VNA retreat features respite, painting
Butterflies, flitting from place to place, are not usually regarded as team players.
But this week, butterflies became team builders for employees of the VNA Hospice after a staff planning committee chose painting butterflies as the focus of its staff retreat art party.
“It worked out great,” said the Rev. Connie Dunn, a committee member and spiritual coordinator and counselor at VNA Hospice.
She said the butterfly's metamorphosis can remind families and caregivers of the spiritual transformation that can happen at the end of life.
Nearly 70 hospice staff members, the majority of the organization's employees, met in Butler for the retreat.
“They work hard, and they are dealing with tough issues on a regular basis,” Dunn said. “We always recommend that family caregivers take respite from time to time to rejuvenate mentally, physically, spiritually, emotionally. We also believe our staff needs to do that from time to time.”
Any group can have an art party with the Associated Artists of Butler County (AABC) at The Art Center in downtown Butler. Due to the hospice group's size, however, this party was at St. Peter Roman Catholic Church, 127 Franklin St.
“I lead them in painting something in common,” said Eileen Stroup, education coordinator for AABC. “While they are painting, they have a party. It is like a guided painting class, but I help and it's fun.”
Stroup said art parties have been popular in other places, in part because participants do not have to be painters to enjoy themselves.
“I designed a project around a butterfly that would be easy to paint but would come out nicely,” Stroup said.
Past hospice staff retreats have included bowling, line dancing, relaxation techniques, team-building activities and games, and fall festivals with hay rides and pumpkin decorating.
“We learn about ourselves and each other,” said Dunn. “You try something new, and that's always exciting and threatening. It's nice to do those things as a team.”
“I think whenever we practice stepping outside the box of our comfort zone, we better understand our patients and families at the end stage of life,” Dunn said. “They are stepping into new and uncharted territories.”
The center supplied black-and-white sample drawings of a butterfly and cone flower, paints, brushes, 11-by-14-inch canvases, pencils and color photocopies of an example of a finished painting for participants.
Each participant penciled a butterfly and flower onto a canvas. Then, as Stroup gave step-by-step instructions from her easel at the front of the room, participants painted their sketches.
“I was intimidated until she showed us how to trace,” said Renetta Winkler, a registered nurse for wound, ostomy and continence care. Others sitting nearby said that wound care — preparing a wound, cutting a bandage to fit and then wrapping the wound — is like an art.
“We're finding our inner artist,” said Abby Campbell, RN and field nurse.
“I'm having a blast,” said Katie Schultz, team assistant at the inpatient hospice unit.
“I've been working with women for the past seven years,” said Travis Keene, RN and hospice field nurse. “I go with the flow.”
Jill Kraus and Anthony Closkey, artists and friends of Stroup, walked among the tables answering questions while the room sounded with laughter, advice giving, teasing and calls for help.“There's no wrong way to do it,” said Stroup, who constantly gave positive encouragement to the group and to individuals.“If your circles are not round, that's OK,” said Stroup. “The spots on the butterfly are not round. They are a little wonky.”Stroup said that two-thirds of most groups probably feel they cannot tackle the painting by themselves. She wants them to be proud of their paintings.“It's like the feeling when you take a hike or run — the feeling you've done something you didn't think you could do,” said Stroup. “It's very freeing because of that achievement. Doing that in the same room with your colleagues, they feel we all did this. We worked really hard. We saw our coworkers struggling but coming out with a great project.”Participants acknowledged the value of the activity.“We have a stressful job, and we can come together and not think about it for a couple hours,” said Nicole Confer, RN and field nurse.“Life is about going outside the lines a little bit,” said Eileen Keelan, hospice counselor and social worker. “I was expecting to relax and enjoy some laughter with people I care about.”The annual retreat is a rare opportunity for many VNA Hospice employees to be in the same place. Staff members work a variety of shifts and some visit patients at the hospital and in their homes.“I think it's wonderful to relax and spend time together and see other employees and put a name with a face,” said Ruthann Delaney, who works in hospice billing.“I want people to be really proud of what they are able to paint,” said Stroup. “I hope other people will see how fun and successful this is both in creating a nice piece of art and in having a fun time.”Although all participants received the same detailed instructions, in the end each butterfly was unique.“I didn't think I'd want a frame,” said Confer, “but I think I'm going to get a frame.”For more information about art parties for children and adults, visit ArtPartyButler.com or Facebook.com/ArtPartyButler. To find out more about the center's open parties, send an e-mail to eileen.stroup@gmail.com.
