Fostering an Attitude of Gratitude in Nursing Students

Nurse Educator Tips for Teaching

For nursing students, a gratitude jar promotes mindfulness and gratitude by encouraging reflection on the positive aspects of their lives. Dr. Catherine Stubin introduced this method at the start of the semester in a Capstone course with undergraduate senior nursing students, aiming to cultivate a more mindful and appreciative attitude. Students maintained a daily gratitude jar as an at-home exercise, reflecting on the positives in their lives. At the semester's end, they were encouraged to read through their collected notes and reflect on what they were grateful for. Dr Stubin describes this strategy for promoting students' mental health wellness in the podcast and article and how it can be used in any undergraduate or graduate nursing course.