Amanda Sayaseng, BSN, RN, and Nasim Karmali, RPh, partnered on a Capstone Project through the Kaiser Permanente Caritas Coach Education Program (KP-CCEP) to support staff well-being in the Maternal and Child Health (MCH) department. Their initiative, the Serenity Room, was inspired by Dr. Jean Watson’s Theory of Caring Science and Caritas Process® 8, which emphasizes creating healing environments that nurture self-care and emotional renewal.

Recognizing the emotional toll and burnout risks faced by nurses and staff in high-stress clinical settings, the Serenity Room was designed as a restorative space for those engaged in childbirth and neonatal care. It opened on September 5, 2025, and represents an investment in staff mental health, aiming to enhance resilience, improve patient care outcomes, and foster a culture of compassion across the unit.

The room features a variety of calming and therapeutic elements, including a recliner chair, white noise machine, Himalayan salt lamp, mandala coloring tools, essential oils, and educational materials on Caritas practices. Staff members have 24/7 access to the space for 15-minute sessions, with usage tracked through an honor system. Feedback is collected via journals and surveys to guide ongoing improvements.

Key objectives of the project include increasing Caritas literacy, promoting workplace self-care, and boosting overall staff satisfaction. Evaluation will be conducted through pre- and post-project surveys, along with analysis of People Pulse Culture of Health index scores to measure impact.

Through this initiative, Sayaseng and Karmali have created a meaningful and sustainable resource that supports the emotional well-being of MCH staff, reinforcing the importance of healing environments in delivering compassionate, high-quality care.