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Frequently Asked Questions

If your question isn't answered here, email us or call 210-791-9071.

About CODE YOU

What is CODE YOU?

CODE YOU is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in San Antonio, Texas. Our mission is resuscitating and strengthening the heart and soul of nursing. We support healthcare professionals -- particularly nurses -- who face burnout, compassion fatigue, moral injury, and trauma in their daily work. We do this through retreats, leadership training, coaching, and self-paced courses.

Who founded CODE YOU?

CODE YOU was co-founded by Phyllis Morton MSN, RN, SD and N. Tamara Ramirez MASFSD, BSN, RN. Both are seasoned nurses and trained Spiritual Directors. Phyllis trained at the University of Missouri (BSN, MSN) and at SMU for Spiritual Direction. Tamara worked as a hospice nurse for nearly two decades and holds a BSN from Azusa Pacific, an SD from Perkins School of Theology, and a Master's in Spiritual Formation and Direction from Richmond Graduate University.

Who does CODE YOU serve?

Our primary audience is nurses -- staff nurses, nurse leaders, hospice nurses, school nurses, and nurse educators. We also work with hospital and health-system teams as a whole, and with other healthcare professionals who are experiencing the same exhaustion, grief, and loss of purpose.

Is CODE YOU a religious organization?

CODE YOU is not affiliated with any church or denomination. Our co-founders are trained Spiritual Directors and integrate spiritual care practices -- breath prayer, meditative hikes, gratitude journaling, art-based healing -- into our work. Participants of all faiths and of no particular faith have found our retreats meaningful. Spiritual care, as we practice it, is the care of the whole human and is not the same as proselytizing.

Is CODE YOU a 501(c)(3)?

Yes. CODE YOU is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. EIN: 93-4049024. Donations are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law. You can donate via Givebutter.

CODE YOU Retreats

What is a CODE YOU retreat?

A CODE YOU retreat is a half-day experience — typically 10:00 AM to 3:30 PM — that offers nurses and other healthcare professionals practical tools to rediscover hope, purpose, and meaning in their work. Each retreat includes short teaching sessions on compassion fatigue, the role of spirituality in well-being, simple yoga and breath practices, journaling, time in nature, art-based reflection, shared meals, and the chance to develop a personal spiritual care plan.

What is a Brave Healing Space?

A Brave Healing Space is a CODE YOU concept and the framework that anchors every retreat. It is an environment that is brave (psychologically safe), connected (supported by healthy communication), and empowered (equipped with the tools needed for success). The framework is published in our 2024 Texas Nurses Association research and used in our Wholistic Leadership Certificate Program.

Are CODE YOU CE hours accredited for registered nurses?

CODE YOU retreats provide CE contact hours documented for each participant. Nursing continuing professional development activities offered by CODE YOU are approved by the Oregon Nurses Association, an accredited approver by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.

How much does a CODE YOU retreat cost?

Public CODE YOU retreats are priced between $55 and $75 per participant, depending on the venue and the season. Scholarships and group rates are available — reach out if cost is a barrier.

Where are CODE YOU retreats held?

Public retreats are typically held in the San Antonio, Texas and Northern California areas, but can be offered anywhere a host is available. Locations are chosen for their connection to nature and conducive setting for reflection. Private retreats are hosted at the requesting organization's facility or a venue of their choice. CODE YOU travels across the U.S. and beyond for private engagements.

Do CODE YOU retreats include spiritual direction?

Retreats include elements informed by Spiritual Direction practice -- breath prayer, contemplative reflection, journaling prompts. Formal 1:1 spiritual direction sessions are offered separately through our 1-on-1 support program.

How do I find out about upcoming retreats?

Our public retreat schedule is on our retreats page. You can also subscribe to our newsletter for retreat announcements and our latest research.

Hosting a Private CODE YOU Retreat

Can employers host a CODE YOU retreat for their nursing team?

Yes. CODE YOU regularly travels to hospitals, health systems, schools of nursing, and other organizations to deliver private retreats. The retreat can be the standard half-day format or customized to address your team's specific focus areas -- onboarding cohorts, leadership development, post-incident decompression, or ongoing well-being programming. Start the conversation on our host-a-retreat page.

What does it cost to host a private retreat?

Pricing varies based on group size, location, travel, customization, and whether the retreat is part of a longer engagement. Contact ntramirez@codeyou.info for a custom proposal.

What's the ROI of hosting a wellness retreat for nurses?

Healthy work environments are linked to lower nurse turnover, reduced absenteeism, fewer adverse patient events, and improved patient experience scores. CODE YOU's research and the broader literature on nurse well-being interventions support these outcomes. We're happy to walk through the ROI math with your finance or HR team during a hosting conversation.

Other Programs

What is the Wholistic Leadership Certificate Program?

The Wholistic Leadership Certificate Program is CODE YOU's structured training for nurse leaders. It draws directly from our 2024 TNA research and teaches active listening, storytelling, personality typing (Enneagram), workplace violence prevention, and trauma-informed care. The program includes a leadership development workshop, educational modules, one-on-one coaching, and practical training sessions. Learn more.

What is a self-paced course?

A self-paced course gives nurses an asynchronous way to engage with CODE YOU material -- including evidence-based content on compassion fatigue and spiritual care plan development. It is designed for nurses who can't attend a live retreat right now. Learn more.

What is 1-on-1 support?

CODE YOU offers individual coaching and spiritual direction for nurses navigating burnout, grief, career transitions, or moral injury. Sessions are confidential and tailored to your needs. Learn more.

What makes CODE YOU different?

How is CODE YOU different from other nurse wellness programs?

Three things set CODE YOU apart.

One: every intervention is rooted in our own peer-presented research, not just borrowed wellness content.

Two: our co-founders are both practicing nurses and trained Spiritual Directors, which means we address the spiritual dimension of caregiver burnout that secular wellness programs often skip.

Three: we deliver in the format the nurse needs -- public retreats, private retreats, certificate programs, self-paced courses, or 1-on-1 coaching. Many wellness providers offer only one of these.

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