Creating an Ongoing Culture of Health and Wellness in New Graduate Nurses

Purpose: The National Prevention Council, created under the Affordable Care Act (2010), established a vision to move the United States from a culture of illness to one based on wellness and prevention.    Engaging in healthy behaviors is an important initiative for both employers and employees.  This session will describe the programs and tactics implemented in a large academic medical center in the Midwestern United States, to promote the health and wellness of their employees, including new graduate nurses.       

Methods:

Leadership from a large academic medical center convened a Health and Wellness Council to create healthier work environment.  The council developed 4 sub-committees to focus on 1) nutrition, 2) fitness, 3) cancer prevention and 4) stress and resilience.  Programs such as “lunch and learns”, which focus on nutrition, back health, breast health and heart heath were launched. Future plans include a health and wellness newsletter, website presence, an employee survey asking about their priorities for health, and creating a health and wellness strategic plan to promote a healthy work environment.   Currently, a focus has been on improving self-awareness and health practices of nursing leaders who should be health role models for their staff.   With their leadership and support, they can guide staff in making positive changes in the work climate to include self-care practices such as regular recovery breaks, meals away from patient care areas and flexibility exercises to prevent injury. In addition, healthy work environment strategies are highlighted throughout the medical center’s robust, one-year nurse internship program.   

Results:

New graduate nurses and their colleagues from across the medical center are engaging in the health and wellness activities.   A committee to evaluate metrics will be established to measure outcomes of the programs.

Conclusion: Strong leadership support and participation is necessary to create and sustain employee health and wellness.