b'Reflecting on Franklins program, she says,I used to take on too much, but now Ive learned to It wasnt like we were doing meaningless work.use my voice and say, This is enough for me today. Everything we did in those courses matteredevery class tied directly to our dissertations. This sense of empowerment extends to her aspirations for systemic change in healthcare. With her dissertation, Nurses Burnout Post-COVID:Sheree observed that many healthcare A Quantitative Study, Dr. Johnson tackled an issueorganizations focused on short-term fixes, that had been haunting healthcare, often invisibly,such as stress management classes or employee for years. While burnout had long existed in theassistance programs (EAPs), instead of addressing medical ecosystem, the pressure on healthcareroot causes like understaffing and high patient-to-professionalsprovider ratios. reachedIf staffing is the unprecedentedissue, we need levels duringto focus on that. the pandemic.The problem I would just see theisnt just whats nurses, and Id feelhappening; its so bad for them,why its happening, she says, explainingIF STAFFING IS THEshe says.her motivation Sherees career to examine whetherISSUE, WE NEEDhas been defined burnout differed between emergencyby evolutionsnot room (ER) nursesTO FOCUS ON THAT.just systems-level and intensive carechanges she hopes unit (ICU) nurses. The problemto impact, but personal and The results?professional shifts Surprising.as well. Early on, There wereisnt justshe resisted working no significantin behavioral health, differences betweenonly to later thrive groups, she shares,whatsas a respected noting that acrosstherapist for both the board,individuals and healthcare workershappening;groups. Looking were experiencingback, shes grateful overwhelming levelsshe made the leap, of stress, whetheracknowledging how in the ER or ICU.its why itsmuch she came Throughout herto love the work. research, Dr.I didnt think Id Johnson uncoveredhappening. enjoy it, but I loved the concept ofthe patients, the secondary traumagrowth I saw in them,when healthcareand the impact I professionals,was able to make.already navigating personal experiences with COVID-19, wereNow preparing for her next chapter, where she confronted with relentless trauma at work. It waswill serve as a social worker for the U.S. Department really hard for the nurses. They dealt with COVIDof Veterans Affairs, Sheree is shifting gears while personally and professionally, and often, theystaying true to her purpose. Shell be working didnt have the answers people were looking for. directly with the homeless populationhands-on case management reminiscent of her early career Her findings didnt just stay in the realm of academia.but now supported by years of expertise, Far from it. They reshaped how she advocates, fora deeper understanding of the healthcare system, herself and others, in her everyday professional life.and a doctorate that has opened new doors.Clocktower | Franklin Features 19'