Grant: Operating Grant: College and Community Innovation Social Innovation Fund

<html> <head> </head> <body> The nursing workforce in Canada faces severe challenges, with pre-pandemic models projecting shortages to exceed 100,000 by 2030 and post-pandemic figures suggesting even higher numbers. Statistics Canada data reveals that nursing has the highest job vacancy rates, with over 75% of nurses reporting burnout, especially among hospital and frontline workers. Recruiting and training more nurses alone is insufficient. Strategic investment in retaining experienced nurses is crucial, requiring novel strategies to support nurses in managing systemic pressures and developing resilience to prevent continued burnout. Resilience training, grounded in psychological theories, emphasizes emotional regulation, cognitive flexibility, and social support, providing crucial interventions for healthcare professionals facing high stress and burnout. Systematic reviews have shown that resilience training can mitigate the psychological impacts of working in high-stress environments, reduce burnout symptoms, and enhance coping mechanisms, potentially reducing turnover intentions and retaining nursing staff. This research project, led by Fleming College&#8217;s School of Health and Community Services in collaboration with Dr. Michael Ungar (Dalhousie University) and Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC), aims to explore the impact of formal resilience training for nursing staff at PRHC. Grounded in Dr. Ungar&#8217;s evidence-based R2 Resilience Program, researchers will develop and deliver resilience-focused training to nurses at PRHC over six months, including an initial training session and five monthly follow-up sessions. The longitudinal impact of the training will be evaluated over a two-year period using qualitative and quantitative data collection techniques and by analyzing data related to attrition and absenteeism over time. This work will positively contribute to the overall well-being of nurses working at PRHC. Furthermore, longitudinal findings may reveal actionable best practices for building a more resilient workforce throughout Ontario and Canada. The potential positive impacts of this work are significant at multiple levels: for individuals, families, communities, and the institutions Canadians rely on when they are at their most vulnerable. </body> </html>