Relaxation Methods to Reduce Occupational Stress

BACKGROUND

Healthcare providers putting their patient's health before their own has negative consequences. Utilizing evidence-based research, nurse leaders can implement practices to positively affect employee health. This project assessed the utilization of a workplace relaxation room to reduce occupational stress.

METHOD

Multiple methods were used to recruit participants. Participants completed pre/post surveys (demographic, PSS-10, GallupQ12, and open-ended questions) via email. The relaxation room contained stress reducing items for staff to utilize while at work. Data was collected using Qualtrics Survey software.

FINDINGS

Data from the PSS-10 and GallupQ12 did not reveal statistically significant results. The participants responses to the open-ended questions did indicate a positive impact.

CONCLUSIONS/APPLICATION TO PRACTICE

While the aims of the project were not met during the intervention, the open-ended responses indicated that for the employees who participated in the project, the intervention was a positive addition to the workplace.

Effective interventions to reduce burnout in nurses: A meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

To examine the effectiveness of interventions to ameliorate burnout, secondary traumatic stress, and emotional exhaustion in nurses and midwives. The systematic review was completed with all available studies that reported data on the effect of interventions that targeted burnout using the outcome measures of the Professional Quality of Life scale (ProQOL), or the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI).

METHODS

We used a systematic review methodology, which included a meta-analysis. A total of 2103 articles resulted from the systematic search; 688 were removed as duplicates, and 1415 articles were reviewed by the title and abstract, of which 255 were eligible for full-text screening. Only 66 met the inclusion criteria and were included in the analysis. The final meta-analysis consisted of 33 reports divided into 12 studies for ProQOL and 21 studies for the MBI.

RESULTS

The results provide an overall effect in studies using the ProQOL measurement was Z = 2.07 (P = 0.04) and a positive improvement mean difference of 9.32. The overall effect in studies using MBI was Z = 3.13 (P = 0.002) and a positive improvement mean difference of 6.58.

CONCLUSIONS

Whilst most studies indicated a positive difference, the most effective interventions included clinical supervision or activities that addressed the personal physical and mental well-being of nurses. Less effective interventions were managerial interventions or ones that used a strictly educational approach.

Help me stay afloat

Building cohesion while working apart.

Burnout, Self-Efficacy, and Resilience in Haitian Nurses: A Cross-Sectional Study

Purpose of Study: Though nursing burnout is a global problem, research on nurse burnout in Haiti is scarce. In a context of multiple personal, social, and environmental challenges, this study assessed burnout and associated factors among Haitian nurses. Design of Study: A multi-site cross-sectional study. Methods: A survey in French and Haitian Creole was conducted in five Haitian hospitals using forward and back translated scales measuring burnout (emotional exhaustion [EE], depersonalization [DP], personal accomplishment [PA]), self-efficacy, nursing work environment, resilience, and demographics. Findings: Haitian nurses (N = 179) self-reported moderate EE (M = 21, SD = 11.18), low DP (Mdn = 2.0, range = 29), and high personal accomplishment (Mdn = 41.0, range = 33). General self-efficacy (M = 32.31, SD = 4.27) and resilience (M = 26.68, SD = 5.86) were high. Dissatisfaction with salary, autonomy, and staffing were evident. Conclusions: It is noteworthy that burnout was lower than expected given the scarce resource, difficult socio-politico-economic environment. High levels of self-efficacy and resilience likely mitigated a higher level of burnout. Adaptation enables these nurses to manage their critical conditions and practice holistic nursing, which may inspire hope among nurses in similar contexts.

Influence of nursing staff working hours on stress levels during the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional online survey

Background

Working as a nurse means being able to provide high-quality care 24/7. Studies have shown that the average number of working hours per week is a significant predictor of stress and that the severity of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has increased the nurses’ stress levels.

Objective

The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of the nursing staff’s working hours during the COVID-19 pandemic on the perceived level of stress.

Method

We carried out an online cross-sectional survey and measured the stress level with the perceived stress scale.

Results

Most of the nurses experienced a moderate level of stress. We identified a statistically significant association between increased numbers of working hours per week and the nurses’ perceived stress level. In addition, 15% of the nurses who had worked more than 40 h reported experiencing a high level of stress.

Conclusion

These results reflect the negative consequences of prolonged working hours. For this reason, a (inter)national discussion is needed on the topic of restricting the working hours of healthcare workers during such pandemics. This discussion can improve the health and safety of healthcare workers, patients and members of the general population.

[Make nursing practice visible through nursing science in times of COVID-19]

Die Pflegepraxis steht durch die COVID-19-Pandemie vor enormen Herausforderungen. Dennoch war die Pflegewissenschaft als Sprachrohr für die Praxis im öffentlichen Diskurs rund um die COVID-19-Pandemie kaum aktiv vertreten. Dementsprechend stellt sich die Frage, welche Projekte mit Fokus auf Pflege und COVID-19 an österreichischen Hochschulen durchgeführt wurden. Insgesamt wurden 6 Projekte mittels Schneeballverfahren identifiziert. Eine Studie zeigte, dass eine erhöhte Tragedauer von Masken mit einem erhöhten Stresslevel der Pflegepersonen zusammenhängt. Ein weiteres Studienergebnis zeigte, dass 50 % der Laien, Masken fehlerhaft benutzten. Individuelle Erfahrungen, getroffene Maßnahmen und Lösungsansätze aus der Sicht der Pflegepersonen hinsichtlich ethischer Herausforderungen in Pflegeheimen wurden in einem weiteren Projekt erhoben. Durch diese und andere Projekte ergreift die Pflegewissenschaft mit ihren Erkenntnissen als Sprachrohr für Pflegekräfte die Initiative und bringt sich in den COVID-19-Diskurs ein. Die Erkenntnisse aus den Projekten können zukünftig als Basis für politische Entscheidungen genutzt werden.

Perceived stress, self-compassion and job burnout in nurses: the moderating role of self-compassion

BACKGROUND

Job burnout is more prevalent among nurses than other medical team members and may have adverse effects on the mental and physical health of both nurses and their patients.

AIMS

To evaluate the associations between job burnout as a dependent variable with perceived stress and self-compassion as independent variables, and test the buffering role of self-compassion in the link between perceived stress and job burnout in nurses.

METHODS

This is a cross-sectional study with a convenience sampling method. A total of 150 nurses from four hospitals in Tehran, Iran participated in this study and completed three questionnaires, namely the Perceived Stress Scale, the Self-Compassion Scale and the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory.

RESULTS

Partial least square-structural equation modelling showed greater levels of perceived stress associated with greater levels of job burnout (β = 0.795, p < 0.001), and greater levels of self-compassion associated with lower levels of job burnout (β = -0.512, p < 0.001) in nurses. The results of the interaction-moderation analysis showed that self-compassion diminished the effect of perceived stress on job burnout in nurses.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of this study not only showed a significant association between perceived stress and job burnout in nurses, but also increased our understanding about the buffering role of self-compassion in the link between perceived stress and job burnout in nurses.

Replenish at Work: An Integrative Program to Decrease Stress and Promote a Culture of Wellness in the Intensive Care Unit

Intensive care unit (ICU) nurses report some of the highest levels of stress and burnout because they are exposed to excessive workloads, end-of-life concerns, prolonged care, and ethical dilemmas. Supporting ICU staff through self-care and mindfulness programs is successful in improving stress and burnout and in promoting resilience. Addressing barriers to engaging in self-care practices and identifying unit-specific needs are important to consider when implementing wellness programs. Micro-restorative practices can alleviate immediate stress generated from patient care and provide a moment of peace in busy ICUs. Leadership and organizational support are vital in identifying the need for and promoting wellness programs.

[Nursing care during the COVID-19 pandemic - a particular challenge]

Problemstellung

Pflegequalität ist eines der wichtigsten Themen in der heutigen pflegerischen Versorgung. Die COVID-19 Pandemie stellt professionell Pflegende vor große Herausforderungen. Bislang gibt es jedoch kaum Daten zur pflegerischen Situation in Gesundheitseinrichtungen während der COVID-19 Pandemie.

Ziel

Daher war das Ziel dieser Studie, die Pflegequalität während der COVID-19 Pandemie darzustellen. Der Fokus dabei liegt auf den vorhandenen strukturellen Gegebenheiten (Strukturebene), den durchgeführten Maßnahmen (Prozessebene) und dem wahrgenommenen Stress der Pflegepersonen (Ergebnisebene).

Methode

Es wurde eine Querschnittstudie mithilfe eines elektronischen Fragebogens in verschiedenen Gesundheitseinrichtungen durchgeführt. Der Fragebogen inkludiert allgemeine Fragen sowie solche zu Struktur-, Prozess- und Ergebnisindikatoren.

Resultate

Es nahmen 2605 Pflegepersonen aus verschiedenen österreichischen Gesundheitseinrichtungen an der Umfrage teil. Die Studie zeigte, dass es häufig Leitfäden und Schulungen zur Schutzmaßnahmen gab. Eine ausreichende Anzahl an Mund-Nasen-Schutz (MNS) gaben knapp zwei Drittel der Personen an, wobei die Tragedauer jedoch bei der Hälfte der Pflegepersonen über acht Stunden lag. Die Studie zeigte ebenso, dass Pflegepersonen häufig persönliche (z. B. Tragen von MNS) und allgemeine Schutzmaßnahmen (z. B. Händehygiene) durchführten. Knapp zwei Drittel der Pflegepersonen litten unter mäßigem bis hohem Stress.

Schlussfolgerung

Um gut auf eine mögliche zweite Welle der COVID-19 Pandemie oder andere Pandemien vorbereitet zu sein, sollen Gesundheitseinrichtungen frühzeitig mit adäquaten und ausreichenden persönlichen Schutzmaterialien ausgestattet werden. Zudem sollten allen Pflegepersonen, die in solch außergewöhnlichen Belastungssituationen arbeiten, psychosoziale Entlastungsprogramme angeboten werden. Dadurch kann eine qualitativ hochwertige Pflege sichergestellt werden.

The effect of mindfulness training on burnout syndrome in nursing: A systematic review and meta-analysis

AIM

To analyse the effect of mindfulness training on levels of burnout among nurses.

BACKGROUND

Burnout syndrome is a common occupational hazard for nursing staff. Mindfulness training has been proposed as a valid intervention for burnout.

DESIGN

Systematic review and meta-analysis.

DATA SOURCES

The CINAHL, LILACS, Medline, ProQuest, PsycINFO, Scielo and Scopus databases were consulted, using the search equation 'Nurs * AND burnout AND mindfulness'. There was no restriction on the year of publication.

REVIEW METHODS

Papers were selected for analysis in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines. The meta-analysis was carried out using Review Manager 5.3 software.

RESULTS

The sample was of 17 articles including 632 nurses. Mindfulness training reduces levels of burnout, producing lower scores for emotional exhaustion and depersonalization and higher for personal accomplishment. The differences in the means were 1.32 (95% CI: -9.41-6.78), 1.91 (95% CI: -4.50-0.68) and 2.12 (95% CI: -9.91-14.14), respectively, between the intervention and control groups.

CONCLUSION

Mindfulness training reduces the emotional burden and hence levels of burnout, among nurses. However, further randomized clinical trials are required.

Prevalence, Related Factors, and Levels of Burnout Syndrome Among Nurses Working in Gynecology and Obstetrics Services: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND

Although burnout levels and the corresponding risk factors have been studied in many nursing services, to date no meta-analytical studies have been undertaken of obstetrics and gynecology units to examine the heterogeneity of burnout in this environment and the variables associated with it. In the present paper, we aim to determine the prevalence, levels, and related factors of burnout syndrome among nurses working in gynecology and obstetrics services.

METHODS

A systematic review and meta-analysis of the literature were carried out using the following sources: CINAHL (Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature), LILACS (Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences Literature), Medline, ProQuest (Proquest Health and Medical Complete), SciELO (Scientific Electronic Library Online), and Scopus.

RESULTS

Fourteen relevant studies were identified, including, for this meta-analysis, n = 464 nurses. The following prevalence values were obtained: emotional exhaustion 29% (95% CI: 11-52%), depersonalization 19% (95% CI: 6-38%), and low personal accomplishment 44% (95% CI: 18-71%). The burnout variables considered were sociodemographic (age, marital status, number of children, gender), work-related (duration of the workday, nurse-patient ratio, experience or number of miscarriages/abortions), and psychological (anxiety, stress, and verbal violence).

CONCLUSION

Nurses working in obstetrics and gynecology units present high levels of burnout syndrome. In over 33% of the study sample, at least two of the burnout dimensions considered are apparent.