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STORY TELLING: BUILDING RESILIENCE IN BLACK INDIGENOUS WOMEN VICTIMS OF INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE
Get PDFNo woman is immune to intimate partner violence (IPV) regardless of their religion, socioeconomic status, culture, or level of education. Intimate partner violence is a prevalent problem that affects more women than men globally, is “underreported”, and poorly managed within the health care system. Intimate partner violence has also accounted for multiple homicides, social and health challenges. Consequently, IPV is a pervasive and stressful social issue that impacts these women and their immediate community; therefore, addressing intimate partner violence has become a public health goal.
Storytelling is a therapeutic tool that encourages emotional healing in a safe space, free of judgment and full of compassion. Storytelling helps identify the impact of IPV on its victims and discover ways in which victims can find purpose in their pain and gain control over their narrative. This quality improvement project explored the effectiveness of storytelling in healing from IPV induced emotional pain among twelve indigenous Black, women. The women’s ages ranged from 30-60, and they had never had prior exposure to the use of storytelling. The author met with the women individually for one hour every week for six weeks. Twelve participants were committed to healing and learned adaptive coping mechanisms. Ten participants developed resilience, and confidence and found storytelling beneficial to their healing journey. The theoretical framework that guided this project was the Science of Human Caring by Jean Watson. The Caritas processes guided the care and nurturance of these women in a holistic manner, meeting the needs of the body, mind, and soul.
Keywords: intimate partner violence, storytelling, resilience
Mindfulness Meditation for Informal Caregivers of Individuals living with Alzheimer\u27s Disease
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Caring for individuals with Alzheimer’s disease places significant emotional, physical, financial, and psychological burden on caregivers. Alzheimer’s disease is leading to an increase in family members becoming informal caregivers for their loved ones living with this disease. According to the Alzheimer’s Association (2022), 66% of caregivers for people with dementia live in their homes with them. This scholarly project, through a literature review and qualitative data collection, explored the lived experiences of informal caregivers leading to feelings of stress. Mindfulness meditation provides proven benefits to stress management. Margaret Newman’s theory of Health as Expanding Consciousness lays the foundation for this scholarly project. A three-session mindfulness meditation program was developed and implemented at an established support group for informal caregivers of individuals living with dementia. Each session focused on providing education on mindfulness meditation and the benefits, as well as performing guided meditation practices and applying deep breathing exercises. Participating informal caregivers responded with improved knowledge of mindfulness meditation and reduced stress levels through quantitative data and survey results. Mindfulness meditation provides an affordable and accessible opportunity for stress management for informal caregivers and their enhanced well-being, ultimately leading to improved care for individuals living with Alzheimer’s disease.
Keywords: Alzheimer’s disease, informal caregivers, stress, mindfulness meditatio
Reflexology for Chronic Pain
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Background: Millions of Americans are diagnosed and suffer with chronic pain everyday. Patients with chronic pain typically require frequent and routine healthcare visits to manage many symptoms. This scholarly project evaluated individuals who lack health care accessibility and are currently homeless individuals with chronic pain. Methods: The scholarly project was conducted over three weeks with twenty consistent participants participating in reflexology sessions for their chronic pain. Supportive studies conducted in Greece, Iran, London, United States were included in the synthesis of evidence-based practice about chronic pain and reflexology. The search methods used in this literature review were through CINAHL and PubMed databases. The keywords included chronic pain, fibromyalgia, reflexology, disability, treatment, healthcare, and reduced pain. Results: Findings indicated that reflexology was easily teachable and effective in reducing the participants pain by 50% from baseline pain level. Supportive studies showed that NSAIDs, antidepressants, anticonvulsants, diet modifications, and reflexology had decreased symptoms for those with chronic pain. Conclusion: Reflexology is an effective integrative therapy option for those who have chronic pain and teachable to perform on others and self for therapy. Supportive literature indicates NSAIDs, antidepressants, anticonvulsants, diet modifications, and reflexology need to be studied in a control group to further understand the long-term effects of those with chronic pain.
Keywords: chronic pain, homelessness, reflexology, disability, treatment, healthcare, and reduced pai
Factors in the Relationship between Rural Cancer Patients and Mental Health
No full textCancer patients frequently experience psychological distress, yet many do not access mental health services, particularly those residing in rural areas. The present study examines what factors contribute to utilization of mental health services and attitudes toward seeking mental health services in rural cancer patients who are actively receiving cancer treatments. Participants (N = 102) completed a paper and pencil survey. A logistic regression was used to examine the relationship between five predictor variables (anxiety, depression, social support, geographic location, and number of barriers) on the outcome variable (utilization of services). The model was statistically significant, X2(4) = 22.39, p = .007\u3c .001, and explained 41.2% of the variance. Anxiety and the number of barriers were statistically significant predictors of mental health service utilization. Measures of depression, social support, and geographic location were not significant predictors. A hierarchical multiple linear regression was conducted to examine the association between attitudes toward seeking mental health services and the five predictor variables mentioned above. The overall regression model was not statistically significant (F (2, 68) = .91, p = .41), and none of the individual predictors had a significant impact on the outcome. These findings have important clinical implications for mental health and oncology providers. In particular, clinics should conduct routine screening for anxiety and address barriers to utilizing mental health care which may result in increased mental health service usage. Overall, this study provides valuable insight into the complex factors influencing mental health service utilization and attitudes toward seeking mental health care
Making Scents of Aromatherapy: Using Lavender to Ease Anxiety During Invasive Procedures
No full textThis project assesses the effectiveness of lavender aromatherapy as a nurse-led intervention to alleviate procedural anxiety in patients undergoing invasive procedures. In a study by Fakes et al. (2023), half of the participants reported increased anxiety before medical imaging procedures. Essential oils have a long medical history that dates back thousands of years. Lavender essential oil, used in aromatherapy, is known for its calming and soothing properties. A project utilizing pre- and post-procedural surveys was developed to quantify procedural anxiety and assess the effectiveness of lavender aromatherapy as an intervention within the procedural environment. This project incorporates concepts from Jean Watson’s caring science theory to create a healing environment through therapeutic communication, addressing the holistic needs of each patient. Integrating evidence-based practices into routines showcases transformational nursing leadership that empowers nurses to propose ideas and evidence, thereby enhancing patient experience and outcomes
The Green Room: Creating an Environment to Combat Burnout in the Emergency Department
Get PDFBACKGROUND: In 2020 a pandemic created dangerous workloads leading to many nurses quitting their careers due to chronic stress. This project will create the green room, which is the name of this recharge room, where staff can go to experience a moment of peace to decrease their stress levels. This room had a spa aesthetic with comfortable seating and green plants. METHODS: This quality improvement project follows the plan-do-study-act model. When participants arrived, they filled out a questionnaire before using the room. They were then shown all the things they could do to utilize the room. After they were done using the room, they filled out the second half of the questionnaire and the feedback. The questionnaire included simple demographics, the stress level of staff before and after using the relaxation room, and one multiple-choice question asking for feedback. Participants included 12 females and 3 males ranging in age from 22 to 52. There were 9 nurses and 6 emergency room technicians with job experience ranging from 8 months to 15.5 years. RESULTS: The average stress level before using the green room was 6.4. The average stress level after using the green room was 2.5. Eleven participants enjoyed the massage chair and four enjoyed the atmosphere. All the participants stated they enjoyed the experience. CONCLUSIONS: The average before and after stress levels show that this project has been effective in decreasing the stress level for these 15 participants. This type of relaxation room is a good way for healthcare organizations to uphold and strengthen their staff. While this project was done exclusively within the emergency department, other hospital departments may also benefit from using recharge rooms
EDUCATING LATINO UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS WITH END-STAGE RENAL DISEASE WHO RELY ON EMERGENT HEMODIALYSIS TO BETTER MANAGE THEIR DISEASE
No full textLatino undocumented immigrants with end-stage renal disease in the United States can only access dialysis when presenting to an Emergency Department with life-threatening symptoms. This project aims to educate Latino undocumented immigrants who have end-stage renal disease and rely on emergent-only hemodialysis to better manage their disease. Compared to other undocumented immigrants, Latino immigrants are at higher risk for health issues due to their migration journey and exposure to violent trauma. Limited access to health care, public services, language, and cultural differences are some of the barriers for undocumented Latino immigrants. Traditional healing practices such as curanderismo are deeply ingrained in the Latino culture and focus on physical, mental, and spiritual well-being. Also, the central role of the family in the Latino culture influences their behaviors, identity, and values. This project will utilize body mapping combined with Jean Watson’s Theory of Caring, which offers a holistic approach to caring for patients. Body mapping is an art and a unique way of transcribing emotions and experiences without words, used to understand experiences and social interactions. This project also highlights the importance of balance to prevent illnesses and restore health. The project encourages nurses and other providers to become actively involved in educating themselves and their patients about the need for culturally competent care, health care disparities, and the social determinants of health
Avoidance of Mental Health Utilization and Reporting of Symptoms among U.S. Air Force Active-Duty Service Members in Civilian-Equivalent Career Fields
Get PDFThe high suicide rate among U.S. active-duty military personnel and veterans is a significant public health concern. Despite the high prevalence rate of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) among this population, service members are less likely to seek mental health services compared to the civilian population. Factors such as fear of career harm, stigma, and barriers to care contribute to this avoidance. This study aimed to investigate if service members in civilian-equivalent (non-combat) jobs are less likely to disclose psychological symptoms compared to those in combat-related career fields and to assess the impact of perceived importance to the military mission. The findings of the present study revealed no significant differences between combat and non-combat personnel in their willingness to disclose psychological symptoms. These results suggest that institutional and cultural factors may have a more substantial influence on disclosure behaviors than occupational roles alone. These findings align with prior research, indicating that barriers to help-seeking, such as stigma and career consequences, are pervasive across military roles
The Effects of Community-Based Diabetes Prevention Education for Mexican Women
Get PDFMexican women are at a high risk for developing type two diabetes and suffer from higher rates of disability associated with complications of type two diabetes. Risk factors for this community include dietary choices, low health literacy, and lack of primary care. Several studies show that culturally based preventative type two diabetes education provides the support system and culturally unique type two diabetes prevention education for patients who identify as Hispanic or Latino to be successful in preventing chronic disease. Madeleine Leininger, the mother of Culture Care theory, was the theoretical guide for this scholarly project. The objectives of this scholarly project were to develop a culturally appropriate type two diabetes prevention intervention, recruit adult women who identify as Mexican or Mexican American to participate in the intervention, implement the culturally appropriate type two diabetes prevention education within the Mexican community, and evaluate participants knowledge of type two diabetes before and after participating in the culturally appropriate type two diabetes intervention. A community-based approach was used to deliver culturally appropriate type two diabetes education to increase knowledge in type two diabetes in Mexican women. This scholarly project found that Mexican women in a suburb of a metropolitan area improved their knowledge about type two diabetes through a culturally appropriate type two diabetes prevention education program. Providers have the ability to change the current education in place to prevent type 2 diabetes to help decrease the incidence of type 2 diabetes in the Mexican community through a culturally appropriate approach. Community-based type two diabetes shows the potential to decrease the incidence of type two diabetes in the Mexican women community.
Keywords: type 2 diabetes, community-based education, Mexican culture, women AND type 2 diabetes
STRENGTHENING ADDICTION RECOVERY IN ADULTS THROUGH MINDFULNESS
Get PDFAddiction is a significant health issue that affects millions of people. Individuals experiencing addiction face challenges in their everyday lives which often results in health issues, financial and/or legal issues, and broken relationships with family and friends. Additionally, there are often many barriers to seeking treatment which ultimately prevents recovery from substance use disorder. Throughout history, addiction has often been misunderstood, however, it is now recognized as a chronic illness that permanently changes the way the brain functions. Mindfulness is an intervention that promotes a nonjudgmental, nonreactive awareness that can strengthen the recovery process by acceptance of the craving response associated with substance use. This scholarly project provided mindfulness sessions to individuals experiencing addiction in a recovery house with the intention that mindfulness could be used along with other treatment modalities to strengthen the recovery process. An increase in mindfulness and overall self-awareness among individuals experiencing addiction was noted after the implementation of the mindfulness sessions, suggesting the effectiveness of mindfulness as an intervention to strengthen the recovery process