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Name: Khushi Mehta | Major: Psychology | Semester: Spring 2025

In Spring 2025, I completed my honours thesis titled Understanding the Strategies to Cope with Shift Work Among Healthcare Workers. This semester marked the transition from planning to execution: I transformed qualitative interviews into a structured survey, collected responses from healthcare professionals, and analysed the results. I then successfully defended my thesis before a faculty committee. My project aimed to explore how healthcare shift workers maintain their mental and physical well-being- an increasingly urgent topic in conversations around burnout and worker support. As I prepare to begin my journey as a physician assistant, these findings are not only academic- they are deeply personal and practical.

Building off my Fall 2024 research, I used the stories gathered through interviews to design a comprehensive survey that captured both common coping mechanisms and the emotional experiences of shift workers. The interview phase revealed recurring themes: lack of sleep, inconsistent mealtimes, emotional exhaustion, but also resilience and community support. These themes directly informed the survey content, allowing me to quantify key strategies and compare trends across variables like role, shift type, and experience level.

With IRB approval in place, I distributed the survey to a sample of healthcare workers including nurses, CNAs, medical assistants, and allied health professionals. It was both exciting and humbling to see how many people were willing to share their stories and perspectives with me.

Analysing the data was one of the most rewarding parts of the semester. I learned how to use statistical tools to find patterns and correlations while also drawing from participant comments to retain the human side of the research. Among the most interesting findings: healthcare workers who reported strong workplace social support systems also rated their coping abilities higher. Additionally, those who practiced intentional self-care strategies (like exercise or journaling) reported lower stress levels compared to those who relied on reactive or passive coping mechanisms.

This research also taught me to trust my academic voice. Creating a survey and running a full data collection process was something I once thought only graduate students could do- but I did it. The defense process was a great experience. I was able to speak with confidence about my work, answer challenging questions, and reflect on the full journey from idea to final paper.

The biggest challenge this semester was time. Between data collection, writing, analysis, and preparing for my thesis defense- on top of preparing for PA school- it was a lot to manage. I overcame this by setting small, consistent goals each week and using planning tools to stay organized. My mentor helped keep me focused and reminded me not to let perfectionism get in the way of progress.

There were also moments of imposter syndrome- when I wondered if my work really mattered. But the response from my participants and the supportive feedback from my committee reminded me that student research can have impact, especially when it touches on real human experiences.

Dr. Lindsay Ham was my rock throughout this entire journey. Her encouragement, timely feedback, and honest questions helped me sharpen my thinking and build confidence in my writing. The Honors Program community also provided valuable support- especially during thesis workshops and practice presentations. I’m grateful to have been surrounded by faculty and peers who wanted me to succeed.

With my thesis successfully defended and graduation on the horizon, I’m now looking ahead to PA school at Shenandoah University. This research gave me a deeper understanding of healthcare from the provider’s perspective. I’ll carry these insights with me as I begin clinical training, and I hope to continue advocating for improved workplace well-being, whether through future research, policy, or simply how I practice medicine.

For any student thinking about research: don’t wait until you feel “ready.” Start with a question that means something to you, and you’ll grow into the researcher you’re meant to be.