Teaching Mindfulness to Mitigate Burnout in a Pandemic

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Mental Health
• Mindfulness Practices

Background:

• Posttraumatic stress syndrome is increasing in nursing specialties.
• Healthcare providers need tools to manage workplace stress.
• Pandemic conditions exacerbate stress for healthcare professionals.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe an initiative providing mindfulness techniques to baccalaureate nursing students.
• To help students manage internal reactions to daily events during a pandemic.
• To foster resilience and coping mechanisms in future nurses.

Main Methods:

• An 8-week mindfulness program was implemented in a first-year undergraduate nursing program in Texas (August-October 2020).
• Student engagement was assessed via a discussion board, analyzing responses to mindfulness reflection questions.
• Pre-program and during-program discussion board activity was compared.

Main Results:

• 124 student nurses participated, predominantly women (83.9%), aged 19-50, single (78.2%), and Hispanic/Latino (84.7%).
• Discussion board posts increased dramatically from 1,001 posts (16 weeks pre-program) to 4,191 posts (first 10 weeks of program).

Conclusions:

• Mindfulness practice equips nurses with skills to manage thoughts and bodies, aiding transition to trauma nursing.
• Nurse educators should develop tools for students and patients to manage anxiety.
• Fostering an environment of learning, understanding, and compassion is crucial for mental well-being in nursing.