Date of Award
Spring 2026
Document Type
Project – Full Written
Degree Name
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
Committee Chair
Ashley Isaac-Dockery
Abstract
Nursing, while a highly respected profession grounded in research and scientific practice, continues to face persistent challenges related to staff retention and morale. Key contributors include burnout related to high workloads, challenging staffing ratios, lack of supportive leadership, and an aging workforce. Together, these factors hinder healthcare organizations’ ability to sustain a stable and experienced staff. The implementation of a serenity or relaxation room is supported by growing evidence highlighting its positive effects on nurse morale and stress reduction. A review by Mileski et al. (2022) found wellness spaces significantly reduced burnout, emotional exhaustion, and stress while improving resilience, job satisfaction, and retention among nurses. Overall, these findings suggest that providing a dedicated space for relaxation is a practical, low-cost strategy to enhance well-being, strengthen workplace culture, and support workforce retention in healthcare settings. This project explored the impact of a serenity room on stress and anxiety among nurses and healthcare workers in a community health department within the Piedmont region of North Carolina. Findings from this project indicated participants perceived the serenity room as beneficial in reducing stress during their shifts, promoting relaxation, and helping them mentally reset and return to work with improved focus. Participants also noted the room was easily accessible, conveniently located, and, for the most part, could be used without interfering with their job responsibilities. Overall, participants supported the continued use of the serenity room as a strategy to enhance staff well-being.
Recommended Citation
Clarke-Johnson, Ruth B., "Improving Overall Morale of Nurses by Implementing a Serenity Room" (2026). Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects. 169.
https://digitalcommons.gardner-webb.edu/nursing-dnp/169
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 License