Development and Implementation of a Brief Healthcare Professional Support Program Based in Gratitude, Mindfulness, Self-compassion, and Empathy

J Nurs Adm. 2021 Apr 1;51(4):212-219. doi: 10.1097/NNA.0000000000001000.

Abstract

Objective: To highlight the development, implementation, and initial findings of a brief healthcare professional support program called "GRACE."

Background: Healthcare professionals face significant work-related stressors that when left unmanaged can negatively affect their overall well-being and contribute to burnout.

Methods: Over a 2-year period, the GRACE program was delivered to 8 clinical units at a midsized southwestern hospital. Questionnaires were administered at baseline and 1 month.

Results: Program participants were 36 years old on average, female (81%), and White (68%) and mostly employed as nurses (66%). Attendees reported increased knowledge, understanding, and confidence and found the program to be acceptable. One month after training, participants demonstrated significant improvements in self-compassion. Medical units that received GRACE training saw significantly greater increases in patient satisfaction scores compared with units that did not receive training.

Conclusions: The GRACE program was feasible and acceptable to deliver, and initial proof-of-concept evidence was supported.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Burnout, Professional / prevention & control*
  • Burnout, Professional / psychology
  • Compassion Fatigue / prevention & control*
  • Compassion Fatigue / psychology
  • Empathy
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Mindfulness / methods*
  • Nursing Staff, Hospital / psychology*
  • Occupational Stress / prevention & control
  • Program Development
  • Program Evaluation
  • Workplace / psychology*