Impact of a Media-Based Music Therapy Intervention on Anxiety, Burnout, and Clinical Performance in Nursing Students

Nursing students experience high levels of anxiety and burnout, which can impact academic performance and patient care. This study evaluated the efficacy of a 15-minute media-based music therapy (MBMT) intervention using a single-group crossover design. Seventy-three prelicensure BSN students participated. MBMT significantly reduced anxiety (p < .001, d = 0.65) and burnout (p < .001, d = 0.43) while improving instructor-rated simulation performance (p = .041, d = 0.25). Findings support MBMT as a promising intervention to mitigate stress and enhance clinical training outcomes in nursing education. Future research should explore broader applications and alternative music therapy techniques.