MINDFULNESS BASED INTERVENTIONS & Robert Davila

NURSING BURNOUT GNRS 507 Scientific Writing

BURNOUT
A phenomenon in which the cumulative effects of a stressful
work environment gradually overwhelm the defenses of a
person, forcing them to withdraw psychologically.
MINDFULNESS-BASED STRESS REDUCTION (MBSR)
Developed in 1979 by Jon Kabat-Zinn
Teaches participants to become more aware of thoughts,
feelings and body sensations, while approaching these
internal states with a nonjudgmental curiosity
Allows for greater awareness of the present moment
Helps cultivate adaptive ways of responding to stress,
rather than habitual and maladaptive reactions

(Duarte & Pinto-Gouveia, 2016)

RESEARCH QUESTION
Would teaching MBSR
techniques to nurses
decrease burnout?

Photo credit: americannursetoday.com

RELEVANCE TO
NURSING
Conditions such as
increased
documentation,
extended hours,
staffing shortages, and
a lack of relaxing
environments
contribute to
significant amounts of
stress for nurses
(Duarte & Pinto-Gouveia, 2016; Gauthier, Meyer, Grefe, & Gold, 2015)
RESEARCH FINDINGS
Newsome, Waldo, & Gruszka (2012) results showed that MBSR group work increased self-compassion
and mindfulness and reduced stress.
Raab, Sogge, Parker, & Flament (2015) examined an intervention on Mental Health professionals. Results
showed that MBSR training significantly improved self-compassion.
Duarte & Pinto-Gouveia (2016) examined a group meeting on the principles of mindfulness for oncology
nurses. Results showed a decrease in stress, burnout, experiential avoidance, and compassion fatigue while
increased self-compassion, mindfulness, and life satisfaction.
Gauthier, Meyer, Grefe, & Gold (2015) examined a short group mindfulness meditation led by a Zen
Buddhist monk for 30 days for PICU nurses. Results showed a positive correlation between self-compassion
and mindfulness and a negative correlation between mindfulness and stress, and self-compassion and
stress.
Hevezi (2016) examined whether short self study meditation interventions (less than 10 minutes)
decreased compassion fatigue while improving compassion. A paired t-test showed an increase in
Compassion Satisfaction (CS) and decreases in Secondary traumatic stress (STS) and burnout.
IMPLEMENTATION
Group
6 weekly 90 minute classes
8 weekly 2.5 hour long classes
6 weekly 2 hour instruction
5 minute instruction
Individual
Study on own time (less than 10 minutes)
 Busy schedules
BARRIERS TO Lack of motivation
IMPLEMENTATION
Staff misunderstanding
STUDY LIMITATIONS & RECOMMENDATIONS
Study Limitations
Lack of control groups
Use of Self-report questionnaires
Nonrandomized
Small Sample
Recommendations
Future efforts should focus on improving interventions that increase
self-care/compassion through mindfulness-based techniques and the
most effective way to implement.
Determine whether short or individual meditations are effective
Self-care and self-
compassion are Self-compassion can
effective for be cultivated through
decreasing the MBSR
burnout risk

CONCLUSION
MEDITATION

10 session free trial

on the basics of
meditation
Can do 3-10
minutes a day
Photo credit: headspace.com
REFERENCES
Duarte, J., & Pinto-Gouveia, J. (2016). Effectiveness of a mindfulness-based intervention on
oncology nurses burnout and compassion fatigue symptoms: A non-randomized study.
International Journal of Nursing Studies, 64, 98-107. doi:10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2016.10.002
Gauthier, T., Meyer, R. M., Grefe, D., & Gold, J. I. (2015). An on-the-job mindfulness-based
intervention for pediatric ICU nurses: A pilot. Journal of Pediatric Nursing, 30(2), 402-409.
doi:10.1016/j.pedn.2014.10.005
Hevezi, J. A. (2016). Evaluation of a meditation intervention to reduce the effects of stressors
associated with compassion fatigue among nurses. Journal of Holistic Nursing, 34(4), 343-
350. doi:10.1177/0898010115615981
Newsome, S., Waldo, M., & Gruszka, C. (2012). Mindfulness group work: Preventing stress and
increasing self-compassion among helping professionals in training. Journal for Specialists in
Group Work, 37(4), 297-311. doi:10.1080/01933922.2012.690832
Raab, K., Sogge, K., Parker, N., & Flament, M. F. (2015). Mindfulness-based stress reduction and
self-compassion among mental healthcare professionals: A pilot study. Mental Health,
Religion & Culture, 18(6), 503-512. doi:10.1080/13674676.2015.1081588