The Power of Gratitude

The Positive Psychology Wellbeing Toolkit for Nurses Series - The Power of Gratitude

This is the fourth article of The Positive Psychology Wellbeing Toolkit for Nurses Series

Key points

• Evidence-based practice shows how practicing gratitude has positive effects psychological wellbeing
• Developing gratitude will help improve reflective practice with transfer of knowledge being applied to other areas of life
• Nursing teams that encourage gratitude increase their performance

This fourth article outlines a range of gratitude based interventions that recognises the importance of maintaining staff wellbeing.

Gratitude, when used as a positive psychology intervention, has without doubt been a successful one. In individuals, it has been linked with sustained wellbeing, life satisfaction reduction in stress related illnesses and improving relationships.

What is gratitude?

Macfarlane (2019) notes gratitude is perceived generally, as a desirable characteristic, especially as Emmons (2007) cites it as an intervention that gives the greatest positive benefit in the shortest