Date of Graduation

Spring 5-18-2023

Document Type

Project

Degree Name

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

College/School

School of Nursing and Health Professions

Department/Program

Nursing

Program

Executive Leader DNP

First Advisor

Peggi Winter DNP MA RN CENP NE-BC

Second Advisor

Juli Maxworthy, DNP, PhD(c), MSN, MBA, RN, CNL, CPHQ, CPPS, CHSE, FNAP, FSSH

Abstract

Background: Nurse managers have one of the most stressful jobs in nursing leadership. They experience more burnout and are more likely to leave the job or leave the nursing profession altogether, leading to vacancies or burned-out leaders.

Local Problem: The organization experienced high nurse manager turnover. Of 12 positions, four have more than two years of experience, three have less than two years, and five are filled with interims.

Context: Strategies to address burnout are decreasing stressors or arming leaders with skills to withstand stressors. The organization offers programs that address burnout but are designed to be used outside of work.

Intervention: An evidence-based, resilience-enhancing toolkit for nurse leaders was designed to be easy to use at work. The toolkit contained techniques on mindfulness, cognitive reframing, and gratitude, which are strategies demonstrated to enhance resilience.

Methods: The program took place between August and December 2022. Pre- and post-surveys were created to evaluate the effectiveness of the toolkit.

Results: There was no difference in the Connor-Davidson Resilience mean pre- and post-intervention score. Mindfulness (50.0% to 87.5%), cognitive reframing (40.0% to 75.0%), and gratitude practices (90.0% to 100.0%) increased.

Conclusions: Although mean resilience scores did not change, resilience-enhancing practices increased. More time may be needed to develop resilience. Post-intervention surveys were administered at a relatively more stressful time than pre-intervention surveys. Using the toolkit, post-intervention scores may have been positively affected.

Comments

Revisions made

Download

Included in

Nursing Commons

Share

COinS