[The Power of Gratitude: A Key to Enhance Mental Health in Nurses and Improve Retention].
Hu li za zhi The journal of nursing – April 01, 2025
Source: PubMed
Summary
Gratitude can be a game-changer for nurses, boosting their mental health and job retention. By practicing gratitude through activities like journaling and team gatherings, nurses can reduce stress, enhance well-being, and improve workplace relationships. Embracing these practices could lead to happier, more stable nursing teams.
Abstract
The impact of gratitude on mental health and job stability in nurses is explored in this article, with a focus on relevant challenges and potential interventions. Based on a review of the literature, gratitude is a positive psychological resource that may effectively reduce stress, enhance psychological resilience and well-being, improve the workplace atmosphere, and reduce turnover intention. Gratitude, which encapsulates the recognition and response of an individual to the goodwill of others, may be cultivated through practice in nurses to further enhance job satisfaction and professional identity. Gratitude-related interventions such as keeping gratitude journals, writing letters, engaging in team activities, and practicing meditation have been shown to significantly reduce occupational burnout and stress. For example, recording three things one is grateful for each day or participating regularly in gratitude gatherings can improve interpersonal relationships and strengthen team cohesion. However, challenges such as high drop-out rates, limited intervention formats, and significant resource demands hinder organizations from fully implementing these interventions. Various measures to overcome these challenges, including taking regular gratitude walks and establishing gratitude walls, should be implemented while also ensuring that intervention designs are adequately adapted both culturally and contextually. In summary, gratitude interventions have the potential to significantly enhance the mental health of nursing staff while promoting their job satisfaction and retention. Future efforts should concentrate on advancing gratitude education and practices, optimizing intervention methods, and helping healthcare institutions address workforce shortages.