Aim: This mixed-methods pilot study aimed to measure the feasibility and acceptability of a psychoeducational group programme and determine its impact on mental well-being.
Background: The programme was developed to promote self-care, growth and adaptive coping for nurse managers. The programme themes were resilience, insight, self-compassion and empowerment.
Methods: The sample included 19 hospital-based nurse managers. Outcomes included post-traumatic growth, resilience, insight, self-compassion, empowerment, perceived stress, burnout and job satisfaction. Paired samples t tests were conducted to compare outcomes at baseline to follow-up. Qualitative interviews were conducted. Thematic analysis was used to code the qualitative responses by keyword, which were then aggregated into themes.
Results: Participants reported higher post-traumatic growth and psychological empowerment after the intervention. The following six themes emerged most consistently from the qualitative interviews: feasibility of the programme, benefits of peer support, sources of stress, barriers to self-care, sources of strength and sustainability of effects.
Conclusions: The results support the acceptability and feasibility of the psychoeducational group programme.
Implications for nursing management: Health care organizations can support and promote the implementation of programmes to alleviate burnout and improve mental well-being amid the complex demands of nursing management (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04987697).
Keywords: cognitive/behaviour therapy; mindfulness; psychoeducation; resilience; stress.
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