The Role of Mindfulness-Based Interventions in Reducing Stress Among Nurses

Abstract

Job stress is high among people working within the healthcare industry, especially in nurses, and is often associated with reduced psychological health, increased interpersonal problems, reduced job satisfaction, increased patient-related errors, and turnover rates. This narrative literature review aims to study the usefulness of mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) for reducing stress in nursing populations. Five peer-reviewed papers published in nursing-related journals were analyzed. Results of this literature review show that mindfulness-based interventions have positive or potential benefits in reducing the stress level among nurses; however, caution is needed to generalize the result because of the small sample size, weak intervention, and design method, and lack of follow up studies. More robust research with randomized controlled trials with larger sample sizes and follow-up studies with a focus on the assessment of stress using physiological indices would benefit in the future.