Nursing Resilience Interventions - A way forward in challenging healthcare territories

Abstract

Resilience in nursing must be viewed and acknowledged as a dynamic, fluid process that requires continuous nurturing and commitment, as well as adaptability and flexibility in the face of changing professional and personal requirements. In order for resilience enhancement interventions to be successful system level change is required at an organizational, cultural, team and managerial level. Resilience‐enhancement programmes should be integrated into the overall well‐being strategies of healthcare organisations as part of a larger, more comprehensive staff support strategy; these programmes should be evaluated to measure their short‐ and long‐term impact and outcomes (Blake & Lloyd, 2008). Proactively addressing the need for nurses to maintain, preserve and build their resilience, may help to alleviate some of the retention and recruitment challenges facing nursing. In addition, taking better care of the nursing workforce has substantial implications in terms of increasing efficiency within healthcare systems and benefitting the quality and safety of patient care.