Evaluation of a Well-Being Coaching Pilot Program for Prelicensure Baccalaureate Nursing Students

Abstract

The purpose of this project was to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of a virtual, extracurricular well-being program for prelicensure, baccalaureate nursing students. Specifically, self-rated levels of well-being, resilience, mindfulness, and burnout were compared before and after participation in the small group coaching program. Prelicensure students experienced stress and academic burnout during the COVID-19 pandemic related in part to changes in educational delivery platforms and canceled clinical rotations. A virtual, extracurricular well-being pilot program was created and implemented for pre-licensure baccalaureate nursing students. Students were recruited from a large public university in Florida. The PERMAH theoretical framework guided the well-being program, which included virtual small-group coaching. Although the pilot program demonstrated acceptability, the program was not feasible as an extracurricular activity for pre-licensure nursing students. Well-being should be threaded through all components of prelicensure nursing curricula. This recommendation aligns with the 2020-2030 Future of Nursing report from the National Academies of Medicine, Science, and Engineering. Future research is needed to determine efficient, cost-effective ways to incorporate well-being initiatives holistically throughout nursing education.