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Although stress in nursing is not a novel phenomenon, the effects of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, with poor patient outcomes, unknown risk in the workplace, and worry about transmission, has contributed to increased mental health challenges for nurses (Moore et al., 2021). Although not yet independently responsible for patient care, nursing students are not immune to stress and often are exposed to higher levels of stress than students in other disciplines (Alzayyat & Al-Gamal, 2016). Moreover, the academic demands of the nursing curriculum have contributed to increased rates of depression and anxiety in nursing students (Dubert et al., 2016). The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted clinical learning experiences and introduced unique challenges to safely provide care.
Although referring students experiencing stress, anxiety, and depression for support is an appropriate action, there are barriers to procuring this type of assistance. Individuals seeking support may face limited availability of mental health experts and other resources, as well as financial considerations (Lake & Turner, 2017). Upon securing a provider, if medications are indicated, treatment with psychotropic medications may prove challenging due to disruptive adverse effects and limited efficacy (Lake & Turner, 2017).
When considering the challenges in accessing mental health care and being successfully treated with traditional methods, the need for alternative treatments becomes apparent. One option to reduce rates and manage levels of anxiety and depression is meditation, which is a form of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). Meditation is defined as “a variety of practices that focus on mind body integration...used to calm the mind and enhance overall well-being” (National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health [NCCIH], 2022). The practice of meditation has been shown to improve both physical and mental health (NCCIH, 2022). Meditation may be considered to be a “mental training” to improve one's psychological responses and regulation (Tang et al., 2015).
One specific method is mindfulness meditation, which encourages increased awareness, attention, and observation without judgment or reactivity (Rosenzweig et al., 2010). Mindfulness meditation has been applied in a variety of settings and has been shown to improve mental health outcomes. In one study of Australian adults, significant improvement in depression, anxiety,...