Promoting professional quality and meaning in life among nursing students : a mixed methods study

Abstract

The study on which this article is based addressed a gap in existing research and practice by reporting on the empirical evaluation of a psycho-educational stress management programme that was developed to address professional quality of life (compassion fatigue, burnout and compassion satisfaction) and meaning in life among nursing students. An explanatory sequential mixed methods approach served as research design. Quantitative data were collected by means of the Professional Quality of Life Scale and the Life Purpose Questionnaire in a pre- and post-test manner (N = 42, Mage = 20.28;76.19% female). Qualiative data were collected by means of unstructured one-on-one interviews (N = 6, Mage = 20.33; 67% female) and narrative sketches (N = 29, Mage = 20.21, 79.31% female). The paired-samples t-test was used to compare the pre- and post-test quantitative data. Statistically significant results indicate that the programme was effective in reducing secondary stressful experiences and enhancing compassion satisfaction and meaning among participants. Qualitative analysis suggests that group interaction and establishing a sense of meaning in life were important factors that contributed to the value of the programme.