The Impact of Loving-Kindness Meditation on Compassion Fatigue of Nurses Working in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: A Randomized Clinical Trial Study

Holist Nurs Pract. 2023 Jul-Aug;37(4):215-222. doi: 10.1097/HNP.0000000000000590.

Abstract

Compassion fatigue is a common complication in nurses, which can lead to burnout, job dissatisfaction, and a decline in the quality of patient care. This study aimed to investigate the impact of loving-kindness meditation on compassion fatigue of nurses working in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). This cluster-blinded randomized clinical trial study was conducted on 66 NICU nurses in 2 educational hospitals selected. The intervention group received a 1-month online program for daily training and practice of loving-kindness meditation. The control group received miscellaneous files on mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic period. The Nursing Compassion Fatigue Inventory (NCFI) was filled out by the 2 groups, before and after the intervention. The results showed that the mean scores of the NCFI in the intervention group decreased significantly compared with before the intervention (P = .002). In comparison with the control group, there was a significant difference between the mean scores of the 2 groups after the intervention (P = .034). Among nurses working in NICU, loving-kindness meditation significantly reduces compassion fatigue after 1 month. These findings support the use of this intervention for nurses.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

  • Burnout, Professional* / prevention & control
  • COVID-19*
  • Compassion Fatigue* / prevention & control
  • Empathy
  • Humans
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Intensive Care Units, Neonatal
  • Meditation* / methods
  • Nurses*
  • Pandemics
  • Quality of Life
  • Surveys and Questionnaires