The Impact of Mindfulness Meditation in Promoting a Culture of Safety on an Acute Psychiatric Unit

• Published in: Perspectives in psychiatric care Vol. 48; no. 3; pp. 129 - 137
• Main Authors: Brady, Stephanie, O'Connor, Nancy, Burgermeister, Diane, Hanson, Patricia
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Malden, USA Blackwell Publishing Inc 01-07-2012; Hindawi Limited
• Subjects: Burnout; Burnout, Professional; Clinical outcomes; Female; Health Personnel - psychology; Hospital Units - standards; Humans; Male; Medical research; Meditation; Meditation - methods; Meditation - psychology; Mental disorders; Mental health care; Mental Health Professionals Stress Scale; mindfulness-based stress reduction; Nursing; Nursing care; Occupational health; Organizational Culture; Patient Safety; Patient Satisfaction; presence; Psychiatric-mental health nursing; Psychiatry; Safety engineering; Self Concept; Stress; Stress, Psychological - therapy; Treatment Outcome; United States > US; Canada, Ontario, Toronto
• ISSN: 0031-5990; 1744-6163
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1744-6163.2011.00315.x

PURPOSE:  The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of the mindfulness‐based stress reduction (MBSR) program on managing work stress and improving patient outcomes.
DESIGN AND METHODS:  A one‐group pre‐/post‐test design was used to measure the impact of the MBSR program. The Mental Health Professionals Stress Scale, the Sense of Self Scale, the Toronto Mindfulness Scale, and the Maslach Burnout Inventory were used.
FINDINGS:  The MBSR class assisted staff in decreasing their stress levels and improve their self‐care, which resulted in improved patient care.
PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS:  Increases in patient satisfaction and decreases in patient safety events were found.