KickStart30: A 30-Day Nursing Wellness Initiative

Abstract: The goal of this study was to explore the efficacy and feasibility of an integrated, prescriptive, and trackable 30-day wellness intervention combining five wellness elements including exercise, mindfulness, sleep, social connectedness, and nutrition. Twenty-three adults from Texas Peer Assistance Program for Nurses (TPAPN), a program of the Texas Nurses Foundation in cooperation with the Texas Board of Nursing, completed the study. The results were analyzed using the StatPlus statistical software package and repeat measure, and within subjects ANOVA was utilized to assess for clinical significance. At the end of the 30-day intervention, the mean PHQ-9 scores (marker for depressive symptom severity) for the 23 individuals decreased from 6.7 to 2.9 (p=.002), revealing a 56.7% improvement in depressive symptom severity. The mean GAD-7 scores (marker of anxiety) decreased from 5.0 to 2.1 (p=0.001), with a 58% improvement in anxiety symptoms. The mean CPFQ scores (marker of cognitive and physical functioning) decreased from 20.0 to 12.5 (p=.00004), with a 37.5% improvement in cognitive and physical functioning. Wellness was measured utilizing the HERO Wellness Scale, revealing the following improvements: happiness improved by 34.6% (p=.01), enthusiasm improved by 59.5% (p=.0003), resilience improved by 40% (p=.007), and optimism improved by 55.3% (p=.0001). We also measured wellness using the WHO-5 (marker of wellbeing) and noted a 55.8% improvement in wellbeing (p=.0003). This 30-day, manual-based wellness intervention had a robust impact as an adjunct, self-management intervention in individuals struggling with psychiatric disorders. This positive impact was seen in psychiatric symptom scales and mental wellness improvement.Short Description: This study examined the impact of KickStart-30, a wellness intervention on psychiatric and wellness symptoms in a cohort of licensed nurses in the state of Texas dealing with psychiatric challenges.Name of Sponsoring Organization(s): N/A