Equine Assisted Learning to Reduce Burnout, Perceived Stress, and Promote Resilience

Abstract

Nursing students and professionals often face high stress due to demanding academic and clinical responsibilities, which can lead to reduced resilience and increased anxiety, and burnout. These challenges persist into professional practice and can negatively affect patient care. Building resilience early is key to improving well-being and job satisfaction. This study explores the effects of a six-week Resilience Equine-Assisted Learning (REAL) program on stress, burnout, and resilience among 16 senior Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) students. The non-riding sessions aimed to strengthen coping strategies and emotional regulation. Using a one-group pretest-posttest design, resilience was measured with the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale. The mean score increased from 29.0 (pre-test) to 32.7 (post-test). The increase in mean scores suggests that REAL could be an effective method for enhancing resilience. Findings from this study will help shape future strategies to enhance resilience and reduce burnout and stress, contributing to a more sustainable and resilient nursing workforce.