ONL NJ supports statewide adoption of Stress First Aid program

Front-line nurses in New Jersey and elsewhere are now benefitting from a stress-recovery method developed by the U.S. military. Stress First Aid (SFA) teaches individuals how to identify stress in other individuals, in groups or teams and even at the organizational level. The Organization of Nurse Leaders, New Jersey, (ONL NJ) an AONL affiliate worked with the New Jersey Nursing Initiative to obtain grant money to implement a nurse SFA program statewide. A recent article in HealthLeaders Media described the program in detail. According to the account, stress reactions occur on a continuum. Recognizing early indicators of stress allows nurses to de-escalate the stress reaction before more formal intervention is needed. (HealthLeaders Media article, 9/13/21)