Self-help for caretakers

Heather Yarnell, a post-surgical nurse at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta at Scottish Rite, wanted to work on some things in her personal life, so she was intrigued by the hospital's Club M.E.D. program. Club Motivate, Explore and Discover is a unique wellness program that encourages employees to improve their health by eating right, exercising and achieving balance in their lives.

"Heart problems run in my family, so I had been trying to eat better, and I knew that I needed cardio exercise, not just lifting weights at the gym, so I decided to get involved with the program," said Yarnell, RN, CPN.

At an introductory session, she received a commitment card to track weekly progress toward meeting her goals. For every two-month season that employees participate and turn in their cards, they are eligible for prizes, which include weekend trips and dinners. Those who participate for three seasons are eligible for a grand prize drawing of a week's vacation to any Club Med resort in the world.

"My first question was, 'How lofty do these goals have to be?' " Yarnell said. "They explained that the goals were obtainable, because you set them yourself."

Yarnell chose to eat more natural foods, walk on her treadmill three to four days a week, spend more time with her family in Florida, explore her knitting and sewing interests and take an advanced motorcycle safety course. She also planned to volunteer more at Camp Sunshine — a camp for children with cancer — and wanted to add the certified pediatric nurse credential to her title.

"I kept the commitment card in the bag I carry to work, so that I'd see it when I was searching for other things. It would remind me to think about my goals," Yarnell said. "You don't have to be perfect, but when I'd accomplish a goal for the week, I'd put a sticker on the card; I am a pediatric nurse, after all."

Yarnell has reached many of her goals. She took the class and passed the exam to earn her CPN credential. She's been helping to plan events for Camp Sunshine. She lost 10 pounds. She took the motorcycling safety course. She knitted a purse that she carried all winter.

When her mother had quintuple bypass surgery last year, Yarnell was there to help. She also was there for her brother and sister-in-law, who became guardians of two children after the death of a family member.

"They already had four children, so I kept all six for five nights by myself so that they could get away," Yarnell said.

Yarnell has encouraged co-workers to get involved with Club M.E.D. and has made some converts, especially after she won the grand prize this year.

"I'm a huge Steve Irwin [the late "Crocodile Hunter"] fan, so I'm going to the Great Barrier

Reef in Australia," she said. "This has always been a dream of mine, but I'm a realist and knew the costs, so I didn't think I'd ever make it."

Yarnell and her husband plan to go in October, which coincides with their 10th wedding anniversary and her 10th anniversary of working with Children's Healthcare of Atlanta.

"The great thing about this program is that it triggers you to do the things that you want to do in the first place," she said. "It motivated me to honestly look at my diet and to exercise."

Yarnell credits the program with improving her personal life, and, in turn, energizing her to work 12-hour shifts.

"When you focus on taking care of yourself, it helps your career and your life. If your life improves, then your nursing improves," she said.