Throughputs in Action
New Graduate Resilience: A Path Worth Taking
Submitted by
Nicole Weathers, MSN, RN, NPD-BC (pictured left)
Iowa Online Nurse Residency Program
Renae Grell, MSN, RN, IBCLC (pictured right)
UnityPoint Health - St. Luke's
Building resilience in the new graduate nurse (NGN) is becoming a priority for nursing professional development (NPD) practitioners. The link between resilience, well-being, and stress can no longer be ignored. Nursing academic programs provide the foundation for resilience training, and residency programs often include knowledge and information, but how can NPD practitioners facilitate the application of tactical strategies to build positive emotion, engagement, relationships, meaning, and achievement for peak well-being NGNs?
The nature of residency programs lends well to providing NGNs opportunity to build supportive relationships with cohort discussion groups and engage in meaningful contributions through residency projects. However, building positive emotions can be more difficult. A 183-bed mid-western hospital's nurse residency program added a transition journal—in 2019—and resiliency training series—in 2021—to enhance wellbeing and resiliency in the NGN.
Going beyond simply reflecting, this journal incorporates positive psychology exercises and resiliency research to provide journaling prompts designed to reframe bad experiences, adjust learning, build confidence, promote a positive mindset, and provide time to make goals and plans for continuous improvement. The NGN is encouraged to complete the journal each week and review it with a mentor, promoting supportive relationships in the work environment. The resiliency training introduces the concepts of self-awareness, self-regulation, connection, and optimism as the cornerstone to increasing the capacity to meet the demands of their workload. Furthermore, these principles are demonstrated and practiced through structured mindfulness activities, which aim to reduce stress, improve focus, and foster emotional well-being in the healthcare environment. The combination of reflective journaling and resiliency training provides tactical tools for NGNs to integrate into their daily routine and aims to strengthen their ability to withstand the demands of the ever-changing healthcare environment, resulting in more resilient nurses.
Initial feedback from current NGN’s has been positive. Jillian Zehring, a recent resident in the program shares, “The resiliency training was a helpful resource and one that I refer to regularly. The training reinforced techniques that I knew but did not practice regularly, such as focusing on breathing for one minute. It also introduced new concepts to me as well, pendulating my focus near and far. This is one I particularly liked.” She goes on to say, “the training delivered information at a nice pace, and it was helpful to hear others' thoughts about the topics. I would recommend this training to anyone who feels like they need a step up when their work environment, emotions, and stressful situations collide.” Outcomes related to the Casey-Fink Graduate Nurse Experience Survey are also being monitored specifically for impact in the areas of support, stress, and professional satisfaction.