Implementation of a therapy dog program to support nurse health and well-being across an academic medical center

Chronic workplace stress has significant negative effects on nurses' health and well-being, with consequences for patient care quality and overall organizational performance. Worksite interventions aimed at reducing stress and burnout and improving coping among nurses have increasingly incorporated the use of therapy dogs. Emerging research indicates that even brief interactions between nurses and therapy dogs can enhance physical and mental health, while also strengthening teamwork, communication, and unit morale. Despite these benefits, implementing a therapy dog program requires comprehensive planning to ensure safe, effective, and sustainable integration into complex clinical environments. Health care workplaces are inherently unpredictable, and nurses experience substantial variability in workflow, patient acuity, and staffing patterns. As a result, program design must remain flexible and responsive to the shifting needs of nurses across diverse roles and practice contexts. This article outlines the essential steps involved in implementing a therapy dog intervention designed specifically to support nurse health and well-being across an academic medical center. It highlights key facilitators that promote program implementation as well as barriers that may challenge viability, with the goal of guiding organizations in developing safe and effective therapy dog programming for the nursing workforce.