Document Type
DNP - Open Access
Award Date
2025
Degree Name
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
Department
Graduate Nursing
First Advisor
Robin Arends
Second Advisor
Robin Brown
Abstract
Background: Burnout is a growing problem for healthcare workers and hospital systems. This project explores simple and cost-effective gratitude practices aimed at reducing burnout among mental healthcare workers in a psychiatric hospital.
Methods: Twenty patient care technicians, behavioral health technicians, and nurses from an inpatient psychiatric unit participated in a four-week gratitude intervention. The intrapersonal intervention involved writing weekly gratitude notes to coworkers and putting them on a gratitude wall. The personal intervention included recognizing three things to be grateful for twice weekly in a personal gratitude journal. Participants completed the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory (CBI) and Gratitude Questionnaire (GQ-6) pre- and post-intervention.
Results: The results included a statistically significant decrease in healthcare worker burnout (p=0.0064) and an increase in feelings of gratitude (p=0.1334).
Discussion: Structured gratitude practices may reduce burnout, as supported by this project’s statistically significant decrease in burnout scores. These findings align with existing literature demonstrating that even short, low-cost gratitude interventions can enhance emotional well-being and foster a more supportive work environment. Even without a significant rise in gratitude score, the decrease in burnout highlights the clinical value of gratitude in benefiting mental health staff.
Implications for Practice: Practical implications include an enhanced work environment related to decreased burnout among staff members. A reduced turnover related to less burnout could result in more continuity and quality patient care. Improved knowledge of evidence-based practices that are cost-effective and timesaving could promote continuing gratitude practices.
Publisher
South Dakota State University
Rights
Copyright © 2025 Amanda Noonan
Recommended Citation
Noonan, Amanda, "Gratitude Practices for Reducing Burnout in Inpatient Psychiatric Healthcare Workers" (2025). Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Practice Innovation Projects. 216.
https://openprairie.sdstate.edu/con_dnp/216
