Date of Award

Spring 5-2026

Document Type

Scholarly Project

Degree Name

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

Department

Nursing

First Advisor

Ashleigh Heter

Second Advisor

Gena Coomes

Third Advisor

Alicia Mason Collins

Abstract

The primary objective of this project was to assess the impact of the New Directions Behavioral Health Employee Assistance Program, an online intervention, on teacher stress and well-being. Teacher participation was recruited through email, flyers, and in-person discussions. The study used a mixed-method design, including pre- and post-project surveys of the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) to measure changes in stress, and the System Usability Scale (SUS) to evaluate the ease of use of online intervention. The intervention aimed to increase teachers’ self-awareness of stress and anxiety, provide strategies for prevention and early intervention, and support overall mental wellbeing. Paired-samples t tests revealed statistically significant improvements in items related to coping and perceived control, including confidence in handling personal problems, feeling that things were going their way, managing irritations, and feeling on top of daily responsibilities, as well as in the total PSS score.  SUS results indicated that participants found the system usable and easy to navigate, with a mean score above the standard benchmark. Open-ended feedback highlighted the content's helpfulness and clarity, the engaging format of webinars and modules, and the reinforcement of stress-management strategies, though some participants noted navigation issues. These findings suggest that the intervention supports teacher mental well-being by enhancing coping skills and perceived control over daily stressors while remaining approachable and user-friendly. Online interventions like this offer a practical complement to broader strategies addressing teacher stress and mental health within educational settings.

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