Date of Conferral

4-30-2026

Degree

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

School

Nursing

Advisor

Dr.Cheryl Holly

Abstract

This staff education project involved enhancing stress management and resilience among mental healthcare providers by introducing diaphragmatic and box breathing techniques. The practice problem was the high prevalence of occupational stress and burnout among outpatient mental health providers, which has been linked with decreased job satisfaction, reduced patient care quality, and increased staff turnover. The purpose of this doctoral project was to design, implement, and evaluate an evidence-based educational program that was aimed at empowering providers with simple, accessible, and effective stress-reduction strategies. The guiding practice-focused question involved determining the impact and increases in knowledge regarding a breathing exercises educational program in terms of stress management and resilience among outpatient mental health providers. Using pre- and post-educational session measures, findings indicated measurable reductions in perceived stress and emotional exhaustion, along with improvements in resilience scores among participants. They reported greater awareness of stress triggers and increased use of breathing techniques during clinical practice. Knowledge regarding burnout prevention and mindfulness breathing strategies increased by 17%. Notably, feelings of wellbeing in the workplace increased by 40%. Implications can extend beyond the local setting, supporting resilience-building as an organizational strategy to foster workforce retention and enhance patient care. This project demonstrates the effectiveness of a low-cost and easily implemented intervention to improve provider wellbeing, promoting equity by ensuring providers have access to wellness tools and supporting inclusive care delivery

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