Background The pandemic highlighted that staff wellbeing is integral to quality care, and reducing burnout (West, Bailey, Williams. The courage of compassion: supporting nurses and midwives to deliver high-quality care. The King’s Fund; 2020). Burnout can negatively affect safety, patient satisfaction and retention (Hodkinson, Zhou, Johnson, et al. BMJ. 2022 Sep 14;378:e070442). The PNA role can reduce burnout by promoting staff empowerment. We took this unique opportunity to assess how the PNA role could benefit the hospice workforce.

Aim This project was designed to provide a PNA service at our hospice. The aim of this is for staff to feel supported within their work and to enhance their wellbeing.

Method Two nurses qualified as PNAs. A review of the current access to supervision within the organisation showed that there were varying levels of supervision. The PNAs ensured support from the Senior Leadership Team. The PNA role and its benefits were presented to service managers and they were asked to promote the service. Internal communications provided information about the PNA role. Online anonymous feedback forms were created to collect data.

Results Evaluations of five participant forms showed that all participants felt that they had a reduction in their immediate stress levels. 80% felt that the session supported their wellbeing, and 60% felt it gave them a place to discuss their emotions/feelings and supported their personal development. 40% identified areas for quality improvement within their role or the organisation. It is recognized, however, that the PNA skills are also used informally and obtaining data can be challenging.

Conclusion There is sufficient evidence to suggest that the PNA role can help reduce stress and burnout. There is clear evidence that supporting staff wellbeing improves patient care, recruitment and retention, and patient safety. By implementing this within our hospice, we have found a positive response to the PNA role. Staff have fedback that it makes them feel supported and reduced their stress levels, and therefore it has an ongoing role within our organisation.