BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) – Nursing can be an incredibly stressful job, as many people learned during the pandemic. As part of National Nurses Week, the UVM Medical welcomed a few furry friends on campus to show appreciation to their staff.
In partnership with the animal rescue group For the Love of Dogs Vermont, The UVM Medical Center Tuesday pulled out all the stops to celebrate National Nurses Week.
“Here at the hospital supporting nurses and sharing our love of dogs with everyone,” said the Waitsfield-based group’s Laurie Parker.
“Really appreciate it for sure,” said Ashley Brooks, a UVM nurse. “Nursing is a very busy, high-stress job, you know. A lot of times you don’t even get breaks, you know, unfortunately. So, to be able to not only get a break but come outside, enjoy the weather, and get some snuggles is, it’s really nice.”
Organizers say they hope to have more events like this and even have a furry-four-legged friend as a chief compassion officer in the workplace. “Show some love and support and some well-being and some good,” said Melinda Pariser-Schmidt, a clinical nurse project manager. She says she wants to understand and address the difficulties facing nursing staff. “We do see compassion fatigue, physical fatigue, emotional fatigue, physical fatigue, emotional fatigue, and we’re trying to come up with wrap-around approaches to supporting our nursing staff.”
Pariser-Schmidt says the hospital is working hard to build a positive practice environment for nurses. “We’re working really hard to improve things for our nurses, and part of that — most important part of that — is having to be informed by our nurses,” she said.
As for Brooks, she says she’s already looking forward to the next puppy playtime. “It’s a good stress reliever. Just a good little checkout from the day before you go back to the busy floor,” she said.
National Nurses Week runs through May 12th but UVM’s appreciation events don’t stop there. They’re also offering massages, Zumba, yoga, and more.
The nurse appreciation events come as UVM nurses last week rallied for wage increases ahead of new contract negotiations.