Episode 8: PTSD Support for Nurses

A nurse seeking help when experiencing PTSD should not be viewed as personally weak, nor should expressing the challenges of stress be seen as dangerous to one's career.

Cecilia Yeung: “IT’S OK NOT TO BE OK”

Guest Cecilia Yeung, RN, has been a critical care nurse for over 10 years and currently works at Vancouver General Hospital in the Intensive Care Unit (VGH ICU). As a VGH ICU nurse, Cecilia looks after patients on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), those undergoing continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) or individuals with brain injuries who require intracranial pressure (ICP) monitoring, as well as post-transplant and post-trauma patients and their families. This high pressure care is standard in the ICU population. Cecilia is also the founder of PTSD Support for Nurses. The objective is to promote self-care that can protect nurses from psychological injury incurred in the course of ‘doing their work’, which then can lead to stress, burnout, exhaustion, or post-traumatic stress. This program provides a judgment-free safe space for healthcare workers to de-stress and nourish their resilience. One of the initiatives is to provide frontline healthcare workers with someone to talk to when they have experienced something traumatic, as well as personalized self-care packages delivered to their door. Nurses can request these personalized self-care kits so if this interests you please reach out to ptsdhelpfornurses@gmail.com. Cecilia was recently recognized as a Business in Vancouver Forty Under 40 for her work with nurses; this recognition notes entrepreneurs under 40 who have demonstrated excellence in business, judgment, leadership and community contribution.