Assessing the Impact of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) on Emergency Nurses' Absenteeism and Receptive Awareness of and Attention To What Is Taking Place in the Present

Problem: The changing terrain of modern healthcare has made emergency nurses' well-being a top priority. Within the small community hospital where this project was conducted, the issue of employee work-related stress was identified through managers' feedback and employee surveys. Purpose: Leaders employ a comprehensive mindfulness program based on assessed employee needs to understand the practical interventions to address work-related stress. This project implemented mindfulness-based stress reduction (MSBR) interventions and assessed emergency nurses' absenteeism and receptive awareness of and attention to what is taking place in the present. Method: The project utilized the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS) to assess emergency nurses' receptive awareness of and attention to what is occurring in the present after implementing MBSR interventions. In addition, absenteeism data was compared three months before and after the planned mindfulness program. Analyses: Descriptive statistics determined the mean number of days emergency nurses were absent from the facility. Content analysis also evaluated the self-reported Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS) data. Implications for Practice: The study findings will be applied in healthcare facilities to improve emergency nurses’ well-being and reduce absenteeism.