Using Text Messages to Support Nurse Well-being

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic caused significant nurse stress and contributed to burnout for a number of reasons, including but not limited to personal protective equipment shortages, furloughs, overtime, reassignment to unfamiliar work environments, and alternate staffing patterns, all of which contribute to grief, loss, fear, and anger. While the nursing profession and employers offered support and psychological first-aid resources, there was a disconnect in effectively linking stressed nurses with these needed resources. An innovative statewide pilot project in Arizona, RNconnect 2 Wellbeing, was created to determine whether nurses might respond to and use supportive resources via opt-in text messages. Over a 12-week enrollment trial, 2997 nurse users opted to receive brief, twice weekly, well-being text messages about subjects, such as increasing awareness, self-care, and gratitude. By the end of the pilot, 2777 nurse users remained enrolled (7% opt out). Convenience evaluation surveys were conducted at midpoint (n = 294) and pilot completion (n = 404). Satisfaction with the messages ranged from 73% to 86%. Forty-eight percent indicated they had integrated the resources into their daily lives. RNconnect 2 Wellbeing, an innovative and cost-effective approach to communicating with nurses, has laid the groundwork for the use of technology via brief text messages to improve nurse well-being.

Perceptions of US nurses and nurse leaders on authentic nurse leadership, healthy work environment, intent to leave and nurse well‐being during a second pandemic year: A cross sectional study

“…Therefore, it is important to pay attention to the well-being of all nurses, including leaders, particularly as we view the lingering results of the pandemic on key workforce outcomes. Several publications describe interventional studies that may improve nurse well-being such as education/ self-reflection (Sawyer et al, 2022), resilience retreats (Cunningham & Çayir, 2021), text messaging (Kelly et al 2021), wellness partners (Teall & Melnyk, 2021) and transcendental meditation (Azizoddin et al, 2021).…”

Mediating effect of work stress in the relationship between fear of COVID-19 and nurses' organizational and professional turnover intentions

“…The use of mobile technology through short text messages can be considered an effective option for encouraging nurses and supporting their well-being. Kelly et al (2021) found that the satisfaction rate of nurses who were on the “RNconnect 2 Wellbeing” application ranged from 73 % to 86 % and that 48 % of them integrated the resources offered through the messages on this application into their daily lives.…”

“…The use of mobile technology through short text messages can be considered an effective option for encouraging nurses and supporting their well-being. Kelly et al (2021) found that the satisfaction rate of nurses who were on the "RNconnect 2…”

Text messaging support to enhance nurses' well-being and connectedness

“…7 While TM is increasingly used for general communication between healthcare personnel, its use as a supportive intervention is not well known. 8 This article evaluates the benefits of TM in providing simple, constant, and effective support, specifically in the nursing population. 8,14 Without adequate support to cope with these circumstances, nurses' well-being declines, leading to increasing absenteeism and reduced ability to problemsolve, which have negative effects on patient outcomes.…”

“…8 This article evaluates the benefits of TM in providing simple, constant, and effective support, specifically in the nursing population. 8,14 Without adequate support to cope with these circumstances, nurses' well-being declines, leading to increasing absenteeism and reduced ability to problemsolve, which have negative effects on patient outcomes. 12,15 Not only clinical RNs but also APRNs have reported significant levels of stress and less resilience.…”