At Belmont’s Inman College of Nursing (ICON), faculty understand the importance of promoting student well-being and balance amidst intensive studies. That's why ICON Assistant Professor Dr. Ashley Scism organized "Brushes and Bites" — an innovative event during the last week of classes that combined art therapy with community building to provide a creative respite before the stress of finals.
The event was brought to life in collaboration with Assistant Professor Mandy Rogers Horton and recent Master of Fine Arts graduate Laurie Pannell of the Watkins College of Art, who hosted 27 nursing students in their studio space and lead them in creative painting exercises. The primary goal? To offer an evidence-based outlet for students proven to decrease anxiety, depression and stress levels.
"Nursing is a high-risk profession for experiencing adverse mental health outcomes like anxiety, depression, secondary trauma, compassion fatigue and burnout," explained Scism. "Creating opportunities for students to develop positive coping skills that build resiliency and wellbeing is critical — and it starts with us, while they are still in school."
For recent ICON graduate Laynie Pfund, the event could not have come at a better time. "Nursing is an extremely stressful major that requires personal sacrifices throughout the program. Students like myself don't often get time for hobbies beneficial for stress relief," she said. "This art event was the perfect way to step away from studying and do something that brings community and joy."
Avoiding burnout in the nursing field is critical, particularly given the current nursing shortage and the high demands placed on healthcare workers. Burnout not only diminishes job satisfaction but can also negatively impact patient care — significantly contributing to the overall strain on the healthcare system.
By implementing events like "Brushes and Bites," Belmont seeks to foster a supportive environment that prioritizes mental health and self-care, helping students to build essential skills for managing stress. Programs that encourage balance, creativity and community engagement can help prevent the long-term impacts of burnout and better prepare students for the challenges of their profession.
"Brushes and Bites was a great way to connect with my community and de-stress before exams,” said Carla Cohen, another recent ICON graduate. “It was the perfect opportunity to relax and prioritize my mental health before a stressful week."
The art therapy event is the third installment of Belmont's nursing student wellness initiative, which has also included yoga sessions led by nursing students and a festive gingerbread house competition before Christmas.
According to Dr. Scism, the success and positive student feedback from "Brushes and Bites" has inspired plans for future wellness programming with interdisciplinary collaboration across campus.
Longer-term, the school is looking into developing a dedicated nursing student wellness lounge on campus — a permanent space for Belmont's future nurses to prioritize their mental health through self-care activities.
"Creating innovative, fun and stress-relieving activities that promote better work-life balance while building community is a major focus for us,” said Scism. “The literature shows the immense need for initiatives like this, and we're committed to being proactive about supporting our students' wellbeing from the start."
The ICON faculty recognizes that for their students to provide exceptional care for others, they must first care for themselves. The school's proactive wellness initiatives instill critical self-care practices from the start, allowing Belmont's future nurses to establish the invaluable work-life balance and coping strategies crucial in such a demanding and rewarding profession.
