Background: Significant burnout is well documented in nurses. Hematology nurses are exposed to conditions positively correlated with vulnerability to burnout yet have not been studied. Resilience levels are inversely related with reported burnout. Cultivation of resilience is possible, and potentially reduces burnout. Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) have been identified throughout the literature as viable and feasible mechanisms to mitigate burnout and increase resilience in nurses.

Objectives: The purpose of this DNP scholarly project was to determine the feasibility and efficacy of an abbreviated, four-week MBI in reducing burnout and increasing resilience in hematology registered nurses working at a National Cancer Institute (NCI) designated cancer center.

Methods: A pre-post intervention project design was utilized. A convenience sample of 40 registered nurses were enrolled. All nurses working inpatient and outpatient within hematology were eligible. Enrollment was self-selection. Demographic data were collected at the onset of the project. An online mindfulness intervention was introduced during a 30-minute, online session. Participants were then asked to practice guided mindfulness daily for four weeks. Participants were asked to complete the Maslach’s Burnout Inventory and the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale via REDcap at baseline and at the end of the four-week intervention. Frequency of practice was reported. Although not intended, all components of the intervention and analysis occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic crisis.

Results: All components of the study were completed by 20 nurses. The Wilcoxon and two-tailed Spearman testing were used for analysis. Resilience increased post intervention (z=2.49; p=.01; Change in M 28.1 to 30.65). No significant changes were noted in the three burnout dimensions. Positive correlation between frequency of mindfulness practice and increased resilience (.480) was found.

Conclusion: Practice of a four-week, online mindfulness intervention proved beneficial in increasing resilience in a small sample of hematology nurses in an NCI designated cancer center. In addition to the stressors inherent to hematology nursing, this sample of nurses coincidentally faced the demands of a pandemic. Future studies of mindfulness and its impact on resilience and burnout are necessary to fully explore potential benefits in this population; focus on responses during health emergencies is also critical.

Background: There are approximately 50,000 children worldwide living in an “unresponsive wakefulness state/vegetative state” (UWS/VS). Technological advancements continue to extend life expectancy for people with life-threatening health conditions that would not have survived otherwise.Purpose/Aims: To understand the experiences of parents Whose Disabled Child is in a UWS/VS and residing in a skilled nursing facility (SNF). Specific aims include: (1) describing the impact on parents’ well-being, (2) exploring unique parental experiences during their child’s first year of residency at a SNF, (3) identifying key influences on parents’ decision-making and coping, and (4) examining factors that influence parental engagement with their child and social networks. iii Methods: This qualitative study utilizes narrative inquiry using a semi-structured interview guide and inductively analyzed the data to identify themes and codes that best inform the research question. Results: After eligibility screening, nine singles and five couples participated in interviews. Line by line coding was performed on all interview transcripts with reliability checked by two senior qualitative researchers. Four primary themes with 2-3 sub-themes organically emerged from the participants’ narratives to form a coherent and interconnected storyline that depicted a very subtle chronology of events and experiences. The four main themes include: (1) Enduring the Unexpected, (2) Navigating the Unknown, (3) Prioritizing Values in Decision-Making, and (4) Changing Relationships. Implications: Nursing research on this topic is limited and yet nurses play a key role in providing family-centered care and support for this vulnerable population. A deeper understanding of parent caregiving for these fragile children could be a valuable resource for healthcare professionals. Potential future interventions and suggestions to improve parental and family support were identified in the areas of emotional, social, and decision-making through the trajectory of the child’s chronic illness.