Plenary Session & Closing Remarks

4:15pm – 5:45pm

PLENARY SESSION

Is it Burn-out, Moral Distress, or Moral Injury? Knowing the Difference and What We Can Do About It to Support Resiliency for Front-line Staff
LeAnn Bruce, PhD, MSW
National Program Manager - Intimate Partner Violence Assistance Program
Care Management & Social Work (12CMSW)
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

Staffing shortages are becoming alarmingly common across many settings, particularly in healthcare and other community aide settings. Front-line staff (and their leadership) are leaving their agencies, and sometimes even their life careers saying they are just “burned out.”  They report feeling exhausted, disheartened, and have difficulty concentrating. Social workers are no exception. Often the first to respond to a crisis, and the last to leave – witnessing the exodus of social workers and “the helpers” is concerning. This session will attempt to answer the question, “What can we do about it” by exploring the concepts of burn out, moral distress and moral injury. Knowing the difference can help to guide effective interventions for individuals and agencies seeking to heal from over three years of serving others during extraordinary circumstances.

5:45pm – 6:00pm

CLOSING REMARKS

Angelo McClain, PhD, LICSW
Chief Executive Officer
National Association of Social Workers