Self-care in health care: A UOG nursing professor’s drive to help medical providers help themselves
Self-care in health care: A UOG nursing professor’s drive to help medical providers help themselves
Self-care in health care: A UOG nursing professor’s drive to help medical providers help themselves
2/25/2022
Story by Akina Chargualaf
When COVID-19 hit Guam in early March 2020, frontline health care professionals
were battling not only a deadly virus, but stress and anxiety from a shortage of staff
and the fear of possibly bringing the virus home to their own loved ones.
Ana Joy Mendez, an associate professor of nursing in the University of Guam School
of Health and a registered nurse with a doctorate in psychology, recognized early
on that this pandemic would take a different kind of toll on the people who would
be needed the most.
Even before the pandemic, she had witnessed that health care workers who had support
from family members, friends, church groups, and work, often coped better than those
who did not.
And Mendez stepped up herself. With an extensive background in psychiatry and mental health, Mendez was able to help address the worries weighing on nurses’ and health care professionals’ minds during the first wave of cases on island. She brought her knowledge to support groups specifically for health care providers that were being conducted by the Isa Psychological Services Center at the University of Guam.
Mendez has brought her expertise to social workers as well by personally training the staff at Catholic Social Service staff how to de-escalate stress-induced situations – both for themselves and for their clients.
Two years into the pandemic, cases are still on the rise and new variants have added even more unknowns, and the potential for anxiety, stress, and depression among health care workers has not waned.
Over the course of her community trainings, Mendez, who serves as division chair of the Nursing Program, came to realize that the practices she had been teaching to professionals in the community would greatly benefit the next generation of nurses before they even start their careers.
"Students are much appreciating the relaxation activities that we have every class, including practicum," said Assistant Professor of Nursing Rosielyn Babauta. "I like this relaxation implementation that we're doing, and it's helpful for me as well."
Mendez said the approach might be helpful in other classes and institutions as well.
But as a researcher, she wants to first assess the program’s impact by surveying students
on its usefulness at the end of this semester.
Taking time for self-care and also to care for others is something Mendez encourages
everyone to do.
“What is needed is just someone that is there,” she said. “Sometimes people may not want to help because they may lack the confidence or think they need specific training and credentials. But sometimes in life, you realize that what you have is more than enough.”
70 Years of Transforming Lives, Advancing Communities
The University of Guam is celebrating its Platinum Jubilee throughout 2022 and 70 years of "Transforming Lives, Advancing Communities."
The month of February is focused on the University's impact on health and welfare in the region. Stay posted on all University of Guam 70th Anniversary events and stories at www.uog.edu/70th-anniversary.
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