Graduate Nurses Experience the Sacred During Transcendental Meditation®*

Abstract

Abstract This qualitative study enhances understanding of lived experiences of graduate nursing students practicing Transcendental Meditation (TM). Findings are viewed through the lens of Perkins' (2004 2018, in production) perspective of emerging consciousness as found in Unitary Caring Science (Watson, 2012). A. Giorgi's (2009) descriptive phenomenological method was used to examine journals kept by participants for four months following the introduction of TM. When practicing this simple technique, students found themselves authentically present and balanced with enhanced job performance. Feelings of bliss, peacefulness, and integrity potentiated the experience of sacred space amid daily stressors while care, compassion, grace, gratitude, and appreciation resided within.