Resilience: A Message from Peggy Mark

By Peggy Mark, Ph.D., system vice president, chief nursing officer

Resilience is the ability of an individual to positively adjust to adversity. It is defined as the capacity to keep functioning physically and psychologically in the face of stress, adversity, trauma, or tragedy. Since Premier Health announced the difficult but necessary decision to phase out services at Good Samaritan Hospital (closed in 2018), I have personally witnessed the exceptional resilience of our Premier Health nurses.

Hospital closure is not new to our nation or to our community. The evolving national and local dynamics of health care have driven more than 200 hospitals to close nationally over the past 10 years. As I talked with numerous nurses at Good Samaritan and across our health system, I heard many stories from those who had been through a hospital closure in the past. Where I expected a sense of dread or sadness fueled by the fact that they would have to go through that difficult experience again, what I discovered instead was a strong sentiment that, “I’ve been through this before; and I can do it again; and I can also help others who have never had to go through it  before.” That positive attitude is why we can give our all to our patients and provide the highest quality care day after day. That is what nurses are made of. That is resilience.

I was born at Good Samaritan Hospital and worked there for many years. It has been the hospital of choice for my family and friends for many years. As our health system president and CEO Mary Boosalis stated, “Good Samaritan Hospital has a special place in the hearts of countless Daytonians. So many of our friends and neighbors are better off thanks to the commitment of generations of physicians, clinical and support staff, and volunteers. While we know this is a tremendous change, it is necessary to ensure our long-term future to serve the community.”

Our industry continues to be faced with ongoing disruption as we adjust to today’s changes in population, technology, and economics. I feel fortunate to work for an organization that has committed to a goal of offering every employee a position within our health system and to redevelopment of the Good Samaritan Hospital site. Yes, we are saddened by this change. And yes, we will face this challenge with the love and support we offer each other. We will positively adjust. We are resilient.

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Source: Premier Health Nursing