Transcendental Meditation Enriches Nurses' Authentic Presence Through Caring for Self and Others.
Catherine Aquino-Russell, Jennifer I Bonamer, Susan Hartranft, Mary Kutash, Ayesha Johnson
Journal of holistic nursing : official journal of the American Holistic Nurses' Association December 1, 2024 DOI: 10.1177/08980101241262922 via PubMed
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractClinical nurses who practiced Transcendental Meditation during the COVID-19 pandemic reported that the practice fostered present-moment focus, enhanced self-care, and the development of authentic presence with others. The overarching theme identified was that authentic presence represents truth in knowing, being, doing, and becoming. These findings align with Watson's unitary caring science theory and suggest that Transcendental Meditation is a holistic self-care strategy that supports nurse well-being and may help retain nurses in practice by enabling them to care for themselves and, consequently, for others.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Qualitative study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Clinical nurses |
| Intervention | Transcendental Meditation |
| Keywords | Authentic presence Clinical nurses Present moment awareness Self-care Transcendental meditation |
| Citations | 1 |
| Key finding | The practice of Transcendental Meditation among clinical nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic fostered present-moment focus, enhanced self-care, and the development of authentic presence with others, with the overarching theme that authentic presence is truth in knowing, being, doing, and becoming. |
Abstract
Purpose of Study: Given the enormity of the most recent challenges to clinician well-being, intensified by the pandemic, we decided to explore the influence of Transcendental Meditation® (TM)® on the well-being of clinical nurses. The purpose of our study was to use qualitative analysis to enhance our understanding of the experiences of clinical nurses who practiced TM, as viewed through the lens of our conceptual model and Watson's holistic unitary caring science theory. Design and Method: This qualitative study involved a thematic analysis of clinical nurses' written descriptions following the completion of the TM program during the COVID-19 pandemic. Findings: The nurse participants shared their experiences with the practice of TM as creating present moment focus, leading to enhanced self-care, and development of authentic presence with others. The overall theme uncovered in the analysis is that authentic presence is veritas (truth) in knowing, being, doing, and becoming. Conclusions: The findings were congruent with Watson's unitary caring science theory and provided illumination of the holistic value of TM as a self-care strategy for supporting nurses' well-being with the goal of retaining nurses in practice. When nurses care for themselves, they are more likely and able to care for others, thus helping them to enjoy their nursing careers.