Date of Award

Summer 2022

Project Type

Thesis

College or School

CHHS

Department

Nursing

Program or Major

Nursing

Degree Name

Master of Science

First Advisor

Pamela Kallmerten PhD, DNP, RN, CNL

Abstract

Background: As the single largest group of healthcare professionals, comprising a workforce of over 4 million in the United States, keeping nurses satisfied in their positions is a vital component of providing quality patient care (Perry et al., 2018). It is estimated that 68% of nurses will experience significant job dissatisfaction at a point in their career (Ayalew et al., 2018). Mindfulness practice, specifically Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) is a recognized tool to lower work-related stress and increase job satisfaction of nursing staff (Henry, 2014).

Local Problem: The state of the specific microsystem had been high levels of dissatisfaction among nursing staff, specifically 78.4% of survey respondents reporting feeling negatively after a shift more than 50% of the time (Internal data, 2021). As a result, the microsystem had seen a 4% increase in turnover rate in 2021 compared with 2020 data (Internal data, 2021). If allowed to proliferate, widespread dissatisfaction could lead to even more profound turnover and as a consequence, decreased quality of patient care and increased spending on training new staff.

Methods: Through convenience sampling, participants were asked to complete a pre-intervention survey including a 36-question assessment exploring job satisfaction. After, participants were given a flyer instructing on different mindfulness techniques. Flyers were also available in the unit breakroom. Later, a post-intervention survey was distributed to participants on a convenience basis to see if mindfulness practice impacted job satisfaction.

Results: 11 members of the nursing staff participated; 6 completed the pre-intervention survey and 5 completed the post-intervention survey. The average pre-intervention satisfaction score was 146, indicating a satisfied attitude towards job satisfaction. The average post-intervention satisfaction score was 145 which also indicated a satisfied attitude towards job satisfaction.

Conclusions: Ultimately, there was no change in satisfaction scores following the mindfulness intervention. Though continued quality improvement is needed in this area, mindfulness practice in healthcare workers has the potential to be a low cost, easy method towards managing workplace stress.

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