# Enhancing resilience and mental well-being among paediatric nurses: a systematic review of effective strategies and implementation challenges

## TL;DR

This paper reviews strategies to improve mental well-being and resilience in pediatric nurses, highlighting mindfulness and other interventions.

## Contribution

This is the first focused synthesis of resilience strategies for pediatric nurses, emphasizing the effectiveness of mindfulness-based interventions.

## Key findings

- Mindfulness practices improved emotional regulation and resilience in pediatric nurses.
- Education workshops and mHealth apps also showed benefits in reducing stress and enhancing coping.
- Employee Assistance Programs provided measurable gains in mental well-being.

## Abstract

Paediatric nurses frequently experience emotional and psychological stress due to the complexities of family-centred care. These pressures can compromise their mental health and resilience, which are critical for sustaining their well-being and delivering high-quality paediatric care. This systematic review examined strategies designed to enhance resilience and mental well-being among paediatric nurses and explored barriers to their implementation. The review protocol was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42024537933) and conducted according to PRISMA guidelines. Comprehensive searches were performed across Scopus, Web of Science, Medline, Embase, CINAHL, PubMed, and Google Scholar. Eligible studies included quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods research focusing on resilience-building strategies among paediatric nurses. The Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT) was used for quality assessment, and data were synthesized through qualitative content analysis. From 990 records, six studies (total N = 486) met the inclusion criteria. Interventions were evaluated using validated tools such as the Professional Quality of Life Scale (ProQOL), Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), and Self Compassion Scale (SCS). Four key strategies were identified: mindfulness practices, education workshops, mobile health (mHealth) applications, and Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs). Mindfulness interventions improved emotional regulation and resilience; education workshops reduced stress and promoted coping; mHealth apps increased perceived resilience, and EAPs provided counselling support with measurable gains. Conclusion: Resilience-enhancing interventions such as mindfulness practices, education workshops, mHealth applications, and EAPs appear promising for improving the well-being of paediatric nurses. However, the current evidence base is limited and diverse, meaning these strategies should be considered provisional and applied with caution. Future multicentre longitudinal research is needed to establish their sustained effectiveness and develop interventions that are sustainable and easily integrated into paediatric healthcare practice.
What is Known:• Strategies to enhance resilience and mental well-being among nurses have been studied, but most evidence is fragmented across general nursing populations.• Few studies have examined paediatric nurses specifically, despite the unique emotional and clinical demands of paediatric care.What is New:• This review provides the first focused synthesis of evidence on resilience-enhancing strategies among paediatric nurses.• Mindfulness-based interventions demonstrated the strongest and most consistent evidence for improving resilience, reducing stress, and enhancing emotional regulation.

What is Known:

• Strategies to enhance resilience and mental well-being among nurses have been studied, but most evidence is fragmented across general nursing populations.

• Few studies have examined paediatric nurses specifically, despite the unique emotional and clinical demands of paediatric care.

What is New:

• This review provides the first focused synthesis of evidence on resilience-enhancing strategies among paediatric nurses.

• Mindfulness-based interventions demonstrated the strongest and most consistent evidence for improving resilience, reducing stress, and enhancing emotional regulation.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00431-025-06647-y.