Moving for Minutes: A Health Promotion Exemplar for Employee Wellness at a School of Nursing

Abstract

Background:

Although physical activity is widely acknowledged as essential for health, achieving work-life balance for faculty and staff at the school of nursing, who work long hours, can be challenging, often leading to the neglect of regular exercise, a crucial element of personal health and wellness. To address this issue, a staff member initiated the “Moving for Minutes” program (M4M) in 2009, aimed at encouraging weekly physical activities such as walking, jogging, biking, and swimming among the faculty and staff.

Methods:

The M4M program operates on a quarterly basis, with participants grouped into teams and asked to track their weekly physical activity minutes. At the end of each quarter, a brief celebration takes place, where healthy snacks are served, and inexpensive prizes are awarded to individuals and teams with the most logged minutes.

Findings:

Since its inception 15 years ago, 128 faculty and staff members have participated, with an average of 18 participants per quarter, representing about 20% of the school of nursing workforce. Participants’ mean engagement was 273 minutes of physical activity per person per week of the program.

Conclusions/Application to Practice:

Overall, the M4M program has proven to be highly beneficial by promoting a healthy work environment, encouraging self-care, boosting morale, and fostering camaraderie among faculty and staff at the school of nursing. The M4M program provides an exemplar of successfully supporting physical activity, and promoting general health and well-being among employees.