A 2012 study conducted with SRNAs and CRNAs revealed that ineffective coping skills can lead to higher rates of burnout, intense anxiety, substance use, and depression. This discovery session will outline the development and implementation of a wellness initiative for SRNAs seeking their DNP. Planning, strategy, tools utilized, and insights from the first cohort of the wellness initiative will be shared.
This discovery session will demonstrate the need for a wellness initiative for SRNA students seeking their DNP in Nurse Anesthesia. It will outline the planning, strategy, tools utilized, and insights from the first Thrive cohort.
The 3-year program to earn a DNP and complete all didactic and clinical requirements to sit for the national certification exam is challenging emotionally, mentally, and physically. A 2012 study conducted with SRNAs and CRNAs revealed that ineffective coping skills can lead to higher rates of burnout, intense anxiety, substance use, and depression. The study further reported stress levels of 7.2 on a 10 point Likert scale (n=1,376) of SRNA students.
Further finding from this report indicated:
- 47.3% reported depressed while in school
- 21.2% had suicidal ideation while in school
- Of 47.3% (554 students)
- 29.3% used alcohol to cope
- 11.7% on antidepressants
- 1.3% on benzodiazepines
- 11.4% on histamine 2(H2) blockers
- 29.5% on over-the-counter sleep aid
- 10.6% on prescription sleep aid
- All can impair ability to concentrate, mental acuity, and motor function
With this knowledge, the faculty of the Departnment of Nurse Anesthesia in collaboration with the Counseling and Wellness Department and the Faculty Success Center have launched Thrive: A Wellness Initiative with the goal of assisting students with the development of coping skills, emotional intelligence, and overall well-being with a variety of focused strategies.
The Thrive Initiative has three goals for our students:
- Develop an awareness of the anxieties and stressors related to the SRNA program
- Provide heuristic resources to develop healthy coping strategies
- Create a community forum for SRNAs to share resources and their stories