Authors

  1. Davis, Rodnita K. MSN, RN, CNE

Article Content

Caring science recognizes that the entire class contributes to developing a healthy learning atmosphere that supports trusting-helping relationships. Students need to embrace confronting their own emotions, issues, and vulnerabilities in fostering healthy learning spaces. In an icebreaker activity, faculty encourage the release of these vulnerabilities and honor personal sharing. In this exercise, students receive a small, brown bag that they adorn with stickers, quotes, or drawings using writing utensils to convey aspects of their lived experiences that can negatively or positively impact them during the course. Most importantly, faculty inspire students to share personal fears, problems, or burdens. The educator should inform students that they only need to share within their comfort level. During the semester, the bag serves as a symbol of students' individuality and the challenges they must navigate while pursuing their education. With the bag as a constant reminder of student concerns, faculty can connect with them regarding these issues and offer individualized support. The most critical aspect of this activity is that faculty remain engaged with those sensitive topics disclosed by the student and routinely check in with them, conveying deep, authentic concern for their success and well-being. As students prepare to transition to the next phase of their nursing education, the faculty return students' bags with personalized notes, offering words of encouragement and affirmation. This icebreaker activity values the faculty-student interaction and establishes how faculty can provide student support.