Brieann Hays
Navigating career pressures while maintaining mental health is no easy task. For November, Herd Strategies is highlighting the efforts of local leaders across various high-pressure professions to unwind, refocus and #StressLess. This week’s feature is Brieann Hays, a healthcare worker motivated by her love for helping others.
Brieann is a lifelong Hoosier, and her Hoosier hospitality runs deep. She earned her high school education from Mt. Vernon, where she was actively involved in many extracurriculars, such as V.O.I.C.E., National Honors Society, theater and more. During her time in high school, Brieann also dedicated herself to her community. She consistently volunteered for many local organizations, spending most of her time at Mini Doves equestrian club caring for the miniature horses. Her dedication to the community earned her a Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship, which led her to receiving her nursing degree from Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis. After graduating, she started her career in the emergency room at Community Hospital East where she now serves as a charge nurse, managing hospital staffing and caring for triage patients.
Working in a hospital emergency room comes with a unique set of stresses and mental challenges. The ever-changing healthcare policies and demands of the job require continuous training and protocol education. Flexibility, attentiveness and thoroughness are necessary to absorb and enact new information.
On the interpersonal side of her role, most patients and families Brieann interacts with are upset or scared. “People tend to be at their worst when at the ER, so emotions can run high,” she said. Even more challenging are cases where emergency care is not successful. Brieann shared, “No matter how long you have been in healthcare, any loss of life is a challenge to deal with.”
Despite its challenges, Brieann is fueled by her work. “The rewards of my job outweigh the stress,” she emphasized. “Taking care of patients and working tirelessly to help people heal gives me an adrenaline rush that keeps me driven.” Brieann shared how her hospital recently started adding heart pins to hospital workers’ badges to indicate when they saved a life via CPR. She said that adding pins to her badge helps her remember the importance of her role and the impact she has on the lives of others.
Brieann avoids burnout by turning her focus outward. “I love guiding new people into nursing and showing them just how gratifying the field truly is,” Brieann said. She is so passionate about sharing her love of healthcare that she hopes to go back to school to receive her master's degree in education to begin training the next generation of nurses.
To keep up with Brieann, you can follow her on Facebook and Instagram. Follow Community Hospital Network on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.
