Evaluating the Effectiveness of a Mindfulness-Based APP to Reduce Stress Among Psychiatric Nurses at a Children’s Hospital

Authors

• Miracle U. Izevbekhai, University of Texas Health Science Center at HoustonFollow

Author Biographical Info

Miracle Izevbekhai, BSN, RN, is a Doctor of Nursing Practice candidate at UTHealth Houston Cizik School of Nursing and currently serves as a House Supervisor at a children’s hospital. Her clinical background encompasses intermediate care, medical–surgical nursing, and child and adolescent inpatient psychiatry, providing a strong foundation in both acute medical care and high‑acuity behavioral health.

Her scholarly work focuses on mindfulness-based interventions, nurse wellness, and quality improvement strategies aimed at reducing stress and emotional exhaustion among psychiatric nurses. Miracle is committed to advancing equitable, trauma‑informed mental health care and plans to continue serving marginalized youth as a psychiatric–mental health nurse practitioner.

Date of Doctor of Nursing Practice Project Completion

Fall 12-20-2027

Faculty Advisor

Dr Nash, Angela

Abstract

The purpose of this quality improvement project was to evaluate the effectiveness and feasibility of a mindfulness-based mobile application (Smiling Mind) to reduce perceived stress and emotional exhaustion among psychiatric nurses on an adolescent inpatient unit at a children’s hospital.

Psychiatric nurses experience high levels of stress and burnout, which threaten staff well-being, retention, and patient safety. Brief, app-based mindfulness practices may offer a low-burden strategy to support nurse wellness in high-acuity environments, but real-world uptake and impact are not well described.

Using a pre–post quality improvement design, a convenience sample of 11 nurses enrolled in a 12-week intervention. Nurses were encouraged to complete brief mindfulness practices using the Smiling Mind app. Perceived stress (PSS-10), emotional exhaustion (MBI-EE), and a single-item job satisfaction measure were collected at baseline and Week 12. App engagement was tracked from the Smiling Mind Practice and Routine calendar. Data were analyzed descriptively; no hypothesis testing was conducted.

The mean PSS-10 score increased slightly from 16.55 at baseline to 17.36 at Week 12. In contrast, mean MBI-EE decreased from 20.0 to approximately 16.6, a relative reduction of about 17 percent, with 73 percent of nurses demonstrating lower emotional exhaustion. Job satisfaction remained stable, with nine of eleven nurses satisfied at both time points. Weekly engagement with at least one day of app use increased from roughly 32 percent of nurses in September to 57 percent in October and 55 percent in November.

A brief, flexible mindfulness app was feasible and associated with meaningful reductions in emotional exhaustion, though not in perceived stress. Embedding app use into existing wellness efforts and unit routines may support sustainability and spread to other psychiatric settings.

Keywords

Mindfulness, Psychiatric nursing, perceived stress, emotional exhaustion

Recommended Citation

Miracle U. Izevbekhai, "Evaluating the Effectiveness of a Mindfulness-Based APP to Reduce Stress Among Psychiatric Nurses at a Children’s Hospital" (2027). Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Project Abstract. 144.
https://digitalcommons.library.tmc.edu/dnp_abstract/144