Date of Award
11-2024
Document Type
DNP Project
College
School of Nursing
Degree Name
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
Department
Nursing
First Advisor
Melinda Nwanganga
Abstract
Background
The COVID-19 pandemic placed significant mental strain on frontline healthcare workers, particularly travel nurses deployed to high-risk areas. This group experienced heightened anxiety, fear, and post-traumatic stress, which often limited their engagement in essential self-care practices. Previous research indicates that structured self-care interventions, particularly those incorporating mindfulness, can help mitigate stress and improve mental health. However, the specific impact of such interventions on travel nurses has not been widely studied.
Purpose
This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of an 8-week mindful self-care intervention in reducing stress and improving self-care behaviors among travel nurses who worked during and after the pandemic.
Methods
A pre/post exploratory design was used to measure changes in stress and self-care behaviors. Baseline stress levels were recorded using the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). Participants then took part in an 8-week program involving mindfulness activities, self-care journaling, and weekly feedback sessions. Stress levels and self-care metrics were reassessed at four and eight weeks.
Results
A total of 37 travel nurses participated in the study. Findings showed a statistically significant reduction in perceived stress levels, with average PSS scores decreasing from 28.4 at baseline to 20.2 at the end of the intervention (p < 0.001). Additionally, self-care behavior scores, measured by the Mindful Self-Care Scale (MSCS), increased by 30% on average, indicating enhanced self-care practices post-intervention.
Conclusion
These results suggest that structured mindful self-care programs can support mental well-being in travel nurses, potentially benefiting healthcare workers in high-stress environments.
Subject Area
COVID-19 Pandemic, 2020-2023; Travel nursing; Self-care, Health; Mental health; Stress (Psychology);
Recommended Citation
Desgazon, Danika, "Mindful Self Care Interventions in Travel Nurses Who Have Worked During and After the Covid-19 Pandemic" (2024). Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects. 26.
https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/dnp/26
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.