Emotional regulation training for intensive and critical care nurses

Abstract

Professional quality of life is related to psychological well-being for nurses with implications for quality patient care. This study evaluated the effectiveness of emotional regulation training on depression, anxiety and stress, and professional quality of life for intensive and critical care nurses. In this experimental comparison trial, 60 intensive and critical care nurses were randomly assigned to treatment and wait-list control groups. The treatment group received six sessions of emotional regulation training, while the wait-list control group received no treatment. Outcome measures were: the Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire; the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale; and the Professional Quality of Life Scale in a pre-post design. The treatment group demonstrated greater improvements in burnout and compassion satisfaction compared with the wait-list control group. No significant reduction in compassion fatigue was found compared with controls. Some cognitive coping strategies improved in the treatment group compared with controls, with greater reductions in depression, anxiety, and stress. This study indicates the benefits of implementing emotional regulation training programs to improve psychological well-being and professional quality of life for intensive and critical care nurses.