Bringing nature to nurses can improve mental health

Spending more time in nature can improve nurses’ moods and concentration as well as rejuvenate energy levels, leading to better patient care. Hospitals can take steps to bring nature to nurses during their shifts by adding indoor plants, allowing nurses to spend their breaks or lunch hours outdoors and installing vertical walls in their foyers. A six-week study found nurses who took breaks in a nature-based setting experienced less emotional exhaustion and were at a reduced risk of burnout compared with nurses who took breaks indoors. (Daily Nurse article, 11/20/23)