Abstract
Post-pandemic, as many as 40% of nurse managers considered leaving their jobs due to burnout.1,2 Resilience is the ability to bounce back after stress, a trainable skill related to well-being that may help mitigate burnout.3,4 There is a need to study factors to promote well-being in healthcare professionals.5 Research on sustainable outcomes of resiliency training in nurse leaders is lacking.
The purpose of this study was to prospectively examine effects of a 6-hour resiliency training program6 on well-being outcomes in nurse leaders. The team conducted a longitudinal study in the spring through fall 2022 and offered resiliency training to a group of 46 nurse leaders, including nurse managers and nurse supervisors. Participants took online surveys measuring well-being related variables at baseline, post-training, and 2-months post-training. Only 48% (n = 22) completed the entire course and surveys.
Nurse leaders were mostly female (n = 20, 90.9%) and white (n = 16, 72.7%) with an average age of 48.7 [SD = 10.6] years. Median years of experience was 19.5 [16-47]. One-way repeated measures ANOVA demonstrated a significant effect across time on stress (p = .02), self-compassion (p = .008), mindfulness (p = .011), and the exhaustion subscale of burnout (p = .008). The most significant improvements in measures occurred between the end of the course and the 2-month follow-up, indicating sustained improvements in well-being measures.
Despite barriers to attend the classes, nurse leaders experienced significant improvements in key measures of well-being. Exhaustion and perceptions of stress went down across time while mindfulness and self-compassion increased. It is possible that scores continued to improve across time as participants continued to utilize the practices they learned during training. Nurse leaders who followed-through with the training and responded to surveys demonstrated improved well-being.
Nurse leaders may have improved coping skills to deal with job stressors, demonstrate less exhaustion with the work demand, and be kinder to themselves and others because of resilience-skill practices. Organizations would benefit from use of effective resilience training programs to improve well-being in nurse leaders who cope with high rates of burnout.
Notes
References:
1. Martin, S. D., Urban, R. W., Foglia, D. C., Henson, J. S., George, V., & McCaslin, T. (2023). Well-being in acute care nurse managers: A risk analysis of physical and mental health factors. Worldviews on Evidence-Based Nursing, 20(2), 126–132.
2. Middleton, R., Loveday, C., Hobbs, C., Almasi, E., Moxham, L., Green, H.,…& Fernandez, R. (2021). The COVID-19 pandemic-A focus on nurse managers’ mental health, coping behaviours and organisational commitment. Collegian, 28(6), 703-708.
3. Carter, M., & Turner, K. M. (2021). Enhancing nurse manager resilience in a pandemic. Nurse Leader, 19(6), 622-624.
4. Pallesen, K. S., McCormack, B., Kjerholt, M., Borre, L. Z., Rosted, E., & Holge-Hazelton, B. (2022). An investigation of the level of burnout and resilience among hospital-based nurse managers after COVID 19: A cross-sectional questionnaire-based study. Journal of Nursing Management, 30(8), 4107-4115.
5. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine [NASEM]. (2019). Taking action against clinician burnout: A Systems Approach to Professional Well-being. National Academies Press. http://nap.edu/ 25521
6. Gregory, K. & Long, P. (2021). Resiliency Training for Healthcare Professionals. https://www.center4resiliency.com/resiliency-training/
Sigma Membership
Beta Alpha
Type
Presentation
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
N/A
Research Approach
N/A
Keywords:
Stress, Coping, Workforce, Post-Pandemic, Resiliency Training
Recommended Citation
Martin, Shirley D.; Bailey, Stephanie; and Urban, Regina W., "Sustained Effects of Resiliency Training on Well-Being in Nurse Leaders" (2025). Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE). 79.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/chwe/2025/presentations_2025/79
Conference Name
Creating Healthy Work Environments
Conference Host
Sigma Theta Tau International
Conference Location
Phoenix, Arizona, USA
Conference Year
2025
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All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record.
Review Type
Abstract Review Only: Reviewed by Event Host
Acquisition
Proxy-submission
Sustained Effects of Resiliency Training on Well-Being in Nurse Leaders
Phoenix, Arizona, USA
Post-pandemic, as many as 40% of nurse managers considered leaving their jobs due to burnout.1,2 Resilience is the ability to bounce back after stress, a trainable skill related to well-being that may help mitigate burnout.3,4 There is a need to study factors to promote well-being in healthcare professionals.5 Research on sustainable outcomes of resiliency training in nurse leaders is lacking.
The purpose of this study was to prospectively examine effects of a 6-hour resiliency training program6 on well-being outcomes in nurse leaders. The team conducted a longitudinal study in the spring through fall 2022 and offered resiliency training to a group of 46 nurse leaders, including nurse managers and nurse supervisors. Participants took online surveys measuring well-being related variables at baseline, post-training, and 2-months post-training. Only 48% (n = 22) completed the entire course and surveys.
Nurse leaders were mostly female (n = 20, 90.9%) and white (n = 16, 72.7%) with an average age of 48.7 [SD = 10.6] years. Median years of experience was 19.5 [16-47]. One-way repeated measures ANOVA demonstrated a significant effect across time on stress (p = .02), self-compassion (p = .008), mindfulness (p = .011), and the exhaustion subscale of burnout (p = .008). The most significant improvements in measures occurred between the end of the course and the 2-month follow-up, indicating sustained improvements in well-being measures.
Despite barriers to attend the classes, nurse leaders experienced significant improvements in key measures of well-being. Exhaustion and perceptions of stress went down across time while mindfulness and self-compassion increased. It is possible that scores continued to improve across time as participants continued to utilize the practices they learned during training. Nurse leaders who followed-through with the training and responded to surveys demonstrated improved well-being.
Nurse leaders may have improved coping skills to deal with job stressors, demonstrate less exhaustion with the work demand, and be kinder to themselves and others because of resilience-skill practices. Organizations would benefit from use of effective resilience training programs to improve well-being in nurse leaders who cope with high rates of burnout.
Description
Our team prospectively studied the effects of resiliency training on well-being in nurse leaders in 2022. Facilitators provided a six-hour course for 46 attendees. Respondents completing the course (n= 22) demonstrated sustained improvements in stress, self-compassion, burnout, and mindfulness at two months. Resiliency courses may improve well-being in nurse leaders who cope with high rates of burnout. This presentation covers details about the resiliency course and resulting changes in well-being.