Implementing embedded counseling services in nursing education: A model in action

Turnover and retention challenges remain prevalent within the nursing workforce, especially among less experienced nurses. Much of the evidence surrounding turnover and retention centers on burnout, a consequence of long-term exposure to occupational stress (World Health Organization, n.d.). Evidence indicates that burnout is a contributing factor to new nurse turnover (Bae, 2023; Su et al., 2025), and an examination of systems-based and personal factors indicates nursing students are experiencing stress and burnout before entering the profession. To address stress, burnout, and resilience in nursing students, nursing programs can integrate mental health support into programmatic structures. In other disciplines, embedded mental health counseling services have emerged as a promising strategy to support student well-being. However, there is a lack of procedural evidence guiding the implementation of such services within nursing education specifically. The purpose of this article is to present a comprehensive overview of how an embedded mental health counseling model was customized, resourced, and implemented to support students within a prelicensure baccalaureate nursing program. Lessons learned regarding financial and stakeholder engagement are provided. The embedded mental health counselor within one school of nursing signifies a commitment to integrating the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) The Essentials: Core Competencies for Professional Nursing Education. Through expansion of existing resources, nursing faculty sought to better understand and meet the needs of baccalaureate prelicensure nursing students.