Authors

  1. Bussard, Michelle E. PhD, RN, ACNS-BC, CNE
  2. Mahoney, Sarah DNP, RN, CPNP-PC

Article Content

Prelicensure nursing students experience a great deal of stress and anxiety while in school. Students experience financial and emotional stressors, while also trying to meet their educational goals. Therefore, a process to promote well-being is an essential component of the student's education. Our school of nursing implemented a relaxation room as a strategy to decrease anxiety, stress, depression, and burnout. Coping strategies include mindfulness, rest, proper nutrition, adequate social support, exercise, yoga, deep breathing, essential oils, biofeedback, stress management training, emotional freedom techniques, and meditation. In addition, a relaxation room was developed as a coping strategy. Within this room, there are dim lights, a waterfall, white noise, food/toiletry pantry, comfortable chairs, coffee/tea maker, inspiration board, essential oils, an intricate coloring board, and counseling resources. The room provides students a safe place to decompress before or after an examination, clinical practice, or laboratory experiences, or any time they are feeling overwhelmed in their day. Providing students with strategies for effective coping is multifold. Students who have effective coping skills are more likely to graduate from nursing school and enter the workforce, thus increasing the number of working registered nurses (RNs). In addition, working RNs who have effective coping skills may have less burnout, thus preventing them from leaving the profession. The pandemic has emphasized the need for retention strategies within nursing.