Educating psychiatric mental health didactic and clinical nursing students on mindfulness activities utilizing the calm mobile application

Abstract

Background and aim: Stress can develop when an individual becomes overwhelmed with appointed tasks and nursing students are not exempt from this reaction when experiencing academic pressure. Nursing students can learn appropriate ways to decrease stress through coping strategies. The study aimed to educate nursing students about the coping strategy mindfulness through the utilization of the Calm mobile application (Calm), decreasing stress, and increasing the awareness and utilization of mindfulness.

Methods: The purpose of the Quality Improvement (QI) project was to educate nursing students on mindfulness as a coping strategy through supplemental resource videos and the usage of Calm. Students completed a pre-/post-survey modeled after the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale with an addition of three qualitative questions.

Results: At the start of the project, 99% of students practiced mindfulness through Calm, 0-15 minutes a week while at the end of the project, 46% of students practiced mindfulness through Calm, 15-60 minutes a week. Pre-project implementation, 19% of students agreed that Calm is useful in the practice of mindfulness while post-project implementation, 44% of students agreed that Calm is useful. A Paired t-test was conducted regarding mindfulness awareness and showed 95% confidence with a pre-mean of 3.2 and a post-mean of 3.6. A difference of 0.4 between both pre-post-means resulting in a significant increase after intervention.

Conclusions: The QI project was successful in increasing the awareness and utilization of mindfulness and in educating nursing students about the coping strategy mindfulness which can decrease stress.