Music Therapy Headlines Nursing Fall Conference

Compassion fatigue and burnout are two conditions people who work in a health care setting may experience. Often, health care professionals ask how to prevent burnout yet still maintain the high expectations and required caseload. Music therapy, an evidence-based field, has the potential to re-energize patients and caregivers.

Columbus Community Hospital is hosting a fall nursing conference on Friday, Sept. 16, in its first-floor conference center. The conference will explore how music therapy techniques can support physical, emotional and spiritual health during high stress, anxiety and burnout.

“The last two years have required health care workers to go above and beyond, but burnout and compassion fatigue are concerns we want to address proactively,” said Dorothy Bybee, vice president of patient care services at the hospital. “This conference speaks to self-kindness and self-care, which can combat burnout and compassion fatigue. We wanted a time for nurses and health care workers to come together and celebrate who we are and what we give. It will be uplifting and a time of networking.”

Jessica Sturgeon, MT-BC, HPMT, hospice and palliative care music therapist, will give a presentation on the topic entitled “Songs for the heart: Music therapy for patients and caregivers.” The three session times available are 7-9 a.m., noon-2 p.m. and 4-6 p.m. Each session includes a light meal or snack.

To register, contact the hospital’s education department at 402-562-3320 or education@columbushosp.org by Tuesday, Sept. 13.