Resilience Intervention for Critical Care Nurses

The ongoing nursing shortage in the U.S health care system is a multifaceted issue. One factor leading to the nursing shortage is high turnover, particularly among critical care nurses due to their experiences with stressful work environments, ethical dilemmas, and high rates of patient morbidity and mortality. There is also a high prevalence of psychological disorders, such as anxiety, depression, and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) among critical care nurses. Consequences of turnover and low nurse staffing include lower quality of care, lower patient satisfaction, increased medical errors, increased rates of health care associated infections, and higher 30‐day mortality rates. Resilience is defined as "the ability to adapt to life's ever‐changing landscape and recover quickly from the stressors and potential stressors". It is a learned psychological characteristic that can be used to bounce back after disruption and successfully adapt to stressful work experiences in a positive manner.