Cancer nurses, burnout, and a tornado warning

⚠️The emergency alert tones sounded from dozens of phones in the audience.

I was about 80% through my keynote in Iowa Thursday when the chorus got my attention.

"What is that?" I asked the audience of cancer care providers.

🌪️"Tornado warning," several oncology nurses replied.

No one panicked. (Cancer nurses don't scare easily.)

"So... do we need to take cover?" I asked the coordinator of the event.

"We are checking on that. In the meantime, we're on the ground floor in a room with no windows. So, looks like you have extra time for your keynote. We're not leaving," she laughed.

🤔What a perfect analogy for my message.

🫂In the middle of emergencies, alerts, and danger... you can be safe. Valued. Affirmed and acknowledged. It's the experience I provide every audience of burned out caretakers.

While the warning continued, I reached my last two points.

First, I had them all stand and look in each other's eyes.
Then they repeated these reminders to one another:
"You do difficult work."
"You do important work."
"If you get overwhelmed sometimes, it's not your fault."
"You are an effing hero. Never forget that."
🥹

Then, I asked them to face the front, place a hand on their own heart, and repeat after me some new self-talk.
"I do difficult work."
"I do important work."
"If I get overwhelmed sometimes, it's not my fault."
"I am an effing hero. I'll never forget that."
😭

Finally, it was time for my favorite part of every keynote. The introduction of a bucket list.

Since University of Iowa Health Care was the host, they asked if attending a Indiana Fever game is on my bucket list. The LOVE Caitlin Clark (who doesn't?).

Then, predictably, they continued the CC theme by asking what #22 is on my bucket list.

One attendee said she wanted to take a trip without her kids (I hear that bucket list item often).

Another wanted to plant a Zinnia garden. Others wanted to travel or continue their education.

🌪️Thankfully, we wrapped up the keynote without getting sucked into a funnel cloud.

And the message landed again--your work is hard. Burnout happens. You can make your own choices. It's not your fault.

Oncology coworkers. I wish I could present to every single one of them. Without tornado warnings.