Feasibility and Acceptability of a Resilience Training Program for Intensive Care Unit Nurses

Abstract

BackgroundThe critical nursing shortage is particularly apparent in specialty areas such as intensive care units (ICUs). Some nurses develop resilient coping strategies and adapt to stressful work experiences, mitigating the development of common maladaptive psychological symptoms. Objectives To determine if a multimodal resilience training program for ICU nurses was feasible to perform and acceptable to the study participants. Methods In a randomized and controlled 12-week intervention study, treatment and control groups completed demographic questions and measures of resilience, anxiety, depression, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and burnout syndrome before and after the intervention. The intervention included a 2-day educational workshop, written exposure sessions, eventtriggered counseling sessions, mindfulness-based stress reduction exercises, and a protocolized aerobic exercise regimen. Nurses in the intervention arm also completed satisfaction surveys for each component of the intervention. Results This mulitmodal resilience training program was feasible to conduct and acceptable to ICU nurses. Both nurses randomized to the treatment group and nurses randomized to the control group showed a significant decrease in PTSD symptom score after the intervention. Conclusions A multifaceted resilience training program for ICU nurses was both feasible and acceptable. A sufficiently powered, randomized clinical trial is needed to assess the effect of the intervention on improving individuals' level of resilience and improving psychological outcomes such as symptoms of anxiety, depression, burnout syndrome, and PTSD.

Burnout Syndrome in the Intensive Care Unit. Future Directions for Research

“…One small, randomized controlled trial of a resilience training program in ICU nurses implemented a multimodal intervention of written exposure therapy, mindfulness-based stress reduction, exercise, and event-triggered cognitive behavioral therapy sessions (15). The results suggested that the intervention was feasible and acceptable.…”

Nursing work organization in long-stay institutions for the elderly: relationship to pleasure and suffering at work

“…Several studies confirm that the workload is a major factor predisposing to the BS and could negatively influence professional fulfillment. [22][23][24] It is important to emphasize that the aim of this study was not to evaluate the incidence of WRMD and BS, but the findings indicate the presence of factors that can lead to the development of these common diseases in the nursing labor scenario. Therefore, it is essential to analyze the environment and the LSIE work organization, as nursing professionals from these institutions may also be affected by these occupational diseases.…”

“…20 Several authors have reported the presence of musculoskeletal disorders among nursing professionals, showing that physical overload, and consequent illness, is already inherent to this area. [21][22][23][24] Nursing professionals develop their activities on an ongoing basis, which involves physical effort, especially by heavy lifting, awkward positions, repetitive movements, thus predisposing them to the risk of illness caused by work, and reducing job satisfaction.…”

Recent Advances in Multidisciplinary Critical Care

“…93 Furthermore, ICU nurses' daily encounters with suffering, grief, and death make them prone to the development of psychological disorders such as depression, anxiety, burnout, and posttraumatic stress disorder. 94 Mealer et al 95 state that resilience training may be helpful to mitigate the development of maladaptive psychological symptoms, and they tested the feasibility and acceptability of a multimodal program in a randomized controlled 12-week intervention pilot study. In the intervention arm, 13 nurses followed a 2-day educational workshop, written exposure therapy, mindfulness-based stress reduction techniques, aerobic exercises, and event-triggered counseling sessions.…”

“…despite the promising results of this trial, a sufficiently powered randomized controlled trial is needed to determine the effect of a multimodal resilience program on enhancing psychological outcomes and individual nurses' level of resilience. 95 In the ICU, timely and accurate completion of procedures is vital in ensuring good outcomes for patients. It is, however, also well known that there is a positive correlation between critical care nurses' shift length and the rate of medical errors.…”