College of Nursing student wellness initiative includes peer mentoring, yoga, therapeutic coloring, among other self-care programs
Between studying for exams, meeting term paper deadlines, applying for internships, worrying about final grades, and working to pay tuition, all while trying to navigate the social landscape of young adulthood, college life can be a stressful time for students. In fact, according to a recent Gallup poll, 66 percent of college students report feeling academic stress, which impacts their mental health and motivates many to consider dropping out of school.
Nursing students, already dealing with the ordinary stress of college life, experience the added pressure of caring for actual patients for the first time as they begin their clinical rotations in hospitals and community settings throughout the region. Add in the natural tendency of caregivers to focus more on others than themselves, and the need to prioritize self-care and mental health becomes essential.
To that end, the University of Rhode Island College of Nursing has initiated a series of wellness initiatives designed to encourage students to focus on well-being and relieve stress. From structured activities like yoga, Pilates and meditation classes, to more spontaneous ones like board games, movie nights, and therapeutic coloring in the lobby of White Hall, the college aims to live up to its mission of “nurse leaders transforming wellbeing and the environment.”
“We know sometimes people are struggling, so we need to focus on self-care and wellbeing,” said Associate Dean Melissa Sutherland. “It’s trying to build a habit, a routine of recognizing what you need, and taking care of yourself. It could be getting up and going for a walk—just getting outside and noticing your surroundings—even if it’s just a loop around the parking lot or the Quad. What do you see? What do you hear? What do you smell? That’s all the start of meditation and just being present.”
A key part of the wellness initiatives, which are directed by academic advisor Sarah Van Fechtmann, is a peer mentoring program the college is piloting. Coordinated by junior nursing student Kelsey Risz, the program matches first-year students with juniors and seniors who meet regularly to help guide them with their studies and campus life, share their experiences with patient care, and act as a source of strength and support for their younger peers.
“It can be pretty hard to find an upperclass student to work with on your own, but now it’s a lot easier. Older students are able to show them the resources they have. And being able to utilize your resources is really important as a nurse,” said Risz, who is mentoring two younger classmates herself, in addition to matching as many as 40 other pairs. “For mentors, it gives them a chance to improve their communication skills, and it relates directly back to being a nurse and caring for another person. Being able to support others is very rewarding on a personal level, and helps prepare us on a professional level.”
URI nursing students can find support in group settings at the Mind Body Studio in the Anna Fascitelli Fitness and Wellness Center, at no cost to them. Located across from Hope Commons on Butterfield Road, the center is offering free classes for nursing students on Wednesdays at 7:45 p.m. The program began with a group meditation class on Feb. 19, and follows with Pilates on March 5, yoga on April 2, and Pilates again on April 23.
Such support and focus on well-being is important not just for nursing students, but for professional nurses throughout their careers, Sutherland said. There is a high level of attrition among nurses within the first three years of their careers, often a result of stress and burn-out, which also can hinder the level of care nurses provide their patients.
“We are preparing nurses to care for others, but how are they caring for themselves? That really starts with us at the college level. We can support and encourage their self-care in addition to the care they provide others,” Sutherland said. “I think it’s really recognizing that we need to take better care of ourselves and others. You’re not going to be able to show up and provide the best care possible for another if you’re not caring for yourself. It may sound simple, but it’s powerful.”