Therapy dogs ease nurse burnout, boost morale

Editor's Note

A recent article in HealthLeaders profiles an innovative approach to alleviating nurse burnout—one that the outlet calls “a four-legged answer to nurse wellbeing.” Launched in 2020 at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, the Buckeye Paws program brings certified therapy dogs directly to nursing units, offering nonjudgmental, on-the-spot emotional support to staff experiencing burnout, stress, or traumatic events.  

As detailed in the article, the program was co-founded by Beth Steinberg, associate director of research at OSU’s Center for Integrative Health, after she and a colleague began training their own dogs as therapy animals. She saw the limitations of conventional staff wellness initiatives, which were often inaccessible during busy shifts. Buckeye Paws eliminates those barriers by embedding therapy dog visits into the clinical environment.

What started as a small pilot quickly grew due to staff enthusiasm, leading to the current fleet of about 30 trained handlers and 30 dogs, with 20 more pups expected to join, HealthLeaders reports. Handlers—who are also hospital employees—are trained in trauma-informed care and mental health first aid, and all dogs must pass rigorous temperament and health screenings.

The outlet reports that the dogs are deployed not only for routine support but also during high-stress events. Staff have responded with overwhelming positivity, often lighting up and rushing to greet the dogs when they arrive. According to Steinberg, dogs create a unique dynamic that makes people feel more at ease and open—nurses often share more with the dogs than they might with humans, she noted. Even staff who don’t engage directly benefit from the uplifted atmosphere.

Buckeye Paws doesn’t replace the need for systemic improvements, Steinberg told HealthLeaders. However, she emphasized its role as a meaningful, low-barrier intervention with downstream effects on peer support, collaboration, and patient care. Not every hospital may be ready for therapy dog programs, but “if you can pull it off, it’s so beneficial for the staff,” she said.