Reducing emotional distress in nurses using cognitive behavioral therapy: A preliminary program evaluation

Abstract

Introduction: Workplace stress among nurses has been associated with high absenteeism, low work satisfaction, and poor retention rates. Aim: This pilot study evaluated the effectiveness of a 1 day stress management program on nurses' stress levels. Methods: The nurse participants attended an 8 h face-to-face interactive workshop based on cognitive behavioral therapy. The subjects also were given a self-directed manual with reading and exercises to use after the workshop. The nurses were assessed at baseline and at 6 weeks postworkshop attendance using the Nurse Stress Scale (NSS). They were asked to rate their level of stress at work, outside of work, and their overall stress. The participants also were asked to evaluate the perceived usefulness of the workshop at follow-up. Results: The sample consisted of 18 new graduate nurses halfway through their first year. The NSS subscales "nurse-doctor conflict", "death and dying", and "nurse-nurse conflict" showed statistically significant improvement at follow-up. The ratings of stress at work, outside of work, and the overall stress also showed statistically significant improvement. Conclusions:The workshop was well-received by the new graduate nurses. The pre/post findings suggest a beneficial effect of the intervention. The authors are encouraged by the results and now plan to conduct a multisite, randomized controlled trial to seek to establish a wider evidence base for the intervention.

Reducing nurses' stress: A randomized controlled trial of a web-based stress management program for nurses

“…Numerous studies have indicated that cognitive behavioral therapy is effective in modifying dysfunctional cognitions and improving an individual's ability to deal with stressful events (Mok et al, 2014; Moeini et al, 2011; Granath et al, 2006). As cognitive behavioral therapy focuses on modifying dysfunctional cognitions and promoting the adoption of appropriate behaviors for coping with stress and emergent situations, it can be especially effective for addressing the stress experienced by nurses (Brunero et al, 2008; Orly et al, 2010). …”

Professional Nursing Burnout and Irrational Thinking

“…Lang, Pfister, and Siemens (2010) found that both army and civilian nurses who experienced emotional exhaustion and depersonalization experienced burnout. In a promising pilot study, Brunero, Cowan, and Fairbrother (2008) studied how cognitive behavioral therapy (akin to rational nursing) reduced emotional distress in nurses.…”

Interreality for the management and training of psychological stress: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

“…Despite CBT being the best validated approach for the treatment of stress [16-19], further clinical research is needed to refine existing protocols and fully exploit its clinical potential. Stress-related disorders cannot be explained simply on the basis of the terrible things that happen to people.…”

“…Nevertheless, the Cochrane database underlines that “the poor quality of trials, considerable heterogeneity observed between trials and evidence of significant publication bias make the pooled findings insecure.” In other words, even if CBT is the best-validated approach for the treatment of stress [16-19], further clinical research is needed to tune existing protocols and fully exploit its clinical potential.…”