Evaluating the impact of a mindfulness intervention on mindful attention and awareness resilience to stress, and perceived stress in newly licensed nurses in a nurse residency program

Abstract

<p><strong>Background:</strong> A career in the healthcare profession of nursing provokes significant stress in newly licensed nurses. Previous studies suggested that mindful practice enhanced well-being by bringing awareness to thinking and living in the present moment (being mindful), decreased stress, and enhanced resilience to stress.</p> <p><strong>Purpose:</strong> The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of a mindfulness intervention on mindful attention and awareness, resilience to stress, perceived stress, and health status in newly licensed nurses in a nurse residency program (NRP).</p> <p><strong>Methods and Procedure:</strong> This mixed-methods quasi-experimental study used a pretest-posttest design with an intervention and comparison group. Surveys were taken at baseline and after the third monthly meeting for both groups. Mindfulness intervention sessions were presented via WebEx during three scheduled monthly meetings.</p> <p><strong>Results:</strong> While no significant differences were found from pre- to posttest in the total sample and paired sample groups, the intervention group showed improvement in the hypothesized directions with resilience and self-reported health scores, and no change in perceived stress with a slight decline in mindful attention and awareness. On the contrary, the comparison group showed decreased resilience, mindful attention and awareness, and self-rated health, and increased perceived stress.</p> <p><strong>Implications/Conclusion:</strong> The mindfulness intervention neutralized the level of perceived stress in the intervention group. Mindful practice activities should be utilized during the monthly NRP meetings throughout the program to help mitigate the effects of stress.</p>