Abstract
Background: Nurses across all practice settings face persistent stress, compassion fatigue, and burnout, which compromise personal well-being and patient outcomes. Evidence increasingly supports mindfulness and self-care as essential strategies for sustaining resilience and professional effectiveness.
Purpose: This presentation synthesizes current evidence on self-care, resilience, and mindfulness among nurses and nursing faculty to identify effective approaches that enhance well-being and professional performance.
Methods: A qualitative meta-analysis of twelve peer-reviewed studies indexed in CINAHL (2013–2024) was conducted. The studies, representing cross-sectional, mixed-methods, and qualitative designs, were analyzed thematically to identify shared concepts, interventions, and outcomes related to nurse self-care and resilience.
Results: Three key themes emerged: (1) persistent gaps in valid self-care measurement tools; (2) professional development, mindfulness, and higher education levels as contributors to greater resilience; and (3) mindfulness practices—including mindful breathing, grounding, and loving-kindness reflection—as effective methods for stress reduction and emotional regulation. Findings align with Watson’s Theory of Human Caring, Orem’s Self-Care Deficit Theory, and the Salutogenic Model.
Implications for Nursing Practice: Integrating mindfulness and self-care strategies into nursing curricula, orientation programs, and clinical routines can strengthen resilience, enhance compassion, and promote long-term well-being among all nurses. Participants will gain actionable techniques to foster a personal and professional culture of caring that supports sustainable nursing practice.
Notes
Presenter notes available in attached slide deck.
Reference list included in attached slide deck.
Sigma Membership
Chi Alpha at-Large
Type
Presentation
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
Meta-Analysis/Synthesis
Research Approach
Qualitative Research
Keywords:
Stress/Coping, Psychological Stress, Coping, Mindfulness, Well-Being, Resilience, Psychological Resilience, Self-Care, Health Self-Care, Workforce, Faculty Development
Recommended Citation
Joyner, Meredith, "Self-Care, Resilience, and Mindfulness in Nursing: A Qualitative Meta-Analysis" (2026). Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE). 65.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/chwe/2026/presentations_2026/65
Conference Name
Creating Healthy Work Environments
Conference Host
Sigma Theta Tau International
Conference Location
Washington, DC, USA
Conference Year
2026
Rights Holder
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. All permission requests should be directed accordingly and not to the Sigma Repository. All submitting authors or publishers have affirmed that when using material in their work where they do not own copyright, they have obtained permission of the copyright holder prior to submission and the rights holder has been acknowledged as necessary.
Review Type
Abstract Review Only: Reviewed by Event Host
Acquisition
Proxy-submission
Date of Issue
2026-05-02
Self-Care, Resilience, and Mindfulness in Nursing: A Qualitative Meta-Analysis
Washington, DC, USA
Background: Nurses across all practice settings face persistent stress, compassion fatigue, and burnout, which compromise personal well-being and patient outcomes. Evidence increasingly supports mindfulness and self-care as essential strategies for sustaining resilience and professional effectiveness.
Purpose: This presentation synthesizes current evidence on self-care, resilience, and mindfulness among nurses and nursing faculty to identify effective approaches that enhance well-being and professional performance.
Methods: A qualitative meta-analysis of twelve peer-reviewed studies indexed in CINAHL (2013–2024) was conducted. The studies, representing cross-sectional, mixed-methods, and qualitative designs, were analyzed thematically to identify shared concepts, interventions, and outcomes related to nurse self-care and resilience.
Results: Three key themes emerged: (1) persistent gaps in valid self-care measurement tools; (2) professional development, mindfulness, and higher education levels as contributors to greater resilience; and (3) mindfulness practices—including mindful breathing, grounding, and loving-kindness reflection—as effective methods for stress reduction and emotional regulation. Findings align with Watson’s Theory of Human Caring, Orem’s Self-Care Deficit Theory, and the Salutogenic Model.
Implications for Nursing Practice: Integrating mindfulness and self-care strategies into nursing curricula, orientation programs, and clinical routines can strengthen resilience, enhance compassion, and promote long-term well-being among all nurses. Participants will gain actionable techniques to foster a personal and professional culture of caring that supports sustainable nursing practice.
Description
This session explores evidence-based strategies to strengthen nurse well-being through self-care, resilience, and mindfulness. Findings from recent studies reveal that mindfulness techniques—such as grounding, mindful breathing, and self-compassion—reduce stress, enhance resilience, and foster a sustainable culture of caring in all areas of nursing practice