Healthcare workers are used to the holiday juggling act; while so many others take vacation time during the holidays, healthcare workers fit holiday preparations and celebrations in between shifts. This year, the holidays take on a new meaning and, with it, new stressors as we navigate the obligations of work, patient care, family, traditions, and a pandemic.

Here, some NOVA nurses share how they cope with stress during the holidays, and how they keep their spirits high during the happiest time of the year.

 

Find What is Stressing You

Self-awareness is just one way to anticipate and combat stress before it gets out of control. What’s currently stressing you? What do you anticipate will cause stress as the holidays draw nearer? Set a plan in place to start tackling some of your holiday to-dos in advance. If the sheer number of to-dos is overwhelming, enlist others to help by asking them to bring a dish to a holiday dinner, help with wrapping gifts, or manage shopping lists. Be proactive and look ahead to what you can do to beat stress before it begins.

If work stress is mounting, have a conversation with your supervisor or boss to explore potential accommodations. If leadership isn’t able to intervene, call on your work family and fellow NOVA nurses to work together for relief.

If that relief includes time off, make the most of that time off by planning something in advance to do with loved ones and friends. “I make sure on off days to plan exciting things for my family and I to enjoy and remember,” said Chrystal Judge, LPN.

Time off during the holidays can be difficult to manage in some healthcare settings. Rather than stress about working around the holiday, make the holiday work around you. NOVA nurses reported that adjusting the time they celebrate the holidays with their families based on their work schedule helps relieve schedule-related stress.

 

Keeping It Fun

Even as we socially distance, NOVA nurses still find a way to enjoy time with their colleagues and make the holidays a bit more fun. Even something as simple as decorating a workspace can ignite a spark of happiness in uncertain and stressful times.

“I stay hopeful by putting all positive energy into my work and residents,” said Judge. “Decorating the units on down time also keep me in the holiday spirit.”

Some safely socially distanced workplace holiday celebration ideas:

• An anonymous gift exchange among coworkers
• Brunch-mas—a holiday-themed brunch for a small group
• A wreath- or ornament-making party to decorate your workplace
• A cookie swap
• Dress-up days, if permitted, to wear themed accessories or clothing; and give out awards for best dressed or most creative!

 

Focus on the Positives

Despite the stress of 2020, it’s important to recognize all of the wonderful things that are worth celebrating. Working during the holidays is a unique opportunity to make the holiday truly special for someone else.

“I celebrate holidays with my patients, especially ones who don’t have friends or family visit,” said Genevieve LeMay, RN. Knowing how much they appreciate having someone there to celebrate the holidays with them is enough to brighten anyone’s day.

LeMay’s sentiment is shared by other NOVA nurses who enjoy the special time with their patients. “It’s hard to leave my loved ones at home during the holidays, but I’m happy to share that day with my patients that don’t have family to spend that time,” said Norma Torres Maldonado, BSN, RN.

In addition to quality time spent making patients’ holidays special, NOVA nurses reported that they stay motivated through the holidays by thinking about the time they do get to spend with friends and family, singing, and even meditation during scheduled breaks.

 

Words of Wisdom

An overwhelming amount of NOVA nurses said that during the holiday season, you should take the time to celebrate each day, be kind and compassionate to yourself, celebrate your work with your colleagues, and make your patients feel important and cared for.

Yvette M. Twum-Danso, MSN, RN, CCRN-K, PhDc
Columbia VA Health Care System, Columbia, SC
NOVA Chapter 362

Cynthia Dibble, MPH, BSN, RN
Health Promotion Disease Prevention, PM

#Rollupyoursleeve Campaign
Ms. Dibble coordinated the facility’s 2020 Flu Campaign for both VA Employees and Veterans. She developed and implemented a flu shot clinic for employees. This modality allowed VA employees to receive their mandatory flu vaccine in a convenient location. Additionally, Ms. Dibble instituted a drive thru employee flu clinic for VA teleworkers. Her success has reached over one thousand employees.

2020 Employee Flu Vaccine Clinic

Veteran Drive-Thru Flu Clinics
Drive up & roll-up-your-sleeve has been a huge success for Veterans’ flu vaccination. Veterans can receive their flu shots at the Columbia VA, surrounding CBOCs, and our community partners: Costco, CVS, Kroger, and Walmart!

Yvette M. Twum-Danso, MSN, RN, CCRN-K, PhDc
Columbia VA Health Care System, Columbia, SC
NOVA Chapter 362

Ms. Ashley Jacobs, NOVA Chapter 362 Member and Infectious Disease Nurse Manager, Columbia, South Carolina VAHCS is a graduate of the VA LEAD (Leadership, Effectiveness, Accountability, and Development) Program. She graduated August 2020. Her LEAD project title: "Cultivating a Positive Work Culture: One Unit at a Time". The VA LEAD program is a one-year developmental program for highly motivated employees who have the desire to learn and work extra hard to develop their leadership skills.

Ashley is receiving a LEAD certificate from Dr. James McCallum, Chief of Education in the photo above.

Congratulations, Ashley Jacobs!

 

Teresa Morris, Director, Advocacy & Government Relations

 

Kathy Pham, BSN, RN

NOVA member Kathy-Nguyet Pham has taken advocacy to a new level. A nurse for over 13 years, Kathy serves Veterans at the VA Long Beach Health Care System. She also is the Planning Commissioner for the City of Westminster. With her experience as Planning Commissioner, she is now running for the position of Municipal Water District of Orange County. Her experience on the frontline during the Pandemic and BSN/RN have given her the confidence to step up and make a difference.

Kathy is committed to “Using my nursing voice effectively to make sure that we provide the highest quality of water to our communities. I will also continue to advocate, to work hard, and collaborate with other agencies to eliminate waste properly, and safely conserve water.”

   

Kathy was born in Da Lat City, South Vietnam and immigrated to the United States in 1984 under difficult circumstances. She found a home in California and raised her children while attending college to earn an Associates Degree in Nursing and would later go back for a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) in 2014. She has demonstrated her passion for serving her community and Veterans and was deployed to Puerto Rico during Hurricane Maria, and more recently to Arizona to serve the Navajo Nation as they fought a COVID-19 outbreak.

Kathy continues to add to her resume. She teaches yoga at Long Beach and has received two Daisy awards and has been nominated several times for the Daisy Extraordinary Nursing of the Year Award. 

As we continue to move through a stressful global health crisis, it is reassuring to have an experienced health care professional and community supporter like Kathy - NOVA is lucky to have her as member! 

 

Teresa Acosta, DNP, RN
El Paso VA Health Care System, El Paso, TX
NOVA Membership Secretary

Teresa Acosta, DNP, RN, is currently the Occupational Health Nurse for the El Paso VA HCS, overseeing the management of the health and wellness for all employees, staff and volunteers. She coordinates Employee Occupational Health Program efforts to ensure that all areas influence and develop integrated process procedures to improve the overall operation of employee occupational health programs. Teresa presented at Nurse Call on Needle Stick and Sharp Injuries, Employee Influenza Vaccine Acceptance and Employee TB Surveillance Program. She created a tracking system for pre-employment physicals to meet the President's initiative for hiring and recruitment.

Teresa has been a nurse for 28 years. She joined the VA system in 2010 at the El Paso VA HCS – El Paso Texas, and brings diverse nursing experiences comprising public health, community, psychiatric, quality, infection control and ambulatory care nursing. She is active in multiple professional VA activities including the Accident Review Board, Construction Committee, Consultative Ethics Committee, and Infection Control Committee. She is the Co-Chair, Retention and Recruitment Committee and Nurse Professional Standards Board, El Paso VAHCS. Teresa is also a Flu Team Champion at her facility.

Teresa is a post master's graduate of Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Program at the Texas Tech University Health Science Center, Lubbock. She obtained a Doctor of Nursing Practice in Nursing Administration from Texas Tech University Health Science Center, Lubbock, Texas in 2013. Teresa has a master’s degree in Community Health Nursing and a bachelor’s degree in Nursing and Spanish from University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas. She is a clinical instructor in mental health nursing at the University of Texas at El Paso for the undergraduate nursing program.

Teresa upholds professional standards of practice in the delivery of Veteran- centered care. Since 2012, she has been an active NOVA member and a member of the NOVA Legislative Committee. Teresa joined NOVA’s Board of Directors in 2015. She was appointed as NOVA’s Membership Secretary for a 1-year term which began in January 2020. Teresa is also a member of the American Nurses Association, for which NOVA is a proud Organizational Affiliate. She is a member of the Texas Nurses Association District 1 and Sigma Theta Tau. Teresa is the current President of the Texas Nurses Association District 1 and a member of Texas Nurses Association Governmental Affairs Committee for District 1. Teresa is passionate about nursing and understands the significance of the nurse’s role in advocating for nurses, the nursing profession, and quality health care for all in today’s complex health care system.