Nursing students nationwide face a unique combination of academic rigor, high emotional demands and the challenges of preparing for life-and-death decision-making. In recent years, this intense training environment has heightened concerns about mental health in nursing education, prompting schools across the country to rethink how they support student well-being.

At the University of Nevada, Reno, the Orvis School of Nursing (OSN) is answering that call with a model of care that extends beyond the classroom and into the heart of its community. This commitment was recognized on August 1, 2025, when Insight Into Academia magazine awarded OSN the 2025 Excellence in Mental Health and Well-Being Award, a national honor spotlighting institutions that integrate accessible services, emotional resilience, peer support and inclusive wellness initiatives into campus life.

Investing in student wellness from day one

For OSN, student mental health is not an add-on – it is a foundational part of the educational experience. In Spring 2025, the school’s Office of Inclusive Excellence and Belonging launched the OSN Student Wellness Program to address the growing mental health needs of nursing students.

At the heart of this program is a partnership with Uwill, an online platform providing every nursing student with six free therapy sessions per year, 24/7 crisis hotline access, and a rich library of on-demand wellness videos. This model removes cost, scheduling and accessibility barriers that often prevent students from seeking help.

The Office of Inclusive Excellence and Belonging also collaborated with the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine to bring Fresh Check Day to campus for the first time. Led by the initiative for suicide awareness and prevention, this interactive, peer-driven event creates a supportive, stigma-free environment for students to explore mental health resources, learn evidence-based coping skills and engage in open conversations about the realities of nursing education.

Building a resilient future nursing workforce

OSN leadership views these investments as a way to prepare students for the long haul. Research shows that nurses who develop strong coping strategies during training are less likely to experience burnout and more likely to deliver high-quality patient care over their careers.

“Our goal is simple,” says Dr. Zhizhong Li, associate dean of Inclusive Excellence and Belonging. “We want to graduate nurses who are clinically competent and mentally resilient. That means teaching them how to care for themselves as they learn to care for others.”

National recognition, local impact

Publisher Lenore Pearlstein of Insight Into Academia praised the award recipients as “role models for other institutions of higher education,” highlighting their dedication to inclusive excellence and well-being as a model for campuses nationwide.

For OSN students, the impact is immediate and personal. Nursing student feedback points to reduced stress, improved access to care, and a stronger sense of belonging within the program. Future initiatives, such as the Art @ Orvis project, will weave visual art into classrooms and shared spaces, inspiring reflection, sparking creativity, and strengthening the school’s overall sense of well-being.

Raising the bar in nursing education

By embedding mental health resources into the structure of nursing education, OSN is reframing what it means to prepare future nurses. This proactive, inclusive and sustainable approach is designed not just to help students survive nursing school but to thrive in it.

The message from OSN is clear: in nursing, caring for others begins with caring for yourself.