i
o
n
PEF’s nurses get a dose
of professional wellness
ByDEBORAHA.MILES KathyHarding,anurseanddirectorof
s
’
S
t
a
t
Sixtynursesfromvariousstate SelfCareWellness.
agenciesfromBuffalotoLongIsland “YouAreWhatYouEat”waspresented
experiencedlearning,networkingand byRonOdato,acertifiedpersonaltrainer
professionalwellnessinDecember. anddirectorofTheBirchcreekHealthand
AccordingtoattendeesofthePEFnurses WeightLossRetreat.
u
r
s
e
conferenceinQueens,itwasoneofthe “Odatotalkedabouttheimportanceof
bestonthebooks. eatinghealthyfoods,suchasgrains,fresh
N
VickiSchultz,anurseadministrator2 fruitsandvegetables,”Schultzsaid.“He
attheLongIsland gaveusgoodideasonhowtotakecareof
Developmental ourselves,sowecantakebettercareof
DisabilitiesServices
STRESSRELIEVERS—(L-R)GaleBaptiste
thepatients.”
Office,hailedthe“Legal andIlanDuguid,EmergencyRoomRNsat “Withallthechallengesnursesface,
IssuesinNursing” DownstateMedicalCenter,practicea theconferencewasanopportunityfor
workshop. relaxationtechnique. themtonetwork,gatherthelatest
“Theinformationwe — Photos by Richard Dillard informationonthingsoccurringintheir
receivedwasamazing,”
troublewhileprovidingpatientcare.We
field,andtotakecareofthemselvesas
Schultzsaid.“The
areallveryaltruisticandwanttotake
healthprofessionals,”saidPEFRegion11
presenter,DebbieEgel,a
SCHULTZ
careofthepatients.”
CoordinatorJemmaMarie-Hanson,a
PEFnurseandattorney,
Totakecareofpatientsand
memberofthe
highlightedsomany
clients,nursesneedtoachieve
nurses’
importantandcurrentissuesnursesface
optimumhealth,accordingto
committee.
intermsoflegalitiesinnursingand
PEFRegion12CoordinatorDee
“Allofthe
healthcare.
Dodson,chairofPEF’s
speakerswere
“Welearnedaboutsupervising
statewidenurse’scommittee.
verygoodandthe
unlicensedpersonnel,theimportanceof
“Ourthemeforthe
nurseslikedthe
properdocumentation,andthingstobe
conferencefocusedonnurses
varietyoftopicsat
awareofwhenprovidingnursingcare,”
takingcareofthemselves
theworkshops.
Schultzsaid.
legally,physicallyand
Whennursesare
“Wewereremindedtokeepthose
mentally,”Dodsonsaid.
busyand
thingsintheforefront,because,
Otherworkshopsincluded
stressed,that’s
unfortunately,weliveinaverylitigious
“StressManagementforHealth
whentheyneedto
society.Wedon’twanttogetourselvesin
Professionals”presentedby
takecareof
themselves.The
conference
broughttolight
differentwaysto
ensure
professional
LEGALTALK—
wellness,”Hanson
(Above)DebbieEgel
said.
highlightscurrent
“Theconference
legalissuesfornurses
wasabrilliant
attheconference.
idea,”saidGale
(Left)DenyseHillsby
Baptiste,anurse
andVickiSchultz
atSUNY
practicethestress
Downstatein
reductiontechnique.
BrooklynandPEF
Division198
assistantcouncilleader.
“Weallneededandappreciatedthe
wellnesssession,”Baptistesaid.“The
workshoponlegalissueswasvery
educational.Itwouldbewonderfulto
havethatworkshoprepeatedinlocal
areas,astheneedforspecificlegal
knowledgeissomethingthatwould
benefitallourmembers.”
Page14—TheCommunicatorFebruary2009 PEFInformationLine:1-800-553-2445
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