Professional BurnoutNCT07241000
Integrated Program to Enhance Professional Identity and Reduce Burnout in Neonatal Nurses
A study testing Integrated Empowerment and Narrative Nursing Program (I-ENP) in people with Professional Burnout, run by The Fourth Hospital of Shijiazhuang at 1 site in China.
Trial summary
This cluster randomized controlled trial evaluates the efficacy of an integrated empowerment and narrative nursing (I-ENP) program compared to usual care for neonatal nurses. The study aims to determine if the 6-month I-ENP, which includes empowerment education and narrative nursing sessions, can enhance professional… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Any age
- Conditions the study is for
- Professional Burnout
- What is being tested?
- Integrated Empowerment and Narrative Nursing Program (I-ENP)
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 172 participants
- Where
- 1 siteChina
- Study dates
- 1 Jan 2023to 1 Oct 2023
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages Any age
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Child, Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Registered nurses working full-time in the Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs) of the participating hospitals.
- At least 1 year of work experience.
Who cannot join
- Nurses on long-term leave (e.g., maternity leave).
- Nurses in managerial positions.
- Nurses planning to leave their position during the study period.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
Official title: The Efficacy of an Integrated Empowerment and Narrative Nursing Program on Enhancing Professional Identity and Alleviating Burnout Among Neonatal Nurses: A Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial
This cluster randomized controlled trial evaluates the efficacy of an integrated empowerment and narrative nursing (I-ENP) program compared to usual care for neonatal nurses. The study aims to determine if the 6-month I-ENP, which includes empowerment education and narrative nursing sessions, can enhance professional identity, reduce burnout symptoms, and lower turnover intention among neonatal nurses.
Read the detailed description
Neonatal nurses are at high risk for professional burnout and weakened professional identity due to chronic workplace stressors. This study was designed to test a novel, integrated intervention combining empowerment education and narrative nursing practices. Four hospitals (clusters) were randomized to either the intervention or control group. A total of 172 neonatal nurses were included. The intervention group (n=85) participated in a structured 6-month program consisting of four empowerment education modules (covering topics like stress management and communication) and six narrative nursing sessions (involving story sharing and reflective writing). The control group (n=87) received usual care. The primary hypothesis was that the I-ENP group would show significantly greater improvement in professional identity scores compared to the control group at the end of the intervention. Secondary objectives included assessing the program's impact on burnout dimensions (emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, personal accomplishment) and turnover intention. Assessments were conducted at baseline, 6 months, and 9 months to evaluate the sustainability of the effects.
- Conditions
- Professional Burnout
- Being tested
- Integrated Empowerment and Narrative Nursing Program (I-ENP), Usual Care
- Medical subject headings
- Burnout, Professional
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Integrated Empowerment and Narrative Nursing Program (I-ENP)Behavioural
A multi-component program combining empowerment education (modules on professional competence, stress management, effective communication, teamwork) and narrative nursing (sessions for story sharing, reflective writing, and peer support) delivered over 6 months.
Usual CareBehavioural
Standard hospital-provided support, including routine continuing education and access to employee assistance programs.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated Empowerment and Narrative Nursing Program (I-ENP) Group | Experimental | Nurses in this group received a 6-month structured program in addition to usual care. The program included four monthly 2-hour empowerment education workshops and six bi-weekly 1.5-hour narrative nursing sessions, delivered in small groups. Receives: Behavioral: Integrated Empowerment and Narrative Nursing Program (I-ENP) |
| Control Group | Active comparator | Nurses in this group received usual care, which included standard hospital-provided continuing education and access to employee assistance programs, without any additional specific intervention. Receives: Behavioral: Usual Care |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Change in Professional Identity Score
Change from baseline in total score on the Professional Identity Scale for Nurses (PISN). The scale ranges from 30 to 150, with higher scores indicating stronger professional identity.
Measured: Baseline, 6 Months
Secondary outcomes (5)
Change in Professional Identity Score at Follow-up
Change from baseline in total score on the Professional Identity Scale for Nurses (PISN).
Measured: Baseline, 9 Months
Change in Burnout: Emotional Exhaustion Score
Change from baseline in the Emotional Exhaustion subscale score of the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI). Higher scores indicate greater exhaustion.
Measured: Baseline, 6 Months, 9 Months
Change in Burnout: Depersonalization Score
Change from baseline in the Depersonalization subscale score of the MBI. Higher scores indicate greater depersonalization.
Measured: Baseline, 6 Months, 9 Months
Change in Burnout: Personal Accomplishment Score
Change from baseline in the Personal Accomplishment subscale score of the MBI. Higher scores indicate a greater sense of personal accomplishment.
Measured: Baseline, 6 Months, 9 Months
Nurse Turnover Intention
Percentage of nurses reporting serious consideration of leaving their current position in the next 12 months.
Measured: 6 Months
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted21 Nov 2025
- Study start1 Jan 2023
- Primary completion1 Jul 2023
- Study completion1 Oct 2023
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Professional BurnoutStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 172 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- The Fourth Hospital of Shijiazhuang
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Zeyang Zhang, The Fourth Hospital of Shijiazhuang
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07241000
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 20260974
- Status last verified
- Nov 2025
- First submitted
- 17 Nov 2025
- Last updated
- 21 Nov 2025
- Results posted
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 21 Nov 2025. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- The Efficacy of an Integrated Empowerment and Narrative Nursing Program on Enhancing Professional Identity and Alleviating Burnout Among Neonatal Nurses: A Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07241000
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 20260974
- Conditions
- Professional Burnout
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 172 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- The Fourth Hospital of ShijiazhuangUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 1 Jan 2023 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 1 Jul 2023 (actual)
- Study completion
- 1 Oct 2023 (actual)
- First posted
- 21 Nov 2025 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This cluster randomized controlled trial evaluates the efficacy of an integrated empowerment and narrative nursing (I-ENP) program compared to usual care for neonatal nurses. The study aims to determine if the 6-month I-ENP, which includes empowerment education and narrative nursing sessions, can enhance professional identity, reduce burnout symptoms, and lower turnover intention among neonatal nurses.
Detailed description
Neonatal nurses are at high risk for professional burnout and weakened professional identity due to chronic workplace stressors. This study was designed to test a novel, integrated intervention combining empowerment education and narrative nursing practices. Four hospitals (clusters) were randomized to either the intervention or control group. A total of 172 neonatal nurses were included. The intervention group (n=85) participated in a structured 6-month program consisting of four empowerment education modules (covering topics like stress management and communication) and six narrative nursing sessions (involving story sharing and reflective writing). The control group (n=87) received usual care. The primary hypothesis was that the I-ENP group would show significantly greater improvement in professional identity scores compared to the control group at the end of the intervention. Secondary objectives included assessing the program's impact on burnout dimensions (emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, personal accomplishment) and turnover intention. Assessments were conducted at baseline, 6 months, and 9 months to evaluate the sustainability of the effects.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated Empowerment and Narrative Nursing Program (I-ENP) Group | Experimental | Behavioral: Integrated Empowerment and Narrative Nursing Program (I-ENP)Nurses in this group received a 6-month structured program in addition to usual care. The program included four monthly 2-hour empowerment education workshops and six bi-weekly 1.5-hour narrative nursing sessions, delivered in small groups. |
| Control Group | Active comparator | Behavioral: Usual CareNurses in this group received usual care, which included standard hospital-provided continuing education and access to employee assistance programs, without any additional specific intervention. |
Who may qualify
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Child, Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (2 listed)
- Registered nurses working full-time in the Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs) of the participating hospitals.
- At least 1 year of work experience.
Key exclusion criteria (3 listed)
- Nurses on long-term leave (e.g., maternity leave).
- Nurses in managerial positions.
- Nurses planning to leave their position during the study period.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated Empowerment and Narrative Nursing Program (I-ENP)A multi-component program combining empowerment education (modules on professional competence, stress management, effective communication, teamwork) and narrative nursing (sessions for story sharing, reflective writing, and peer support) delivered over 6 months. | Behavioural | Integrated Empowerment and Narrative Nursing Program (I-ENP) Group |
| Usual CareStandard hospital-provided support, including routine continuing education and access to employee assistance programs. | Behavioural | Control Group |
Primary outcome
Change in Professional Identity Score
Time frame: Baseline, 6 Months
Change from baseline in total score on the Professional Identity Scale for Nurses (PISN). The scale ranges from 30 to 150, with higher scores indicating stronger professional identity.
5 secondary outcomes
Change in Professional Identity Score at Follow-up
Time frame: Baseline, 9 Months
Change in Burnout: Emotional Exhaustion Score
Time frame: Baseline, 6 Months, 9 Months
Change in Burnout: Depersonalization Score
Time frame: Baseline, 6 Months, 9 Months
Change in Burnout: Personal Accomplishment Score
Time frame: Baseline, 6 Months, 9 Months
Nurse Turnover Intention
Time frame: 6 Months
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 21 Nov 2025.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Integrated Empowerment and Narrative Nursing Program (I-ENP) in people with Professional Burnout, run by The Fourth Hospital of Shijiazhuang at 1 site in China.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 2 inclusion and 3 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 21 Nov 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in China. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Change in Professional Identity Score (time frame: Baseline, 6 Months). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 21 Nov 2025; AzTrials last refreshed its copy on 1 Nov 2026.