Researchers have released a report examining the emotional well-being of New Jersey nurses post-COVID-19, highlighting disparities in the nursing workforce and emphasizing the need for emotional support programs. The study coincides with National Nurses Week and evaluates findings from nurses who participated in Virtual Schwartz Rounds (VSR) online sessions.
The VSR initiative, launched in November 2020, is an online platform designed to connect nurses across New Jersey with emotional support services. Developed by the New Jersey Nursing Initiative and Rutgers School of Nursing, these sessions are part of the New Jersey Nursing Emotional Well-Being Institute (NJ-NEW) through the New Jersey Collaborating Center for Nursing. The goal is to reduce stress and isolation among nurses while fostering collaboration and enhancing compassionate care delivery. Over one hundred VSR sessions have been conducted since its inception.
Funded by the New Jersey State Policy Lab, researchers from Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, Rutgers Health, and NJ-NEW surveyed nurses who attended VSR sessions. Findings revealed that although half of the participants reported their employer offered on-site emotional well-being programs, only half had engaged in such programs over three years. Additionally, VSR participants were generally older and more educated compared to the broader nursing workforce in New Jersey.
The report suggests further research should explore barriers and facilitators affecting workplace emotional support program implementation and impact.
