The significance of well-being programs has grown in recent times, with Virtual Schwartz Rounds (VSR) serving as a crucial platform for nurses. These sessions offer an opportunity for nursing professionals to connect and share experiences while managing personal and professional challenges. Over the past three years, 2,346 nurses have registered for at least one VSR session.
An analysis was conducted to understand the demographic trends of VSR participants compared to the broader nursing workforce in New Jersey. The study focused on 273 nurses who registered for at least one VSR session before April 23, 2024. This group was compared against data from the New Jersey Board of Nursing (NJBON) Nursys® license renewal surveys from 2023 and 2024.
The findings showed that a majority of VSR participants were women (74%), predominantly white (59%), and middle-aged with an average age of 54. This profile closely mirrors the overall New Jersey nursing workforce, which is composed of 90% women, 57% white individuals, with an average age of 48.
Educational attainment among VSR participants was notably higher than that of the general nursing workforce in New Jersey. Only 2% held an associate degree in nursing compared to 18% within the broader workforce. Conversely, 32% had obtained a Master’s Degree in Nursing, significantly higher than the overall figure of just 17%.
Nearly all VSR attendees are either Registered Nurses (RNs) or Advanced Practice Nurses (APNs), who hold advanced degrees and specialty certifications recognized by national certifying agencies. Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs), however, are underrepresented among VSR participants despite making up nearly 14% of New Jersey's nursing workforce.
These results were presented at the recent New Jersey State Nurses Association Annual Meeting.
