Finding Support in Tough Times: Marci's Journey with the Resiliency Center and Code Lanvender

May 13, 2025

After 25 years at 91�鶹��ֱ��, with the last four as a nurse manager, Marci Koenig has learned that health care isn't just about supporting patients—it's about supporting each other. In her profession, health care workers are trained to rush into the fire, constantly helping and saving people, often unaware of the emotional toll until it becomes too much.

THE YEAR EVERYTHING CHANGED

A few years ago, Marci faced one of the most challenging periods of her career. She was a brand-new manager when one of her staff members took his life.

“I did not know how to handle this,” Marci recalls thinking. There were so many questions: “What are the legalities? How much can we tell people? How do we honor him? How do we support the staff? Should I send a letter to the parents?”

She contacted , PhD, Associate Chief Wellness Officer at the Resiliency Center. Megan was available immediately and held Marci's hand through the entire process. This tragic event marked the beginning of her relationship with the Resiliency Center, establishing a foundation of trust that would prove invaluable in the months to come.

Marci Koenig, Nurse Manager in the Neuro Acute Care Unit, has worked closely with the Resiliency Center to offer support to her team.

What followed was an unprecedented cascade of challenges. In addition to that devastating loss, Marci and her team faced the COVID-19 pandemic, an earthquake, a significant assault on a nurse and physicians by a patient, and a bomb threat. It was simply overwhelming.

REGULAR CHECK-INS

With Megan's guidance, Marci established regular monthly check-ins with Jamuna Jones, LCSW, from the Resiliency Center. Jamuna helped the team address grief, stress management, change, mindfulness, and other topics relevant to their daily struggles.

Marci leads her team in a check-in support from the Resiliency Center.

Marci knew they were on the right path when, after a session about the patient assault incident, one of her colleagues approached her and said, “Marci, I never knew that I needed this. Thank you so much for setting this up so that we could discuss these hard things that we face because we don't realize how much it's impacting us.”

Those words confirmed they were doing something essential.

CODE LAVENDER

When Marci learned about the concept of Code Lavender during a health task force group meeting, she was immediately interested. Having experienced firsthand the support of the Resiliency Center, she wanted other managers to know they didn't have to face difficult situations alone.

Code Lavender is an internal system response to provide coordinated support during stressful or traumatic workplace events. It can be activated for various situations, from patient deaths to difficult assaults or the passing of a staff member—any situation that causes significant distress.

“Code Lavender is a way for us to reach out for support,” Marci explains, “It doesn’t have to be someone in a leadership role initiating it, it can be anyone—charge nurses, staff members, or anyone on the team.”

IMPACT ON THE TEAM

When Marci first piloted Code Lavender, her team encountered some challenges—it felt odd to “call a code” for mental health when, in their profession, codes typically indicate an immediate emergency.

They expressed this concern, and the Resiliency Center team adjusted, creating alternative ways to activate Code Lavender through pages or texts. They also developed a clearer structure to provide direction on when and how to use the service.

Staff members of the NAC express themselves during a team check-in.

Throughout this evolution, Megan and her team listened to Marci's suggestions, demonstrating the collaborative approach that makes the Resiliency Center so effective.

Over time, Marci’s team has moved from apprehensively suggesting that they need support to actively participating in it. Now, they come to her saying, "“We need help, Marci.” This shift represents a tremendous step forward in the team acknowledging their emotional needs.

MORE THAN CRISIS SUPPORT

What Marci appreciates most about their partnership with the Resiliency Center is the ongoing support and knowledge they provide in areas that aren't necessarily her strengths. Through their monthly check-ins, they've explored topics like:

Work-life balance
Meditation techniques
Self-compassion (particularly important for many clinical staff who strive for perfection)

Marci has collected what she calls “little nuggets of information” that she shares not only with her team but also with her children, friends, and others who are struggling. For example, she learned that crying releases stress hormones, allowing the body to heal, something she feels she should have known but didn't.

These insights have helped her become a better leader, friend, and parent.

Marci listens to team members as they engage in discourse about resilience and well-being.

A NEW HEALTH CARE CULTURE

Especially in the post-COVID era, initiatives like Code Lavender can reshape workplace culture in health care. As Marci sees it, "“It lets our teams know that they're just as important as our patients. The university is all of us.”

Health care professionals devote themselves to caring for others—it's the heart of their work. But to provide the best care, they must also care for themselves. That’s where the Resiliency Center and programs like Code Lavender make a vital difference—offering meaningful support for those who support everyone else.

A NAC staff member listens to her colleagues during the team check-in.

ADVICE FOR OTHER LEADERS

If you're in a leadership position and wondering about implementing similar support systems, Marci's advice is simple: “Just ask for it. You're not alone; resources are available to support you and your team.”

Marci looks forward to her team’s monthly check-in with the Resiliency Center. When difficult situations arise, they already have a place where people can come and discuss the hard things they face every day.

“It's just a beautiful system that's been set up,” she says. “Don't be afraid to use the Resiliency Center resources. They're there for us. We don't have to do this job all by ourselves."

About the Resiliency Center: Since 2017, 91�鶹��ֱ��'s Resiliency Center has been a hub for coordinating and expanding well-being expertise, assessment, and intervention across the organization. The Center supports mental health and well-being through ongoing individual consultations, group check-ins, and urgent support options, including Code Lavender, peer support, and case management.

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