1. Bend don’t Break: Creating Cultures of Resiliency
Jeanette Vinek RN, BScN, MHScN
Senior Instructor – School of Nursing
UBC Okanagan
Dietetics Preceptor Education Event October 3rd, 2017

3. “is the ability of an individual to respond to stress in a healthy, adaptive way such that personal goals are achieved at minimal psychological and physical cost; resilient individuals not only “bounce back” rapidly after challenges but also grow stronger in the process.”

4. The Current Context

5. Is it Possible?

7. It Happens in the Present Moment
Consciously and intentionally as the practitioner learns to make the choice to care and to be fully present their reality shifts.

8. A reciprocity of caring occurs
It’s all Connected
When we release our focus on constraints, they no longer drive our behaviour.
We are fully present, and are able to connect and engage with our clients.
Through this relationship, the circulation of caring begins from practitioner to client and back to practitioner.
A reciprocity of caring occurs

9. The Ripple becomes a Wave....

10. What this means…..
While contextual constraints may influence our current reality, our conscious choice to practice caring, despite these constraints, results in a relational and reciprocal process, replenishing the our reserve of caring and reaffirming our connection to humanity.

11. Okay....so how?

12. Tell me what you know....

13. Mindfulness
“Mindfulness is awareness, cultivated by paying attention in a sustained and particular way: on purpose, in the present moment, and non-judgmentally”.
~ Kabat-Zinn, 2012, p. 1.

14. Mindfulness
“Just by becoming aware of what is occurring within and around us, we can begin to untangle ourselves from mental preoccupations and difficult emotions”
(Siegel, Germer, Olendzki, 2009)

15. 7 Attitudes of Mindfulness
Non-Judging: Notice, and then let go of your judging.
Patience: Be patient with yourself and with the process
Beginner’s mind: Remain open and curious
Trust: Trust in ourselves
Non-Striving: Don’t try too hard
Acceptance: Accept the present moment as it is
Letting Go: Notice, and then let go of attachments

17. Mindfulness Practices
Pause Practice
Sitting Practice
Focused attention (breath)
Open awareness (thoughts, sensations, sounds, emotions)
Mindful Movement
Standing, lying, walking
Focus on sensations, proprioception
Body Scan
Focus on physical sensations in the body

18. Widely Researched
Princeton, Stanford, UCLA, Umass, Berkley, Columbia, McGill, UWashington, UPenn, UFla, Europe, Netherlands….etc,etc.

19. The Neuroscience of Mindfulness

20. Mindfulness & Neuroplasticity
Anterior cingulate cortex – Controls executive function
Increases in size and density (more grey matter)
Improves attention, problem solving, working memory and regulating emotions
Insula – Interoceptive awareness
Increases in size and grey matter
Provides a sense of what is happening within your body
Amygdala – Fight or flight response
Grey matter shrinks
Inactive during meditation

21. Mindfulness & Neuroplasticity
Posterior cingulate cortex – responsible for mind wandering
Decreased activation during meditation
Posterior cingulate works with anterior cingulate
Increases ability to focus and decreases mind wandering
Prefrontal cortex – Executive order functions
Increases in size and density
Responsible for decision making, planning and abstract thinking,
Over time your ability becomes improves

22. Mental Benefits of Mindfulness
Sharpens focus
Improves Memory
Increases Attention Span
Restores synapses without the grogginess of sleep

23. Emotional Benefits of Mindfulness
Increases Emotional Intelligence
Reduces Stress
Regulates Emotion
Helps with Depression
Reduces Anxiety
Improves Self-esteem

24. Physical Benefits of Mindfulness
Reduces Blood Pressure
Reduces Heart Rate
Prevents and Reduces Pain
Weight Loss
Enhances Energy, Strength & Vigour

25. Mindfulness moves mainstream...
Moving from Monasteries to the boardroom and hospitals Current interest is as much medical as it is cultural

26. What does this mean to your practice?

27. Based on the evidence…. we went all in……
Title of Presentation | Qualifier Text | Page
Based on the evidence… we went all in……
30 years of research proves mindfulness:
Improves academic achievement
Improves mental health
Promotes positive relationships
Develops concentration and attention
Develops executive function (planning, decision making and impulse control)
Develops emotional balance, pro-social behavior, and compassionate action
Promotes well being
smartUBC Website:

28. smartNursing
UBCO TV

29. Title of Presentation | Qualifier Text | Page
Our Research
Efficacy of the smartNursing program
Dr. Mary Jung from HES is the PI
6 year study
4 years through the program – 2 years post graduation

30. Symptoms of depression decreased for the nursing students at UBCO but not for the students at the Okanagan College
Symptoms of depression = Beck Depression Inventory (BDI)
BDI BEFORE the Relational Practice I course:
UBCO: Mean = 9.32 (SD = 7.08)
Okanagan College: Mean = 7.58 (SD = 5.64)
- normal range for both groups
- not different between the groups,
p = .591
BDI AFTER the Relational Practice I course:
UBCO: Mean = 9.06 (SD = 7.08)
Okanagan College: Mean = (SD = 5.64)
- symptoms of depression increased only for the Okanagan College students
- symptoms of depression remained the same for the UBCO students
F(1, 116) = 4.98, p = .028

31. Perceptions of quality of life and general health decreased for the students at the Okanagan College, but not for the nursing students at UBCO
BEFORE the Relational Practice I course:
UBCO: Mean = 4.10 (SD = .66)
Okanagan College: Mean = 4.17 (SD = .53)
- not different between the groups, p = .76
AFTER the Relational Practice I course:
UBCO: Mean = 4.07 (SD = .70)
Okanagan College: Mean = 3.84 (SD = .59)
-quality of life decreased for only the Okanagan College students
F(1, 125) = 4.60, p = .034

32. Efficacy of the smartNursing Program
The Okanagan College students:
Increased symptoms of anxiety
UBC Okanagan Students:
Anxiety remained the same
Interesting finding is levels of stress did not change in either group.
The UBCO students were more able to cope with the stress. They developed resiliency.
The findings provide preliminary evidence that the smartNursing course offers coping techniques to nursing students to assist them with the demands of school.

33. Where are we now? School of Nursing culture has shifted
Teachers and clinical supervisors are bringing mindfulness practices in their classroom and clinical practice
Offering drop-in sessions daily across campus
Offering SMART sessions to faculty / students / staff across campus
Working with Interior Health to bring the program to their staff
Working with Baptist Housing to bring the program to their staff
Offering open community sessions to bring the program to our community
Working with other Schools and Faculties across Canada to embed the program into their curriculum.

34. Remember.... a ripple becomes a wave... and then...

35. “is the ability of an individual to respond to stress in a healthy, adaptive way such that personal goals are achieved at minimal psychological and physical cost; resilient individuals not only “bounce back” rapidly after challenges but also grow stronger in the process.”

36. Questions?