Teaching Belonging in Nursing Using Narrative Pedagogy.

Background: As Abraham Maslow asserts, belonging is essential to achieving self-esteem and self-actualization. With increasing numbers of novice nurse burnout and a perceived education-practice gap, promoting a sense of belonging is important to nurses' growth and psychological well-being and should start in nursing school.

Method: An elective course, Belonging in Nursing, was developed to assist undergraduate nursing students in understanding the importance of belonging through narrative pedagogy. Course topics include the concept of belonging, managing moral distress, professional identity and boundaries, and readiness for practice.

Results: Student feedback was positive, including the promotion of belonging in the class through hearing others express their fears and doubts and an increased awareness of moral distress and professional boundaries.

Conclusion: Teaching Belonging in Nursing through narrative pedagogy aids in integrating this vital concept into the undergraduate nursing curriculum. Promoting belonging should start in nursing school and continue into novice nurse practice. .