Speakers - 2026

Title: Nurse well being matters: Strengths based approaches for sustainable healthcare

Abstract

The nursing profession is widely recognized as emotionally demanding, high-pressure, and vulnerable to chronic stress, burnout, and psychological distress. While existing research and interventions have largely focused on reducing negative outcomes such as stress, anxiety, and compassion fatigue, comparatively little attention has been given to cultivating nurses’ strengths, resilience, and capacity for flourishing. This imbalance has important implications for workforce sustainability, quality of patient care, and the long-term well-being of nurses across healthcare systems. Drawing on positive psychology and emerging research on nurse well-being, this invited lecture presents a strengths-based framework for promoting nurse flourishing as a core component of sustainable healthcare. The presentation integrates theoretical models such as Seligman’s PERMA model, the broaden-and-build theory of positive emotions, and the VIA classification of character strengths to highlight how psychological resources can be intentionally developed within nursing education and practice and patient-centered care. The session further situates nurse well-being within both global and Indian healthcare contexts, acknowledging challenges such as high patient-to-nurse ratios, resource constraints, hierarchical organizational structures, and cultural norms that prioritize caregiving over self-care. By adopting a culturally sensitive lens, the presentation demonstrates how strengths-based approaches can be adapted for diverse nursing environments without requiring extensive financial or infrastructural investment. Importantly, this talk bridges research and education by outlining how positive psychology principles can be embedded into nursing curricula, professional training, and continuing education programs. Rather than positioning well-being as an individual responsibility alone, the presentation emphasizes multi-level strategies involving educators, institutions, and policy frameworks. By reframing nurse well-being as an essential educational and research priority, this session contributes to a growing discourse on sustainable healthcare systems that value both caregiver and patient outcomes.

The audience take away from presentation:

• A clear understanding of how strengths-based and positive psychology approaches can be applied to promote nurse well-being and prevent burnout.
• Practical knowledge of key psychological strengths (e.g., engagement, resilience, curiosity, and courage) that support sustainable nursing practice.
• Evidence-informed strategies that can be integrated into nursing education, training, and professional development programs.
• Insight into culturally sensitive approaches to nurse well-being, with relevance to both Indian and global healthcare settings.
• A conceptual framework that links nurse well-being with improved patient care and healthcare sustainability.