Paper
Wednesday, 19 July 2006
This presentation is part of : Nursing Education Strategies
The Relationship Between Serenity and Burnout Among Nurses
Debra A. Sansoucie, EdD, RN, CNNP1, Arleen Steckel, PhD, RN, CPNP2, Barbara Ann Messina, PhD, RN, ANP2, Jeanne Greenfield, MS, RN, CPNP3, Cynthia Kealey, MS, RN, NPP, CS, CASAC2, Kathleen Bratby, MSN, RN2, and Sabra Boughton, RN, PhD4. (1) Kappa Gamma Chapter, Stony Brook Universtiy, Stony Brook, NY, USA, (2) Kappa Gamma Chapter, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA, (3) Kappa Gamma Chapter, Stony Brook University Hospital, Stony Brook, NY, USA, (4) Nursing, Stony Brook University Hospital, Stony Brook, NY, USA
Learning Objective #1: Describe the impact of burnout on nurses' decision to abandon the profession.
Learning Objective #2: Define the concept of serenity and explain its potential impact on nurses' ability to cope with work related stress and burnout.
Purpose:  Burnout is a serious problem that has a direct effect on physical and psychological health, and is closely related to nurses abandoning the profession.  A correlation between spirituality and coping ability has been consistently demonstrated.  Serenity relates to the concept of spirituality.  The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between serenity and burnout among nurses.
Theoretical Framework:  The concept of Serenity guided the development of this study.  Serenity is defined as a learned, positive emotion of inner peace that can be sustained, decreases perceived stress, and improves physical and emotional health.  Serenity (Roberts & Whall, 1996) is experienced in relation to development of the higher self.   
Methods:  A correlation study design was used.  The sample consisted of 609 registered nurses who were on the active membership roster of the Kappa Gamma Chapter of STTI.   Instruments included the Maslach Burnout Inventory which consists of 22 questions and records three dimensions of burnout; and the Serenity Scale, a 40 item self report summated scale that evaluates serenity status based on ten critical attributes.  
Results:  Forty-five percent (n=265) of nurses’ sampled returned completed surveys.   Respondents were aged 23-72 (M=44, SD=11.2), were 96% female, and had been employed as a nurse for less than one year to 49 years (M=18, SD=11.5).  There was a significant inverse correlation demonstrated (r = -.537, p = .01) between serenity and burnout among nurses. 
Conclusions and Implications:  Findings of this study hold valuable implications for nursing.  Knowledge about serenity can help nurses cope with the stresses of practice thereby decreasing the experience of burnout.  Interventions aimed at revising nursing education to include the concept of Serenity as an organizing framework may increase nurses’ ability to cope with work related distress and decrease the number of nurses forced to leave the profession.

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