The Effectiveness of Stress Management Interventions in Improving Nurse Performance Under Pressure

Posted: Aug 09, 2023

• Holden Graham
• Selena Ford
• Chandler Moore

Abstract

This research investigates the efficacy of stress management interventions in enhancing nurse performance during high-pressure clinical situations through a novel computational modeling approach. Traditional studies in healthcare stress management have relied primarily on self-reported measures and observational data, which often fail to capture the complex, dynamic interplay between psychological stress states and clinical performance metrics. Our study introduces an innovative methodology that combines physiological monitoring, performance simulation environments, and machine learning algorithms to create a comprehensive stress-performance mapping framework. We developed a virtual clinical environment that replicates high-acuity patient care scenarios while simultaneously monitoring nurses' physiological stress indicators including heart rate variability, galvanic skin response, and cortisol levels. The intervention protocol incorporated biofeedback training, mindfulness-based stress reduction techniques, and cognitive reframing exercises delivered through an adaptive digital platform. Results from our six-month longitudinal study with 147 critical care nurses demonstrated statistically significant improvements in clinical decision-making accuracy (p < 0.001), procedural efficiency (p = 0.003), and error reduction rates (p < 0.001) following the intervention period. Furthermore, our machine learning analysis revealed distinct stress response patterns that predicted intervention effectiveness with 87.3