May is Mental Health Awareness Month, serving as a reminder to prioritize one’s mental health and help others who may be experiencing mental health challenges.
At PAH, as an effort to support staff well-being, the Shared Governance Professional Excellence Nursing Committee developed the Zen Den. Created in 2017, the Zen Den, located across from Hospital Operations, is a space for staff to decompress and participate in mindfulness activities.
In the early stages of the pandemic, when there was a global increase in adults reporting symptoms of anxiety and depression, the Zen Den was in high demand and frequently visited by staff who were helping patients battle COVID-19 every day. In 2021, the Committee felt the Zen Den was due for an upgrade.
“Our staff were giving their all to patients while also navigating their own life situations during the pandemic,” said Florrie Vanek, MSN, RN, NE-BC, director of Nursing Education, Nursing Professional Practice, and the Magnet Program. “The reintroduction of the Zen Den was an important initiative to continue promoting staff mental health and self-care.”
The space was refurbished with two new massage chairs, an art table with colored pencils and coloring sheets, individualized aromatherapy inhalers for staff to choose their own calming scents, and a selection of books with tips and techniques for wellness and meditation.
“To provide the best care for our patients, our staff must also take care of themselves,” said Vanek. “While this is not the end-all, be-all solution to supporting well-being at the hospital, it is an adjunct that can provide a space of respite.”