Investigating the impact of the RENEW program on enhancing nurses' resilience: a randomized controlled trial

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Nursing Education
• Mental Health Interventions

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic severely impacted healthcare systems globally, leading to significant psychological distress among frontline nurses.
• High levels of burnout necessitate interventions focused on enhancing nurse resilience.
• The study was conducted at Imam Hassan (AS) Hospital in Bojnurd, Iran.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of the RENEW online educational program in improving the resilience of nurses.
• To assess the program's impact on nurses experiencing high levels of psychological distress.

Main Methods:

• A randomized clinical trial involving 86 nurses with resilience scores ≤75 was conducted in 2023.
• Participants were assigned to the intervention (RENEW program) or control group.
• The RENEW program comprised six weekly online sessions, with data collected using the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale and Kessler Psychological Distress Scale.

Main Results:

• The RENEW program led to a significant increase in resilience scores in the intervention group compared to the control group (P < 0.001).
• Sustained program effectiveness was observed at the six-month follow-up.
• A significant interaction effect between time and group (P = 0.019) confirmed the program's lasting impact.

Conclusions:

• The RENEW educational program is effective in significantly enhancing nurse resilience.
• Structured interventions tailored to nurses' work environments are crucial for improving their mental health and well-being.