This year I have entered my 20th year of working in the nursing profession. As I reflect back over the years and my career I can’t help but think about the 22 year old new nurse working in the Cardiac ICU in a trauma center. In the first 3 years of my career I experienced the traumatic loss of both my mother and little sister. I was not only struggling with the trauma of being a nurse but I was struggling with the traumatic grief and loss of two of my family members. I struggled with my mental, emotional and physical health during this time and kept showing up to work at the bedside day after day. This Cumulative Care Taking Trauma manifested as depression, anxiety, guilt and addiction. I suffered in silence for many years before seeking the help and support that I so desperately needed. I often times felt alone and hopeless.
As I look back on my own healing and recovery journey over the last 20 years I am so incredibly grateful to be a team member of Debriefing The Front Lines. Through my lived and professional experience both at the bedside and with Debriefing The Front Lines I truly found out what it means to be a Human first then a Nurse.
In 2022 I became a board certified nurse coach and debriefing facilitator for Debriefing The Front Lines. Doing this work and holding space for my fellow nurses as they navigate trauma, mental health struggles and addiction has been the honor of my lifetime. None of us should have to navigate these things alone because alone is no longer enough. I'm continually amazed inspired by my clients. We all deserve to tend to our own humanity first before caring for others. Tending to our own needs emotionally, mentally, physically and spiritually fosters hope and makes nursing sustainable.
Each year our annual campaign funds our Debriefing Scholarship Program entirely. This GivingTuesday our collective goal is to raise $10,000 to provide 200 scholarship-based debriefing sessions to nurses in need of mental health support in 2025!
A donation of $50 provides a nurse with a scholarship based debriefing 🤎
