Explain the definition of mindfulness. The Buddhist meditation website Wildmind offers Jon Kabat-Zinn's definition as "paying attention in a particular way." Nursing students need to understand the meaning of paying attention so they are able to learn the methods of paying attention.
Show the students breathing techniques for meditation. Mindfulness often goes hand in hand with meditation because meditation can help focus the mind, especially at first, when mindfulness is a new concept. Have the students start breathing in the same manner.
Tell the students to focus only on their breathing. They should not allow their mind to wander and instead should notice the sensation of breathing: the feel of their body taking in air and expelling air. Mindfulness is a conscious thought process and requires refocusing throughout the exercises, especially at the beginning.
Assign the students to practice the same technique for a specific time period, such as one week. This will give the students a basic foundation in the meaning of mindfulness in their own lives and the benefits, such as stress relief.
Explain how nurses can use mindfulness at their job. Mindfulness is especially useful in health care because nursing is a high-stress profession and mindfulness can help nurses connect with patients. It starts with keeping control in their own minds and then branching out to focus on the patient for better communication and, thus, better health care.