Other Titles
When We Feel Maxed Out: Building Capacity in Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing Across Four Domains [Title Slide]
Abstract
The experience of being “maxed out” reflects depletion across emotional, cognitive, physical, and relational domains that collectively determine human capacity. Nurses frequently encounter this state in themselves, colleagues, and patients, where exhaustion and stress diminish coping and resilience. Emerging evidence demonstrates that recovery requires more than time or reduced workload; deliberate engagement in evidence-based practices produces measurable improvement across domains.
This paper introduces a multidimensional framework for human capacity and synthesizes recent findings linking mindfulness, cognitive training, physical conditioning, and social connection with improved well-being. The review identifies five common misconceptions that obstruct recovery—beliefs that time alone restores capacity, that stability produces growth, or that optimism is sufficient for change. Integrating research from neuroscience, psychology, and nursing, the article highlights interventions that expand capacity through structured, sustained practice.
For psychosocial nursing, these findings have dual relevance: capacity-building interventions strengthen patient outcomes and simultaneously promote workforce sustainability by reducing burnout. Applying evidence-based strategies such as mindfulness, progressive exercise, cognitive remediation, and peer support can transform the “maxed out” state from survival toward growth. The proposed framework offers practical, adaptable methods nurses can implement across clinical, community, and educational settings to enhance resilience, restore balance, and expand capacity within the healthcare workforce and population at large.
Notes
References:
Maslach, C., & Leiter, M. P. (2022). The burnout challenge: Managing people’s relationships with their jobs. Harvard University Press.
Kunzler, A. M., et al. (2022). Interventions to foster resilience in nursing staff: A systematic review and meta-analysis. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 129, 104214. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2022.104214
de Pasquale, C., et al. (2024). Neurobiological changes induced by mindfulness and meditation: A systematic review. Biomedicines, 12(11), 2613. https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines12112613
Han, J., et al. (2023). Psychological interventions to promote resilience in nurses: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Healthcare, 12(1), 73. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12010073
Salvagioni, D. A. J., et al. (2017). Physical, psychological and occupational consequences of job burnout: A systematic review. PLOS ONE, 12(10), e0185781. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0185781
World Health Organization. (2023). World health statistics 2023: Monitoring health for the SDGs.https://www.who.int/data/gho/publications/world-health-statistics
Sigma Membership
Non-member
Type
Presentation
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
Other
Research Approach
Other
Keywords:
Stress and Coping, Theory, Coaching
Recommended Citation
Ramey, Erica Skarda, "When We Feel Maxed Out: Increasing Human Capacity Across Four Domains" (2026). International Nursing Research Congress (INRC). 3.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/inrc/2026/presentations_2026/3
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
Proxy-submission
Date of Issue
2026-07-20
When We Feel Maxed Out: Increasing Human Capacity Across Four Domains
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
The experience of being “maxed out” reflects depletion across emotional, cognitive, physical, and relational domains that collectively determine human capacity. Nurses frequently encounter this state in themselves, colleagues, and patients, where exhaustion and stress diminish coping and resilience. Emerging evidence demonstrates that recovery requires more than time or reduced workload; deliberate engagement in evidence-based practices produces measurable improvement across domains.
This paper introduces a multidimensional framework for human capacity and synthesizes recent findings linking mindfulness, cognitive training, physical conditioning, and social connection with improved well-being. The review identifies five common misconceptions that obstruct recovery—beliefs that time alone restores capacity, that stability produces growth, or that optimism is sufficient for change. Integrating research from neuroscience, psychology, and nursing, the article highlights interventions that expand capacity through structured, sustained practice.
For psychosocial nursing, these findings have dual relevance: capacity-building interventions strengthen patient outcomes and simultaneously promote workforce sustainability by reducing burnout. Applying evidence-based strategies such as mindfulness, progressive exercise, cognitive remediation, and peer support can transform the “maxed out” state from survival toward growth. The proposed framework offers practical, adaptable methods nurses can implement across clinical, community, and educational settings to enhance resilience, restore balance, and expand capacity within the healthcare workforce and population at large.
Description
Focus: Clinical
Status: Completed Work/Project
This slide deck presents a multidimensional framework for restoring emotional, cognitive, physical, and relational capacity. It challenges myths about recovery and outlines evidence-based interventions nurses can use to strengthen resilience, prevent burnout, and promote sustainable well-being across healthcare and community settings.