Code Wellness Debriefing to Enhance Nurse Wellness and Peer Support: An Evidence-Based Approach

BACKGROUND: Repeated exposure to high-stress clinical events negatively impacts nurse wellness in medical-surgical units. PROBLEM: Nurses experience significant emotional strain following Code Blue, Code Green (disruptive behavior), and rapid response events, contributing to burnout and reduced team resilience. APPROACH: A peer-led, evidence-based Code Wellness Debriefing model was implemented on a 48-bed medical-surgical unit. After a code event, structured debriefs were conducted. To assess impact, post-intervention surveys were completed by staff. OUTCOMES: Routine wellness debriefing increased perceived peer support and feeling cared for, and reduced emotional stress. Qualitative findings reflected emotional relief, strengthened team cohesion, and continued requests for support. CONCLUSION: Structured wellness debriefing supports nurse well-being following high-stress events and demonstrates a feasible, nurse-driven approach to improving unit culture.