A pilot study to evaluate mindfulness as a strategy to improve inpatient nurse and patient experiences

doi:10.1016/j.apnr.2014.01.003

Applied Nursing Research

Volume 27, Issue 3, August 2014, Pages 198-201

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apnr.2014.01.003 Get rights and content

Abstract

The purpose of the Mindful Nursing Pilot Study was to explore the impact of mindfulness training for nursing staff on levels of mindfulness, compassion satisfaction, burnout, and stress. In addition, the study attempted to determine the impact on patient satisfaction scores. The pilot was designed as a quasi-experimental research study; staff on one nursing unit participated in the 10-week mindfulness training program while another, similar nursing unit served as the control group. The intervention group showed improvement in levels of mindfulness, burnout, and stress as well as patient satisfaction while the control group remained largely the same. This pilot provides encouraging results that suggest that replication and further study of mindfulness in the workplace would be beneficial.

Section snippets

Background

Hospitals seeking to remain viable in the current reimbursement environment must develop a laser focus on cost control and the effective use of limited resources. Subsequently, direct caregivers have been expected to do more with less, even as the acuity of the inpatient population has increased.

Caregivers struggle with the effects of their increasing workload, and report feeling overwhelmed and stressed (Anthony and Vidal, 2010, Penque, 2009). Preventable errors in patient care may result from

Purpose

The purpose of the Mindful Nursing Pilot Study was to explore the impact of mindfulness training for nursing staff on their levels of mindfulness, compassion satisfaction, burnout, and stress. In addition, the study attempted to determine the impact on patient satisfaction scores.

Hypotheses

We hypothesized that the unit who participated in a 10-week mindfulness training program would show significant improvement in satisfaction and mindfulness, measured via two sub-scales from the Professional Quality of Life (ProQOL) Scale Version 5© and the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS), as compared to the control unit. In addition, we anticipated that patient satisfaction would increase on the intervention unit.

Design

The pilot was designed as a quasi-experimental study; staff on one nursing unit volunteered to participate in a mindfulness training program while staff on a similar nursing unit served as the control group. Recruitment strategies included interest meetings to provide staff with an overview of the study and to introduce the concept of mindfulness. Unit management championed the study and offered to assist with covering patients to allow staff to attend the classes during their normal shifts.

Sample

Attendance

Participants were primarily female registered nurses with tenure of 10 years or less on their nursing unit. About 60% of the 43 participants attended five or more classes. Variable work schedules and the immediacy of patient care prevented most staff from attending all ten classes; therefore, classes were videotaped so staff could view them at their convenience. Weekly emails were sent to the participants to encourage their mindfulness practice; visual reminders were posted around the unit and

Discussion

The results of this pilot study support the potential effectiveness of brief mindfulness training to reduce stress levels of nursing staff. Despite the small sample size both individual and unit measures of stress approached significance. An interesting finding was the difference in individual vs. unit stress levels. Specifically, on both units, participants rated their own stress level lower than that of the unit. This may indicate that individuals believed that their peers' stress levels were

Limitations

The results of this pilot are encouraging in light of several limitations encountered by the research team. The electronic survey was distributed to all staff pre- and post-intervention, regardless of their intention to participate in the training. This was done for two reasons: to increase the sample size and to see if the training would have an impact on the entire unit, even in the absence of full staff participation. However, many of the staff did not complete the survey and thus, the

Implications for practice

Hospitals may find it beneficial to incorporate mindfulness training to reduce stress levels among nursing staff. In addition, the results of this pilot suggest that further study of the impact of mindfulness practices on staff and patient satisfaction, and burnout is warranted. One recommendation is for hospitals to standardize the tools used to measure such key indicators. In studies previously cited, each research team used a different tool to measure mindfulness. Our research team measured

Acknowledgments

Support was received from the WakeMed Foundation. The authors would like to acknowledge the following individuals who contributed to this study: Lorraine Penry, RN; Elena Schertz, RN; Sheila Veeder, RN; Pauline Stillman, RN; Crystal Drake, RN and Bill Bass.

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Citation Excerpt :
The burnout sub-score of the ProQOL decreased significantly in Duarte's study.36 Horner's study40 was single-centred and assessed weekly half-hour sessions of mindfulness over a period of 10 weeks. The study included different types of professional and burnout was measured using the ProQOL at baseline and immediately after the end of the MI.
Healthcare professional burnout affects performance and has a negative impact on healthcare as a whole. Mindfulness-based Interventions (MIs), developed over the last 30 years, are increasingly used by healthcare professionals to reduce the risk of burnout. Yet the impact of MIs on burnout remains to be clarified. This review aimed to summarize and evaluate the existing literature on the potential benefits of MIs to minimize burnout risk.
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View all citing articles on Scopus

¹: At the time of the study, Janice Horner was affiliated with WakeMed Health & Hospitals.

²: Tel.: + 1 919 350 8457; fax: + 1 919 350 7839.

³: Tel.: + 1 919 602 9917; fax: + 1 919 350 6248.

⁴: Tel.: + 1 919 350 1700x10124; fax: + 1 919 350 8313.

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Research BriefsA pilot study to evaluate mindfulness as a strategy to improve inpatient nurse and patient experiences

Abstract

Section snippets

Background

Purpose

Hypotheses

Design

Sample

Attendance

Discussion

Limitations

Implications for practice

Acknowledgments

Hospital nurse staffing and patient mortality, nurse burnout, and job dissatisfaction

Journal of the American Medical Association

Mindful communication: A novel approach to improving delegation and increasing patient safety

Online Journal of Issues in Nursing

The benefits of being present: Mindfulness and its role in psychological well-being

Journal of Personality and Social Psychology

The effects of mindfulness-based stress reduction on nurse stress and burnout, part II

Holistic Nursing Practice

Research Briefs
A pilot study to evaluate mindfulness as a strategy to improve inpatient nurse and patient experiences