Investing in nurse well-being

Being a frontline caregiver, such as a nurse, is more than a job — it’s a calling. Across MultiCare, our nursing teams demonstrate an unwavering commitment to the healing of individuals, families and communities.

While nurses are resilient and may feel a deep passion for what they do, providing this level of care day in and day out can take a physical, emotional and mental toll. The COVID-19 pandemic heightened feelings of workplace stress and burnout, and many nurses continue to face lingering effects of pandemic-related post-traumatic stress.

Without ongoing resources and support, it can be challenging for caregivers to thrive in their roles and remain resilient.

MultiCare’s partnership with the Harmony Hill Renewal Retreat program aims to empower nurses to rediscover their passion, purpose and connection to their profession. Led by trained facilitators, the retreats provide a safe and nurturing environment for nurses to process difficult experiences, share stories, meaningfully connect, focus on self-care practices, foster resilience and develop strategies for prioritizing their health and well-being.

Post-retreat evaluations show a marked improvement in:

• Participants’ well-being
• Awareness of the value of self-care
• Ability to reconnect to their passion for service to prevent burnout and reduce stress

The retreat model has yielded positive outcomes and a strong return on investment. Since 2021, 242 nurses have attended a retreat, resulting in a 92 percent retention rate.* High demand in 2024 and a 98 percent retention rate for the first quarter of 2024 underscore the program’s value.

What makes this program wonderful is the feedback from nurses themselves, says Linda Alderson, chief nurse executive of MultiCare Tacoma General and MultiCare Allenmore hospitals and executive sponsor of MultiCare’s nursing Shared Leadership Wellness Council.

When asked what was most helpful during the retreat, one nurse says, “Everything! Every moment, topic, discussion, sharing experience, gathering and learning from others was absolutely healing and life-changing. A once of a lifetime experience for me.”

Investing in the wellness of our frontline caregivers is both an ethical responsibility and a critical part of creating healthy work environments. Bottom line: Investing in nurse well-being keeps nurses doing what they love. As the heart of health care, no outcome is more worthy.

* The retention percentage reflects the number of nurses who attended a retreat and remained at MultiCare 12 months later.