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Clinical Improvement/Innovation

176 - Integrating Wellness Strategies in RNFA Education: Enhancing Stress Management

Location: Hall E
Disclosure(s):
Tracie White, DNP, AGACNP, CRNFA, CNOR, CHSE: No financial relationships to disclose
Kathryn Billingsley: No financial relationships to disclose


Description: Background
Registered Nurse First Assistants (RNFAs) frequently experience significant stress and anxiety in the operating room (OR), which can negatively impact both their well-being and performance. This stress is further compounded by the intense demands of graduate nursing education. Despite the critical importance of wellness for RNFAs, wellness strategies are rarely included in traditional training programs. Integrating wellness techniques into RNFA education may enhance well-being, reduce stress, and ultimately improve performance in high-stress clinical environments.

Methods
As part of a two-day RNFA intensive, an interactive wellness lecture was developed, incorporating Swarbrick's Eight Dimensions of Wellness. The lecture aimed to provide RNFA students with tools for managing stress and improving their overall well-being in the OR. Following the lecture, RNFA students were asked to evaluate both their personal wellness and the relevance of the content to their clinical practice and education.

Results
Preliminary findings indicate that over 80% of RNFA students reported feeling stressed or overwhelmed in the OR at times. Post-session evaluations revealed that 90% of participants were likely or extremely likely to apply the wellness strategies discussed during the lecture in their education and practice. Furthermore, 92% of students agreed that wellness is a valuable topic to include in RNFA training. These results suggest a strong demand for incorporating wellness education into RNFA curricula.

Conclusion
Integrating wellness strategies into RNFA education is both beneficial and necessary. The majority of RNFA students reported high levels of stress and expressed a strong desire to apply wellness strategies in their practice. These findings support the inclusion of wellness education in RNFA training programs as a means to enhance both personal well-being and clinical performance. Incorporating wellness strategies could lead to more resilient, effective RNFAs capable of managing the psychological demands of their roles in the operating room.