Mindfulness in Nursing Education: A Holistic Strategy for Enhancing Student Well-Being and Resilience.
Donna Balsam, Cindy A. Stein, Alyssa Erikson
Journal of Holistic Nursing December 24, 2025 DOI: 10.1177/08980101251404156 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Pre-post educational intervention Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 103 |
| Population | Undergraduate and post-licensure BSN nursing students |
| Intervention | Mindfulness training |
| Duration | Semester-long |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Common themes Educators Group/population Healing modalities Health promotion/disease prevention Meditation/mindfulness Nurses basic Stress and coping Stress management/relaxation Students |
| Citations | 1 |
| Key points | Integrating mindfulness training into nursing curricula increased knowledge from 42% to 91% and regular practice from 41% to 73%, with 96% of students planning to continue mindfulness practices. |
Abstract
Purpose of Study: This project explored the feasibility and perceived benefits of integrating mindfulness training, grounded in holistic nursing philosophy, into undergraduate and post-licensure BSN nursing curricula to support student well-being and resilience. Design of Study: Nursing faculty implemented an educational intervention using a pre-post design across two university nursing programs.
Methods: Used: Faculty embedded a semester-long mindfulness curriculum into existing nursing courses. Students received lectures, accessed curated mindfulness resources, and completed a reflective journal assignment. Pre- and post-intervention surveys assessed changes in students' knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to mindfulness.
Findings: Among 103 students who completed both surveys, knowledge of mindfulness increased from 42% to 91%, and regular practice rose from 41% to 73%. Students reported improved stress and anxiety management, emotional awareness, and resilience. Nearly all participants (96%) indicated plans to continue mindfulness practices. Journal reflections revealed themes of improved mood, self-care prioritization, and enhanced coping strategies.
Conclusions: Faculty successfully implemented mindfulness training, and students responded positively. The intervention supported stress reduction and resilience, aligning with national nursing education competencies and reflecting holistic nursing's emphasis on whole-person care. Findings suggest mindfulness integration may be a valuable, low-cost strategy to enhance nursing education and promote student well-being.
Comparable studies
Other non-randomized and open-label trials on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction in Relation to Quality of Life, Mood, Symptoms of Stress, and Immune Parameters in Breast and Prostate Cancer Outpatients Early-stage breast and prostate cancer patients | 2003 | Pre-post intervention study | n = 59 |
| Exploring self‐compassion and empathy in the context of mindfulness‐based stress reduction (MBSR) Community sample | 2010 | Pre-post intervention study | |
| Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Lowers Psychological Distress In Medical Students Second-year medical students | 2003 | Prospective nonrandomized cohort-controlled study | n = 302 |
| Intensive meditation training, immune cell telomerase activity, and psychological mediators. Retreat participants and matched controls | 2011 | Controlled trial with wait-list control group | n = 60 |
| The Effectiveness of Mindfulness Training for Children with ADHD and Mindful Parenting for their Parents Children aged 8-12 with ADHD and their parents | 2011 | Within-group waitlist controlled trial | n = 22 |
Citations in the library
Cites 6
- The benefits of being present: Mindfulness and its role in psychological well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 2003
- Online and In-Person Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) Improves Stress Resilience in Nursing Education. Worldviews on Evidence-Based Nursing June 1, 2025
- Effectiveness of mindfulness-based interventions on empathy: A meta-analysis. Frontiers in Psychology October 20, 2022
- The Effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction on the Psychological Functioning of Healthcare Professionals: a Systematic Review Mindfulness September 24, 2020
- The effect of mindfulness training on burnout syndrome in nursing: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Advanced Nursing February 5, 2020
and 1 more in the library