Having a team therapist reduces burnout in critical care nurses

Having a Team Therapist Reduces Burnout in Critical Care Nurses

Session:  B17 — The Power of Team Science: Interdisciplinary Approaches to Pulmonary and Critical Care

One of Us. The Value of Having a Team Therapist to Support Nursing Staff in Critical Care Areas


Date and Time: May 19, 2025, 9:15 a.m. PT
Location:  Room 3014/3016/3018 (West Building, Level 3), Moscone Center

ATS 2025, San Francisco – Adding a team therapist to support nurses in critical care areas can reduce burnout and improve resiliency, according to research published at the ATS 2025 International Conference.

The study highlights the value of embedding a professional therapist within the care team, rather than directing nurses to seek outside support. It’s a novel approach to supporting nurses’ wellbeing that could help hospitals reduce turnover and absenteeism, resulting in an overall cost savings, said first author Julie Graham, PhD, APRN, ACCNS-AG, assistant professor at San Diego State University School of Nursing.

“It’s very, very expensive to replace a nurse who decides to leave the ICU, so when you have high turnover that can be incredibly costly to the organization,” Dr. Graham said. “The salary for one therapist can potentially save all that money.”

Researchers noted that critical care nurses experience significant mental strain. Many health systems have responded to this concern by offering Employee Assistance Programs (EAP). However, few nurses take advantage of these resources. Other systems have tried training nurses as “peer supporters,” but these may not be adequate to address the team’s mental health needs, as the peer supporters themselves may be experiencing the same trauma.

The new study documents the implementation of an on-staff team therapist during the COVID-19 pandemic at Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center in Chula Vista, California.

Dr. Graham said the facility was heavily impacted by the pandemic, which took an enormous toll on nursing staff. Nurses reported significant levels of mental strain, and the ICU saw a 29 percent rate of nurse turnover.

“Nurses were having emotional breakdowns on a daily basis,” Dr. Graham said. “They were really asking for help.”

Hospital leadership partnered with an affiliated mental health hospital to embed a trained therapist on the care team. After the therapist became a full-time position, turnover began to decline, eventually falling as low as 1 percent. Although that rate wasn’t sustained, turnover remains very low, Dr. Graham said.

For the study, nurse researchers surveyed 116 nurses to measure the impacts of having a therapist on the care team. Compared to outside resources like an EAP, spending time with the onsite team therapist was associated with improvements in job satisfaction, burnout, and resiliency. It also had a positive impact on nurses’ self-efficacy, or their perceived ability to manage their own mental health.

Graham said the goal of the study was to provide evidence for the benefits of an on-staff nurse therapist and introduce the concept to other hospitals.

Next, the nurse scientists are working with researchers from the San Diego State School of Business for a follow-up prospective cohort study to measure outcomes like absenteeism and turnover.

“We want to keep justifying this role and shout it from the rooftops,” Dr. Graham said.

 

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VIEW ABSTRACT

 

CONTACTS FOR MEDIA:

Dacia Morris

Director, Communications & Marketing, American Thoracic Society

dmorris@thoracic.org

 

Laura Holloway

Director, Marketing & Communications, Sharp Chula Vista Health Center

laura.holloway@sharp.com

 

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