SIG Presentation Encourages Self-Care for Oncology Nurses
Marilyn Tuls Halstead, RN, PhD, AOCN^®
Coordinator, Spiritual Care SIG



Noting the fact that oncology nursing often is fast paced and stressful and can lead to either compassion satisfaction or compassion fatigue, the Spiritual Care SIG presented a Congress Instructional Session titled, “Riding the Crest of the Wave: Self-Care for Oncology Nurses.” The literature recommends spiritual self-awareness and reconnection to meaning-fullness as a protective strategy (Medland, Howard-Ruben, & Whitaker, 2004). In this session, ONS President Karen Stanley, RN, MSN, AOCN^®, FAAN, Spiritual Care SIG Ex-Officio Judy Schreiber, RN, MSN, and Marilyn Tuls Halstead, RN, PhD, AOCN^®, addressed this issue and examined strategies to enable compassion satisfaction and decrease compassion fatigue by spiritual self-care.

Three broad categories of spiritual self-care were examined through the lens of historical perspective, literature review, research, and commitment to self-care as ways to promote excellence in oncology nursing. Through historical perspective, nurses were urged to review their sense of calling or service and reasons for becoming oncology nurses. Selected spiritual self-care strategies, specifically meditation and prayer, frequently are mentioned in the literature. These strategies were presented in view of research and several philosophical traditions. Finally, finding meaning in our work was discussed. Caregiver and patient relationships, living a vital life, narratives, and journaling were pointed out as strategies for self-care. The session was well received. Hopefully, strategies will be enacted on a personal level to enhance participants’ self-care, and, therefore, their practices will thrive!

Reference
Medland, J., Howard-Ruben, J., & Whitaker, E. (2004). Fostering psychosocial wellness in oncology nurses: Addressing burnout and social support in the workplace. Oncology Nursing Forum, 31, 47–56.



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