Mindfulness Training for New Nursing Students Improves Stress Resilience and Well-Being

Background: First-year nursing students need support to mitigate the effects of stress to improve the health and consistency of the student-to-professional pathway, addressing critical workforce shortages. Yet, evidence-based wellness interventions are underdeveloped and understudied for this population. Method: Using a mixed-methods, single-group, pre-post design, this study evaluated the effectiveness of Navigating Life's Challenges, adapted directly from Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) in a sample of first-year nursing students ( N = 33, mean age = 22.16, 94% female-identifying students). Results: Multilevel modeling for repeated measures data revealed increased use of adaptive mindfulness skills (acting with awareness, nonreactivity), reduced stress and exhaustion, and improved satisfaction with life. Qualitative focus group data suggested the program was enjoyable, helpful, and appreciated by students. Conclusion: Mindfulness bolsters stress resilience in new nursing students; implications for training and future directions for research are discussed.