Nurses play a crucial role in individual health and are integral to the resilience of our entire healthcare system. Despite their significance, nurses across the nation are facing considerable challenges. Pre-existing issues such as depression, anxiety, excessive workloads, and overwhelming conditions have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, leading many nurses to leave the profession.
Transcendental Meditation for Nurses has been steadfast in supporting nurses throughout the pandemic. A recently published study funded by the David Lynch Foundation in the Journal of Nursing Administration, highlights the positive impact of nurses learning and practicing the TM technique. This program, focused on teaching Transcendental Meditation to nurses has proven effective in helping them combat stress and burnout, ultimately enhancing their overall well-being.
Conducted at three hospitals in Florida, the study revealed significant improvements among nurses who adopted TM into their daily routine just one month after learning the technique. The results include a 62% reduction in anxiety, a 53% decrease in PTSD, a 27% decrease in burnout, and a 15% increase in flourishing. 
Lead author Jennifer Bonamer, PhD, RN, AHN-BC, NPD-BC, Nursing Professional Development Specialist at Sarasota Memorial Health Care System, emphasized the study’s importance, stating, “This study demonstrated the substantial benefits of TM, even amid the challenges of COVID, in alleviating PTSD, anxiety, and burnout among nurses. Furthermore, it contributed to enhancing nurses’ sense of thriving, going beyond mere survival, even within today’s demanding healthcare environment.” To delve deeper into the study and its exciting findings, click here.
Consistently, studies like this underscore the positive impact of TM on health and well-being. Such results reinforce our commitment to making TM more accessible to nurses and healthcare professionals, providing support to those dedicated to keeping our families and communities healthy and resilient.
Click to learn more about DLF’s Heal the Healers Now Program and TM for Nurses.
Happier Nurses, Healthier Patients
Other research studies conducted with nurses shows clear statistical evidence that the TM technique decreases anxiety, PTSD, burnout and increases compassion satisfaction and resilience. Two quantitative studies have been published in leading nursing journals, and presented at the ANCC Magnet, Mayo Clinic, Florida Association of Nurse Executives and the American Holistic Nurses Association conferences.
The American Nurses Association\California recognizes the significance of nurses’ mental health, and among the array of solutions, Transcendental Meditation (TM) stands out as one of the top five “best fit” choices. Delving into why nurses are choosing TM reveals a compelling journey towards stress relief, inner peace, and enhanced well-being.
“TM has provided a sense of calm and allowed me to focus, prioritize, create time for myself, feel less stressed and overwhelmed, and be more patient—somehow increasing the time I have to accomplish what I need and want.” CHRISTY SCHMERER, registered nurse.
Hospitals that have facilitated Transcendental Meditation instruction for their nurses include:
- Advocate Illinois Masonic—Chicago, IL
- Akron General Hospital—Akron, OH
- Capital Caring Hospice—Falls Church, VA
- Childrens Hospital— Akron, OH
- Cleveland Clinic—Vero Beach, FL
- CHOP—Chalfont, PA
- Doylestown Health: Doylestown Hospital—Doylestown, PA
- Hunterdon Medical Center—Hunterdon, NJ
- Kaiser Hospital—Portland, OR
- Kaiser Hospital—San Diego, CA
- Moffitt Cancer Center—Tampa, FL
- Princeton Hospital: Penn Medicine
- Rose Dominican Hospital—Las Vegas, NV
- Sarasota Memorial Hospital—Sarasota, FL
- Scripps Memorial Hospital—San Diego, CA
- Tampa General Hospital—Tampa, FL
- University of Iowa Hospital and College of Nursing—Iowa City, IA
Published research on the benefits of the TM Program for nurses and nursing students:
- Perkins J, Aquino-Russell C. (2017) Graduate nurses experience the sacred during Transcendental Meditation. International Journal for Human Caring 2017 32(4):163-171.
- Bonamer JR, Aquino-Russell C. (2019) Self-care strategies for professional development: Transcendental Meditation reduces compassion fatigue and improves resilience for nurses. Journal for Nurses in Professional Development 2019 35(2):93-97.
- Bonamer, JR; Kutash, Mary: Hartranft, Susan: Aquino-Russell Catherine:; Bugajski, Andrew i; Johnson, Ayesha. Clinical Nurse Well-Being Improved through Transcendental Meditation: A Multi-Method Randomized Controlled Trial. Journal of Nursing Administration 2023 DOI: 10.1097/NNA.0000000000001372
- Perkins, J., & Aquino-Russell, C. (2021). Practicing transcendence in meditation speeds nurses’ evolutionary development: Shining the light of “consciousness” through the lens of Unitary Human Caring Science. Visions: The Journal of Rogerian Nursing Science, 26(4), 1-27.
- Aquino-Russell, C., Aldiabat, K., & Alsrayheen, E. (2023) Experiences of advanced standing program nursing students and instructors practicing Transcendental Meditation. American Journal of Qualitative Research, 2023, 7 (3), 32-48. https://doi.org/10.29333/ajqr/13239
