Leaders and Managers Day – 12th August Committee Report Our yearly get together at the Leaders and Managers Day this year was focused on wellness and selfcare. It has been a tough year for everyone and the committee wanted to pay particular attention to caring for the leaders so that they in turn can better help and support their teams.
The Rongoa Collective gave us an inspirational talk about Te reo Māori perspective of holistic health and wellbeing, and I certainly learnt a lot about the history of Māori healing and the techniques used. We tried some tea made from Hebe to clear our vessels, as well as a spray aimed to induce a calmer state (a must in any endoscopy department at the moment).
One inspiring talk was given by Karen Kempin, who has moved into a new role as a nurse endoscopist. She showcased her journey in gastroenterology nursing applying the Knowledge and Skills Framework to each step of her career. This tied in nicely with a brain storming session about what education can be provided that is specific to gastroenterology; and whether this takes the shape of postgrad study or a modular format that can be transferred between endoscopy units in NZ (similar to the DOPs). This discussion came about after the overwhelming response from the recent questionnaire asking for education in some format. Thank you to all that completed the questionnaire. For me the most beneficial part of the day were the talks about wellness. Karyn Chalk had been experiencing wakefulness at night and increased anxiety. This meant she found herself unable to focus on her workload, and struggled to prioritise her day: an overwhelming feeling that I am sure most of us have experienced at some point in our lives. Karyn decided to make a change and undertook some research into havening techniques. Havening, is an alternative therapy developed by brothers Ronald and Steve Ruden; it relies on “amygdala depotentiation” that purportedly can help people with psychological problems, particularly those related to phobias, post-traumatic stress and anxiety. Karyn showed us a few techniques, and these certainly made you feel calmer as a result. The other talk by Claire Pearce, who works for RAISE (previously EAP) gave insightful techniques to help reduce stress levels. These included; going for a walk, engaging with friends, and enjoying laughter every day.
The Lifetime team spoke to us about planning for retirement, which for some was a real eye opener! Better start saving! With this in mind the college must mention Karen Clarkes imminent retirement and acknowledge the huge amount of support, time and enthusiasm she has given to the NZgNC over many years. Overall, it was a very interesting day and an excellent opportunity to network with other leaders in gastroenterology; a valued experience for all new leaders coming through.
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