Building Resilience Among Nursing Students

Nurse Educator Tips for Teaching

Many nursing students experience high levels of stress throughout their nursing program. When stress occurs, the student is prompted to seek a balance using available coping mechanisms. Dr. Rebecca Liljestrand describes a 10-week resiliency program with weekly 50- to 75-minute sessions. Each session has the same format: students share a response to a homework assignment and how they used a strength during the past week; participate in a guided mindfulness practice; engage in a resilience presentation; write a response to related research with prompts such as “what I am good at” and “a time when I was resilient;” and share their writings in small breakout groups. The session closes with the three As: an affirmation, appreciation, or appraisal.

Their article provides more detail on the resiliency program and its outcomes.