The Impact of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Techniques on Nurse Burnout in an ICU

Practice Problem: Burnout among nurses has been linked to turnover, negative patient safety and quality outcomes, and higher costs for institutions. PICOT: The PICOT question that guided this project was, in ICU nurses (P), what was the impact of the use of MBSR techniques (I), versus the current state in which no MBSR techniques are practiced (C), on self-reported BO (O), over the course of eight weeks (T). Evidence: A total of 14 studies were identified in the literature that directly support the implementation of this project. Themes from the literature show that mindfulness-based stress reduction techniques such as meditation, yoga, and gratitude may reduce nurse burnout. Intervention: A variety of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) techniques were implemented including a pre-shift “loving kindness” meditation, a five minute “Lunch Break Yoga” practice, and a post-shift gratitude reflection. Outcome: Data demonstrated that 88.9% of the participants reported reduced levels of burnout. A paired t-test showed a statistically significant reduction in BO. Conclusion: The use of MBSR techniques may provide a method to reduce burnout, possibly improving retention and outcomes, reducing costs for institutions. Keywords: nurse burnout, burnout, mindfulness, mindfulness-based stress reductio