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AACN Promotes Nursing Student Well-being, Resilience, and Suicide Prevention
Deans of nursing schools nationwide, both undergraduate and graduate, have teamed together to promote nursing student well-being, resilience, and suicide prevention. They are taking active steps to provide programs and resources encouraging sound mental health, physical health, lifestyle behaviors, and well-being. The decision to act was brought forth by deans from 11 nursing schools, including College of Nursing Dean Janie Heath from the University of Kentucky. This effort strives to move from crisis intervention to prevention. These strategies and resources that support nursing students could translate later on to professional well-being in a workforce known for high burnout rates.
This renewed focus comes at a pivotal time for healthcare workers with the COVID-19 pandemic and increasing nurse suicide rates. Suicide rates among nurses are higher than suicide rates of the general population. Resiliency and healthy lifestyle behaviors are known to prevent chronic conditions and mental health disorders. Nurses are the largest group of health care professionals. Workforce stress and decreased mental and physical health are tied to medical errors and safety hazards. For these reasons and more, nursing schools have begun a movement to advocate for nurse wellness.