Approximately 40 percent of college students have anxiety or depression, and 83 percent report that their academic performance suffers (Healthy Minds Network, 2022). Nursing faculty often see students experiencing distress, anxiety, and depression while enrolled (Franco, 2022). Students can be unprepared for the demands of deep learning and applying clinical judgment in patient care (Bhurtun et al., 2019; Labrague et al., 2017), and some disengage or use substances when their typical coping strategies fail. With support from university services, nursing faculty can implement strategies to improve students' coping strategies and potentially mitigate mental health problems (Salinas-Harrison, 2018).
Research studies on interventions to reduce stress or depression show success. For example, the benefits of mindfulness on physical health include decreased blood pressure and heart rate, and the strategy has been shown to lower stress, anxiety, and depression (Marino et al., 2021). When used with nursing students, mindfulness strategies had significant effects on lowering depression (Reangsing et al., 2023). Technology solutions are emerging as potential methods to deliver soothing environments and guide meditation for users. Pascual et al. (2023) tested mindfulness interventions using a mobile app or virtual reality (VR) in a health care setting. They found VR to be more effective than the mobile app, and the effects of VR were greater the more it was used.
At the Vanderbilt University School of Nursing (VUSN), innovation is a celebrated element in all programs of study. Recognizing the need to help students use effective coping strategies, Aldrich developed the Mindfulness Immersive Nursing Demonstration Lab (MIND Lab). MIND Lab creates a safe environment for learners to experience immersive calming technology supported by meditation and gaming exploration scenarios. The goal is to balance well-being and resilience building with mindfulness meditation and easy access to immersive VR environments.
More than 200 students, faculty, and staff have experienced the MIND Lab to foster well-being and integrate meditation into their academic and work practices. The MIND Lab also introduces the concept of prescribing technology in nursing education. Aldrich coined the term to represent the role of innovative technologies that can be used to improve patient outcomes and optimize health care delivery. VUSN aims to equip students with the experience, knowledge, and skills to understand how cutting-edge technologies can enhance patient care in their respective populations. Responses from those who have experienced the MIND Lab have been overwhelmingly positive. Many participants provided feedback that the lab created a sense of calm and peacefulness. Participants saw how immersive meditation could benefit their colleagues working in direct patient care areas. VUSN is focused on continuing the MIND Lab and gaining valuable insights into the potential benefits, challenges, and considerations related to immersive VR experiences (see Figures 1 and 2).
Nurses are uniquely positioned to engage with and apply evolving technologies (Dykes & Chu, 2021). Nursing science provides holistic approaches to care delivery, and nursing professionals strongly influence the continuity of care. While prescribing technology to their patients, many providers can also benefit from the positive mindfulness experiences offered in immersive environments to maintain their own wellness and well-being.
As nursing evolves, students must embrace technological advancements that are revolutionizing health care. The MIND Lab, with its emphasis on prescribing technology, underscores Vanderbilt's commitment to preparing future nurses who prioritize well-being and mindfulness for themselves and embrace the transformative potential of technology in health care to improve patients' mental health. By equipping students with this knowledge and understanding, students are empowered to become advocates for the effective and ethical integration of technology with patients.
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