ORD Nurse: 'We employ active listening and consider the impacts of external factors on mental and physical health' of employees

Leen reported that employees at Flying Food Group have shared personal and systemic stressors such as family responsibilities, financial strain, and difficulty navigating the U.S. healthcare system. "Rush College of Nursing is part of a large academic health institution and we have access to staff with expertise and passion in this type of situational distress," she said.

The event included Spanish-speaking providers and virtual medical interpreters to ensure language was not a barrier, according to Leen. "We have 24/7 access to virtual interpreters who are certified as medical translators in any language we have encountered while at Flying Food," she said. In addition to counseling and wellness discussions, attendees could receive a personalized body composition analysis—a more accurate and individualized alternative to BMI. The event also promoted awareness of underutilized resources like the Employee Assistance Program, which provides support for legal, financial, and mental health issues.

Leen is an instructor in the Department of Academic Practice Nursing at Rush University, providing care through the RUSH Flying Food Group and St. Leonard's Ministries Health Clinics, according to the Rush website.