Anne Purves, Manager 3B Surgery, saw that the unit staff were burnt out and wanted to create a change. There were many factors contributing to burnout, such as fatigue, anxiety, stress, time constraints, lack of nutrition, and the inability to take breaks.

Anne knew the unit needed a cultural change to help improve the team’s morale, which led to the creation of the 3B Wellness Challenge.

The 3B Wellness Challenge promotes overall wellness for the employees and accommodates the unique lifestyle that comes with working shifts. The initiative provides supportive measures and resources tailored to manage the health needs of the staff.

Throughout October, all staff on 3B will have an opportunity to take part in a Wellness Challenge focused on mental, physical, social, and spiritual well-being. All quality huddles will include presentations from various disciplines providing support to staff. The Wellness Challenge consists of forty tasks to be completed throughout the month, each focusing on a different aspect of wellness, such as random acts of kindness, self-reflection, peer recognition, physical activities, and one-on-one meetings. To get staff excited about the initiative, Anne approached local businesses for donations to provide incentives for staff participating in the challenge. She also plans to complete the Workplace Wellness Champion series (through the Thunder Bay District Health Unit) to become a Wellness Advocate at our Hospital.

The unit received support from other Hospital departments, including PFCC, Occupational Health and Safety, and the Wellness Committee. The success of this Wellness Challenge will be measured by various metrics such as reduced overtime taken for missed breaks, optimized staffing levels, improved staff satisfaction, reduced sick time, and improved patient satisfaction. The results will be used to improve wellness throughout the organization in collaboration with the Wellness Committee.

Thank you, Anne, for your dedication to wellness!