Finding Support When You Need It Most
We all get bogged down with too much work and too much on our “to-do” list, but most of us don’t like asking for help. At Skin, Bones, Hearts & Private Parts – a leading provider of online CME and CME Conferences – we also know that many of the Physicians, Physician Assistants, and Nurse Practitioners talk a lot about stress and burnout as twin epidemics in the medical field. So, with many mental health awareness days coming up in September, including National Self-Care Awareness Month and National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, we thought it might be a good time to reach out to a few of our leading CME conference speakers to ask how they find the support they need.
Creating Community through Physician, Physician Assistant, and Nurse Practitioner Networks
Kristyn Rygg, PA-C, a physician assistant in dermatology and a speaker at several of our 2024 online CME and in-person CME conferences, encourages community. “I have a wonderful network of NP/PAs colleagues I can turn to, and I am also very active in both my state and national dermatology societies. I encourage all NP/PA to build their network and join their state and national societies, especially for times like these. I’d also urge everyone to find a mentor who does the same type of work you do; people will be there for you when you need them if you have that kind of professional network.”
Gina Mangin, MPAS, PA-C, a physician assistant in dermatology and also a speaker in our 2024 CME Conference lineup, finds relief by reaching out to her fellow PAs in the practice and asking for their opinions and viewpoints. “Sometimes,” she said, “all I need to do is vent.”
Admitting – and Asking – for Help
Is there a “best” way to seek help? Probably not – what works best for an individual surely depends on their relationships and networks. But our CME conference speakers still shared many commonalities, with a key focus being willing to ask.
“There is no fancy way to ask for help,” said 2024 CME Conference Speaker Aleece Fosnight, PAC-C, CSC-S, CSE, NCMP, a board-certified physician assistant specializing in sexual medicine, women’s health, and urology. “We all just need to do the best we can, but I find that writing down the request first can help, and I really wish others would do the same. I also try to identify colleagues who are in a similar situation to mine, as they may have the greatest ability to empathize.”
Mangin agrees that upfront honesty is the best policy, often letting her colleagues know she needs help by asking – through a simple conversation or email – if they could schedule a time to chat with her.
“I push myself to ask for support and help,” agreed Karen Myrick, DNP, APRN, FNP, ONP, FAAN, 2024 CME Conference speaker, and an associate professor in the Dept of Nursing at the University of Saint Joseph. “As medical professionals, we need to encourage an open-door, open-discussion policy where we can have these types of conversations with our colleagues – just like we would with our patients.”
In-Person and Online CME for Nurse Practitioners, Physician Assistants, and Physicians
Looking for colleagues with whom you can commiserate, unload, and refill your cup? Meet a wide range of health practitioners while earning continuing medical education credits at our CME conferences! Earn online CME credits or travel to a CME conference with like-minded nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and physicians; and ‘unplug’ while enjoying a new locale! Check out our upcoming Skin, Bones, Hearts & Private Parts 2023 CME Conferences and 2024 CME Conferences! At every event, the best of the medical community gathers to earn CME credits, network, and gain knowledge on dermatology, orthopedics, cardiology and emergency medicine, women’s health, pain management and pharmacology, diabetes, ER, and mental health. Online CME courses and Virtual CME are also available, giving you the option of earning CME credits online.