NURSING NEEDS RECEIVE ALL-INCLUSIVE SUPPORT

Nurses at Morristown Medical Center bring medical expertise and compassion to every patient encounter. After persevering through a worldwide pandemic and achieving a fifth Magnet® designation for nursing excellence, the nursing team’s ongoing growth and well-being remain more important than ever. A recent opportunity to further these efforts came when Julia Millspaugh, MA, BSN, RN, assistant manager of Integrative Medicine for Morristown Medical Center, noticed a story on the science behind reducing anxiety through mandala coloring. Julia realized that adding coloring as a part of Morristown Medical Center’s Nursing Resiliency Program could help nurses unplug and recharge — self-care components that bolster strength in their daily routine at the hospital.

“I thought, ‛How brilliant to hang poster-sized mandala designs as coloring pages on hospital units to encourage nurses to take mini-breaks throughout the day to relax,’” said Millspaugh. Mildred Kowalski, PhD, RN, NE-BC, nurse manager for the Center for Nursing Innovation and Research, created a pre-and post-survey to measure anxiety through this project, and the results showed a 50 percent decrease in stress levels. “Nurse resiliency is crucial to the vibrance and balance of our nursing team,” said Brandee Fetherman, MSN, RN, CCRN-K, chief nursing officer for Morristown Medical Center. “While maintaining high-caliber nursingexcellence standards, our team needs the building blocks of well-being alongside the rigorous tasks of their day. Yoga, Jin Shin Jyutsu, gratitude boards, mandalas and support groups all help to sustain resiliency levels.” A key funding priority, the Nurse Resiliency Program teaches mindfulness, self-care and communication skills. It was chosen as this year’s beneficiary for the

Pictured (left to right): Basket Raffle Co-chairs Lorin Mooney, BSN, RN, RN Staff Educator, Morristown Medical Center; Kim Belton, MSN, APN, Nurse Manager, Morristown Medical Center; Trish O’Keefe, PhD, RN, President, Morristown Medical Center and Senior Vice President and Chief Nurse Executive, Atlantic Health System; Brandee Fetherman, MSN, RN, CCRN-K, Chief Nursing Officer, Morristown Medical Center; Jennifer L. Smith, Chief Development Officer, Foundation for Morristown Medical Center A mandala design colored by team members at Morristown Medical Center.

hospital-wide Team Member Basket Raffle, which raised more than $63,000 including a match from the Foundation for Morristown Medical Center. Continuing education is another important component of building a resilient nursing team. The donor-funded Higher Learning Residency Program at the Sameth Emergency Department provides on-the-job training focused on emergency care for new nursing graduates to ensure they feel supported as they enter the workforce. The program was also the beneficiary of more than $200,000 from the Women’s Association for Morristown Medical Center’s Spring Fundraiser, a “Celebration of Farm to Table Dining” at the Ross Farm Garden in Basking Ridge, New Jersey, with an additional $300,000 pledged by the volunteer organization.

To support nursing needs at Morristown Medical Center, contact Joette Rosato, director of annual giving, at: