COLUMBUS, Ohio — Following the pandemic, health care workers are still battling burnout.

A recent survey by the Mayo Clinic found more than 4 in 10 nurses felt overwhelmed by the job, and one Ohio hospital is earning national honors for how it's working to help health care workers, like Kristen Foster.

What You Need To Know

• The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center earned itself the American Medical Association's Joy in Medicine award


• The honor recognizes the hospital’s efforts to help health care workers destress


• The Wexner offers a range of outlets for their staff, including Buckeye Paws, the help of an emotional support team, and a BRAVO recognition program

Foster is a nurse at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.

She’s always on the go until dogs start roaming the halls.  

“You can be inside of a room with a very difficult situation that’s really stressful,” said Foster. “You come out, and you see these guys coming down the hall. Somehow they help you kind of forget what’s going on.” 

That’s because those dogs are therapy dogs. They’re part of the Buckeye Paws program at The Wexner. They help, not the patients, but the MICU nurses destress. 

“Definitely taking care of people that are so sick puts high stress on anyone, and having their life in your hands kind of at times really does make a big, big stress in your life,” said Foster.

But it’s not the only outlet for staff. Chief Well-Being Leader Dr. Laxmi Mehta names a few: “We have peer support programs with a Stress Trauma Resiliency Program. We have the Buckeye Paws Program. But we also are developing Well-being committees.”

They all have the same goal—preventing worker burnout. 

“Since COVID, the volume of work has increased, there’s a workforce shortage,” said Mehta. “That has really put an impact on our employees locally and nationally on how much stress they are feeling while at work, and that just has a negative toll on them.”

A big help includes Buckeye Paws and other outlets like that. 

Because of their efforts, Wexner Medical Center earned itself the American Medical Association’s Joy in Medicine award, making it one of 72 in the nation with that title. 

While winning praise validates their efforts—like Buckeye Paws, the joy the dogs bring says it all, making the tough days not feel so bad. 

The Wexner also offers other outlets and wellness programs for its workers, including the help of an emotional support team and a BRAVO recognition program.