Mindfulness based stress reduction effects on registered nurses.

Abstract

Nurses are leaving the profession mostly due to stress from clinical work and inability to practice as they were prepared. Strategies are needed to assist nurses manage clinical work and their overall health. The MBSR program promotes overall well being and reduces stress in some populations. The purpose of this study was to determine whether MBSR is an effective tool to support nurses psychologically and to improve work satisfaction as they perform essential work roles.A quasi-experimental, longitudinal, pretest post test design examined the effects of MBSR on mindfulness, self compassion, empathy, serenity, and work satisfaction of Registered Nurses (N = 61). The correlation between mindfulness and self compassion, serenity and empathy were examined. The effects of MBSR on incidental overtime and job burnout were also analyzed.Statistically significant differences in means were found pre to post MBSR in mindfulness (33.2 to 42.9), self compassion (2.8 to 3.8), serenity (3.0 to 3.7), work satisfaction measure of autonomy (3.3 to 4.3), and all subscales of job burnout. There was a statistically significant increase in empathetic concern from baseline (21.3 to 22.5). Mindfulness was statistically significantly correlated with self compassion (r=.79) and serenity (r=.78). Incidental overtime trended downward throughout the study.Findings support the utilization of MBSR to improve overall psychological outcomes and personal health for registered nurses. MBSR showed a statistically significant increase in mindfulness in nurses which impacts practice by enhancing nursing presence. Mindfulness may improve patient care through patient safety, satisfaction, and quality of outcomes.Further research is needed to explore the effects of MBSR on different groups of nurses and with a randomized control design. The utilization of MBSR as an intervention to help transition new graduates to staff nursing may be an effective means for overall retention. MBSR may be helpful in settings with high stress such as critical care units. The program of MBSR assists nurses to focus through mindful thoughts and actions versus multitasking. Further nursing research is needed to explore the effects of MBSR on nursing practice as it relates to patient safety.