Don't Eat Your Young: A Nursing Podcast

June was excited about her new job in a facility caring for patients with mental health issues, but then it was cut short by a violent act from one of the patients. She shares her story with how she is healing both physically and emotionally from that dark time, and hopes that she can help others that have been the victim of violence in the workplace.

Show Notes

Healthcare violence is all too real and June Garen is fighting to change that.
After decades in the OR, June Garen decided it was time for a change. She was interested in psych mental health nursing and took a job at a state mental health facility. In 2017, she was assaulted by a patient and suffered a head injury, among other physical and emotional injuries. After the violent act, she found there were no resources for her to get help and she felt “shamed and blamed” at work.
Since that time, she has worked to change that. She is spending her time talking to legislators, and is getting involved in moving bills through to protect healthcare workers and first responders while also helping others heal from such devastating trauma. She wrote a book titled “Hey, I Could Use a Little Help Here,” a story not only about her trauma but also a tribute to a less fortunate nurse that lost her life due to healthcare violence. The book is an eye opener and a call to action. The time is now and we can all shed light on this issue to improve our work environments.
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About June
A life-long northern New Englander, June Zanes Garen has spent almost four decades on the frontlines of nursing. After experiencing a violent physical assault in her workplace, she has become an advocate for survivors of healthcare workplace violence. June is currently employed as a nurse in a local school district.
Links
  • (00:00) - Welcome to Don't Eat Your Young •June Garen
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What is Don't Eat Your Young: A Nursing Podcast?

Welcome to Don’t Eat Your Young — the podcast that brings you stories from the trenches of the incredible, wonderful, exhausting, terrifying, joyous world of nursing.

Host Beth Quaas been in the world of nursing for nearly decades and has worked in hospitals large and small. She's worn the hats of the floor nurse, ICU, ER, and anesthesia. She's been a manager, an educator, and a co-worker.

On Don't Eat Your Young, Beth highlights stories from nurses around the country that are doing amazing things for their nursing colleagues to support them and let them know that they are not alone. This is a show celebrating a positive culture of nursing and care, and we can be a part of this culture by sharing wins — and struggles — across the field.

We will also explore opportunities that are unique in nursing that may inspire you to go in new directions. These voices from the field are an inspiration to care for yourself, and those around you.

Subscribe to the show wherever you get your podcasts. For more information and to support this show, visit donteatyouryoung.com.

Nurses. Making our world better, one shift at a time!