Mindfulness-Based Interventions and Stress

Purpose: Stress within the nursing profession is a substantial issue. Staff shortages, poor leadership, and even COVID-19 have contributed to an increase in nursing stress. Stress can negatively impact a nurse’s ability to perform at an optimal level while at work. The purpose of this project is to reduce perceived stress by implementing mindfulness-based interventions (MBI). Background: The project was implemented in a twenty-three-bed unit that cares for the post operative pediatric population in Houston, Texas. Methodology: A series of in-person and virtual educational lessons (eight total) on MBIs (with flyers) were implemented throughout this project. The Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) test was utilized to assess stress levels before, after, and one-month after the intervention. PSS test scores can range from zero to forty; higher scores indicate higher levels of perceived stress. The Plan-Do-Study-Act cycle was utilized to assess the impact of the intervention and allow for necessary adjustments. Results: At the completion of this project, there were nineteen PSS pre-tests, five post-tests, and two one-month follow ups completed. The PSS Pre-test average was 16.73, and the post-test average was 12. Implications: This DNP project will raise awareness and decrease the prevalence of stress within the nursing profession. By prioritizing mental health, nurses can experience better work-life balance, fewer adverse health effects, and higher rates of job satisfaction. MBIs are a remarkable way to decrease stress, and it can undoubtably be concluded that there are vast benefits of implementing MBIs to decrease staff stress and therefore supports the future of this quality improvement project. A suggestion of potential next steps for further improvement is to utilize a larger sample size of participants.