The Impact of Structured Education on Stress Reduction Among SWAT Nurses

Abstract

Background: SWAT RNs are at the epicenter of critical situations that occur at BDMC. It is an expectation to respond to high-stress situations such as rapid responses and code blues in adults, pediatric, and obstetric patients. While SWAT RNs are known to manage high-intensity situations effectively, they are also expected to provide leadership and mentorship when the time arises. The constant exposure to critical situations and being the go-to person for both RNs and medical providers make the SWAT RN role one that is under constant pressure, leading to increased stress. Purpose: This project aims to educate the critical care Specialized Workforce for Acute Transport (SWAT) nurses (SWAT RNs) at Banner Desert Medical Center (BDMC) on Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction and Headspace. Methods: This quality improvement project utilizes the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycle. On-demand education is provided on stress reduction interventions to reduce symptoms. A pretest and posttest survey was conducted to measure changes in knowledge, familiarity, and intent to use stress reduction interventions among SWAT RNs. Results: Nine of the SWAT RNs in the Clinical Care Operations (CCO) department participated in the project, with nine completing the pretest and nine completing the posttest. Conclusions: The on-demand, evidence-based intervention significantly enhanced SWAT nurses’ familiarity with and perceived benefits of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, as well as their intention to use Headspace. These findings show that brief, accessible education can boost nurse resilience, support well-being, and potentially improve patient care outcomes.