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A Mobile Meditation Application to Impact Nursing and Nursing Student Stress
No full textNurses care for all members of the community and are expected to be representatives of good health. They often place the needs of their patients before their own while they are faced with a variety of stressful situations and working environments (Linton & Koonmen, 2020). Nurses experience high levels of stress which can have negative effects on an individual. Over time, untreated stress for nurses may lead to burnout or compassion fatigue which has been associated with poor patient outcomes, decreased patient satisfaction, and high attrition rates (Bonamer & Aquino-Russel, 2019). This can result in increased costs related to callouts, overtime, and additional training of newly hired nurses. Jon Kabat-Zinn developed a mindfulness-based stress reduction program that involves breathing exercises and directing attention to the present moment in a non-judgmental way (Kabat-Zinn, 2003). Holistic interventions such as increasing mindfulness through meditation practices have become popular for helping to increase resilience for nurses (Chesak et al., 2019). Time constraints for nurses and organizations, due to prolonged training, are an obstacle to introducing mindfulness practices. The delivery of meditation through mobile phone applications has been gaining strength due to its ability to reach many individuals without costly in-person training. The purpose of this Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project was to determine if the implementation of meditation practices through a mobile device impacted stress for nurses.
This project was carried out over a six-week period with the participation of medical-surgical staff nurses at a community hospital using the UCLA Mindful meditation application. Individual stress was measured using the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) pre- and post-survey. A paired t-test was utilized to compare the individual PSS-10 scores. The data analyzed revealed a moderate effect on the pre- and post PSS-10 scores. Most of the participants (n = 10, 83.3%) reported using the UCLA Mindful application and nine plan to continue its use (n = 9, 75%). The American Nurses Association Code of Ethics Provision 5 states, “a nurse owes the same duties to self as to others including the responsibility to promote health and safety,” (ANA, 2015). The use of this free meditation application provides a convenient option for recognizing stress and improving self-care.
Outcomes:
1. Create awareness of the presence of stress for nurses2. Provide a beneficial, holistic method of improving wellness for individuals and organizations
A Mobile Medical Unit Program to Improve Access to Care for Veterans Experiencing Homelessness
No full textBackground: Veterans experiencing homelessness often have unmet medical needs and experience barriers to accessing and/or engaging in traditional clinic-based care.1,2 The Veterans Affairs (VA) Homeless Patient Aligned Care Team (HPACT) model provides primary care, mental health, housing services, case management, and key wrap-around services in a multi-disciplinary, population-tailored approach that is designed to address these unique needs and distinct challenges homeless veterans face. Combing these elements with a mobile medical unit (MMU) provides the HPACT team with the necessary infrastructure to provide care in community-based settings in a safe and confidential space with medical supplies and equipment readily available.3 MMUs bring services directly to where veterans are and help reduce barriers to care.Objective: To evaluate adoption, implementation, and maintenance of the HPACT MMU program and the impact on homeless veterans and the VA healthcare system.Design: A mixed methods approach was used guided by the Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, and Maintenance (RE-AIM) framework.4 Data collected included HPACT MMU national meeting minutes, VA electronic medical record data, and monthly MMU travel logs.Results: 25 MMUs were deployed across 18 states and fully operational serving homeless veterans. Healthcare encounters with veterans in the community setting increased especially among those who struggled accessing traditional clinic-based care at VA medical centers like unsheltered homeless veterans. Resulting qualitative themes included MMU experiences, patient outcomes, and operational challenges.Conclusion: The VA HPACT MMU program is the largest integrated mobile health program serving homeless veterans in the United States. Findings from this program evaluation provide insights into an innovative approach that expand the boundaries of VA healthcare to better serve one of the most vulnerable populations and improve health equity. Finally, this program plays a pivotal role in making connections to the broader VA healthcare system and contributes to the goal of ending veteran homelessness.
Turning Setbacks into Strength: Developing the Emerging Concept of Reclaiming Power
No full textReclaiming power represents a transformative journey where individuals restore autonomy, resilience, and intentional participation in life. This concept emphasizes a shift from disconnection and diminished engagement to active involvement in personal growth and change. It redefines setbacks as opportunities for self-discovery, fostering openness to life’s unpredictability and challenges.Substance Use Disorder (SUD) affects 14.5% of individuals aged 12 and older in the United States, equating to 48.7 million people (SAMHSA, 2023). This chronic condition, characterized by compulsive substance use, often leads to cycles of recovery and relapse. Overdose deaths rose by 50.9% between 2019 and 2022 (CDC, 2023), with relapse rates ranging from 40% to 60% and up to 90% for single post-treatment use (Kabisa et al., 2021). These statistics underscore the need for innovative strategies to support resilience and recovery.The concept of reclaiming power provides a framework for reconnecting with inner strength and navigating recovery more effectively. Grounded in Barrett’s Theory of Power as Knowing Participation in Change (2020), it reframes challenges as essential components of transformation. By fostering resilience and adaptability, reclaiming power promotes personal growth, purposeful decision-making, and self-discovery.This work aimed to define and develop the concept of reclaiming power by identifying its key attributes and potential applications. The framework equips individuals to reassess strategies, harness inner strength, and move forward with intention. Setbacks are reframed as opportunities for reflection, enabling growth and recalibration.Developed using Liehr and Smith’s (2024) concept-building process, the framework integrates findings from literature reviews, theoretical analysis, and narrative accounts. Core attributes include turning points, seeking support, conscious decision-making, renewed purpose, and reframing setbacks. These elements form a cyclical and empowering model illustrating the iterative nature of recovery.Reclaiming power offers significant implications for nursing practice by fostering empowerment and resilience in individuals recovering from SUD. Its principles extend to broader challenges, including trauma and chronic illness. By promoting holistic, person-centered care, this framework supports growth, resilience, and intentional participation in life
Piloting a Simulated Electronic Health Record in Cambodia for Nursing Students in a Nursing Informatic Course
No full textIntroduction: Electronic health records (EHR) integration is vital in modern healthcare, yet there is limited research on EHR training in nursing education in Cambodia and the ASEAN region. This study explores the implementation of simulated EHR training for Cambodian nursing students and its potential benefits for the curriculum.
Method: A four-week pilot was conducted with 62 Cambodian nursing students at the University of Puthisastra. Students participated in simulated EHR activities and completed a post-course survey to identify challenges such as medical terminology, computer literacy, and English proficiency.
Results: 93.5% of students recommended continuing EHR training despite challenges, including difficulties with medical terminology (43.5%), computer literacy (40.3%), and English proficiency (32.3%). Students acknowledged the importance of EHR in improving healthcare delivery.
Discussion: While students faced language and technical barriers, simulated EHR exposure provided valuable experience. Localising resources and enhancing medical terminology training could improve EHR education. This study contributes to the literature on EHR training in Cambodia and the ASEAN region, suggesting the need for curriculum and technology development
Crafting Competency-Based Nursing Assessments with AI: A Practical Workshop
No full textIn an age where competency is the expected learning outcome across degree levels in nursing programs, faculty members must update or develop new, authentic assessments that better meet this expectation. But updating and developing assessments can be a time consuming process. Faculty members’ time is at a premium, so this interactive session will delve into using the most current AI tools that can effectively support faculty members through this process.Generative AI tools provide opportunities for increased productivity and brainstorming.1,2 These tools can be used to draft licensure-style questions based on lecture materials and course content, format assessments for transparency, draft rubrics, receive feedback on current assessments, and draft patient profiles and case studies amongst other time-saving tasks.1,3,4 Additionally, generative AI is often used by faculty members as a brainstorming tool to inspire ideas for new authentic assessments.5 While there are many benefits to using generative AI, the output should be regarded as draft material, requiring verification by the faculty member prior to dissemination. There are also differences amongst the generative AI tools and the training data from which they draw information, making the decision about which tool to use for what task an important consideration.6During this session we will introduce the most up-to-date generative AI tools and associated costs of use, describe which tool is most appropriate for which purpose, and provide examples of assessments built using generative AI. We will then split into groups and encourage each group to practice drafting an assessment (building a rubric, transparent assignment, NCLEX-style question, patient profile/case study, or prompting for customized interactions). Participants are encouraged to bring their personal computing devices so they can actively participate in the development of an assignment draft that could be used in one of their own courses
Workplace Dignity Amongst Clinical Nurses
No full textBackground: The workplace environment plays a pivotal role in employees’ lives as they spend many hours there. Recently, greater attention has been placed on workplace conditions as a key social determinant of health. One way through which workplace conditions may affect health is workplace dignity. This study aimed to describe clinical nurses’ workplace dignity.
Methods: The study design was descriptive and cross-sectional. Clinical nurses within a tertiary institution were randomly sampled. Data collection included the Workplace Dignity scale which is an 18 item-seven-point Likert scale consisting of dignity and indignity questions (α.98, and 0.95, respectively). Data collection commenced with a pilot followed by a final data collection phase. Ethical considerations were included via informed consent, anonymity, and confidentiality. Data analysis included means, standard deviations, and Pearson correlations.
Results: The pilot test yielded a reliability coefficient – α 0.93. Two hundred and thirty-six clinical nurses participated in the study resulting in a response rate of 87.4%. The average mean age of participants was 37.966 ± 0.635 (min 25- max 60) years. Most participants were female (92.8%) with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing Degree (77.5%). The overall mean experience as a registered nurse was 16.038 ± 0.589 years. Nationality responses were divided into Saudi (41.5%) and non-Saudi (58.5%). The construct of general dignity had the highest mean score of 5.52 (SD 1.46), with question 14: “I have dignity at work” having the highest overall mean score of 5.63 (SD 1.4). There was a positive correlation and statistical significance with a ‘p \u3c 0.000 i.e. as a nurses’ experience as a registered nurse increased, workplace dignity scores increased.
Conclusion: The findings of this study indicated that inherent value and general dignity were the highest-scored constructs while indignity and respectful interaction scored the lowest. This study allows for reflection on the importance of workplace dignity, as an impactful and important organizational phenomenon that affects either positively or negatively on employee well-being and performance, hence workplace dignity must be prioritized within work environmental infrastructures
Mitigating Global Mental Health Shortfall: An Advocacy Action Plan for Recovery with Community Healthcare
No full textBackground: More than one billion people worldwide are living with mental health conditions, with anxiety and depressive disorders now among the leading causes of disability globally (World Health Organization [WHO], 2025). Despite this growing burden, mental health services remain inaccessible for many underserved communities due to stigma, provider shortages, and fragmented care systems. Nurse-led community-based programs have shown promise in improving early detection, reducing symptom severity, and strengthening local support networks. This global action plan elucidates a pilot community-based mental health support program aligned with Sustainable Development Goals 3, 10, 16, and 17.
Objective: The purpose of this pilot project is to design, implement, and evaluate a six-month nurse-led community mental health support program aimed at improving access to screening, brief intervention, referral pathways, and mental health literacy within underserved populations.
Methods: The action plan includes a five-phase implementation process: (a) conducting a needs assessment, (b) forming a multidisciplinary steering committee, (c) implementing screening and brief intervention services across sites, (d) delivering culturally tailored literacy and stigma-reduction education, and (e) evaluating the program using metrics such as utilization rates, symptom changes, and participant satisfaction. Health workers will be trained to provide evidence-based interventions, including mental health/psychological first aid and brief cognitive-behavioral strategies.
Results (Expected): The pilot is expected to increase access to mental health services for approximately 500 individuals, enhance mental health literacy, and reduce stigma while building community capacity.
Conclusions: This action plan offers a scalable, evidence-informed model for improving mental health access and equity. Nursing leadership and interdisciplinary partnerships can play a central role in advancing sustainable community mental health innovations
Adapting to Change: ADN Faculty Perspectives About the Future of ADN Education: A Qualitative Case Study
Get PDFThe purpose of this qualitative single case study was to offer more insight into how the adoption of the BSN as the entry-level for nursing practice affects the future ADN education and what the change means for ADN faculty at multiple programs throughout regions of the United States. Eleven ADN faculty were sampled to acquire their perspective about this phenomenon
Implementation of a Standardized Protocol for Early Detection of Coronary Artery Disease
Get PDFCardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the leading cause of mortality worldwide, accounting for over 931,000 deaths in the United States in 2021. The growing prevalence of CVD, coupled with increased life expectancy, underscores the need for early detection and intervention to mitigate its impact on patients, families, and society. Timely identification of subclinical heart disease can significantly improve outcomes by allowing earlier implementation of preventive strategies.
This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project implemented a primary care–based protocol for the early detection of coronary artery disease (CAD) using the Coronary Artery Calcium (CAC) score. The CAC score, a non-invasive imaging modality, quantifies calcified plaque in coronary arteries and has demonstrated strong predictive value for future cardiovascular events. The protocol targeted patients aged 40 years and older at high risk for CAD based on modifiable risk factors, including hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes mellitus, obesity, and smoking.
The intervention aimed to standardize CAD screening within the primary care setting, improve provider adherence to evidence-based detection strategies, and increase patient awareness of cardiovascular risk. Early identification through CAC scoring supports shared decision-making, facilitates timely lifestyle modification or pharmacologic management, and has the potential to reduce morbidity and mortality associated with CVD. This project highlights the critical role of nurse practitioners in advancing cardiovascular prevention through guideline-directed screening and proactive management in primary care
Improving Workplace Wellbeing: What Made a Difference?
Get PDFAbstract Text: Purpose: To investigate previous efforts and to identify promising workplace strategies to improve professional wellbeing among nurses.Background: There is a mental health crisis in nursing that contributes to high rates of intention to leave (1,2). Systems-based approaches that go beyond the individual are crucial (2,3). But little is known about workplace-based approaches that can improve nurse mental health (1,2).Methods: We deductively and inductively analyzed 1317 nurses’ survey-based free-text descriptions of strategies used by their workplaces to improve professional wellbeing. Details about the Michigan Nurses Study have been published previously (4). We compared responses from nurses who plan to leave their position to responses from nurses who don’t.Results: The most common response was that the workplace had made no effort. Nurses who intended to leave reported no effort more often (40.8%) than nurses who didn’t (24.9%). The second most common response was increased compensation (e.g., bonuses, incentive pay); the third was improved facilities and other benefits (e.g., break rooms, free food and beverages). Self-scheduling and team huddles were also identified by multiple participants as helpful.Conclusions: Zero effort from workplaces may contribute to nurses’ intent to leave. Approaches that improve professional wellbeing include increased compensation and enhanced facilities. Further research into self-scheduling and daily huddles, which have previously shown promise in boosting staff satisfaction (5), may identify implementation practices best suited to enhancing nurse wellbeing