Well-being in Graduate Nursing: A Reflective and Goal-Oriented Approach
Overview
This resource guides graduate nursing students through a two-part assignment:
- Self-assessment of their lifestyle habits and wellness, and
- A reflective journal entry and action plan that includes specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-sensitive (SMART) goals.
Students actively work toward achieving these goals throughout the semester and reflect on their progress at the course’s conclusion. Integrating self-care into graduate nursing education supports the well-being and resilience of future nurses and fosters a culture of “practicing what we preach.”
How to Use
Students follow the prompts provided to complete each step of the assignment. In the final week of the course’s semester, students complete a self-evaluation of their three SMART goals.
Integrative Learning Strategies
Supportive learning required for assignment completion should include instruction on:
- The importance of self-care and wellness, especially in the context of burnout, resiliency, quality of life, work-life balance, job demands, and patient outcomes
- Healthy lifestyle and self-care behaviors
- Self-assessments for a multidimensional evaluation of personal well-being
- Barriers that can impede self-care practice
- Evidence-based resources for self-care
- Emerging technology that enhances and expands opportunities for self-care
Assessment Strategies
The student’s learning outcomes for the initial assignment are evaluated through a structured rubric with custom points. See the Assignment Rubric.
The self-evaluation at the end of the course requires students to give thoughtful consideration to the following prompts:
- Type in your SMART objective #1 from Module 2A. Evaluate your progress toward meeting this objective. To what extent did your actions and strategies align with your SMART objective? What evidence do you have to demonstrate that you successfully met each component?
- Type in your SMART objective #2 from Module 2A. Evaluate your progress toward meeting this objective. To what extent did your actions and strategies align with your SMART objective? What evidence do you have to demonstrate that you successfully met each component?
- Type in your SMART objective #3 from Module 2A. Evaluate your progress toward meeting this objective. To what extent did your actions and strategies align with your SMART objective? What evidence do you have to demonstrate that you successfully met each component?
The self-evaluation can be embedded into the learning management system (LMS) quiz function. Course points are associated with the self-evaluation. Points can be deducted for responses that are brief (<100 words) and/or do not address all elements of the prompt.
Learning Objectives
- Demonstrate the ability to conduct a comprehensive self-assessment of personal well-being, identifying strengths and areas for improvement in physical, mental, and emotional health.
- Develop and evaluate evidence-based strategies using current and emerging technologies to promote self-care management.
Possible Courses
- Foundations in Advanced Nursing
- Health Promotion and Disease Prevention
- Population Health
- Informatics and Healthcare Technology
- Professional Development
- Leadership
Additional Resources/Publications
American Nurses Association. (n.d.). Healthy nurse, healthy nation challenge. https://www.healthynursehealthynation.org
Downes, L. & Tryon, L. (2025). Health promotion and disease prevention for advanced practice: Integrating evidence-based lifestyle concepts. Jones & Bartlett Learning. ISBN-13: 9781284249200
The Wheel of Wellness. (n.d.). Wellness wheel. https://thewheelofwellness.wordpress.com/wellness-wheel/
University of Minnesota. (n.d.). The wellbeing model. https://www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu/wellbeing
Sub-competencies for advance-level professional nursing education:
2.8f Develop strategies that promote self-care management.
2.8g Incorporate the use of current and emerging technologies to support self-care management.
2.8i Evaluate adequacy of resources available to support self-care management.
8.1g Identify best evidence and practices for the application of information and communication technologies to support care.
Posted: November 4, 2025
Submitted by:
Dannica Callies, DNP, CNP, FNP-C, CNE, Clinical Assistant Professor, South Dakota State University
If you would like to cite this resource in your own work, please use the following citation:
Callies, D. (2025). Well-being in Graduate Nursing: A Reflective and Goal-Oriented Approach. Excerpted from the Essentials Teaching Resource Database. American Association of Colleges of Nursing, Washington, DC. Available at https://www.aacnnursing.org/AACN-Essentials/Implementation-Tool-Kit.