Evaluation of Peer-Led Support Groups for Graduate Nursing Students

The purpose of this article is to explore the educational and experiential benefits for graduate nursing students as both leaders and members of a peer-led support group. The published literature on the stress associated with nursing education and methods used to decrease nursing students’ anxiety will be reviewed, and a peer-led support group model will be described. An evaluation of the outcomes for participants as they relate to the goals of decreasing the stress inherent in nursing education and assisting with nursing role transition will be examined. In addition, the benefits of using peer group leaders as part of their group therapy training will be discussed. Received: March 2, 2004 Accepted: September 10, 2004 Ms. Hamrin is Assistant Professor and Ms. Pachler and Ms. Fournier are Nurse Practitioners, Yale University School of Nursing, New Haven, Connecticut. At the time this article was written, Ms. Weycer was also a Nurse Practitioner at Yale University School of Nursing. AUTHORS Address correspondence to Vanya Hamrin, MS, APRN, BC, Assistant Professor, Yale University School of Nursing, 100 Church Street South, PO Box 9740, New Haven, CT 06536-0740; e-mail: vanya.hamrin@yale.edu.