Other Titles
Self-Guided Stress & Resilience Program Impact [Title Slide]
Abstract
Background: Evidence suggests that younger, less experienced nurses have higher burnout risk, thus yielding higher turnover rates, poorer psychological health, and decreased resilience or job satisfaction. To address this, it is critical to support new nurses by providing training aimed at building resilience and stress management. However, formal curricula designed to help nurses adapt to high-stress environments and unexpected changes are limited. Thus, the purpose of this study was to assess the acceptability, feasibility, and preliminary efficacy of an online self-guided resiliency training curriculum.
Methods: Using a pragmatic trial design, we recruited a pilot sample of 26 nurse residents (with less than 2 years of experience) from a suburban hospital. The curriculum, called “Carnelian Connection,” comprised of nine weekly, online video modules (e.g., “Meaningful connection,” “Having no control,” “Exposure to death and dying”). Participants completed pre- and post-training surveys that included valid and reliable measures: Perceived Stress Scale (α=.76), Mini-Z burnout, PHQ-2 (depression, α=.85), GAD-2 (anxiety, α=.80), Brief Resilience Scale (α=.91), and Self Efficacy Scale (α=.90). The post-training survey also included satisfaction ratings about duration, usability, and clarity of the modules. After importing into SPSSv27, we calculated descriptives, Pearson correlations, and paired t-tests to determine differences pre-/post-training.
Results: Post-training survey assessment showed decreased scores in burnout, depression, intention to leave, job satisfaction, resilience, and self-efficacy. However, statistical analyses revealed no significant differences among these variables. Only perceived stress (p=0.0012) and anxiety (p=0.0228) showed a significant difference post-training. Additionally, workload was reported as the most important stressor, whereas preceptor support was perceived as the least stressor among nurse residents. Generally, participants provided high score ratings on the acceptance and satisfaction with each dimension of the Carnelian Connection training program.
Conclusions & Implications: While a small sample size limited the pilot, the preliminary results demonstrated the acceptability, feasibility, and early efficacy of the training program. This training offers a valuable resource for early-career nurses, potentially mitigating suboptimal mental health outcomes while promoting job satisfaction and self-efficacy.
Notes
Presenter notes available in attached slide deck.
Extensive reference list included in attached slide deck.
Published article related to this presentation:
Norful, A. A., Yang, Y., Navarro, S. P. P., & Skariah, M. (2025). Exploring the Preliminary Impact of a Self-Guided Stress Reduction Program Among New Graduate Nurse Residents: A Pilot Study. Nurse Leader, 23(4), N.PAG. https://doi-org.proxy.ulib.uits.iu.edu/10.1016/j.mnl.2025.03.003
Sigma Membership
Alpha Zeta
Type
Presentation
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
Other
Research Approach
Pilot/Exploratory Study
Keywords:
Stress Management, Stress Management--Methods, New Graduate Nurses, New Graduate Nurses--Psychosocial Factors
Recommended Citation
Norful, Allison A.; Yang, Yilei; Navarro, Simon Paul P.; and Skariah, Marin, "Self-Guided Stress Reduction Program Among New Graduate Nurse Residents" (2026). Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE). 69.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/chwe/2026/presentations_2026/69
Conference Name
Creating Healthy Work Environments
Conference Host
Sigma Theta Tau International
Conference Location
Washington, DC, USA
Conference Year
2026
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. All permission requests should be directed accordingly and not to the Sigma Repository. All submitting authors or publishers have affirmed that when using material in their work where they do not own copyright, they have obtained permission of the copyright holder prior to submission and the rights holder has been acknowledged as necessary.
Review Type
Abstract Review Only: Reviewed by Event Host
Acquisition
Proxy-submission
Date of Issue
2026-05-03
Self-Guided Stress Reduction Program Among New Graduate Nurse Residents
Washington, DC, USA
Background: Evidence suggests that younger, less experienced nurses have higher burnout risk, thus yielding higher turnover rates, poorer psychological health, and decreased resilience or job satisfaction. To address this, it is critical to support new nurses by providing training aimed at building resilience and stress management. However, formal curricula designed to help nurses adapt to high-stress environments and unexpected changes are limited. Thus, the purpose of this study was to assess the acceptability, feasibility, and preliminary efficacy of an online self-guided resiliency training curriculum.
Methods: Using a pragmatic trial design, we recruited a pilot sample of 26 nurse residents (with less than 2 years of experience) from a suburban hospital. The curriculum, called “Carnelian Connection,” comprised of nine weekly, online video modules (e.g., “Meaningful connection,” “Having no control,” “Exposure to death and dying”). Participants completed pre- and post-training surveys that included valid and reliable measures: Perceived Stress Scale (α=.76), Mini-Z burnout, PHQ-2 (depression, α=.85), GAD-2 (anxiety, α=.80), Brief Resilience Scale (α=.91), and Self Efficacy Scale (α=.90). The post-training survey also included satisfaction ratings about duration, usability, and clarity of the modules. After importing into SPSSv27, we calculated descriptives, Pearson correlations, and paired t-tests to determine differences pre-/post-training.
Results: Post-training survey assessment showed decreased scores in burnout, depression, intention to leave, job satisfaction, resilience, and self-efficacy. However, statistical analyses revealed no significant differences among these variables. Only perceived stress (p=0.0012) and anxiety (p=0.0228) showed a significant difference post-training. Additionally, workload was reported as the most important stressor, whereas preceptor support was perceived as the least stressor among nurse residents. Generally, participants provided high score ratings on the acceptance and satisfaction with each dimension of the Carnelian Connection training program.
Conclusions & Implications: While a small sample size limited the pilot, the preliminary results demonstrated the acceptability, feasibility, and early efficacy of the training program. This training offers a valuable resource for early-career nurses, potentially mitigating suboptimal mental health outcomes while promoting job satisfaction and self-efficacy.
Description
This pilot study investigated the acceptability, feasibility, and preliminary efficacy of a self-guided training curriculum, “Carnelian Connection,” among new graduate nurses. We recruited 26 nurse residents (experience) from a suburban hospital, where they completed pre- and post-surveys with valid measures evaluating mental health (e.g., depressed mood, anxiety), occupational outcomes (e.g., burnout, job satisfaction), and acceptability/feasibility ratings.