Abstract
Purpose: Holistic Certified Nurse Specialists (HCNS) with nurse leadership responded to clinical nurse feedback to support their ability to use available wellness and stress reduction resources. Together, they developed a scheduling system to maximize clinical nurse use of holistic support.
Significance: An organizational well-being survey indicated that clinical nurses experienced higher stress and burnout than other clinical staff. Covid 19 and its aftermath significantly impacted the overall health of nurses who reported symptoms of stress, anxiety, and emotional exhaustion. Through transformational leadership, the HCNS leveraged the hospital’s person-centered care philosophy to create an environment for nurse wellbeing.
Methods: Previously, the HCNS provided holistic care of nurses on the units; however, the lack of a private quiet space and nurses' hesitancy to step away from their responsibilities to receive self-care impeded effectiveness. The HCNS collaborated with hospital administration and facilities management to create a healing space for meaningful support of all team members; however, nurses were underrepresented as they could not leave their units. The HCNS then developed an appointment system, working with Nurse Managers to schedule sessions for nurses and provide coverage for 35 minutes to free nurses of their patient care responsibilities while off the unit. HCNS offers Reiki, Reflexology and Meditation sessions. They created pre/post RedCap surveys to evaluate the quality and impact of sessions on stress and anxiety levels.
Results: Program evaluation showed that nurses value Integrative Health services and identified their reasons for registering for appointments, including work stress (57.4%), life stress (51.2%), anxiety (27.1%), feeling overwhelmed (22.1%), and burnout (19%). Clinical nurse feedback (n=241) demonstrates that they feel less stress/anxiety after their sessions. Paired t-test and Cohen’s effect size d results show significant decreases in stress (p< 0.001, d=1) and anxiety (p< 0.001, d=.9).
Implications for Nursing Practice: This innovation endures based on team members continued positive feedback and participation. The schedule is continually full, and requests are being met to expand hours of services. The holistic interventions transform nursing practice by significantly reducing stress and anxiety and improve nurses’ health and wellbeing. Nurses appreciate the holistic support they receive to improve their health and wellness.
Notes
References: 1. An Asynchronous Evidence-Based Mindfulness Intervention for Professional Nurses. (2024). Journal of Holistic Nursing, 42(2), 119–120. https://doi.org/10.1177/08980101241252025
2. Chesak, S. S., Cutshall, S. M., Bowe, C. L., Montanari, K. M., & Bhagra, A. (2019). Stress Management Interventions for Nurses: Critical Literature Review. Journal of Holistic Nursing, 37(3), 288–295. https://doi.org/10.1177/0898010119842693
3. Ficarra, M. E. (2024). An Asynchronous Evidence-Based Mindfulness Intervention for Professional Nurses. Journal of Holistic Nursing, 42(2), 111–118. https://doi.org/10.1177/08980101231186033
4. Hazlett-Stevens, H. (2020). Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction for Health Care Staff: Expanding Holistic Nursing Paradigms to the Whole System. Holistic Nursing Practice, 34(5), 301–305. https://doi.org/10.1097/HNP.0000000000000404
5. Naone, M., Ford, C., & Davis, K. F. (2024). Zen Den: A Novel Approach to Promote Well-Being in the Workplace. Journal of Holistic Nursing, 8980101241263131-. https://doi.org/10.1177/08980101241263131
Sigma Membership
Non-member
Type
Presentation
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
N/A
Research Approach
N/A
Keywords:
Stress/Coping, Sustainable Development Goals, Interprofessional Initiatives
Recommended Citation
Joseph, Bree, "Creating Healthy Work Environments Through Holistic Innovation" (2025). Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE). 41.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/chwe/2025/presentations_2025/41
Conference Name
Creating Healthy Work Environments
Conference Host
Sigma Theta Tau International
Conference Location
Phoenix, Arizona, USA
Conference Year
2025
Rights Holder
All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record.
Review Type
Abstract Review Only: Reviewed by Event Host
Acquisition
Self-submission
Creating Healthy Work Environments Through Holistic Innovation
Phoenix, Arizona, USA
Purpose: Holistic Certified Nurse Specialists (HCNS) with nurse leadership responded to clinical nurse feedback to support their ability to use available wellness and stress reduction resources. Together, they developed a scheduling system to maximize clinical nurse use of holistic support.
Significance: An organizational well-being survey indicated that clinical nurses experienced higher stress and burnout than other clinical staff. Covid 19 and its aftermath significantly impacted the overall health of nurses who reported symptoms of stress, anxiety, and emotional exhaustion. Through transformational leadership, the HCNS leveraged the hospital’s person-centered care philosophy to create an environment for nurse wellbeing.
Methods: Previously, the HCNS provided holistic care of nurses on the units; however, the lack of a private quiet space and nurses' hesitancy to step away from their responsibilities to receive self-care impeded effectiveness. The HCNS collaborated with hospital administration and facilities management to create a healing space for meaningful support of all team members; however, nurses were underrepresented as they could not leave their units. The HCNS then developed an appointment system, working with Nurse Managers to schedule sessions for nurses and provide coverage for 35 minutes to free nurses of their patient care responsibilities while off the unit. HCNS offers Reiki, Reflexology and Meditation sessions. They created pre/post RedCap surveys to evaluate the quality and impact of sessions on stress and anxiety levels.
Results: Program evaluation showed that nurses value Integrative Health services and identified their reasons for registering for appointments, including work stress (57.4%), life stress (51.2%), anxiety (27.1%), feeling overwhelmed (22.1%), and burnout (19%). Clinical nurse feedback (n=241) demonstrates that they feel less stress/anxiety after their sessions. Paired t-test and Cohen’s effect size d results show significant decreases in stress (p< 0.001, d=1) and anxiety (p< 0.001, d=.9).
Implications for Nursing Practice: This innovation endures based on team members continued positive feedback and participation. The schedule is continually full, and requests are being met to expand hours of services. The holistic interventions transform nursing practice by significantly reducing stress and anxiety and improve nurses’ health and wellbeing. Nurses appreciate the holistic support they receive to improve their health and wellness.
Description
COVID-19 significantly impacted the overall health and well-being of healthcare workers who report increased symptoms of stress, anxiety, and emotional exhaustion. HCNs empower clinical nurses to prioritize self-care by providing interventions to address and manage their stress and anxiety, and holistically improve their health and well-being.