Working within a hospital setting is emotionally demanding and often characterized by a fast pace and a high workload that require quick adaptation [[1], [2], [3], [4]]. Consequently, stress and burnout are prevalent among healthcare professionals, ranging from 30 to 60% in some studies [5,6]. One study conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic reported stress levels in healthcare professionals that were 25.8% higher than in the general population [1]. Stress, burnout, and a fast-paced work environment have substantial personal and patient related consequences. Several systematic reviews and meta-analyses have reported an association between burnout and patient safety outcomes such as medical errors [[7], [8], [9]]. Burnout in physicians has been associated with an almost four times decrease in job satisfaction, threefold increase in career choice regrets and turnover intention, and doubled patient safety incidents compared to no patient safety incidents [8]. In addition, a fast-paced work environment can challenge healthcare professionals' ability to be attentively present during their conversations with patients, which is crucial for patients' feelings of dignity and of being valued [10]. As such, interventions that protect against burnout, stress, and foster mental well-being, and thereby may lead to a better work environment and quality of patient care, is crucial [9]. Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) have shown promise as a training vehicle to improve healthcare professionals' mental health and well-being, while supporting communication, relationship-building, and compassionate care [2,11]. Compared to other types of mental health promoting interventions, a recent meta-analysis published in Nature Human Behavior concluded that mindfulness-based programs are the most effective interventions in improving well-being [12]. Mindfulness is awareness that arises through paying attention, on purpose, in the present moment, non-judgmentally [13]. Mindfulness training aims to encourage awareness of present moment experiences, bodily sensations, thoughts, and feelings, which enables a shift from automatic reactivity to responsiveness and from impulsiveness to an intentional way of being [14]. A key teaching in mindfulness training is cultivating compassion, described as noticing suffering and feeling a motivation to alleviate it [14]. A meta-analysis from 2020 synthesized work-related outcomes and long-term effects of MBIs in occupational settings, including healthcare settings. The meta-analysis included 56 randomized controlled trials and found an association between MBIs and reduced stress, burnout, and somatic complaints as well as improved well-being, mindfulness, and compassion across different occupational groups [15]. The meta-analysis included a broad range of MBIs, but the most researched and widely applied intervention was Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) [15]. MBSR has a growing evidence base with meta-analyses and systematic reviews consistently pointing to significant reductions in symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression, and to improvements in well-being in adults [3,12,16,17]. While quantitative studies focus on effect outcomes of MBIs, qualitative studies indicate that MBIs can enhance healthcare professionals' ability to manage stressful environments and be more present and compassionate when caring for patients [2,[18], [19], [20]]. Although these findings are promising, there are some unresolved issues. Critics argue that the positive mental benefits of mindfulness training serve to support a fast-paced work environment instead of addressing structural problems [21]. In addition, previous studies have shown that there are some challenges in offering mindfulness to healthcare professionals, such as lack of time, feeling guilty for prioritizing self-care, and worries about being vulnerable in front of colleagues [[22], [23], [24], [25], [26]]. Such challenges might influence the implementation of mindfulness in hospital settings. The majority of studies on MBSR for healthcare professionals have so far applied a quantitative study design with focus on intervention generation and refinement, while few studies have explored the process and impact of implementing mindfulness in hospital settings [27]. To address this knowledge gap, we conducted a large in-depth qualitative study to explore the first step of a mindfulness implementation process in two hospital settings. The aim of the study was thus to explore healthcare professionals’ firsthand experiences of how attending an MBSR course influenced their work life, including their relationship with patients and colleagues and how they integrated mindfulness in their clinical practice. Results from the study can help guide decisions about implementation of MBSR into hospital settings.