Parkland Health & Hospital System's CNO shares practical ways to help staff cope after a major event such as the recent mass shooting of police officers in Dallas.
After high-profile tragedies, the following quote from Mr. Rogers often makes the rounds on social media: "When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, 'Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.'"
Yes, the acts of selflessness, compassion, and dedication by these "helpers" comfort others in times of trouble but, I always wonder, who helps the helpers after a tragic event? What can be done to comfort them and help them cope?
Parkland Health & Hospital System's CNO Karen Watts, RN, MSN, NEA-BC, has the answers to some of these questions.
Facilitate Healing
In July, after being shot by a sniper at a Dallas Black Lives Matters protest, seven police officers were taken to Parkland for treatment. Unfortunately, three of those officers died. [Others, including civilians, were taken to other hospitals.]
"That was a struggle for the staff, and for the physicians, who were there and who did their best to try to save everybody that they could," Watts told me when we spoke in late August. "What we want to do is save lives. It's very hard when you can't."
Though the immediacy of the situation is over, the effects of the tragedy are not.
"I think they're [the staff] doing better than they were early on, but I think there are still moments in time when it comes back to them or something triggers it," she told me.
"Maybe after a very difficult trauma scenario, there are tears at the end of the shift. Or if you lose someone, it brings back the memories of, 'Well, I wasn't able to save this person or save this police officer.'"
So what can a nurse leader do help the helpers recover after a tragedy? Watts suggests:
Set Up Mandatory Counseling
Stoic ED and critical nurses won't always seek out help on their own, which is why Watts advocates for mandatory counseling after tragic events.
"We have psychologists that work with our staff," she says. "So we provide that and generally [make it] mandatory in cases like this where the challenges are so great and there are so many emotions around it."
She also recommends group debriefings and input from the organization's pastoral care services.
Ask Staff What They Need
Parkland's vice president of emergency services meets frequently with the ED staff to get feedback about resources they think will help them cope, Watts says.
"One of the things they talked about was pet therapy," she says. "We do pet therapy typically with patients, but the staff benefits as much as the patients do."
Express Empathy
"I would say one of the things that has helped tremendously is the amount of support in this community," Watts says. "As a leader, that's something you really like to see because when you go through difficult times, people can band together or they can splinter."
Expressions of empathy, like when a local restaurant sent food for the staff [as did people in Orlando who experienced the Pulse nightclub shooting in June], are encouraging and help bring people together, says Watts.
Offer Recognition
Celebrating the good work the staff has done during trying situations can help with healing, Watts says.
Together with The Daisy Foundation, Parkland has planned an event to recognize and acknowledge the trauma team for its efforts during the shooting. Watts says. "I think that's a good way to celebrate the good things that happen," she says.
CNOs must also remember to take care of themselves because it's difficult to care for others if you are running on empty. Watts recommends self-care activities like exercise, eating healthfully, and reaching out to others for support.
"Fortunately, CNOs are a good, strong network," she says. "You could pick up the phone and call anyone around the country and talk to them and that's very helpful."
Jennifer Thew, RN, is the senior nursing editor at HealthLeaders.