Can Reiki Help Nurses Manage Stress and Fatigue?
Nurses spend so much of their time caring for others. But who's caring for them?
Think about what a nurse may experience during a typical shift. Long hours. Physical demands. Emotional situations. Patients who need attention. Families looking for answers. And often, very little time to pause.
Even after the shift ends, it isn't always easy to leave the day behind.
In my heart, and through my own experience with Reiki, I believe Reiki has so much to offer nurses and other healthcare professionals.
Whether it's taking a few moments to relax and breathe, finding some quiet in the middle of a demanding day, or simply allowing themselves to receive care rather than always being the one giving it.
Over the years, I've also had the opportunity to teach Reiki to nurses. Hearing their positive feedback and learning how they've incorporated Reiki into their own lives has been especially meaningful to me.
Those experiences have deepened my belief that Reiki can be a valuable practice for people who spend so much of their time caring for others.
But personal experience is only one part of the picture.
I also wanted to explore what research has to say. What have researchers discovered about Reiki for nurses? Are there measurable changes in stress, fatigue or overall well-being?
So I started digging a little deeper.
And what I found was encouraging.
Why Nurse Well-Being Matters
Nursing is about much more than administering medications and monitoring patients.
It's about being there when someone is frightened, uncomfortable, uncertain or facing one of life's most difficult moments.
Nurses give so much of themselves, physically, mentally and emotionally.
And while caring for others can be deeply rewarding, it can also be exhausting.
I believe the people who dedicate themselves to caring for others deserve opportunities to experience that same care and compassion themselves.
This is one reason I'm encouraged to see researchers exploring Reiki as a complementary practice for nurses.
What Does Research Tell Us About Reiki for Nurses?
One of the larger studies I found was published in 2024 in the Journal of Traditional Medical Complementary Therapies.
Researchers in Türkiye studied 128 nurses working in a hospital, examining whether Reiki could influence their stress and anxiety levels.
The study used a comparison group and measured stress and anxiety before and after the intervention.
The researchers reported lower stress and anxiety scores among nurses receiving Reiki compared with the control group.
This was encouraging because it explored Reiki in the context of an actual hospital workforce.
Another study, published in Holistic Nursing Practice in 2024, examined 62 nurses working in COVID-19 clinics.
Thirty nurses received distant Reiki for 20 minutes a day over four consecutive days, while 32 nurses were assigned to a control group.
The nurses receiving Reiki reported improvements in fatigue and energy. Researchers also observed positive changes in some of the ways participants approached stress, including optimism and social support.
I find this particularly interesting because these nurses were working during an exceptionally demanding period in healthcare.
The study also explored distant Reiki, which differs from the in-person sessions many people are familiar with.
While the research doesn't establish exactly why participants experienced these changes, it adds another perspective to the conversation.
Reiki During the Workday: What Happened in a U.S. Hospital?
A 2022 study published in Holistic Nursing Practice explored something quite practical:
Could nurses receive Reiki during a work shift, and what might happen afterward?
Researchers offered nurses 30-minute Reiki sessions at a large U.S. hospital.
Immediately following their sessions, nurses reported lower stress levels. Researchers also measured decreases in heart rate and respiratory rate.
I appreciate this study because it looked at Reiki within the realities of a hospital setting.
It also brings up something I often think about.
How many people move through an entire workday without giving themselves permission to stop, rest or simply breathe?
For nurses, those opportunities may be especially limited.
Reiki is one possible way of creating space for that pause.
What About Nurses Who Practice Reiki for Themselves?
This part of the research is especially meaningful to me as a Reiki teacher.
Reiki isn't limited to receiving a session from someone else. Once trained, practitioners can also practice Reiki on themselves.
A 2011 pilot study explored work-related stress among nurses who had taken Reiki Level 1 training.
After three weeks of self-Reiki practice, the researchers found that nurses who practiced more frequently tended to report lower levels of perceived stress.
Seventeen nurses completed the follow-up.
Another study, published in 2009, interviewed 11 nurses who practiced Reiki for self-care.
Their experiences included themes of stress management, spirituality, self-healing and connection.
These findings are interesting because they explore something beyond receiving an occasional Reiki session.
They look at how Reiki might become part of someone's personal life.
I've had nurses participate in my Reiki training, and I appreciate knowing that they have a practice available to them whenever they choose to use it.
That doesn't mean every nurse will experience Reiki in the same way. But having another option for personal care can be valuable.
What Can We Take Away From These Studies?
When we look at these studies together, several interesting themes emerge.
Researchers have explored Reiki with nurses in different countries, hospital settings and working conditions.
They've studied hands-on Reiki, distant Reiki and self-Reiki.
And across several studies, participants reported improvements in areas such as stress, anxiety, fatigue, energy and relaxation.
That's encouraging.
At the same time, these studies vary in size and design. Some are small pilot studies, and several don't include the types of comparison groups needed to determine whether Reiki itself caused the changes.
So while the findings are promising, more rigorous research is needed to understand Reiki's specific benefits and how long any improvements may last.
Reiki is also not a replacement for adequate staffing, appropriate rest, supportive working conditions or professional healthcare.
I see it as one possible addition to a broader approach to well-being.
Caring for the Person Behind the Profession
One of the things I've always appreciated about Reiki is its simplicity.
It doesn't require elaborate equipment or a special environment.
For someone trained in Reiki, a few quiet moments of self-practice can be an opportunity to turn their attention inward.
Perhaps it's before starting a shift.
Perhaps it's after a difficult experience.
Or maybe it's simply at the end of the day, when they're finally home and ready to let go of everything they've been carrying.
And even for someone who hasn't learned Reiki, there's value in remembering to pause, notice the breath and allow a moment of stillness.
As someone who teaches Reiki, yoga and breathwork, I often return to the importance of awareness.
Sometimes we're so busy taking care of everything and everyone around us that we forget to check in with ourselves.
How am I feeling?
What do I need?
When was the last time I allowed myself to receive rather than give?
These are simple questions, but they can open the door to greater self-awareness.
Why This Research Matters
I'm encouraged to see Reiki being studied among nurses and other healthcare professionals.
Not because research needs to validate every personal experience, but because it helps us ask better questions and understand where complementary practices may fit into everyday life.
My own experience with Reiki, including teaching nurses, has given me a personal appreciation for what this practice can mean to people.
The research adds another perspective.
And together, they invite us to keep exploring.
Nurses spend so much of their lives caring for others.
But we can't continually pour from an empty cup. We need to take time to refill our own cup so we have something to give.
Caring for ourselves isn't separate from caring for others. It's part of it.
And perhaps that's one of the most meaningful reminders we can offer those who dedicate their lives to caring for others.
Because those who care for others deserve care themselves. 💜
Live Your Yellow Brick Road
Heal • Grow • Transform
Curious About Reiki?
Whether you're a nurse, another healthcare professional or someone interested in exploring Reiki for your own well-being, I invite you to learn more about Reiki and the opportunities to experience or study it.
Learn more about Reiki and Reiki training:https://www.liveyouryellowbrickroad.com/reiki
Research References
Büyükbayram Genç, Z. (2024). The Effect of Reiki Practice on Stress and Anxiety Level in Nurses: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Journal of Traditional Medical Complementary Therapies, 7(3), 232–240. https://doi.org/10.5336/jtracom.2024-103175
Bektaş Akpınar, N., Özcan Yüce, U., & Yurtsever, S. (2024). The Effect of Distant Reiki on the Stress and Fatigue Levels of Nurses Working in COVID-19 Clinics: A Randomized-Controlled, Single-Blind Study. Holistic Nursing Practice, 38(2), 102–108. https://doi.org/10.1097/HNP.0000000000000519
Hailey, K., et al. (2022). Feasibility and Effect of Reiki on the Physiology and Self-perceived Stress of Nurses in a Large US Hospital. Holistic Nursing Practice, 36(2), 105–111. https://doi.org/10.1097/HNP.0000000000000475
Cuneo, C. L., et al. (2011). The Effect of Reiki on Work-Related Stress of the Registered Nurse. Journal of Holistic Nursing, 29(1), 33–43. https://doi.org/10.1177/0898010110377294
Vitale, A. (2009). Nurses' Lived Experience of Reiki for Self-Care. Holistic Nursing Practice, 23(3), 129–145. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.HNP.0000351369.99166.75
This article is for educational purposes. Reiki is a complementary practice and is not intended to replace medical care, mental health support or appropriate workplace protections.
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