Navigating the Caring Role: Dr. Nurena - Merging Medical & Training Fields [Episode 214]

As a listener of the ATA podcast show, we understand how deeply you care about the well-being of the animals you work with. However, at times, your role as a positive reinforcement trainer can feel isolating, stressful, and overwhelming.

At ATA, we don't want anyone to feel this way, especially knowing how diligently our listeners strive to make a positive impact on the lives of both animal and human learners they work with.

Enter Dr. Kathie Nurena, a human physician and a certified dog trainer. Kathie deeply understands how learning theory and positive reinforcement principles can benefit both animals and humans. Having graduated from Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Karen Pryor Academy, Kathie's unique background blends medicine and dog training, providing her with a truly unique perspective on the challenges faced in caring roles.

In this episode, together with Kathie, you'll learn about:

1. Trauma-Informed Care: Discover the essence of trauma-informed care and how its principles can be integrated into your role as a trainer.
2. Patient-Centred Care and Compassion Satisfaction: Explore the significance of shifting focus from compassion fatigue to compassion satisfaction. Learn how reframing your thoughts can play a pivotal role in your professional journey, both in preventing burnout and enhancing satisfaction.
3. Emotions, Reinforcement, and Hope: Gain insights into the Maslow scale and pro qual questionnaires, and discover how "hope" (Healthy Outcomes through Positive Experiences) can benefit you.

By the end of this episode, you'll be equipped with new knowledge and ideas to help avoid feelings of overwhelm and burnout. This will boost your confidence as a trainer, enabling you to have your biggest possible positive impact on the lives of both animal and human learners you work with.

Links/references;

• The original Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) questionnaire >>> https://www.ncjfcj.org/wp-content/uploads/2006/10/Finding-Your-Ace-Score.pdf\
• Maslach Burnout Inventory >>> https://pscentre.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Maslach-Burnout-Inventory-.pdf
• ProQol >>> https://proqol.org/proqol-measure
• Healthy Outcomes From Positive Experiences (HOPE) >>> https://positiveexperience.org/about-us/
• Trauma informed care from CDC >>> https://www.cdc.gov/orr/infographics/6_principles_trauma_info.htm
• Crisis phone line in USA >>> https://988lifeline.org/
• Crisis text line in USA >>> https://www.crisistextline.org/
• Clicker Expo Live (Kathie & Linda present Sat Jan 27 8-10 am pacific time) >>> https://clickerexpo.clickertraining.com/clicker-expo-virtual/live-2024-conference-program/

Videos

• A talk by Dr Nadine Burke Harris (16 minutes) >>> https://youtu.be/95ovIJ3dsNk?si=nI_NtlOeN_0KUunv
• Three and a half minute video on trauma-informed care >>> https://youtu.be/fWken5DsJcw?si=pCZTrKe3Xgz9oujI