Source :Erasmus Williams FB
BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS — Nurse managers in Saint Kitts and Nevis recently set aside their professional roles to take an honest look at their emotional well-being.
Through the “It’s Okay Campaign,” a joint initiative of the Taiwan Technical Mission and the Ministries of Health in St. Kitts and Nevis, participants were allowed to reflect on the realities of their roles.
“As nurses ourselves, we recognise that—whether in St. Kitts and Nevis or in Taiwan—the pressures and emotional challenges faced by nursing professionals are very similar,” the Embassy of Taiwan in Saint Kitts and Nevis stated.
The programme highlighted the demanding nature of nurse managers’ responsibilities. Maintaining a smoothly operating ward requires both strategic oversight and attention to daily operations—from managing extensive administrative tasks to mediating between patients, families, and healthcare staff, while also supporting the emotional well-being of their teams.
Over time, facilitators noted, the invisible “mental load backpack” carried by nurse managers becomes heavier, filled with responsibility, self-imposed expectations, and constant demands.
As part of the training, participants were encouraged to step outside their professional identities and engage in reflective exercises, including writing “permission slips” such as:
I give myself permission to…
I need to stop…
I need to start…
Mrs. Valencia Smithen-Byron, a counsellor at the National Counselling Centre, introduced a “Mental Health Toolbox” tailored specifically for nursing professionals. Techniques such as box breathing, taking brief moments in sunlight, and practicing nightly gratitude were shared as simple yet effective ways to rebuild psychological resilience.
Participants expressed a willingness to begin giving themselves permission—to set aside the need to always appear strong, to allow space for emotional release, and to take short periods of rest during demanding shifts without guilt.
Tribute was paid to the nurse managers for their honesty and courage in participating.
“Your openness and active participation made this session truly meaningful,” the statement noted, adding that the “It’s Okay Campaign” will continue to expand into other professional settings, supporting nurses as they build the strength to care for themselves while caring for others.