Orlana Bourgoin is standing in a hallway at the Kingston General Hospital site, looking directly in the camera. She has long, wavy, blonde hair, blue eyes and is wearing a bright green tank top. Her upper left arm is covered in flower tattoos.
Orlana Bourgoin joined KHSC as a workplace mental wellness practitioner in June 2023. She believes in teamwork, the power of humanity and the diversity we bring from our experiences.
Credit
Matthew Manor

Working in health care is a rewarding experience, but it’s no secret, it can also be physically and mentally stressful.

That’s why one of our main goals at Kingston Health Sciences Centre (KHSC) is fostering a positive workplace, by enhancing the psychological health and safety of our staff.

And one of the people leading that mission is Orlana Bourgoin, a workplace mental wellness practitioner.

“To effectively support our patients, we must first support our staff,” she explains.

“If our cups run on empty, we have nothing left to fill up others. By ensuring our staff’s mental wellness we can build capacity, resilience and create a foundation of support that enables them to thrive, which also enhances our ability to provide exceptional care to our patients continually.”

Orlana Bourgoin is standing and leaning up against a care desk in an inpatient unit at the Kingston General Hospital site. She’s talking to two other staff members featured in the image. She has long, wavy, blonde hair, blue eyes and is wearing a grey blazer with a white blouse underneath.
While every day is different for Bourgoin, she says if she can positively impact just one person then that day was a win.

Bourgoin travels across KHSC sites and is available to all staff, programs and departments.

And because not all challenges can be met with the same solution, her role is fluid.

On any given day she could be offering immediate support to someone in crisis, conducting psychological health and safety risk assessments, sharing valuable information during staff huddles, developing resources to improve individual and team resilience; the list goes on and on.

“My journey into this field was driven by a deep desire to help others reach their full potential. Life presents us all with challenges, and while everyone has the potential to succeed, no one can do it alone. We all need support and our ability to learn and grow allows us to be resilient.

“We must have a supportive environment where we feel safe to share our struggles, ask for help, challenge our thinking, and work together to discover new ways to overcome them.”

Orlana Bourgoin is sitting on a chair at a care desk in an inpatient unit at the Kingston General Hospital site, looking at a colleague. She has long, wavy, blonde hair, blue eyes and is wearing a grey blazer with a white blouse underneath.
Bourgoin says she’s proud to be a workplace mental wellness practitioner at KHSC and loves providing support for her colleagues.

With more than 15 years in the field, Bourgoin is not only passionate about mental wellness but she also knows what it’s like when you’re struggling.

“My experiences have shaped me into someone who strives to offer the kind of support I once needed. A helping hand, someone to walk alongside you at your pace, as you learn to regain your balance.

“I love my job. If I have positively impacted just one person by brightening their day, boosting their resilience, or helping them feel heard in a moment of vulnerability, then I consider that a win. It’s a ripple effect. That one positive interaction will cascade to others.

“I believe in teamwork, the power of humanity and the diversity we bring from our experiences. We all have a part to play, and we can either support each other to thrive or work to tear each other apart. My choice is to help my colleagues succeed and seek understanding with genuine curiosity and support, not judgment.”

Orlana Bourgoin is standing and leaning up against a care desk in an inpatient unit at the Kingston General Hospital site. She has long, wavy, blonde hair, blue eyes and is wearing a grey blazer with a white blouse underneath.
Bourgoin believes by ensuring staff’s mental wellness, we can build capacity and resilience, and create a foundation of support that enables KHSC to provide exceptional care to patients continually.

Bourgoin said it best, it’s a team effort. And we’re grateful to have such a dedicated, compassionate and understanding individual in the KHSC lineup.

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