Resident Well-Being
We recognize that many factors play a role in resident well-being and the prevention of burnout. Our program seeks to cultivate and uplift the sense of personal resilience among our residents through thoughtful scheduling, professional counseling, mentorship and support from program leadership, and a multitude of other wellness activities and resources. We also understand the value of creating a culture of wellness in the workplace, and additionally tackle resident well-being through systems-based and organizational changes to allow our residents to focus on their passion for caring for children and the fulfilling aspects of medicine. We follow an evidence-based paradigm for professional fulfillment and wellness in the work environment and rely on ongoing resident feedback to dynamically improve our program.
- Love & support
- Fun times
- Feedback
- Resources
- Staying grounded
- Resilience
Lots of love and support.
- Mentorship/Coaches — Residents are assigned a PD or APD “coach” that serves as a mentor and personal support throughout their training. Our coaching systems help foster a close sense of community and personalized relationships between program leadership and the residents through frequent check-ins and one-to-one chats.
- Facilitated debriefings with palliative care and regular check-ins from pastoral care
- Resident Well-Being Committee
- Diversity Interest Group and recognition of cultural holidays and observances
- Women in Medicine gatherings
- Designated APD as director of resident mental health & well-being
Fun times
- Wellness and admin time every Y block
- Wellness Fridays — arts and crafts, jewelry making, gardening, manicures, tie-dye, therapy dogs and more
- Free access to the Nemours Mansion and gardens
- Program-sponsored outings (movie night, Longwood Gardens, sporting events)
- Resident field day
- Free yoga and healing touch on Friday afternoons
- Resident softball team (Nemours NeMerrier)
- Class-specific overnight retreats by the shore
- Diversity dinner clubs
- Program-wide theme days
- Program-wide annual resident prom and spring fling with shift coverage from fellows and attendings
We’re all about feedback.
- Monthly protected house staff meetings
- Resident elected class representatives
- Anonymous feedback and reporting
- Annual survey on resident burnout
- Resident of the month and weekly resident shout-outs
- Celebration of National Thank a Resident Day
- Assessment of resident workplace appreciation language
So many resources
- Opt-out screening — All residents are automatically scheduled for an initial, individual 30-minute virtual appointment with Jefferson’s Emotional Health & Wellness Program for House Staff (EHWP), a counseling and psychiatry group that specifically deals with medical providers. Residents are scheduled for the first session, then can arrange subsequent sessions with psychology or psychiatry at the time of that appointment if desired. All appointments are covered through insurance and the residency program.
- Self-triaging resource list for resident well-being
- Free access to Calm and NeuroFlow
- Friday afternoon check-ins with pastoral care
- Free access to on-site hospital associate gym and fitness classes
- Resident lounge, call rooms, team workrooms
- Daily free lunch and meal money for night and weekend call
- Annual educational/CME money, competitive salary and benefits
- Longitudinal professional curriculum on finances, CV development, mentorship, applying for jobs or fellowship, etc.
Staying grounded.
We work to support efficiency of practice and keep residents connected to what brought them to medicine.
- Starting conferences with a stated connection to purpose
- EMR and Dragon training for efficiency
- Built in advocacy and refugee experiences
- Diversity Interest Group
- Health equity morning report
- Giving back
- Orange St. Clinic — A resident-operated free medical clinic located at the Salvation Army Women and Children’s Shelter in Wilmington, Del.
- Period Pantry
- MLK Day of Service
- Philly advocacy group
When the going gets tough.
You made it this far. We’ll do whatever it takes to help you succeed.
- Academic support
- Support during times of high census
- Clear policies on backup and time off
- Dedicated PD/APD “coach”
- Mentorship
- Self-triaging resources for resident mental health and well-being
- Development of a stress action plan — like an asthma action plan, this tool helps us learn how to individually support our residents based on how they are feeling.
“Nemours is a place where I feel comfortable being myself, supported by a community all committed to taking the best care of children.”
“The hospital is a beautiful place, providing an ideal work place for learning how to take care of all types of children, from “bread and butter” to medically complex.”
- Quote 1
Four Tiers of Mental Health Support for Pediatric Residents
Level 1: Self-help well-being & support — I want to learn how to be healthy and maintain my wellness especially during challenging times.
Level 2: Departmental/Institutional support — I am experiencing stress and prefer to discuss it with my leaders or colleagues.
Level 3: Peer support — I am experiencing stress in work and other areas of life and speaking to those with similar experiences would help.
Level 4: Professional support — I think speaking with a professional would help with finding ways to cope with the stressors in my life.
Adapted from Jefferson’s pyramid of mental and emotional health resources.
Self-help well-being & support
I want to learn how to be healthy and maintain my wellness especially during challenging times.
- Calm
- #1 app for Sleep, Meditation and Relaxation.
- Neuroflow
- HIPAA-compliant, 100% confidential mobile health app for tracking, assessing and managing your wellness.
- Learn and manage self-care habits for healthier outcomes through easy-to-use tools and resources. Examples include learning relaxation techniques, keeping a journal, tracking mood, sleep or pain, and building helpful skills through personalized content sent right to your phone.
- Nemours Fitness Center
- Totally free membership. Open 24/7.
- Jefferson’s Employee Assistance Program — First Call
- Live support available 24/7 to connect users with resources for mental health, elder care, childcare, legal aid, adoption and other daily living assistance.
- Nemours Employee Assistance Program — Resources for Living
- Live support available 24/7 to connect users with resources for mental health, elder care, childcare, legal aid, adoption, financial coaching and other daily living assistance.
- Can also sign up for Talkspace online therapy and myStrength self-help wellness app by calling or through website.
- The Nemours Center for Associate Well-Being
- — Well-being (sharepoint.com)
- Opt-out screening for all residents.
- Through the Jefferson Emotional Health and Wellness Program for House Staff.
- Starting January 2024
- Everyone will be scheduled for first appointment; additional follow-up sessions can be scheduled during initial meeting if desired.
Departmental/Institutional support
I am experiencing stress and prefer to discuss it with my leaders or colleagues.
- Chief residents and program leadership
- Wellness committee and related activities
- Facilitated debriefings and reflections
- Retreats and house staff meetings
- Assessment of burnout
Peer support
I am experiencing stress in work and other areas of life and speaking to those with similar experiences would help.
Nemours Peer Support Program
- Free, confidential active listening, nonjudgmental support by a trained Nemours associate. Clinical staff are connected to other clinical staff at a different site in the enterprise (i.e., DE Valley connected with Florida peer support).
- Can self-refer or refer a colleague. Response time typically takes 24 hours.
Physician Support Line
Phone: (888) 409-0141
- A national peer-to-peer support line for physicians by physicians. Free, confidential. Empathic and active listening, motivational interviewing, supportive therapy, collaborative problem solving and cognitive behavioral techniques to manage acute stress, panic, depression and insomnia.
- Call any time 8 a.m. to 1 a.m. ET, 7 days a week, and speak with someone immediately. No appointment necessary.
Professional support
I think speaking with a professional would help with finding ways to cope with the stressors in my life.
Emotional Health & Wellness Program for House Staff (EHWP)
- ** First line for nonemergent mental health support **
- EHWP’s sole purpose is mental health support for residents. (i.e., they really get what you are going through)
- Appointments are virtual, three visits free of charge, additional visits covered by insurance.
- Psychology and psychiatry available
Nemours Pastoral Care
Jefferson’s Employee Assistance Program — First Call
Live support available 24/7 to immediately connect users with resources for mental health, elder care, childcare, legal aid, adoption and other daily living assistance.
Eligible for 5 free counseling sessions, then will connect with covered therapist if additional sessions desired.
Nemours Employee Assistance Program — Resources for Living
Live support available 24/7 to immediately connect users with resources for mental health, elder care, childcare, legal aid, adoption, financial coaching and other daily living assistance.
Eligible for 8 free counseling sessions, then can connect with covered therapist if additional sessions desired.
Can also sign up for Talkspace online therapy and myStrength self-help wellness app by calling or through website.
Grow Therapy
A website to search for and connect with both local and telehealth therapists. Convenient scheduling and fast appointments typically within 2 days. Ability to search for providers based on insurance, appointments often fully covered.
Go to Grow Therapy — Find a therapist who meets your needs to find a provider.
Marvin
Tele-psychotherapy for Jefferson staff and faculty
A referral website for connection to off-campus community mental health providers
Go to www.jefferson.theshrinkspace.com to search for providers.
Salary & Benefits
House Staff Salaries
- PGY1: $70,860
- PGY2: $73,694
- PGY3: $76,642
Educational allowances may be used for books, work-related clothing, computer equipment, travel and board exams.
- PGY1: $1,000
- PGY2: $735
- PGY3: $2,265
Travel
Travel is covered by the program for residents presenting at conferences.
Other Benefits
- Meals — Free lunch every day at Noon Conference; small stipend for meals at TJUH and Nemours for call shifts
- Free parking at Nemours Children’s Hospital, Delaware and Christiana Care. Parking at Jefferson is discounted.
- Free membership to on-site gym, open 24 hours, 7 days a week. A personal trainer is also available.
- Free, on-campus access to Nemours Estate (historic mansion/museum, gardens and grounds)