sad situation to me. We would never ask those we care for to endure the same conditions of denial (dehydration, standing for long hours, etc.) that we repeatedly ask of ourselves. The time has come for a change in our mindset and culture. Being just as kind to ourselves as we are to those we serve, can drastically improve our quality of life. There is a line in the short story, The Butterfly, written by Danish author and poet Hans Christian Andersen, that sums this up: "Just living is not enough, one must have sunshine, freedom, and a little flower.”3
The ASPAN Well-being SWT will be sharing evidence-based resources and creating education on well-being topics ranging from self-care to strategies to decrease workplace violence. They will be sharing items on the ASPAN Well-being SWT webpage and their Facebook page. Please visit these pages frequently to see what they have found, created or shared.
Thank you and take care,
Elizabeth Card, MSN APRN FNP-BC CPAN CCRP FASPAN
ASPAN President 2020-2021
References
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Card EB, Hyman SA, Wells N, Shi, Y, Shotwell MS, Weinger MB. Burnout and resiliency in perianesthesia nurses: findings and recommendations from a national study of members of the American Society of PeriAnesthesia Nurses. J Perianesth Nurs. 2019;34(6):1130-1145.
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American Nurses Association. Executive summary. Health risk appraisal. Accessed July 1, 2020. https://www.nursingworld.org/~495c56/globalassets/practiceandpolicy/healthy-nurse-healthy-nation/ana-healthriskappraisalsummary_2013-2016.pdf
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Andersen HC. The Butterfly. In: Eventyr og Historier (fairy tales and stories). 1861
