Navigating stress in the NHS.

I have worked in the NHS for over four years now. I began my work at the height of COVID. I often wonder if things will ever change. What I mean is, what is the difference between now and those times. They call it winter pressures; however, I have come to the belief that working in the hospital there are no seasons. It is always the same. Pressure, pressure, pressure.

Cross-professional supervision provides a supportive environment/space for those who’s work can create burnout. Cross-supervision offers a space to off-load, confidentially discuss experiences, and manage those experiences for ‘self care’. Both you and those you work with benefit from the support you get.

In highly demanding jobs, cross-professional supervision aids professionals in maintaining a healthy life/work balance. It provides support for those in the caring professions such as; nursing, medicine, ministry, etc.

To perform best in our professional work, self-care is an important part of the journey. In recognition of same, some employers funds external support for cross-professional supervision.

You don't need to throw a life line to save somebody.

Engaging with poetry allows individuals to process complex emotions and build resilience. For supervisors, who often encounter emotionally challenging situations, poetry can offer a healthy way to confront and express feelings, mitigating burnout and compassion fatigue.

Poems use metaphor, rhythm, and imagery, which can resonate on a deeper, more personal level, enabling professionals to process emotions, stress, and complex experiences in a supportive setting.

This poem can remind individuals in pastoral and healthcare roles that they hold a “thread” of purpose or calling, even when facing difficult situations. Reading and reflecting on the poem in supervision allows professionals to reconnect with their reasons for choosing this path, thus renewing their resilience.

Using poetry like this also opens up conversation, as each professional may interpret the imagery uniquely, providing insight into personal emotional challenges or strengths. This collective exploration promotes emotional support and insight, enhancing resilience across the group.

An example of a poem, which could be used, could be this one:

If You Could See Laughter by Mandy Coe

If you could see laughter, it would look like a tree:a rowan tree in spring,its trunk and branches draped with blossom; each twig tipped with a bud.

The trunk would tremble,the blossom would burst, the buds would fly, whirling through the air, leaving the tree to stand green and still again.

If you could see laughter. [Coe, Mandy. If you could see laughter. (Salt Publishing 2010)]

Invite the supervisee to think about where they see laughter in amongst all their pain and vulnerability.

Invite them to go on a journey with you to an equilibrium of balance where this seeking out of laughter will begin to heal their pain of vulnerability.