Mindfulness and Shinrin-yoku (SY) translated as forest bathing, is potentially effective to alleviate mental health issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. The purpose of this article is to provide a translational and pragmatic approach to understanding mindfulness in the context of SY and psychological wellbeing through a rapid review of the literature. The background of mindfulness and SY practice are discussed and the emotional, neuroendocrine, and neurobiological responses are examined. Next, a rapid review of the literature examined six studies, published between 2010 and 2020 to determine what is known regarding the relationship between SY, mindfulness, and psychological wellbeing. The studies included 21–360 participants with a mean age of 20–55 years. The results demonstrated a significant positive correlation between nature, mindfulness, and measures of psychological wellbeing. During uncertain events, including COVID-19, weaving mindfulness with SY may be specifically important to at-risk groups, those experiencing depression, loneliness, and social isolation, and at-risk populations such as college students, veterans, and professionals with high levels of stress. The goal of this review is to provide a thorough background and support of this cost-effective modality to promote overall psychological wellbeing as a preventative measure to those at risk or experiencing psychological illnesses.

Background and purpose: nature-based interventions (NBI) have been shown to have positive effects on physical, psychological, social, and spiritual health. The purpose of this scoping literature review was to describe what is known regarding the cancer survivor experience in relationship to their interaction with the natural environment. Description/methods: this review was completed using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR). The research strategy included a combination of these terms: cancer, neoplasms, nature, and forest therapy. The articles were blinded and screened by four independent researchers. A total of twelve articles were selected. Outcome/results: a total of 2786 cancer survivors participated in the twelve studies with multiple types and stages of cancer represented. The studies used multiple designs and measures. Results showed improvements in anxiety, depression, sleep, connectedness, stress, tension, confusion, fatigue, and pain. Participants reported that nature was the most important resource in coping with their cancer. Conclusions and implications: nature is beneficial for cancer survivors while they experience cancer diagnosis and treatment. Nature opportunities can be feasibly delivered with this population and need to be explored further and safely implemented to support the overall health and well-being of cancer survivors.

Burnout, compassion fatigue, and perceived stress among undergraduate nursing students are significant factors leading to a poorer quality of life, decreased job satisfaction, and adversely impact patient outcomes. Burnout among undergraduate nursing students is a critical individual and workforce issue with contributing factors including a relentless schedule, academically challenging and rigorous programs, pressure to perform, and the completion of clinical hours caring for patients. This paper describes our feasibility study of a nature-based intervention (NBI) to reduce perceived stress and quality of life as it relates to burnout, and compassion fatigue. Quantitative data was collected through demographics, surveys, and electronic sensor data. The project’s aim was to determine the feasibility of NBI monitored by NatureDose^TM to decrease perceived stress burnout and compassion fatigue among undergraduate nursing students.

Background/Objectives: To identify and analyze what is known about the psychosocial factors affecting the wellbeing and sources of support of young adult (YA) cancer survivors. Methods: The search strategy included Neoplasms, young adults, psycho* or emotional well* or mental health. The OVID Medline and CINAHL databases were searched. Included were cancer survivors (YA) ages 18–39 at the time of the study. The studies included qualitative and quantitative designs, written in English, and published between January 2016 and October 2024. The results were recorded according to PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Results: Thirteen studies with 4992 participants found psychosocial factors to be the most important influence on life satisfaction with social support the most decisive factor. This expands the results of previous reviews by including a variety of study designs and data collection tools to provide a comprehensive understanding of the YA experience. Psychosocial concerns affecting wellbeing led to social isolation, low connectedness with family and friends, and significant distress. Consistent with previous reviews, the greatest challenges to wellbeing were psychosocial needs, which included seeking and delivering information that is easy to understand but detailed, which can decrease frustration and anger, and needs to be readily available and accessible. Unlike older adult cancer survivors, YA survivors are more likely to have reduced psychosocial functioning compared to their peers and suffer from higher distress than their adult peers and non-YA cancer survivors with anxiety as the most reported symptom. Conclusions: Interventions need to be developed that lessen the impact of a cancer diagnosis and cancer treatments. The specific needs of YAs must be further researched and evaluated to determine specific interventions and the support needed during this crucial stage of cancer survivorship. Future research must also increase the focus on the racial and ethnic diversity of participants as well as prioritizing underserved populations and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The triple planetary crisis of climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss has deleterious consequences for local and global public health. Nursing is among the diverse evidence-based disciplines now working to advance planetary health for all. We offer examples from nurse scholars at two academic institutions in the United States, sharing insights and best practices for integrating planetary health in nursing education and research. At both institutions, planetary health is embedded across courses and tailored to align with nursing competencies and the Planetary Health Education Framework. Students’ international exposure fosters a global perspective on health equity and environmental resilience. This curriculum transformation demonstrates a paradigm shift towards environmental and social responsibility in nursing, preparing future nurses to address complex planetary health issues. This article also explores the role of nursing research in promoting planetary health, focusing on the intersection of health inequities and environmental justice in racialized and low-income communities. Examples include Indigenous-led research to address gender-based violence and environmental exploitation, highlighting the interconnectedness of land and body sovereignty in Indigenous health. Additionally, research on the health impacts of pollution in Black communities demonstrates how environmental hazards increase chronic health issues. Nurse-led research advocates for collaborative partnerships to support public health resilience in communities overburdened by the triple planetary health crisis. The research has revealed that public health nurses require increased organizational support to promote planetary health. Our collective expertise in nursing education and research illustrates the need for nurses to serve as champions for social, environmental, and multispecies justice. We advocate for nursing school leadership to strategically incorporate planetary health resources emphasizing justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion. Institutional support is vital for planetary health education and research, and merit systems should recognize the time and effort needed to build authentic community partnerships. The article concludes with a call for nursing leadership in planetary health, emphasizing the transformative potential of nursing to advocate for and protect all forms of life.

Background: The high stress of nursing education can adversely affect students' well-being. Nature -based therapies aim to lessen stress. There is a gap in knowledge related to nature -based therapies and the nursing student population. The aims of this study were: (1) to describe the wellbeing of nursing students; and (2) to assess the effects of a nature -based intervention on students' anxiety, stress, relatedness, resilience, and well-being. Method:This descriptive study included 28 nursing students at a midwestern university. Participants completed online questionnaires before and after a nature -based intervention at an arboretum that consisted of five 1 -hour designated nature walks guided by an audio recording. Results: Participants' mean (SD) scores for well-being were classified as average before the intervention (54.3 [3.7]) and increased significantly after the intervention (55.3 [3.2]) (p = .04). Conclusion: With rising stress and anxiety levels among college students, nature interventions can support nursing students' overall wellbeing.