Stress Reduction to Promote Resilience

Nursing students experience high levels of stress, due to extreme academic pressure, the intensity of clinical experiences, and the need to balance the educational setting with demands of work and family. While some level of stress is a given, excessive stress sets up a negative, self-reinforcing cycle. The negative effects of stress lead to decreased success, which results in an escalation of pressure and an even higher level of stress. Stress reduction helps develop resilience, which promotes academic success and retention. This chapter defines stress and provides specific interventions for stress relief. It reviews various stressors associated with nursing education and explores the literature to describe effective coping strategies. It demonstrates how an effective mentorship program builds protective factors to cope with stress, both by teaching concrete stress reduction strategies and by creating social support through community building. As a result, both mentors and mentees develop the resilience needed to avoid burnout in both their academic and professional lives.