Here’s Tea for the Soul

New program supports care givers, helps relieve stress

Chaplain Trisha Wiscombe was paged early one morning this fall to offer end-of-life spiritual care for a patient and family. A few hours later, Wiscombe, Bryan’s manager of pastoral care, returned to that same unit to help another family and patient who were facing their own end-of-life situation. As Wiscombe left the hospital at the end of her day, those events tugged at her thoughts. She imagined such days must be especially draining on the clinical team members. “They go above and beyond to provide physical care while also wanting to be thoughtful and caring to family members who are grieving,” she says.

Taking action

Chaplain Wiscombe decided to do something uplifting for the staff on the unit, so she developed a new option at Bryan called Tea for the Soul. This program connects chaplains with front line staff to help them work through stresses related to their roles as care givers.

Now when staff have a stressful day, she and the chaplains can roll into the unit with a Tea for the Soul cart, which the Nutrition and Dining Services team stocks with oodles of beverages and goodies: tea, coffee, hot cocoa packets, scones, cookies — even candy treats to tuck into a pocket to enjoy later.

But the cart has a bigger purpose than delivering drinks and snacks.

It’s an invitation for staff to take an intentional pause, to step away from built-up stress and share a conversation, connect and relax. Wiscombe explains, “They are giving, giving, giving to others but seldom have someone with the opportunity to give to them. Tea for the Soul is our chance to serve them.”

The nine full-time and part-time chaplains on Bryan’s pastoral care staff offer spiritual and emotional support during a Tea for the Soul visit, whether that’s a private conversation or a reflection activity. The current reflection activity uses water to symbolize dissolving burdens and worries. Staff can write the worries they may be carrying on a slip of paper, put it in a bowl of water and watch it dissolve.

“They have a moment with their higher power and release that burden,” Wiscombe says. “The tangible vision of the water taking away the paper can help the mind and body respond with a sense of relief. They may be a little more at peace and feel renewed.”

Tea for the Soul is used in other hospitals nationwide, and Bryan’s chaplains are excited to bring it here. The program was introduced to clinical managers in October, and the carts began rolling out shortly after.

Managers can schedule a Tea for the Soul session for their staff, or a chaplain may plan a visit if he or she senses staff need extra support after a traumatic event in their patient care unit. “We all work together,” Wiscombe says, praising the dining team for the care they take in artfully setting up the carts.

Satisfying response

The program’s generated a great response. “It’s so much fun to see the joy and appreciation of staff and know it speaks to them,” Wiscombe says. She adds, a nurse told her, “You have no idea what it means that you took the time to do this.”

Bryan’s chaplains each bring a unique ministry background to the team, their manager points out, and they’re looking forward to this new opportunity to reach out to the medical teams around them.

Tea for the Soul presents a chance for chaplains to listen and for staff members to be heard, and it sends the message, “We see you. We appreciate you,” Wiscombe concludes.

“Most of all, the staff is touched that people care.” n

To learn how you can support the work of Bryan Health, please call 402-481-8605.

Activities help care givers reflect and revitalize. After jotting down worries and putting the paper in water, they can watch those issues dissolve.

During a Tea for the Soul visit, nursing staff receive free beverages and snacks from Chaplains Rick Pollen and Trisha Wiscombe.