Georgia State University prioritized the well-being of students alongside their academic success. The program integrated self-care activities into curriculum to help students develop healthy habits and coping mechanisms for the stresses they may encounter in their nursing careers.
Overview: Self-Care activities introduced in the first level nursing class were designed to span several areas, correlating with course content.
Required Activities Focused On:
Implementation: Students were encouraged to try these activities and complete a brief survey.
Benefits: Provided both patient teaching ideas and self-care strategies for students.
Incentive: Students completing surveys were eligible for a gift card giveaway drawing at the end of the term.
Student Feedback: "I learned that making a small change can result in a significant difference."
Mindfulness Meditation: 1 to 3 minutes sessions before exams and randomly throughout the semester.
Open Discussions: 4-5 sessions throughout the semester focusing on decompression and self-care techniques.
Lecture on Self-Care: One-hour session dedicated to self-care practices.
Celebration: A celebratory day on the last day of class with gift cards for participating students.
Overview of Clinical Judgment Day: A day for seniors to explore the nursing process by participating in whole class and smaller groups.
Event: Funded by grants, the day included lunch and treated as a celebration of the completion of the program.
Activities: Students worked on case studies individually and in groups.
Reflection: After working case studies as a class and in groups, students were given an opportunity to debrief, discuss feelings about the day, the approaching NCLEX and the worries they have embarking on a nursing career as well as what has motivated them to this point.
Preparation Material: Students received the book "Think Like a Nurse" to prepare them for the day and to use to study. And were introduced to:
A dedicated Wellness Room has been established on campus, courtesy of the administration. This tranquil space, equipped with amenities such as a massage chair, red light therapy, plants, artwork, a sound machine, and a CD player, serves as a sanctuary for all faculty and staff seeking relaxation and rejuvenation.
During the Senior Leadership course, the Mayer-Salovey-Caruso Four-Branch Model of Emotional Intelligence (EI) was presented. Afterwards, discussions were held and focused on strategies to decrease stress and practice self-care. Mayer, J. D., & Salovey, P. (1997). What is emotional intelligence? In P. Salovey & D. J. Sluyter (Eds.). Emotional development and emotional intelligence. New York: Basic Books.
“Our faculty recognized that in order to help our students with leadership skills and self-care and wellness and resilience, we as a faculty needed to increase our own knowledge of these skills and model these skills” – Traci Sims, Clinical Professor
Location: Atlanta, GA
School Type: Public School
Partners: Grady Health Care Systems
Faculty Contacts: Traci Sims