December 4, 2025

The Impact of Mindful Clinical Aromatherapy on Intensive Care Unit Nurses’ Stress Experience: A Quality Improvement Project

Key Points

Stress experience showed a 9.36% decrease among intensive care unit nurses after the intervention, indicating improved resilience.
Quality improvement project engaged nurses in mindful aromatherapy for 4 weeks, reflecting a significant participation rate of 81%.
Evaluation utilized the Perceived Stress Scale and World Health Organization-Five Well-Being Index to assess outcomes pre- and post-intervention.
Results highlight the importance of integrative health practices for enhancing nurses' mental health and patient care effectiveness.

Abstract

Background Frontline intensive care unit nurses are essential in caring for critically ill patients. However, they often encounter emotionally draining situations. The COVID-19 pandemic, administrative burdens, and unfavorable working conditions exacerbate these challenges, increasing nurses’ risk of chronic stress and burnout. Local Problem A needs assessment at our academic hospital found that more than 60% of intensive care unit nurses experienced burnout, although 71% demonstrated resilience, highlighting the need for meaningful support and resilience-building strategies. This project assessed the impact of mindfulness-based clinical aromatherapy on intensive care unit nurses’ stress experience. Methods This quality improvement project implemented an online mindful clinical aromatherapy wellness program with peer support champions. Participants engaged in daily mini-mindfulness sessions using Ascents aromatherapy and the Smiling Mind app for 4 weeks. Stress and well-being were measured using the 10-item Perceived Stress Scale and the World Health Organization-Five Well-Being Index before and after the intervention. Additional questions were administered after the intervention to evaluate program satisfaction. Outcomes were evaluated using t tests and Cohen d. Results The participation rate was 81%. The mean Perceived Stress Scale-10 score decreased by 9.36% and the World Health Organization-Five score increased by 10.98%. Most participants (82%) enjoyed the program, and 68% intended to continue mindfulness or aromatherapy. Feedback showed an overall favorable response and the benefits of integrative health practices during stressful shifts. Conclusion Incorporating evidence-based integrative health practices into daily routines may meaningfully ameliorate nurses’ stress experience. Health care leaders are encouraged to support initiatives aimed at cultivating nurses’ mental health, thereby optimizing capacity to provide exceptional patient care.

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