A pilot study to evaluate mindfulness as a strategy to improve inpatient nurse and patient experiences
Abstract
The purpose of the Mindful Nursing Pilot Study was to explore the impact of mindfulness training for nursing staff on levels of mindfulness, compassion satisfaction, burnout, and stress. In addition, the study attempted to determine the impact on patient satisfaction scores. The pilot was designed as a quasi-experimental research study; staff on one nursing unit participated in the 10-week mindfulness training program while another, similar nursing unit served as the control group. The intervention group showed improvement in levels of mindfulness, burnout, and stress as well as patient satisfaction while the control group remained largely the same. This pilot provides encouraging results that suggest that replication and further study of mindfulness in the workplace would be beneficial.
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Comprehensive interventions, which combine psychological, behavioral, organizational, and environmental measures, address stressors more effectively, thus reducing burnout more efficiently.
“Comprehensive interventions, which combine psychological, behavioral, organizational, and environmental measures, address these stressors more effectively, thus reducing BO more efficiently (Horner et al. 2014).”
From Interventions for Compassion Fatigue, Burnout, and Secondary Traumatic Stress in Nurses: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis. (2025) · cites this paper as Horner et al. 2014
Nurses are prone to professional burnout, particularly compassion fatigue, due to high-intensity work pressure, emotional challenges, and prolonged occupational exposure.
“However, due to high-intensity work pressure, emotional challenges, and prolonged occupational exposure, nurses are prone to professional burnout (BO), particularly compassion fatigue (CF) (Horner et al. 2014).”
From Interventions for Compassion Fatigue, Burnout, and Secondary Traumatic Stress in Nurses: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis. (2025) · cites this paper as Horner et al. 2014
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Stress management interventions among healthcare workers using mindfulness: a systematic review
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Bir Üniversite Hastanesinde Çalışan Hemşirelerin Bilinçli Farkındalık Düzeylerinin Belirlenmesi
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“As a matter of fact, Horner et al. (2014) gave participants a 30-min training program every day for 10 weeks, and as a result, it was determined that the burnout level decreased by 40%.”
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The Impact of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Techniques on Nurse Burnout in an ICU
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“Horner et al. (2014) found that a control group of nurses reported less BO and the unit reported greater levels of patient satisfaction after a 10-week mind-body program.”
Background
- Authors
- Horner, J. K., Piercy, B. S., Eure, L., & Woodard, E. K.
- Affiliations
- WakeMed (US)
- Corresponding author
- Horner, Janice K.
- ORCID
- Piercy, Brigit S.
- Venue
- Applied Nursing Research
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2014-08
- Volume
- 27
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 198-201
- ISSN
- 0897-1897 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2104130419
- Cited by
- 72
- References
- 12
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 12 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 9 · 2017: 9 · 2016: 5 · 2015: 4 · 2014: 1
- FWCI
- 7.87
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Applied Nursing Research (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Mindfulness and Compassion Interventions
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Stress and Burnout Research
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Healthcare professionals’ stress and burnout
- Keywords
- mindfulness training, nurses, compassion satisfaction, burnout, occupational stress, patient satisfaction, inpatient nursing, workplace wellness interventions
- MeSH terms
- Burnout, Professional, Empathy, Nursing Staff, Hospital, Personal Satisfaction, Pilot Projects, Stress, Psychological, Patient Satisfaction, Mindfulness
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