Evaluating the impact of a resiliency program on nursing student anxiety : a quality improvement project
Loading...
Authors
Meeting name
Sponsors
Date
Journal Title
Format
Other
Subject
Abstract
[EMBARGOED UNTIL 05/31/2027] Background Non-traditional LPN-RN students experience high rates of moderate to severe anxiety that impairs academic performance and increases attrition risk, exacerbating the nursing shortage. A resiliency initiative at a Midwest ADN program improved completion rates by 29.5% over two years, yet its effect on anxiety was unknown. This quality improvement project aimed to assess the impact of resiliency interventions on student anxiety during the first eight weeks of an accelerated bridge program. Methods Integrating mental health wellness practices into nursing curricula decreases students’ psychological distress. Identifying stressors and adaptive coping mechanisms improves academic and clinical performance, and positive affirmations reduce anxiety and improve professional identity. Students identified stress triggers and coping mechanisms and utilized positive affirmations as course-embedded resiliency activities. Pre-intervention surveys at week one and post-intervention surveys at week eight utilized the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item scale (GAD-7), and total scores were analyzed using a paired t-test. Results A statistically significant, moderate positive correlation between pre- and post-intervention GAD-7 scores (r = .46, p = .031) indicated that students with higher anxiety at week one tended to have higher anxiety at week eight as well. A statistically significant, moderate increase in anxiety scores with a mean change of -3.41 points indicated higher post-intervention anxiety scores, t(21) = -2.87, p = .009, 95% CI [-5.87, -.94], d = 0.61). Conclusions College stakeholders should maintain the low-cost resiliency assignments but strengthen them by intentionally aligning content with peak stress periods and adding structured in-class reflection and discussion, along with faculty guidance to support anxious students.
Table of Contents
PubMed ID
Degree
Thesis Department
Rights
OpenAccess.
License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 4.0 License.