Date of Conferral

8-6-2026

Date of Award

August 2026

Degree

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

School

Nursing

Advisor

Melanie Braswell

Abstract

The progressive care unit (PCU) is a high-acuity setting in which nurses manage patients with complex health conditions, respond to rapid changes in clinical status, and navigate ongoing physical and emotional demands. The practice problem that I addressed was, presently, stress-management support is typically informal, optional, and reactive rather than systematic, evidence-based, and preventive. The purpose of this project was to implement and evaluate a structured educational intervention designed to increase nurses’ knowledge of evidence-based mindfulness breathing techniques that could be integrated into the daily PCU workflow. The practice-focused question was: In PCU nurses in an acute care setting, how does an evidence-based mindfulness techniques education session, compared with their pre-intervention baseline, increase knowledge of mindfulness techniques as measured by a pre/post knowledge test immediately after the education session? Participants completed a Microsoft Forms knowledge test immediately before and after the in-person education session. Analysis using Microsoft Excel showed the overall average score increased from 60.3% on the pre-knowledge test to 97.3% on the post-knowledge test, a 37-point improvement, leading to the conclusion that brief mindfulness education can effectively increase knowledge of mindfulness techniques. Limitations included the use of a single clinical setting, a small sample, and an immediate post-intervention measurement. Recommendations include incorporating mindfulness education into nursing staff development. Implications include improved coping skills, enhanced nurse well-being, and the promotion of positive social change by offering accessible, low-cost wellness strategies support diversity, equity, and inclusion across a diverse workforce.

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