Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction for Newly Graduated Registered Nurses.

BACKGROUND: The transition from student to professional nurse is an important milestone in the development of newly graduated nurses. Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) has been shown to reduce symptoms of stress in those engaged in regular practice (Bazarko, Cate, Azocar, & Kreitzer, 2013; Kabat-Zinn, 1990).

METHOD: The quality improvement project used a one-group pre-test/posttest design to measure newly graduated registered nurses' awareness of mindfulness and perceived stress.

RESULTS: Mindfulness awareness improved from pre-intervention ( M = 3.66, SD = .81) to post-innovation ( M = 4.03, SD = .69) although this was not statistically significant, ( t [67] = 1.93, p = .057). There was a statistically significant decrease in perceived stress from pre-innovation ( M = 19.47, SD = 7.16) to post-innovation ( M = 15.71, SD = 6.90), ( t [66] = 2.16, p = .034). Qualitative themes of increased patient safety, communication, and teamwork were identified.

CONCLUSION: MBSR has the potential to increase mindfulness and decrease perceived stress in newly graduated registered nurses, encouraging improved patient safety, communication, and teamwork.