Effective Interventions for Nursing Student Burnout: A Scoping Review

Nurse Educ. 2023 May-Jun;48(3):E85-E89. doi: 10.1097/NNE.0000000000001348. Epub 2022 Dec 8.

Abstract

Background: Burnout in nursing students negatively impacts students' health, decreases academic success, increases attrition, and threatens the quality of patient care.

Purpose: To identify empiric research evaluating the effectiveness of interventions to prevent nursing student burnout.

Methods: This scoping review examined the PubMed, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and Google Scholar databases to identify original studies evaluating burnout interventions in nursing students.

Results: Of the 258 studies identified in the primary search, 208 were screened and 29 were selected for full-text review. Five quantitative reports and 1 qualitative study met the inclusion criteria. Effective interventions included recreational music-making, mindfulness-based and resilience education, integral-caring-holistic-science curriculum, Acceptance and Commitment Training, and progressive muscle relaxation. Statistically significant reductions in burnout were reported in all 5 of the quantitative studies.

Conclusion: This review demonstrates a need for further research. Burnout interventions should be embedded in the nursing curriculum to yield a more sustainable profession.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Burnout, Professional* / prevention & control
  • Humans
  • Mindfulness*
  • Nursing Education Research
  • Students, Nursing*