Effect of a Mindfulness Training Program on Surgical Nurses

Nurses constitute a fundamental component of healthcare systems and play a critical role in maintaining, promoting, and improving individual and community health. Surgical nurses, in particular, work in complex and dynamic environments requiring rapid decision-making, management of high-risk situations, and continuous patient monitoring. The unpredictable nature of surgical patient outcomes and the occurrence of unexpected complications may increase stress levels and negatively affect nurses' psychological resilience and work motivation.

Psychological resilience refers to an individual's ability to recover from stressful or adverse experiences and adapt effectively to challenging conditions. Several internal and external factors influence resilience, including emotional awareness, coping skills, social relationships, and cognitive awareness. Among these factors, mindfulness has been identified as a significant contributor to psychological resilience and psychological well-being. Mindfulness is defined as the ability to focus attention on the present moment in a non-judgmental and accepting manner. Mindfulness-based practices, such as breathing exercises and meditation, promote emotional regulation, stress management, and cognitive flexibility.

Previous studies have demonstrated that mindfulness-based interventions improve anxiety levels, reduce burnout, enhance job satisfaction, and support emotional well-being among healthcare professionals. However, limited evidence exists regarding the combined effects of mindfulness training on mindfulness levels, psychological resilience, and work motivation among surgical nurses. Considering the demanding and stressful nature of surgical settings, interventions aimed at improving nurses' psychological well-being may positively influence both professional performance and quality of care.

This study is designed as a single-blind randomized controlled trial to evaluate the effectiveness of a structured mindfulness training program among surgical nurses. The study population will consist of nurses working in surgical clinics at Afyonkarahisar Health Sciences University Health Practice and Research Center. Participants who meet the inclusion criteria and provide informed consent will be randomly assigned to either the experimental or control group using a computer-based randomization method.

Participants in the experimental group will receive a structured mindfulness training program delivered by a certified mindfulness trainer. The program will be conducted over four weeks, with two sessions per week, each lasting 40 minutes. Participants will be grouped into small groups of approximately ten individuals to facilitate interaction and learning. The control group will not receive any intervention during the study period.

Data will be collected using validated measurement tools. Sociodemographic data will be collected using a Personal Information Form. Mindfulness levels will be measured using the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS), psychological resilience will be assessed using the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale Short Form (CD-RISC-10), and work motivation will be measured using the Nurses' Work Motivation Scale. Baseline measurements will be performed before the intervention, and post-intervention measurements will be conducted four weeks after completion of the mindfulness training program.

The outcome assessor will be blinded to group allocation to reduce assessment bias. The primary outcome of the study will be mindfulness level, while psychological resilience and work motivation will be evaluated as secondary outcomes.

The findings of this study are expected to provide evidence regarding the effectiveness of mindfulness-based supportive interventions for surgical nurses. The results may contribute to improving nurses' psychological resilience, enhancing work motivation, and supporting occupational well-being in surgical clinical settings. Furthermore, the outcomes of this research may guide the development of structured supportive care programs aimed at strengthening nurses' professional performance and psychological health.

Inclusion criteria

• working as a nurse in a surgical clinic
• volunteering to participate in the study

Exclusion criteria

• not volunteering to participate in the study
• having previously received cognitive awareness training