IMPLEMENTING A VIRTUAL ANIMAL ASSISTED THERAPY INTERVENTION TO IMPROVE STRESS IN TRAUMA INTENSIVE CARE UNIT NURSES DURING COVID-19

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  • Mabe, Kristen Smith
    • Affiliation: School of Nursing
Abstract
  • Background: Intensive care unit (ICU) nurses work in a demanding and complex environment, in which they witness unimaginable suffering and must maintain their professional demeanor while addressing the needs of patients and families. If workplace factors and emotional burdens of providing care outweigh satisfaction, emotional distress, burnout, and compassion fatigue can occur, hindering wellbeing. The recent COVID-19 pandemic has only added to the stress nurses experience. When wellbeing is compromised, job performance, organizational outcomes and quality of care can be compromised. Although many of the stressors associated with critical care nursing cannot be eliminated, appropriate coping strategies can be utilized to help balance its effects. Objective: The purpose of this quality improvement project was to examine the effect of animal assisted therapy on the professional wellbeing of Trauma ICU nurses. The specific aims of the project are to implement a virtual therapy dog intervention for nurses, to examine its effect on stress levels and to assess satisfaction.Method: The project was quasi-experimental, using convenience sampling and a pre-post survey method. Baseline stress was measured using the Perceived Stress Scale-10 (PSS). Nurses accessed pre-recorded therapy dog video visits over a five-week interval during shift hours as needed. Stress levels were self-rated immediately before and after watching the videos, using a visual analog scale (VAS). Stress was again measured five weeks post-intervention using the PSS. Satisfaction was measured using Likert and open-ended questions. Results: The mean pre/post PSS scores were 27.000 (SD=4.1633) and 26.000 (SD=3.10913). There was no significance in the difference (sig. (2-tailed) = .537). The mean pre/post VAS scores were 62.23 (SD=17.98) and 37.85 (SD=23.996). The mean difference was 24.385 (SD=13.438) and statistically significant (sig. (2-tailed) = .000). Conclusion: ICU nurses are experiencing stress at work, which is validated by high PSS and VAS scores. This warrants immediate attention to maintain a healthy work environment and professional wellbeing. Virtual therapy dog video visits can be used as a quick and convenient intervention to decrease the stress level ICU nurses are experiencing in the moment. Trauma ICU nurses report satisfaction with virtual dog therapy, a unique alternative to traditional dog therapy.
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  • In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted
Advisor
  • Carman, Margaret
  • McQueen, Laura
  • Craig, Joyce
Degree
  • Doctor of Nursing Practice
Degree granting institution
  • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Graduate School
Graduation year
  • 2021
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