The Ohio State University Dream Team: Innovation for Well-being fellowship and coaching program

BACKGROUND: Nearly 70% of faculty experience very high levels of stress. Integrative Nurse Coaching (INC) can help by assisting clients in establishing goals and embarking on new lifestyle behaviors that help to decrease perceived stress, achieve work life integration, and enhance life satisfaction. Our goal was to evaluate a faculty coaching and fellowship program to support faculty well-being while developing innovation competency. METHODS: We employed an INC paradigm to coach five faculty to build confidence and competence in innovation and enhance well-being. We offered monthly group and individual coaching and used a qualitative research thematic analysis to determine themes important for the fellow and group experiences, identify outcomes, and create recommendations for the future. RESULTS: We identified the following themes as outcomes for our program: (1) enhanced connection, comradery, and support; (2) increased confidence and competence in navigating academia; (3) shift from a fixed mindset to an innovation mindset; and (4) increased ability to identify and manage stress and burnout. Fellows also experienced a shift from focusing on individual needs to addressing the needs of the community at the college. CONCLUSION: Nurse coaching is an effective strategy to address faculty stress and burnout. Additional research is needed to evaluate the Innovation for Well-being faculty fellowship program and its impact on the academic community.