A Program for Nurse Managers: How to Improve Nurse Wellbeing

Abstract

Burnout is a public health epidemic that threatens the wellbeing of nurses and can lead to depression and suicide. Healthcare leaders must address staff burnout as it increases nurse turnover, shortage of nurses, and poor patient outcomes. The specific aim for this quality improvement (QI) project was to implement a program that could guide a nurse manager on how to improve wellbeing in their nursing staff as measured by: (a) Improved wellbeing scores to a composite score of 3.5 or greater as indicated by follow-up Culture Pulse surveys distributed in 2021; & (b) Reduced absenteeism among nursing staff by 18%. Five surveys identical to the organizations Culture Pulse Survey that measured wellbeing were sent to staff each month starting in January 2021 and ending in May 2021. The average composite score from all five surveys was 2.8, which resulted in an overall improvement. Absenteeism was reduced during implementation by 39%. This QI project guides nurse managers in the evidence-based interventions that can promote wellbeing in their staff.