How to Manage Mental Wellbeing for Nursing and Midwifery Students

As with all courses there are pressure points that could impact negatively on students’ mental health. As nursing & midwifery students, it’s important to recognise what the pressure points are and have strategies available to help maintain good mental health and wellbeing.  

Pressure points 

1. Transitions   

‘’transitions can disrupt our sense of safety and control as we are faced with new challenges, unfamiliar experiences and potential changes to our usual ways of coping.’’ 

2. University And Home Life   

‘’Being at university and studying in a healthcare programme impact on existing relationships, as students have new experiences and are exposed to different perspectives. The time commitment …changes usual family routines, which may disrupt home life.’’ 

3. Placements  

‘’Placements are for many the highlight of the course and offer unique and rewarding opportunities … However, they are a significant transition accompanied by a weight of expectations.’’ 

4. Assessments 

‘’The pressure of assessment is an area many students will be familiar with. There may be multiple deadlines to contend with and assessments that are due during or after placement. Managing these workload pressures can be challenging.’’ 

Strategies to maintain health and wellbeing 

1. Mindfulness 

‘’Buddhist-derived meditation interventions have been shown to be effective treatments for a broad range of physical and mental health illnesses, and a version of this, known as mindfulness, is now advocated by recognised healthcare bodies to promote good mental wellbeing’’ 

2. Support Network 

‘’Starting to build your support network while at university will help sustain you throughout your career… also Knowing which family and friends you can talk to’’ 

3. University Support 

‘’Universities recognise that,… robust student support systems are important to attracting and keeping students ( GuildHE, 2018 ). Due to this, universities and student bodies have invested in developing services to specialise and advise on a range of needs a student may present with…’’ 

4. Communication 

‘’Often we become concerned that if we attempt to discuss issues we are struggling with, there might be an assumption made that we are not coping… In reality the opposite is true: professional codes ask us as student nurses or midwives to act with honesty and integrity and to uphold our professionalism. Therefore, being clear about your needs, and sometimes even your limitations, is evidence of professional conduct.’’ 

5. Space For Yourself 

‘’Plan your weeks so you have a variety of ways to nurture your emotional health. Making time for mindfulness is a great way to begin, and you may want to incorporate some form of activity or exercise to support your body in what can be a physically demanding job… It is important that time for yourself also feels meaningful for you’’