Recognizing that the COVID-19 pandemic has put an unprecedented mental strain on the nation’s nurses, four leading nursing organizations and the American Nurses Foundation have launched a national Well-Being Initiative.
Introduced in late May, the initiative has grown to provide a broad range of resources and tools to help nurses cope with the stress.
Introduced in late May, the initiative has grown to provide a broad range of resources and tools to help nurses cope with the stress.
“Nurses are putting their physical and mental health on the line to protect us all during this pandemic. Every day they confront traumatic situations while they face their own worries about the risks to themselves and their families,” said Kate Judge, foundation executive director.
The initiative was developed by the foundation and its partners: American Nurses Association (ANA), Emergency Nurses Association (ENA), American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN), and American Psychiatric Nurses Association (APNA).
The resources are broad and extensive. Here is a sample:
- Nurses Together: Connecting Through Conversations – This is a one-hour, 7 day a week voice and video peer support session led by volunteers from the ENA.
- Moodfit Mobile App – The premium version of this highly regarded mental health wellness tracker is free to nurses.
- Narrative Expressive Writing – A 5 session, weekly program in which nurses experiencing distress from the COVID-19 pandemic write about their experience. Mental health professionals provide individualized feedback on each session.
- Happy App – This digital tool connects users with “support givers,” professional listeners who provide emotional support to nurses who want or need to talk to someone. A grant from the foundation makes a nurse’s first call free.
- Nurses’ Guide to Mental Health Support Services — Because even nurses aren’t always sure where to turn, the American Psychiatric Nurses Association developed a guide to the support systems and services that are available to nurses and how to locate them.
In addition to the Well-Being Initiative, the Foundation partnered with Nurses House, Inc., a financial assistance organization for nurses, to provide a one-time $1,000 grant for qualified nurses who are ill with COVID-19, caring for a family member with COVID-19, or who are under employer mandated quarantine due to virus.
