Mind-Body Wellness Project: An Exemplar Case

Abstract

A growing body of literature concerning the inherent stresses of nursing and medical education report especially high stress levels, in some cases higher than those students in other health professions. Nursing students have attributed their stress to academic, financial, work-related, and interpersonal circumstances. Studies have shown that there is a correlation between the stressors that college student's experience, and an increase in levels of stress, anxiety and depressive symptoms. High stress and anxiety impede concentration, memory, and problem-solving ability, which, in turn, adversely affect academic performance and learning. Purposes of this qualitative participatory action research were to design, implement, and assess the extracurricular wellness project for the first-year undergraduate nursing students. We evaluated: the effectiveness of a holistic wellness program in enhancing first-year nursing students' overall health (physical, psychological/social, and spiritual), and 2) the effectiveness of the program in enhancing first-year nursing students' learning and their performance in pathophysiology course. A purposive sample of 156 (N=156) first-year junior nursing students participated in this study. Thematic analysis of data related to effects of holistic wellness program on the students yielded two main themes: 1) observed-felt effects and 2) unobserved-felt effects. This article briefly describes the study; however, the main focus will be on describing practicing "mindfulness" as an exemplar case to maintain and enhance mind-body wellness.