Belongingness in Nursing Through Mindfulness - BEING Mindful: A Pilot Study

Goal:

The long-term goal of this study is to develop a mindfulness-based intervention (MBI) program to reduce stress and burnout while increasing belongingness and connectedness among faculty and staff at the University of New Mexico (UNM) College of Nursing (CON).

Hypothesis/Aims:

The central hypothesis is that the MBI intervention will improve psychosocial outcomes (sense of belonging) and physiological outcomes (heart rate variability, HRV) among CON faculty and staff. The specific aims are:

Aim 1: Evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of MBIs (meditation or yoga) through participant interviews, recruitment, retention, and adherence rates.

Aim 2: Assess the preliminary effects of MBIs on psychosocial (burnout, stress, anxiety, sense of belonging) and physiological (HRV) outcomes. The hypothesis predicts improvements in both psychosocial and physiological measures post-intervention.

Participants:

The study will recruit 60 participants from UNM CON faculty and staff using convenience sampling. Inclusion criteria require participants to be at least 18 years old, in general good health, employed at UNM CON, living in New Mexico, able to attend six weeks of in-person sessions, and owning a smartphone. Individuals with major medical conditions preventing participation are excluded. Additional screening follows the American College of Sports Medicine's guidelines.

Groups:

Participants will be assigned to one of two MBI groups:

Mindfulness meditation Yoga

Study Design:

The study is a minimal-risk, single-site, quasi-experimental study. Participants will undergo pre- and post-intervention assessments to evaluate the impact of MBIs on their psychosocial and physiological well-being.

Goal The primary goal of this study is to develop a mindfulness-based intervention (MBI) program aimed at reducing stress and burnout while enhancing a sense of belongingness and connectedness among faculty and staff at the University of New Mexico (UNM) College of Nursing (CON). This pilot project is an essential step toward achieving the long-term goal by evaluating the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of MBIs in an academic nursing environment.

Hypothesis and Specific Aims

The central hypothesis is that mindfulness-based interventions will lead to improvements in both psychosocial outcomes (such as sense of belonging, stress, anxiety, and burnout) and physiological outcomes (measured by heart rate variability, HRV) among CON faculty and staff. To assess this, the study aims to:

Aim 1: Evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of mindfulness interventions (meditation or yoga) for CON faculty and staff.

Feasibility will be determined by recruitment, retention, and adherence rates (percentage of training sessions attended).

Acceptability will be assessed qualitatively through participant interviews. Aim 2: Examine the preliminary effects of MBI (meditation or yoga) on psychosocial and physiological well-being.

Hypothesis 1: Psychosocial outcomes, including stress, burnout, anxiety, and sense of belonging, will improve after the intervention.

Hypothesis 2: Physiological outcomes, particularly HRV as measured through wearable devices, will show improvement post-intervention compared to pre-intervention.

Background and Significance Academic nursing faculty and staff play a crucial role in the preparation of future nurses. However, burnout, stress, and a lack of collegiality contribute to faculty shortages and hinder efforts to expand the nursing workforce. Studies have identified a strong connection between workplace stress and adverse behavioral, psychological, and physiological outcomes.

The 2024 American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) Leading Across Multidimensional Perspectives (LAMP) Culture and Climate Survey emphasized the importance of belongingness for achieving academic nursing's mission. Despite existing strategies to foster belonging among students and faculty, there is a lack of clinical trials investigating interventions like mindfulness practices to enhance connectedness and well-being in nursing faculty and staff.

Mindfulness practices, including meditation and yoga, have been shown to improve mental health, interpersonal relationships, workplace communication, productivity, and resilience. Additionally, mindfulness is linked to improved autonomic nervous system (ANS) function and HRV, a key biomarker of stress and emotional regulation. This study addresses a significant research gap by evaluating the impact of MBIs on both psychosocial and physiological health markers in an academic nursing setting.

Preliminary Data

The UNM AACN LAMP Culture and Climate Survey (March-April 2023) assessed experiences of students, faculty, and staff at the College of Nursing. Faculty and staff responded to 10 items focused on belongingness, social connection, and feelings of isolation, revealing the following:

28% of faculty felt excluded during interactions at the CON. 30% of faculty felt their campus did not care about them. 39% of faculty felt isolated from others on campus. 38% of faculty lacked a sense of belonging within their academic community. 49% of faculty felt like a stranger when interacting with peers.

Faculty and staff suggested improving campus climate by:

Promoting a sense of belonging Building a stronger community Enhancing cohesiveness and collaboration These findings support the need for mindfulness-based interventions to improve faculty and staff well-being.

Scientific Rationale and Literature Support

Extensive research supports the benefits of mindfulness interventions:

Mindfulness reduces burnout and stress, improving workplace well-being. Yoga and meditation enhance emotional regulation and increase HRV, a physiological marker of stress resilience.

Workplace mindfulness practices improve communication, build shared goals, and enhance productivity while reducing employee turnover.

HRV is a well-established biomarker that reflects emotional and physiological regulation, making it a valid outcome measure for this study.

By integrating mindfulness interventions, this study aims to contribute valuable insights into strategies for improving faculty and staff wellness in academic nursing.

Study Design

The study is a minimal-risk, single-site, quasi-experimental design. Participants will be assigned to one of two MBI groups:

Mindfulness Meditation Group Yoga Group Blinding: Not applicable, as participants are aware of their assigned intervention.

Duration: The intervention will last six weeks, with participants attending regular in-person sessions.

Assessments:

Participants will complete pre- and post-intervention assessments to measure:

Psychosocial outcomes: Sense of belonging, burnout, stress, and anxiety. Physiological outcomes: HRV, assessed through wearable devices. Participants and Eligibility Criteria

Study Population:

The UNM College of Nursing employs approximately 71 faculty and 71 staff. Using convenience sampling, 60 participants will be recruited (30 per group).

Inclusion Criteria:

Age 18 or older Good general health Current employment as UNM CON faculty or staff Residence in New Mexico and ability to attend in-person sessions Willingness to complete research assessments Ownership of a smartphone (for HRV tracking via wearable devices)

Exclusion Criteria:

Major medical illness preventing participation Conditions that would interfere with mindfulness or yoga participation

Screening Procedures:

Interested individuals will be contacted by study staff and screened for eligibility.

A short screening questionnaire (Attachment A) will assess inclusion/exclusion criteria.

Participants will also complete an Exercise Participation Screening (Attachment B) following the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) guidelines.

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes:

Feasibility and acceptability (measured by recruitment, retention, adherence, and participant feedback).

Secondary Outcomes:

Psychosocial health: Changes in stress, burnout, anxiety, and sense of belonging.

Physiological health: HRV improvements as measured by wearable devices. Significance and Expected Impact Addresses a critical gap in nursing faculty and staff well-being research. Supports the AACN's recommendation to foster belongingness in academic nursing. Contributes to broader efforts in reducing burnout and improving workplace culture in nursing education.

Provides pilot data for future large-scale clinical trials on mindfulness in academic environments.

This study represents a crucial step in integrating mindfulness practices as a wellness strategy for nursing faculty and staff, with the potential to improve job satisfaction, retention, and overall mental and physical well-being.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

* for the study include: 1) 18 years of age or older, 2) in general good health, 3) employed as CON faculty or CON staff, 4) reside in the state of New Mexico and able to attend 6 weeks of in-person research sessions, 5) willing to complete research assessments, 6) own a smart phone.

Exclusion Criteria:

- for the study include: 1) major medical illness making individual unable to participate in the research.sion Criteria: