In a groundbreaking move, UAMS Medical Center in Little Rock has introduced a simple yet powerful initiative that’s making waves in healthcare. Dubbed “arkansas gratitude rounds,” this daily practice encourages staff to recognize their colleagues’ kindness at the start of each shift. Within just 40 days, the results are striking—burnout among nurses has dropped significantly, and patient satisfaction is on the rise. As staffing shortages continue to plague the industry, this small act of appreciation might just be a game-changer for Arkansas hospitals.
A New Morning Ritual at UAMS
Since April 9, 2025, the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) Medical Center has started each day with a unique tradition. At 7 a.m., staff across various shifts gather briefly for gratitude rounds. During these moments, team members highlight one act of kindness or support from a colleague. It’s a quick, intentional pause in the often chaotic world of healthcare, designed to foster connection and positivity among overworked staff.
Burnout Scores Drop Sharply
The impact of arkansas gratitude rounds on staff well-being is measurable and impressive. Within 40 days of implementing the practice, nurse manager surveys revealed a significant decline in burnout. Specifically, scores on the Maslach Burnout Inventory—a widely used tool to assess emotional exhaustion and depersonalization—fell by 18%. This reduction signals a meaningful shift for nurses who often face relentless stress, especially amid ongoing staffing challenges in 2025.
Patient Satisfaction Sees a Boost
The benefits of gratitude rounds extend beyond the staff. Over the same 40-day period, patient satisfaction at UAMS Medical Center climbed by four percentile points. While the exact reasons aren’t fully clear from the initial data, it’s likely that a more connected and less stressed workforce translates into better care. Happier nurses often mean happier patients, and this uptick suggests that small cultural shifts can ripple outward with big results.
Addressing a Statewide Crisis
Arkansas, like much of the U.S., continues to grapple with healthcare staffing shortages. Nurses and other medical professionals are leaving the field at alarming rates due to burnout and workplace stress. The success of gratitude rounds at UAMS has caught the attention of hospital leadership, who see it as a low-cost, high-impact solution. This initiative comes at a critical time when retaining skilled staff is more important than ever.
Plans to Expand Across Arkansas
Encouraged by early results, UAMS Human Resources is taking the concept to the next level. The department is currently drafting a white paper to propose rolling out arkansas gratitude rounds statewide. The goal is to pitch this practice to other hospitals and healthcare facilities as a replicable model for improving workplace culture. If adopted widely, it could reshape how Arkansas addresses the mental health of its medical workforce.
Why Gratitude Matters in Healthcare
The idea behind gratitude rounds isn’t just feel-good fluff—it’s rooted in evidence. Studies have long shown that recognition and positive reinforcement can reduce stress and improve job satisfaction. For instance, research from the American Psychological Association highlights how workplace appreciation directly correlates with lower burnout rates. Similarly, resources from the American Nurses Association emphasize the need for supportive environments to retain talent. UAMS’s experiment aligns with these broader findings.
A Model for the Future?
As healthcare systems nationwide search for ways to support their staff, the early success of gratitude rounds at UAMS offers a glimmer of hope. It’s a reminder that sometimes the simplest interventions—acknowledging a colleague’s effort—can yield outsized results. With burnout still a leading cause of turnover in 2025, Arkansas may be on the cusp of pioneering a scalable solution. Other states could soon take note if the white paper gains traction among policymakers and hospital administrators.