In 2025, the PEAK nursing peer support program achieved remarkable milestones that strengthened the well-being and resilience of nurses across MultiCare. The year began with a series of information sessions in January, introducing this volunteer-based model grounded in kindness, compassion and the healing power of authentic connection.
As a nurse-led effort, PEAK focuses on supporting colleagues through shared experience and building skills that promote emotional resilience and professional growth.
A dedicated subcommittee met twice a month to guide the program’s development. They created a peer support framework based on elements of Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) and the American Nurses Association’s Nurse Well Being training.
Using this foundation, they built a customized curriculum for MultiCare’s peer supporters. Nearly 40 nurses from across the system were interviewed and selected for various peer support roles. These nurses completed an in-person training focused on how to hold supportive conversations and help colleagues regain stability after difficult experiences.
The program officially launched in April 2025 across all MultiCare regions, including both hospital and outpatient settings. For the first time, nurses had access to a peer-driven support system that offered understanding from people who faced similar pressures — long shifts, emotional strain, high-acuity care and the ongoing demands of the profession. That shared connection became a powerful antidote to isolation and burnout, creating a sense of community that reached across departments and campuses.
Referrals into the program come from colleagues, leaders or through self-referral. Leadership played a key role throughout the year, helping identify staff in need of support and encouraging a culture in which well-being is prioritized. Their recognition and advocacy helped nurses access PEAK during moments of stress, fatigue or moral distress.
By the end of 2025, the impact is clear: PEAK has become an important part of MultiCare’s nurse wellness efforts. The program has established a strong foundation for the future — one where nurses feel supported, empowered and better equipped to thrive in the demanding work of caring for others.
Written by: Elysia Morse, RN, PEAK Nursing Peer Support PSR Lead; and Lana Fontana, RN, PEAK Chair, Peer Empowerment & Kindness Council