Lets invest on our Nurses

1. Wellness Initiative for Nurses Under Stress (WINUS)
Estrella Evangelista-Hoffman BSN, RN, MEd
Health Care Dilemma-Nursing Shortage Theoretical Framework Education/Programs Included:
“Everyday the nurse confronts stark suffering, • One Day Workshop and Health Screening
grief and death as few other people do. Many
nursing tasks are mundane and unrewarding. • Nutrition Counseling with Weight Watchers
Many are, by normal standards, distasteful and
disgusting. Other often degrading; some are
• Stress Management (counseling, yoga and
simply frightening.”
crisis intervention)
Adams (2002)
• Discounted Gym Membership
Background : In nursing, as a part of a dynamic
and rapidly changing health care system, Program Evaluation : Process Evaluation: An
stress is an occupational hazard. initial Health Risk Appraisal (HRA) and Life Stress
High levels of work related stress have been Test (LST) will be conducted on all employees who
known to affect nurses’ health/lifestyle attend the workshop and enroll in the nutrition,
choices, job satisfaction, job productivity and stress management an exercise programs. Another
absenteeism, turn over/attrition rates, errors HRA and LST will be done on WINUS enrollees 6
and patient welfare” (Adams, 2002). Employers months after enrolment.
in organizations have implemented health
promotion programs to control spiraling health Outcomes Evaluation: Organization- wide job
care cost, in addition to encouraging a healthy satisfaction survey prior to program implementation
productive workforce as a means of boosting and 6 months after program initiation. This survey
the morale of employees and the image of the will be conducted on all nurses in Hospital X .
company (Randolfi, 1992). Results will be compared between WINUS enrollees
and nurses who are not.
Purpose: WINUS aims to provide the nurses at Methodology
a local hospital in Nevada with an on site health Timeline: WINUS pilot is a 6-month pilot program. It
promotion program that will assist nurses with will continue depending on funding and
making intelligent and healthy choices in their organizational support. The budget for a 6-month
life to be able to better cope with professional program is $10,000.
and work related stress.
Results : This program is currently under
It will also assist the organization in the consideration for funding from a Nevada non-profit
retention and recruitment of nurses as well as and is currently being reviewed by Hospital X
increase job satisfaction among its employees. administration.
Goal: At the end of 6 months, WINUS Implications : Job satisfaction and retention of
participants will report a 20% improvement in nurses is beyond just monetary rewards.
their Health Risk Appraisals and 30% Empowering nurses and providing them with the
improvement in job satisfaction. necessary physical and mental skills to deal with
stress will create a milieu where nurses are
Theoretical Framework. The Predisposing, supported not just as employees but also as human
reinforcing and enabling constructs in beings.
education & ecological diagnosis and
evaluation (PRECEDE) –Policy, regulatory and References:
organizational constructs in educational and
environmental development (PROCEED) is a Adams, J.N. (2002). Nursing and job satisfaction.
health promotion framework developed by Retrieved November 8, 2005, from Management
Green & Kreuter (1980). It is a comprehensive Training. Website: http;//juddamdams/timestres.htm.
framework that begins with assessment of the
individual’s quality of life, societal influences, Randolfi, A. (1999) Organizational change for job
environment and organizational issues. satisfaction. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 29 (6),
PROCEED converts the program objectives into 1351.
actions through policy changes, regulation and

2. use of organizational resources to implement
the program. Processes, the impact of the
program and outcomes are evaluated
according to program objectives.