Wellness Grant Example Application Department and Unit Overview This wellness grant application is for a large nursing unit that provides inpatient care for adults and includes 80 faculty and staff. The unit operates in a fast-paced environment where staff experience high mental and physical demands. Staff need accessible, timely support for stress recovery.
Current Efforts to Support Employee Well-Being The unit has a strong wellness foundation. Leaders prioritize staff well-being as Wellness Ambassadors, promote psychological safety, and encourage staff to use support. Monthly Unit Practice Council meetings include wellness discussions to identify stressors, gather feedback, and guide sustainable improvements. A wellness bulletin board, newsletters, Wellness Ambassadors, and trained wellness champions support communication, peer support, and normalizing conversations about stress and recovery. Wellness Grant Description The unit will implement Recharge Kits to provide immediate support after stressful or high-impact events, encourage proactive self-regulation, strengthen peer support, and increase awareness and use of wellness resources. Date, Time, and Location Recharge Kits will be available beginning January 2026 in the break room wellness space, with ongoing 24/7 access for staff.
Evidence-Informed Kit Components All items are low cost, reusable when possible, and aligned with evidence-based stress management or self-regulation strategies. Kit components include • • • • • •
Pocket-sized box breathing stickers and instructions (provided by liveWELL at no cost) Tactile stress tools, such as resistance putty Visual relaxation tools such as a calming focus object or nature imagery cards Self-compassion and cognitive support, such as affirmation cards Sensory calming supports, such as lightly scented lotion, essential oil roll-ons (UI Health Care approved), cooling eye masks, or reusable cold packs. Resource connections, including liveWELL resource flyers on the Recharge+ text message program and R U OK? Peer Support framework, EAP postcards, and COPE Team information.
These components promote nervous system regulation, grounding, and cognitive recovery, which are commonly supported strategies in stress management.
Implementation Plan Storage and Access Design Kits will be stored in a designated wellness space within the staff break room, using a secured code-lock locker to protect availability and reduce missing items. Unit leadership, charge nurses, and COPE-trained wellness champions will have access to ensure availability across all shifts, facilitate appropriate use, and encourage staff to use the kits when needed. Recharge Kits will be offered after stressful or emotionally demanding events, available upon staff request, and encouraged for proactive use during breaks.
Communication and Leadership Support The program will be introduced through unit huddles, staff meetings, the unit newsletter, the wellness bulletin board, and peer champion outreach. Messaging will normalize use of Recharge Kits, promote proactive stress management, and encourage peer support conversations. Leadership will support the initiative by reinforcing kit use, encouraging team check-ins after stressful events, supporting peer wellness champions, and reviewing feedback to guide improvements. This involvement supports visibility, sustainability, and alignment with unit priorities.
Evaluation, Continuous Improvement, and Expected Outcomes Evaluation will include a QR-linked Qualtrics survey in each kit, ongoing feedback on use of frequency and perceived usefulness, and informal input through staff conversations and leadership observations. Early usage data and feedback will guide real-time refinements, including adjustments to storage and access, kit content, and accessibility across roles and shifts. Key outcomes measured will include staff perception of support after stressful events, frequency of kit use, awareness of wellness resources, and changes in peer support behaviors. Expected outcomes include improved emotional recovery, increased peer-to-peer support and team connection, expanded access to well-being supports across roles including ancillary staff, increased awareness and use of liveWELL resources, stronger staff resilience, and reduced stress-related burnout.
Integration of liveWELL Programs and Resources The initiative connects staff to broader well-being resources through flyers included in each kit, promotion of the Personal Health Assessment, and referrals to liveWELL services through ambassadors and leaders.
Summary This wellness grant builds on existing leadership and peer support structures to offer a practical, evidence-informed strategy for stress recovery, resource connection, accessibility across shifts, and continuous improvement.
Outcomes The Nurse Manager and Wellness Ambassador reported that the department’s well-being improved after participating in the wellness grant. Although implementation of the Recharge Kits is still in the early stages, formal feedback collected through Qualtrics and informal feedback shared during staff conversations have been positive. Staff have responded well to the focus on personal well-being, particularly following stressful events. Staff reported that using a Recharge Kit, combined with a brief break away from the unit, helped support recovery after stressful situations.
Impact The Nurse Manager observed increased peer support and stronger collaboration between leaders and staff. The Recharge Kits created a practical way for team members to support one another after stressful events while reinforcing that taking time to recover is encouraged within the unit. Personal Health Assessment results also showed improvement from 2024 to 2025 on measures related to a healthy workplace culture. Positive changes were observed in staff perceptions that their supervisor supports their health and well-being and that their physical work environment supports their health and wellbeing. Together with staff feedback and leadership observations, these results suggest that the grant contributed to a more supportive environment for stress recovery and employee well-being.