Photo of the Week: Coloring to Provide Better Care

Registered nurse Christine Simonelli takes a moment to leave her mark on a coloring wall outside the Malignant Hematology Clinic at Moffitt Cancer Center’s Magnolia campus. The coloring wall is part of an evidence-based practice project led by registered nurses Kristen Fowler, Kim Willoughby, Kelly Dunham and Holly Freeman. The project is called “Take 5: A Mindfulness Initiative to Reduce RN Burnout.” It included mindfulness training with a yoga instructor, orientation to mindfulness apps and “Take 5” breaks for nurses to color or just decompress.

The coloring wall has become a hit not just with nurses but with other team members passing through who need a quick creativity break. Simonelli says the team often gets requests from coloring enthusiasts for specific colored markers to help complete the masterpiece.

In the end, it’s the patients who benefit the most, as mindfulness has been shown to decrease staff burnout and foster more intentional and positive interactions with patients.