Mindful Momentum: Building Resilience for Success

Women make up the majority of the healthcare workforce, comprising 76% of healthcare jobs nationally, with roles ranging from direct patient care to administrative support. This represents over 22 million workers. While women dominate healthcare, they also face unique challenges that contribute to workplace stress, emotional dysregulation, and intentions to leave the industry.

The problem lies in the cumulative effects of dysregulation—difficulty managing emotions—when interacting with coworkers, managers, and patients in high-pressure environments. Compassion fatigue, conflicts with colleagues, and strained workplace relationships not only impact performance but also spill over into family life. Healthcare workers often return home exhausted, emotionally detached, or irritable, negatively affecting their ability to nurture their families.

Data reveals the toll: A 2022 study showed over 25% of healthcare workers planned to leave their roles within two years due to burnout and stress. The American Hospital Association also reported that over 47% of healthcare workers experienced burnout, with women disproportionately affected. This attrition compounds staffing shortages, further burdening those who remain.

By addressing emotional dysregulation, we aim to improve relationships, reduce burnout, and stabilize the healthcare workforce, creating healthier environments at work and home.

In Cleveland, emotional dysregulation, rooted in personal and generational trauma leads to job loss, particularly in healthcare, where women—76% of the workforce—bear the dual burden of professional caregiving and home responsibilities. Mindful Momentum addresses this issue by integrating effective mindfulness practices, biological stress response training, and vagus nerve stimulation to empower individuals with tools for emotional regulation. These practices are designed to fit into busy schedules, taking less than 10 minutes to implement, making them accessible even in high-pressure environments.

Mindfulness helps individuals shift from reactive to proactive responses, reducing the impact of stress and fostering focus and resilience. Vagus nerve stimulation, known to activate the body’s calming parasympathetic system, enhances emotional stability, countering compassion fatigue and chronic stress. Coupled with education on the biological underpinnings of stress, participants gain a deeper understanding of their bodies’ responses and how to manage them effectively.

By addressing the root causes of emotional dysregulation and community trauma, this approach fosters retention in healthcare roles, especially for women. It not only strengthens workforce stability but also creates a ripple effect of wellbeing, benefiting families, communities, and the quality of patient care in Cleveland. This transformative model bridges personal growth and professional success.

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Women in healthcare are the backbone of the industry, however, these women are often caregivers at work and at home, bearing the dual burdens of professional and personal responsibilities. However, they face significant challenges: high rates of burnout, compassion fatigue, and emotional dysregulation stemming from the intensity of caregiving roles and systemic trauma.

Vagus nerve stimulation and mindfulness practices directly address these challenges by fostering emotional resilience and improving stress management. Vagus nerve stimulation activates the parasympathetic nervous system, reducing the physiological effects of stress, such as rapid heart rate and anxiety. When paired with mindfulness, these practices help women manage their emotions, build self-awareness, and respond to workplace challenges with calm and clarity.

Currently, the lack of trauma-informed resilience training leaves these professionals vulnerable to burnout and strained relationships with coworkers, patients, and families. Our solution empowers them with tools to navigate stress effectively, leading to better workplace harmony, job satisfaction, and retention.

The ripple effect extends to their families. Emotionally regulated and less stressed healthcare workers are better equipped to nurture their loved ones, improving family dynamics and overall wellbeing. By investing in these women, we enhance not only the healthcare system but also the communities it serves.

New Bridge launched its resiliency initiative to address a critical challenge: emotional dysregulation—not technical skills—was the leading cause of job loss among our students. In the early stages, it became evident that many students were so overwhelmed they lacked the ability to recognize their own stress levels, unhealthy lifestyle patterns, or the profound impact their work had on their families.

This curriculum came after our leadership team had spent collectively, over 40 years in the workforce development ecosystem. We saw participants who wanted to be employed and stay employed but were often in their own way. 

While mindfulness practices are valuable, they often falter under extreme stress. To create a sustainable solution, we integrated vagus nerve stimulation and education on stress physiology, including heart rate variability and blood pressure regulation. This combination has transformed how our students understand and manage their stress responses.

By providing a biological framework for stress, trauma, and resiliency, students can now identify and address their stressors in real time. They’ve begun to see measurable reductions in stress, which has empowered them to make healthier decisions at work and home.

This holistic approach is more than a training tool—it’s a lifeline. It equips students with the resilience needed to succeed in demanding healthcare roles, retain employment, and bring a sense of balance and wellbeing to their families, ultimately breaking the cycle of stress-induced job loss.

Community members have volunteered to participate in informal studies and discussions and have informed each step of this process. We have refined language, changed tools and techniques and used real retention data to inform our understanding of the problem and our design of a solution. 

New Bridge considers itself in a pilot stage of vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) and mindfulness practices because these interventions are being explored and tested for their effectiveness before full-scale implementation. Our pilot stage allows for the collection of preliminary data, refinement of protocols, and identification of any challenges that may arise, ensuring the program's success in a broader application.

However, without Institutional Review Board (IRB) research, New Bridge cannot classify this as formal, ethically reviewed research. IRB approval for a study will ensure that our practices are safe, ethical, and comply with regulatory standards. This is important for protecting our participants’ rights, ensuring informed consent, and minimizing risks associated with novel interventions like VNS.

Having written implementation plans and curriculum is essential because they provide us a structured approach to how these practices will be delivered, evaluated and scaled. Our curriculum will outline the goals, methods, and expected outcomes. Our implementation plans need to offer clear steps for integrating these practices into any organization. These documents will demonstrate a commitment to thoughtful, effective execution, ensuring that our interventions are aligned with the desired outcomes across employers or workforce development organizations.

The New Bridge Mindful Momentum solution is innovative because it combines vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) with mindfulness practices to directly address stress, dysregulation, and workforce success. While wellness and biohacking have long been associated with affluent individuals, primarily from wealthy, predominantly white communities, this solution aims to democratize access to scientifically-backed strategies for stress management and retention, focusing on underserved populations.

Research has shown that chronic stress negatively impacts workforce productivity, engagement, and retention. A 2019 Gallup report found that employees who experience high levels of stress are 2.5 times more likely to leave their jobs. Mindfulness, while gaining popularity, often lacks integration with biological feedback mechanisms. New Bridge addresses this gap by introducing VNS, which has been shown in studies to reduce stress and improve emotional regulation through direct modulation of the vagus nerve. A study in Psychiatry Research (2021) demonstrated that VNS could significantly reduce anxiety and stress markers in participants.

Blackfulness has made mindfulness more culturally relevant, but New Bridge is the first to combine these techniques with a biological understanding of stress and its impact on workplace outcomes. By integrating VNS with mindfulness, participants better understand their biological response to stress, fostering long-term well-being and success in their careers. This holistic approach is unprecedented in the workforce development ecosystem.

This solution can be scaled across sectors and can easily be implemented in any workforce development program. It can be implemented during training prior to employment or at the employer site and it is cost effective. 

Here are the tangible impact goals for New Bridge's Mindful Momentum program:

1. Increase Employee Retention

   • Goal: Reduce turnover rates by 15% within the first year by helping employees manage stress, improve emotional regulation, and foster workplace well-being.
   • Outcome: More stable workforces, decreased recruitment and training costs, and a more experienced, loyal team.
   • Outcome: Improve patient care and reduce medical mistakes to be measured by incident reports and patient reviews of staff and teams. 

2. Reinvestment of Money Saved into Upskilling and Promotions

   • Goal: Redirect 10% of cost savings from reduced turnover and absenteeism into employee upskilling and promotion programs.
   • Outcome: Enhanced employee skills, increased opportunities for career advancement, and a more skilled workforce ready to meet organizational needs.

3. Healthier Mothers and Children

   • Goal: Improve the mental and physical health of mothers (and pregnant employees) by 20% through stress reduction and wellness programs.
   • Outcome: Healthier pregnancies, reduced instances of work-related health issues, and long-term wellness for mothers and children, contributing to a stronger future workforce.

4. Prevent Generational Trauma

   • Goal: Provide tools for emotional regulation and resilience to break cycles of generational trauma affecting employees and their families.
   • Outcome: A healthier, more emotionally resilient workforce, with lasting positive effects on future generations.

5. Increase Emotional and Financial Stability in Cleveland

   • Goal: Improve emotional well-being and financial stability for 1,000 employees within Cleveland through enhanced workplace programs across sectors and within at least five organizations.
   • Outcome: Reduced stress, better financial decision-making, and an uplifted local economy with more employees empowered to invest in their personal and family well-being.

We have fifteen full time staff working with approximately 175 participants per year. 

We have been working on emotional regulation and resilience for five years. Iterations have included:

1. Social emotional learning

2. Emotional intelligence

3. Trauma informed care

4. Vagus Nerve stimulation

5. Vagus nerve stimulation coupled with mindfulness practices.

At New Bridge, diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) are integral to our mission, shaping everything from healthcare training programs to internal policies and staff support. Our DEIB commitment centers on dismantling barriers and addressing trauma that prevent marginalized individuals from accessing quality healthcare career opportunities. We don’t just train healthcare professionals; we prepare students to become compassionate and effective contributors to the communities that need them most.

This focus on DEIB is reflected in our healthcare training, which integrates trauma-informed practices and culturally responsive curricula. We aim to create a learning environment that acknowledges students' unique challenges, particularly for non-traditional learners balancing family, work, and school. By incorporating social-emotional learning and emotional management into our curriculum, we ensure students gain not only technical skills but also the emotional resilience necessary for success in healthcare settings.

Our DEIB values also extend to how we support our staff. By offering flexible work schedules and accommodation tailored to individual needs, we create a workplace where all team members feel respected and valued. Staff input is critical to our DEIB efforts, as we believe that policies should reflect the experiences and voices of those within the organization. This inclusive approach fosters a culture where both staff and students are empowered to contribute, ensuring that New Bridge continues to advance health equity and create lasting, systems-level change in access to care and opportunity.

Currently 53% of our staff and 25% of our Board are people of color. 

Business Model for Mindful Momentum: VNS and Mindfulness in Workforce Development (New Bridge Focus)

The business model for New Bridge’s  solution is designed to empower individuals, particularly from underserved communities, to thrive in the workforce by enhancing mental health, stress resilience, and overall well-being. This approach integrates innovative biological techniques (VNS) with mindfulness practices to address the root causes of stress and dysregulation, which are major barriers to workforce success.

Key Participants and Beneficiaries

The primary beneficiaries of New Bridge's model are:

Participants—individuals, especially from underrepresented or high-stress environments, who face barriers to wellness support. 

Families- especially mothers and children, as well as the broader community, which benefits from a more stable and emotionally resilient workforce.

Employers- who have a retained well trained workforce.

Products and Services

1. VNS Devices and Mindfulness Integration: New Bridge provides VNS devices that help participants regulate stress responses through biological stimulation of the vagus nerve. Coupled with mindfulness training, these tools help participants develop emotional resilience, reduce anxiety, and enhance focus.
2. Mindfulness-Based Workforce Development Workshops: Participants engage in workshops that combine mindfulness practices with a deep understanding of the science of stress. These programs are designed to improve participants' emotional regulation, reducing burnout and increasing overall well-being.

Value Proposition

Participants experience reduced stress, enhanced emotional resilience, and improved mental well-being, leading to greater job satisfaction, increased retention, and career success. Research shows that mindfulness can reduce stress by up to 30% and improve decision-making (Zeidan et al., 2010), making it an essential tool for workforce success. The integration of VNS amplifies this effect by directly addressing the biological mechanisms of stress and emotional dysregulation. This combination offers a holistic solution to improve both mental health and career outcomes, fostering emotional and financial stability for individuals and their families.

New Bridge’s Two-Prong Approach to Financial Sustainability

New Bridge is committed to long-term financial sustainability through a strategic two-pronged approach: real estate acquisition and development, and the creation of a curriculum and services company focused on innovative workforce development solutions. These initiatives are designed to diversify revenue streams, increase operational efficiency, and expand our impact in underserved communities.

1) Real Estate Development

In 2024, New Bridge acquired its first building, and in 2025, we plan to acquire a second property. Our goal is to develop and hold a real estate portfolio of over 150,000 square feet. This real estate will be leased to nonprofits and workforce development agencies that align with our mission. By creating a shared space, we aim to streamline services, reduce overhead costs, and prevent resource duplication, thus fostering collaboration and maximizing the impact of each tenant. This model not only generates consistent rental income but also builds a hub for workforce development, providing access to critical services for the community. 

2) Curriculum and Services Company

In addition to real estate, New Bridge will establish a curriculum and services company that focuses on developing and delivering cutting-edge workforce development solutions, specifically leveraging Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS) technology and mindfulness practices. We will white-label VNS devices, partner with organizations to integrate these devices into their workforce wellness programs, and develop specialized training curricula. This service will be offered to employers and agencies seeking to improve employee well-being and performance. By creating and licensing this curriculum, New Bridge can scale its impact, ensuring that VNS and mindfulness solutions reach a wider audience, while also generating revenue through training programs and device sales.

Together, these initiatives position New Bridge for sustainable growth, expanding our mission while ensuring financial stability to support ongoing community impact.

Participating in the six-month tailored support program run by MIT Solve and the Truist Foundation would be invaluable to New Bridge in its evolution. The comprehensive structure of the program will strengthen our organization, enhance our growth trajectory, and increase our capacity to scale.

The initial needs assessment and subsequent monthly check-ins will provide New Bridge with a clear understanding of our organizational strengths and areas that require improvement. This ongoing feedback will allow us to fine-tune our curriculum services business model, ensuring that it is aligned with market demand. 

The learning modules focused on refining our business model and theory of change will directly enhance New Bridge’s strategic approach to scaling. By having experts help us articulate and refine our business model, we can ensure that our initiatives are impactful and financially sustainable. This guidance will also sharpen our pitch, ensuring we can attract national funders and potential investors.

The opportunity to engage in a peer-to-peer network will allow New Bridge to collaborate with other like-minded organizations, share best practices, and expand our influence. Workshops and pitch consultation is critical as we seek visibility and opportunities for growth.

We strongly believe we have a transformation solution individual and community based trauma and its impact of workplace retention. We would greatly benefit from this opportunity and also shorten our timeline and expense in scaling.