Fostering a Culture of Gratitude in Nursing Education: A Research-Backed Approach
A college of nursing at the University of Alabama has developed a Gratitude Team to boost morale and create a supportive work environment amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. The team implemented gratitude-forward activities, including intentional note writing, recognition events, and acts of kindness, which have shown to enhance mental health, academic success, and advocacy for healthy workplaces. This research has been peer-reviewed and has been detailed in the Journal of Professional Nursing.
Key Takeaways:
- The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted the morale of healthcare professionals, including nursing faculty and staff, highlighting the need for a supportive work environment.
- The Gratitude Team at the University of Alabama's Capstone College of Nursing developed a culture of gratitude that left a lasting impact, building a legacy of compassion, excellence, and resilience in nursing education.
- The team implemented activities such as intentional note writing, recognition events, and acts of kindness, which were aligned with Domain 10 of the AACN Essentials, emphasizing self-care and well-being in nursing curricula.
- Gratitude-rooted environments enhance mental health, academic success, and advocacy for healthy workplaces.
- Incorporation of a Gratitude Team can be an effective method for fostering a culture of gratitude.
- The research was conducted by Staci A. Simmons, Kacie Duncan, Heather Cole, and Suzanne Prevost, with the University of Alabama's Capstone College of Nursing.
- Domain 10 of the AACN Essentials emphasizes self-care and well-being in nursing curricula.
- The research has been peer-reviewed and published in the Journal of Professional Nursing.
Statistics:
- 60: The issue number of the Journal of Professional Nursing where the research was published.
- 53-56: The page numbers of the Journal of Professional Nursing where the research was published.
- 2025: The year the research was published.