Other Titles
The Effect fo a Mindfulness Intervention on Anxiety and Stress [Title Slide]
Abstract
Following COVID19, hospitals were faced with prolonged staff shortages, nurse burnout, and an exodus from bedside nursing (White, et al., 2025). As human resources become increasingly challenged, leaders must think and act outside the box to promote and sustain the well-being of the nursing workforce (Hazelett-Stevens, 2020). This quasi-experimental study examined the effect of a Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction Program (MBSR) on perceived stress and burnout among medical-surgical nurses in a hospital setting. Stress reduction programs have been shown to positively impact stress among nurses and may support them to function at their highest cognitive ability (Burdette, 2020). The consistent practice of mindfulness, which emphasizes focusing deeply on the present moment, is one method to relieve stress, promote relaxation, and slow ruminating thoughts (Gutman et al., 2020). Mindfulness programs that are brief, simple in design and regularly accessible have demonstrated significant and sustainable results in stress reduction among nurses (Sos et al, 2024). Following the discontinuation of a hospital employee wellness program, nurses were offered an opportunity to participate in a modified evidence-based, MBSR program utilizing both current evidence and technology. Participants received targeted education on mindfulness practices, followed by Web-enhanced weekly online mindfulness sessions and self-care tasks to be performed at home. A pre/post investigator designed form included demographics (pre-only), 10-items to measure burnout (range 10-40), and a 10-point visual analog scale to measure stress. Dependent t-test analysis was used to measure differences pre-and post- intervention. A decrease in stress pre (M=5.7, SD=2.9) to post (M=4.1, SD=2) (t=2.4, p .032) was reported. Participants (N=19) demonstrated a decrease in burnout from pre (M=23.9, SD 5.8) to post (M=20.1, SD=25.8) (t=12, p .008) MBSR intervention. These changes are both statistically significant and clinically meaningful, with a mean decrease of 3.8 points for burnout and 1.6 for stress. Findings from this study illustrate that integrating complementary and alternative health practices can positively impact the well-being of nursing staff. Nurses participating in modified MBSR programs offered through the workplace report decreased stress and burnout. These programs benefit individual nurses, as well as contribute to building a sustainable nursing workforce for hospitals.
Notes
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Sigma Membership
Phi Pi
Type
Presentation
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
Quasi-Experimental Study, Other
Research Approach
Quantitative Research
Keywords:
Stress and Coping, Workforce, Psychological Burnout, Mindfulness, Stress Management, Nurse Burnout, Work Environment
Recommended Citation
Sutherland, Shanda, "The Effect of a Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction Program on Stress and Burnout Among Nurses" (2026). International Nursing Research Congress (INRC). 134.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/inrc/2026/presentations_2026/134
Conference Name
37th International Nursing Research Congress
Conference Host
Sigma Theta Tau International
Conference Location
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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
Publisher-submission
Date of Issue
2026-08-10
The Effect of a Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction Program on Stress and Burnout Among Nurses
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Following COVID19, hospitals were faced with prolonged staff shortages, nurse burnout, and an exodus from bedside nursing (White, et al., 2025). As human resources become increasingly challenged, leaders must think and act outside the box to promote and sustain the well-being of the nursing workforce (Hazelett-Stevens, 2020). This quasi-experimental study examined the effect of a Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction Program (MBSR) on perceived stress and burnout among medical-surgical nurses in a hospital setting. Stress reduction programs have been shown to positively impact stress among nurses and may support them to function at their highest cognitive ability (Burdette, 2020). The consistent practice of mindfulness, which emphasizes focusing deeply on the present moment, is one method to relieve stress, promote relaxation, and slow ruminating thoughts (Gutman et al., 2020). Mindfulness programs that are brief, simple in design and regularly accessible have demonstrated significant and sustainable results in stress reduction among nurses (Sos et al, 2024). Following the discontinuation of a hospital employee wellness program, nurses were offered an opportunity to participate in a modified evidence-based, MBSR program utilizing both current evidence and technology. Participants received targeted education on mindfulness practices, followed by Web-enhanced weekly online mindfulness sessions and self-care tasks to be performed at home. A pre/post investigator designed form included demographics (pre-only), 10-items to measure burnout (range 10-40), and a 10-point visual analog scale to measure stress. Dependent t-test analysis was used to measure differences pre-and post- intervention. A decrease in stress pre (M=5.7, SD=2.9) to post (M=4.1, SD=2) (t=2.4, p .032) was reported. Participants (N=19) demonstrated a decrease in burnout from pre (M=23.9, SD 5.8) to post (M=20.1, SD=25.8) (t=12, p .008) MBSR intervention. These changes are both statistically significant and clinically meaningful, with a mean decrease of 3.8 points for burnout and 1.6 for stress. Findings from this study illustrate that integrating complementary and alternative health practices can positively impact the well-being of nursing staff. Nurses participating in modified MBSR programs offered through the workplace report decreased stress and burnout. These programs benefit individual nurses, as well as contribute to building a sustainable nursing workforce for hospitals.
Description
A study examined a modified Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program for nurses in a hospital setting. Nurses completing online mindfulness sessions showed significant reductions in stress and burnout. Findings suggest that accessible MBSR programs can improve nurse well-being, resilience, and workforce sustainability, supporting healthier hospital work environments.