National Nursing Week

Registered psychiatric nurse Kris Lischynski's job description could probably fill a page in a medical journal, but at its core, she says the job is all about being a good listener. L ischynski is a mental health consultation liaison nurse, one of two mental health nurses based out of Winnipeg's Health Sciences Centre. As such, she is often one of the first people health professionals call in when a patient is having trouble coping with a sudden, life-altering situation such as a cancer diagnosis or the amputation of a limb. Patients may be dealing with a complex range of issues, including grief, schizophrenia, and post-traumatic stress disorder, and the key to helping them is often in providing a sympathetic ear. "Most times the people we are called in to see don't actually have a mental health diagnosis. Often they just need someone to talk to," says Lischynski, who has worked as a nurse for 20 years and has been at her current post for the past eight. "That's what I really enjoy is listening to their stories and where they are coming from. It helps us to learn about them as a person. We can be more empathic and understanding. We tell them it's OK to be sad or angry when you get a bad diagnosis. Having the whole picture allows us to treat them more holistically." Lischynski and her fellow consultation liaison nurse are part of the mental health program at HSC, which means they can work with patients in any area of the hospital. One of their primary duties is to conduct a mental health assessment based on the results of a one-on-one interview with the patient. As part of this process, they often offer coping strategies and may even recommend a patient for ongoing psychiatric support or treatment, although they don't provide a diagnosis or prescribe medications. "We can't fix a lifelong illness or a medical health issue," Lischynski says. "We're there primarily to offer support. But often we get feedback from patients who say that that's where things really turned around for them. A lot of times people just want to know somebody is listening to them." The same holds true for patients' family members. Lischynski and other mental health nurses let loved ones know they are there for them too. "We listen to them and let them know it's OK to be scared. Sometimes it's providing them with basic help — 'You need to go home and sleep' or 'Don't just grab a cup of coffee, have something to eat.' Sometimes it's very basic stuff," she says. Lischynski's job often entails dealing with individuals who are not at their best physically or emotionally as a result of the health crisis they're facing. The key is to diffuse the situation and emphasize to the person that what they are experiencing is perfectly normal. "A lot of it is (they feel) a lack of control. In a hospital there is not a lot of control for patients. You're given a diagnosis and told what the treatment will be … but there's not a lot of control," she says. "We don't want them to think, 'People think I'm crazy' and put up a wall. I really want to normalize the whole issue of mental health. It's something that affects all of us." In addition to assisting more than 1,000 patients each year, the nurses play a vital role in educating hospital staff about mental health concerns. This can include advising them on proper and effective critical incident stress management, leading discussions on any issues they may be struggling with or something as simple as having a brief conversation in the hallway. "We walk around the hospital all the time and we are sort of the unofficial face of mental health. People come up to us and say, 'What can I do about this situation?' It's nice to be able to offer them support," Lischynski says. "It's a tremendous opportunity for us to provide that education and support. The formal part of it is big but the informal part of it is huge too." ● 6 WINNIPEg FREE PRESS - SATURDAY, MAY 9, 2015 A Sympathetic Ear A good listener is vital in times of crisis By Jim Timlick - For the Free Press Registered psychiatric nurse Kris Lischynski has many roles, including helping patients who are dealing with life-altering health issues. Photo by Darcy Finley STARS ® OPENHOUSEMAY23 PleasejoinSTARSairambulanceatourpublicopenhouseon SaturdayMay23,2015from11a.m.to3p.m. 155AWestHangarRoad,Winnipeg,Manitoba,204-786-4647 11a.m.-Doorsopentothepublic 11:30a.m.-Openingspeeches Noon-Demonstrationhelicopterlandingandtakeoff Half Moon Drive In food truck on-site withproceedstoSTARS ComeMeet ourNurses aswellas ourdoctors, paramedics, andpilots " I really want to normalize the whole issue of mental health. It's something that affects all of us." MAY 11 - 17, 2015 MAY 11 - 17, 2015 NURSING WEEK NATIONAL

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