A brief mindfulness meditation practice before emergency simulation training helps health professions students manage state-anxiety, improve cognitive load, and enhance teamwork during the simulations. In a pilot randomized controlled study with 70 undergraduate students, those who completed a four-week mindfulness training program showed better scores on state-anxiety, cognitive load, and teamwork in two simulation assessments compared to the control group. However, no significant differences were found between groups for trait-anxiety or mindfulness at the six-month follow-up. The findings suggest that incorporating short mindfulness meditation into simulation design may benefit students' immediate psychological and team performance.
An online mindfulness peer-assisted learning program for nursing students improved self-efficacy and reduced burnout, but did not significantly change depression, anxiety, or stress. The program included mindfulness practice, senior student experience sharing, and peer group learning. Qualitative interviews revealed three themes: nurturing self-care through mindfulness, empowering skills for clinical placement, and maintaining momentum with challenges and enablers. The program may help prepare nursing students for clinical work, and further trials are recommended.
A group mindfulness-based cognitive therapy program increased mindful attention awareness and reduced stress levels in nursing students. In a quasi-experimental study with 82 second-year nursing students, those who received the program showed significantly higher mindfulness scores and lower stress scores compared to a control group, with effects maintained at a 4-month follow-up. The program did not significantly affect depression or anxiety.
Regular mindfulness meditation practice reduces stress, anxiety, depression, and burnout while enhancing well-being and empathy among nurses and nursing students. An integrative review of 16 studies found positive impacts, but most studies were small and localized, limiting how broadly the findings can be applied. Larger, more rigorous studies are needed to confirm these benefits.