Date of Conferral
2-5-2026
Degree
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
School
Nursing
Advisor
Lilo Fink
Abstract
There was a significant gap in practice at an outpatient psychiatric mental health clinic regarding organized, evidence-based training on mindfulness techniques to reduce stress and emotional exhaustion among psychiatric mental health staff. This project’s practice-focused question was “Does educating psychiatric mental health staff on mindfulness strategies for burnout improve their knowledge, as evidenced by pre- and post-surveys?” This educational intervention was developed, implemented, and evaluated using the Johns Hopkins Evidence-Based Practice paradigm and the ADDIE instructional design model. A literature search was conducted using CINAHL Complete, MEDLINE/PubMed, ProQuest, and the Cochrane Library, with assistance from the librarians at Walden University. The search yielded 45 articles, of which 11 sources, including systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and peer-reviewed studies, provided information relevant to this project. Ten participants, which includes six registered nurses and four mental health management staff members, participated in the pre- and post-intervention assessments. A one-time educational event and learn in-person learning sessions were organized by me at the psychiatric clinic during the lunch period. The pre-test scores were 56.72%, and after the intervention, posttest scores rose to 96.68%. The results of a paired t-test showed a statistically significant increase in accurate answers from the pre-survey to the post-survey, with a t value of 7.14 (df = 9, p <.001). The nursing significance of these findings lies in the demonstrated value of integrating structured mindfulness education into psychiatric nursing practice to support nurse well-being, enhance workforce resilience and retention, and reduce the risk of burnout that can negatively impact patient care.
Recommended Citation
Gabriel, Rebecca Ikeoluwa, "Staff Education to Use Mindfulness Strategies to Prevent Burnout in Psychiatric Health Settings" (2026). Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies. 19088.
https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/19088
