Wednesday, October 2, 2024

Kindness in Healthcare

What should you do when it feels like there’s nothing you can do?

By Stefanie Young, Representative, Langley Member Centre

There are times in our life, in our work, when we feel powerless to change the circumstances. Powerless to help the people we’ve been hired to help.

I was reminded when I read the book The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy of what’s important to remember: we caretakers always have power and the opportunity to bless others, and ourselves, with kindness.

“What do you want to be when you grow up?”

“Kind,” said the boy.

When I first took on the responsibility of representing healthcare workers in BC just over a year ago, I wasn’t sure where it would take me and how my previous experience would translate. My background is 25 years in social services, specifically victim services, working in the criminal justice system.

It didn’t take long for me to understand the parallels between these two sectors. One helps people heal or cope, mainly with physical injury and limitations, and one helps people to heal and cope, mainly from emotional trauma. Both services provide compassion, advocacy, and support.

As I’ve gotten to know more and more of the members I represent in the BC healthcare system, I’ve grown in my understanding and appreciation for my members. Learning and training in this new role, there were many times where I didn’t have the answer and many times where I didn’t know what to say. So, I tried to be kind and honest by telling people I didn’t know the answer, but I would try to understand, listen, and find out.

In both healthcare and social services, one of the most difficult things I found is realizing that we can’t fix every problem, and not everybody gets better. Sometimes, there are no solutions to the problems, and the people we try to help leave disappointed.

Not everybody finds healing when you’re with them, and sometimes no matter how hard you try, the outcome is tragic. Kindness may be all you have to give the people you serve, a moment of peace to help them through, because people remember how you make them feel. Also, kindness may be the most important thing you give yourself because you also need healing.

“Being kind to yourself is one of the greatest kindnesses,” said the mole.

The emotional connection healthcare workers can develop with their clients or residents is one I understand from my work with victims. Going on a journey with somebody, getting to know them at their lowest and most vulnerable moments, is a privileged place to be. The victories are sweet, but the losses can be filled with pain. And your clients and their family members don’t always have an opportunity to thank you and express their gratitude for the work you do.

In my new job as a labour relations specialist, I hope to thank and support healthcare workers by ensuring they are heard, valued, and respected. It is a privilege for me to serve my members for their hard work, their kindness.

“Nothing beats kindness,” said the horse. “It sits quietly beyond all things.”

Kindness in Healthcare

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