Introduction
In the present day, nurse burnout may be regarded as a highly serious problem that should be addressed due to its negative impact on the whole health care system. It is traditionally caused by nurses’ necessity to provide high-quality and safe health care delivery under the pressure of heavy patient loads, inefficient communication between clinicians, and a lack of leadership in medical facilities. Thus, associated with emotional and physical exhaustion, low morale, self-efficacy, and self-esteem, a lack of motivation and job commitment, cynicism, and depersonalization, nurse burnout leads to inappropriate patient outcomes and increased turnover (Aryankhesal et al., 2019). That is why it is highly essential to introduce an intervention that will address the issue of burnout for its reduction. The purpose of this paper is to introduce an approach reflected in the organization of yoga classes for health care providers and explain how it will contribute to the minimization of nurse burnout in clinical settings.
Outcomes
The introduced intervention should be efficient in the reduction of nurse burnout and the improvement of health care providers’ resilience for its prevention in the future. While there are multiple factors that lead to nurse burnout, mind-body meditation training and programs may not only relieve the symptoms of this occupational phenomenon but help a nurse develop efficient protective mechanisms. According to Cocchiara et al. (2019), yoga provides “some innovative solutions, scientifically recognized as effective methods to enhance empathy, reduce stress and improve physical work-related issues in healthcare professionals” (p. 2). In addition, it is a cost-and time-efficient method that will allow to achieve appropriate outcomes. All in all, the intervention goals, or outcomes, may be presented in the following way:
- S: It is necessary to reduce nurse burnout, eliminate its symptoms, and develop resilience.
- M: Yoga classes should be organized for nurses in a medical facility.
- A: The acquisition of equipment and inviting an instructor is a cost-efficient way to reduce burnout and related turnover.
- R: Yoga classes are a relevant decision as they will address a critical issue of nurse burnout and contribute to the quality and safety of health care.
- T: Yoga classes will not take a lot of time and will not place an additional burden on nurses.
Approach/Implementation
The whole period of the project’s implementation process will last for 12 weeks. It will be divided into three phases with four weeks in each phase. The first one will imply the analysis of burnout levels, preparation for classes, and open class signups. The second period will consist of yoga classes, respectively, and the third phase will refer to the evaluation of the intervention’s results.
At the initial stage, nurses whose level of burnout will be regarded as high will be provided with all necessary information related to yoga classes and their benefits. In addition, they will receive an opportunity to signup if they agree to participate. Moreover, all preparations, including space setup, the acquisition of equipment, and the invitation of an instructor, will be in the first phase as well.
The second stage will include yoga classes that will be conducted by a yoga-trained instructor. Classes will be held one time a week with two sessions – in the morning and in the evening on the basis of participants’ opportunities and preferences. As these classes will target the reduction of burnout, they will be adapted to include relaxation techniques and an introduction to psychology in relation to stress and the ways of its minimization (Hilcove et al., 2021). Moreover, nurses will be provided with instruction that will allow them to practice yoga independently at home.
The third stage will be dedicated to the evaluation of the intervention. While nurses’ feedback will be collected after every class, their feedback related to the whole program and its impact on their wellbeing and the levels of burnout will be collected after all classes as well (Ciezar-Andersen et al., 2021). In addition, collected data will contribute to the intervention’s improvement in the future.
It goes without saying that one of the main causes of nurse burnout is inappropriate and stressful working conditions. While yoga classes will help cope with already existing stress, the improvement of the working environment will lead to its prevention. Thus, for more efficient and positive outcomes, a medical facility’s authorities should gather regularly to discuss in what way existing negative policies and regulations may be changed.
Budget
In general, the project’s expenditures include new equipment, an instructor’s salary, upgraded software for signups, feedback, and analysis, and renovations of a yoga space. On the one hand, the implementation requires additional costs for a medical facility. On the other hand, these costs cannot be compared with the costs of employee turnover (Kelly et al., 2021). According to Shaffer and Curtin (2020), “the average turnover costs result in hospitals losing $4.4 million to $6.9 million each year” (p. 57). At the same time, yoga delivery will cost no more than $307 per participant (Groessl et al., 2020). The total expenditures may be presented in the following way:
Conclusion
The issue of nurse burnout requires particular attention due to this occupational phenomenon’s devastating consequences. Nurse burnout leads to exhaustion, depersonalization, anxiety, depression, and low self-efficacy and self-esteem that impact the quality of health care delivery and cause employee turnover (Aryankhesal et al., 2019). In turn, the introduction of yoga classes in nurses’ routing will help them reduce stress and develop resilience. In addition, this decision may be regarded as more cost-efficient in comparison with turnover.
References
Aryankhesal, A., Mohammadibakhsh, R., Hamidi, Y., Alidoost, S., Behzadifar, M., Sohrabi, R., & Farhadi, Z. (2019). Interventions on reducing burnout in physicians and nurses: A systematic review. Medical Journal of the Islamic Republic of Iran, 33(77), 1-8. Web.
Ciezar-Andersen, S. D., Hayden, K. A., & King-Shier, K. M. (2021). A systematic review of yoga interventions for helping health professionals and students.Complementary Therapies in Medicine, 58, 102704. Web.
Cocchiara, R. A., Peruzzo, M., Mannocci, A., Ottolenghi, L., Villari, P., Polimeni, A., Guerra, F., & La Torre, G. (2019). The use of yoga to manage stress and burnout in healthcare workers: A systematic review.Journal of Clinical Medicine, 8(284), 1-11. Web.
Groessl, E. J., Liu, L., Richard, E. L., & Tally, S. R. Cost-effectiveness of yoga for chronic low back pain in veterans.Medical Care, 58(9), 142-148. Web.
Hilcove, K., Marceau, C., Thekdi, P., Larkey, L., Brewer, M. A., & Jones, K. (2021). Holistic nursing in practice: Mindfulness-based yoga as an intervention to manage stress and burnout.Journal of Holistic Nursing, 39(1), 29-42. Web.
Kelly, L. A., Gee, P. M., & Butler, R. J. (2021). Impact of nurse burnout on organizational and position turnover. Nursing Outlook, 69(1), 96-102. Web.
Shaffer, F. A., & Curtin, L. (2020). Nurse turnover: Understand it, reduce it.American Nurse Journal, 15(8), 57-59. Web.