Nurse-designed lounges promote nurse well-being

Patient care staff at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles can take 10- to 20-minute work breaks in one of 13 “serenity lounges” equipped with massage chairs, aromatherapy oils and artwork. During the COVID-19 pandemic, AONL member Florida Pagador, MSN, RN, conceptualized the idea as a solution to her need for relaxation during breaks.  “Our culture is to support each other and recharge, no matter what kind of day you’re having, ” said AONL member and Associate Nursing Director Melanie Barone, MSN, RN, who co-created the lounges with Pagador. A study published in 2022 in the American Journal of Nursing by Pagador, Barone and several of their colleagues found nurses who used a massage chair in a quiet room for 10 minutes experienced mental and emotional relief. (Newswise release, 9/5/23)