Date of Award

Summer 2023

Degree Name

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

Department

Nursing

Faculty Chair

Dr. Laura Pruitt Walker

Preceptor

Dr. ShyAndrea Brazil

Abstract

Background: Burnout is feeling emotionally overwhelmed and exhausted due to stress in the workplace. Caring for acute psychiatric patients can impact the mental health of nursing staff and contribute to high-stress levels. Nursing burnout contributes to staffing shortages and increased risk for adverse patient safety events in an acute inpatient mental health unit.

Purpose: The purpose of this Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Quality Improvement (QI) project was to evaluate the impact of a peer support group on burnout reduction in the nursing staff working in an acute inpatient mental health unit.

Methods: A peer support group was implemented in an acute inpatient mental health unit. Education was provided on coping strategies excerpted from Taking Charge of My Life & Health (TCMLH). The Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) pre-and post-assessment tool was used to measure emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and personal accomplishment.

Results: Key results using the MBI assessment tool showed no statistically significant difference in pre- and post-assessment in emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and personal accomplishment. There was no statistical significance in the reduction of adverse safety events.

Conclusion: The implementation of a peer support group did not show statistical significance in reducing burnout in an acute inpatient mental health unit. However, the project did support clinical significance in promoting positive communication and building relationships to create a safe working environment. More studies are recommended with extended time to evaluate the impact of peer support groups in reducing burnout.

Keywords: burnout, nurse burnout, acute mental health, mental health nurses, stress

Included in

Nursing Commons

Share

COinS
 
 

To view the content in your browser, please download Adobe Reader or, alternately,
you may Download the file to your hard drive.

NOTE: The latest versions of Adobe Reader do not support viewing PDF files within Firefox on Mac OS and if you are using a modern (Intel) Mac, there is no official plugin for viewing PDF files within the browser window.