Pediatric Nursing Resiliency Program to Combat Stress and Burnout Syndrome

Abstract

Registered Nurses (RNs), particularly in pediatric specialties, are facing increased responsibilities related to caring for vulnerable patient populations who are critically ill. Difficulties in carrying out complex patient care tasks have resulted in heightened levels of burnout, traumatic stress, and mental health crises leading to a shortage of bedside RNs. Anxiety and burnout syndrome is directly correlated with increased risks for patients (Waldron, 2021). The completion of a twelve-week pediatric nursing resiliency program developed based on Dorothea Orem’s Self Care Deficit theory and The Community Resiliency Model was conducted in an inpatient pediatric progressive care unit. Professional Quality of Life (PROQol) scores developed by the Centers for Victims of Torture were utilized to obtain baseline measurements. Participants then completed PROQol scores post-implementation to allow project coordinators the ability to determine program effectiveness. Data analysis revealed an overall increase in perceived support and compassion satisfaction scores and a decrease in burnout, moral distress, and traumatic stress scores. The improvements in PROQol scores are expected to improve patient safety ratings and patient satisfaction scores, leading to increased reimbursements from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Limitations for the project include limited participant numbers. Recommendations for future study include offering the program virtually and incentivizing the program by paying the participants their normal wages during the program duration or offering Continuing Education Units required to maintain licensure.