Abstract
Burnout Syndrome (BOS) continues to affect critical care nurses, resulting in emotional exhaustion, disengagement, and threats to patient safety [1–4]. This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project evaluated the impact of a Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) toolkit on BOS among nurses in a rural intensive care unit. Using a pre-post quality improvement design, baseline burnout was measured with the Maslach Burnout Inventory–Human Services Survey for Medical Personnel (MBI-HSS-MP) and custom Likert-scale surveys administered at three time points [5]. A convenience sample of ten nurses participated in asynchronous and live sessions supported by weekly education and QR-linked resources. The MBSR toolkit was integrated to be accessible both during the workday and outside of working hours, allowing nurses flexibility to engage based on personal and clinical demands. Descriptive statistics and Cohen’s d were calculated to measure effect sizes.
Baseline findings indicated elevated emotional exhaustion and strong professional accomplishment. Following implementation, participants reported a large effect size for reduction of stress (d = –0.88) and a small sustained effect at three-month follow-up (d = –0.47). Organizational and unit support improved moderately (d = 0.46–0.66), while self-care prioritization declined (d = –0.60). The toolkit was well received and rated as accessible, yet engagement decreased over time, suggesting that sustained reinforcement and leadership visibility are essential for long-term practice.
Guided by the Job Demands-Resources model, Self-Determination Theory, and Watson’s Theory of Human Caring [6–8], the intervention enhanced emotional regulation and workplace support while maintaining alignment with caring values. The project demonstrates that brief, low-cost mindfulness interventions can improve well-being, strengthen team cohesion, and support a healthy work environment when reinforced through organizational culture. Sustainability requires leadership integration, peer modeling, and structured follow-up to maintain practice. This project adds evidence that MBSR-based interventions can aid in mitigating burnout and improving nurse well-being in high-acuity rural settings [9–11].
Notes
Presenter notes available in the attached slide deck.
References:
1. Garcia, C. L., Abreu, L. C., Ramos, J. L. S., Castro, C. F. D., Smiderle, F. R. N., Santos, J. A. D., & Bezerra, I. M. P. (2019). Influence of burnout on patient safety: Systematic review and meta-analysis. Medicina, 55(9), 553. https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina55090553
2. Guttormson, J., Calkins, K., McAndrew, N., Fitzgerald, J., Losurdo, H., & Loonsfoot, D. (2022). Critical care nurse burnout, moral distress, and mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic: A United States survey. Heart & Lung, 55(1), 127–133. https://doi-org.northernkentuckyuniversity.idm.oclc.org/10.1016/j.hrtlng.2022.04.015
3. Bruyneel, A., Bouckaert, N., Pirson, M., Sermeus, W., & Van den Heede, K. (2024). Unfinished nursing care in intensive care units and the mediating role of the association between nurse working environment, and quality of care and nurses’ wellbeing. Intensive & Critical Care Nursing, 81. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.iccn.2023.103596
4. Anger, W. K., Dimoff, J. K., & Alley, L. (2024). Addressing Health Care Workers’ Mental Health: A Systematic Review of Evidence-Based Interventions and Current Resources. American Journal of Public Health, 114, 213–226. https://doi-org.northernkentuckyuniversity.idm.oclc.org/10.2105/AJPH.2023.307556
5. Leiter, M. P., Maslach, C. (2024). Maslach Burnout Inventory for Health Professionals. Mind Garden.
6. Bakker, A. B., Demerouti, E. (2007). The Job Demands-Resources model: State of the art. Journal of Managerial Psychology, 22(3), 309–328. https://doi.org/10.1108/02683940710733115
7. Deci, E. L., Ryan, R. M. (2000). The “what” and “why” of goal pursuits: Human needs and the self-determination of behavior. Psychological Inquiry, 11(4), 227–268. https://doi.org/10.1207/S15327965PLI1104_01
8. Watson, J. (2008). Nursing: The philosophy and science of caring (Rev. ed.). University Press of Colorado.
9. Othman, S., Hassan, N., Mohamed, A. (2023). Effectiveness of mindfulness-based interventions on burnout and self-compassion among critical care nurses caring for patients with COVID-19: A quasi-experimental study. BMC Nursing, 22(1). https://doi-org.northernkentuckyuniversity.idm.oclc.org/10.1186/s12912-023-01466-8
10. Kabatas Yildiz, Y., Orak, N. (2023). The effect of mindfulness-based stress reduction training on nurses’ burnout, mindfulness, and emotional regulation. Perspectives in Psychiatric Care, 59(2), 649–658. https://doi.org/10.1111/psyg.12929
11. Fajardo, R. (2025). Data analysis, results, and recommendations: Mitigating burnout project [Unpublished doctoral paper]. Northern Kentucky University.
Sigma Membership
Pi Delta
Type
Presentation
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
Quality Improvement
Research Approach
Other
Keywords:
Burnout Syndrome, Mindfulness, Intensive Care, Nurse Well-Being, Maslach Burnout Inventory, Healthy Work Environment, Job Stress Prevention, Psychological Burnout, Mindfulness, Acute Medical Care
Recommended Citation
Fajardo, Rachel Kathryn, "Mitigating Burnout Syndrome Through Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction" (2026). Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE). 6.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/chwe/2026/presentations_2026/6
Conference Name
Creating Healthy Work Environments
Conference Host
Sigma Theta Tau International
Conference Location
Washington, DC, USA
Conference Year
2026
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Review Type
Abstract Review Only: Reviewed by Event Host
Acquisition
Proxy-submission
Date of Issue
2026-04-22
Mitigating Burnout Syndrome Through Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction
Washington, DC, USA
Burnout Syndrome (BOS) continues to affect critical care nurses, resulting in emotional exhaustion, disengagement, and threats to patient safety [1–4]. This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project evaluated the impact of a Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) toolkit on BOS among nurses in a rural intensive care unit. Using a pre-post quality improvement design, baseline burnout was measured with the Maslach Burnout Inventory–Human Services Survey for Medical Personnel (MBI-HSS-MP) and custom Likert-scale surveys administered at three time points [5]. A convenience sample of ten nurses participated in asynchronous and live sessions supported by weekly education and QR-linked resources. The MBSR toolkit was integrated to be accessible both during the workday and outside of working hours, allowing nurses flexibility to engage based on personal and clinical demands. Descriptive statistics and Cohen’s d were calculated to measure effect sizes.
Baseline findings indicated elevated emotional exhaustion and strong professional accomplishment. Following implementation, participants reported a large effect size for reduction of stress (d = –0.88) and a small sustained effect at three-month follow-up (d = –0.47). Organizational and unit support improved moderately (d = 0.46–0.66), while self-care prioritization declined (d = –0.60). The toolkit was well received and rated as accessible, yet engagement decreased over time, suggesting that sustained reinforcement and leadership visibility are essential for long-term practice.
Guided by the Job Demands-Resources model, Self-Determination Theory, and Watson’s Theory of Human Caring [6–8], the intervention enhanced emotional regulation and workplace support while maintaining alignment with caring values. The project demonstrates that brief, low-cost mindfulness interventions can improve well-being, strengthen team cohesion, and support a healthy work environment when reinforced through organizational culture. Sustainability requires leadership integration, peer modeling, and structured follow-up to maintain practice. This project adds evidence that MBSR-based interventions can aid in mitigating burnout and improving nurse well-being in high-acuity rural settings [9–11].
Description
This Doctor of Nursing Practice project evaluated a mindfulness-based stress reduction toolkit for rural ICU nurses. The intervention was integrated to be accessible during the workday and non-working hours. Findings showed a large effect size for reduction of stress and moderate effect size for improved unit support, with partial sustainability at follow-up. The project demonstrated the potential of mindfulness to enhance nurse well-being and promote healthy work environments [9–11].