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Sound and Silence for Patients With Dementia
Get PDFDementia, a condition that causes cognitive and physical impairments in the aging population, is becoming a global health issue as life expectancy continues to rise. Ineffective and inhumane interventions, such as physical and chemical restraints, are often used in acute hospitalizations due to safety concerns stemming from behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia. Nurses often feel overwhelmed by the complex needs of patients with dementia and may suffer from moral injury while trying to care for them with limited interventions. Fortunately, integrative therapies such as mindfulness meditation, energy therapies, and sound healing, show promising results for patients with dementia. Resonant Silence Technique, designed for patients with dementia, combines periods of sound and silence and has proven effective in reducing anxiety, agitation, and stress and improving mood, concentration, and communication among the dementia population. An Integrative Therapy Sanctuary developed for a suburban Medical-Surgical floor allows nurses and patients with dementia to experience Resonant Silence Technique in a calm, person-centered environment based on Jean Watson’s Theory of Human Caring, which emphasizes human being, caring, and the environment as key concepts. A thirty-minute educational session along with pre and post surveys for nurses on the Medical-Surgical floor evaluates the implementation of this program and possible expansion to other healthcare settings. Further research on Resonant Silence Technique for patients with dementia is essential to continue holistic healing for physical, emotional, and spiritual health
Native American Women as Palimpsestic Apparitions in Alejandro Gonzales Iñárritu’s The Revenant
No full textAlejandro Gonzales Iñárritu’s mythic retelling of the Hugh Glass story revises and critiques the grand narratives of American exceptionalism born of the frontier. It highlights the violence bred of racism that weaves throughout the history of westward expansion, undercuts the genre’s tendency toward white privilege through multi-lingual narratives, and centers a counter-narrative focused on Indigenous families and women. Building from and reflecting on my earlier work in Killing the Indian Maiden: Images of Native American Women in Film, this essay reads the film’s representation of Native/First Nations women as palimpsestic apparitions of the Celluloid Indian Maiden trope that are both progressive and problematic in their ability to counter white hegemonic narratives of power and ongoing racism. This reading engages the dialogical tension between Iñárritu’s representation of his two primary Indigenous women—the “ghost” of Glass’ wife and Powaqa—allowing us to explore the hegemonic power of cinematic tropes in residual form. Ultimately, as Indigenous responses are brought to bear witness, we are asked to consider our ongoing attachment to particular tropes and depictions of Indigenous women even as we attempt to critique them
Moderating Factors in the Relationship Between Bully Victimization and Psychosomatic Symptoms
Get PDFThe purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between bully victimization and psychosomatic symptoms, and to examine the protective influence of perceived parent and peer support across developmental age groups. Bully victimization frequency, somatic symptom severity, perceived parent support, and perceived peer support were assessed using archival data from 7,304 youth who participated in the 2009-2010 Health Behavior in School-Aged Children (HBSC) U.S. survey, excluding perpetrators of bullying. Bully victimization and somatic symptoms were significantly positively correlated. Older adolescents consistently reported more severe somatic symptoms, but age did not moderate the relationship between bullying and somatic symptoms. Higher levels of parental support were associated with less severe somatic symptoms, but parental support did not act as a buffer protecting bullied youth from somatic symptoms, nor did this relationship differ by age. Having more peer support was found to strengthen the relationship between bullying and somatic symptoms only at high levels of bully victimization, but this interaction effect was not further moderated by age. Peer support was not associated with somatic symptoms overall. However, older adolescents who had high levels of peer support had more severe somatic symptoms, whereas there was no relationship between peer support and somatic symptoms in younger cohorts. Previous research has suggested that co-rumination between peers about their negative experiences may lead to increased internalizing symptoms, which may explain current findings related to the impact of more peer support on somatic symptoms due to greater attentional focus. These findings demonstrate the clinical importance of assessing and addressing somatic symptoms among bullied youth as early as possible by educating and involving individuals from the many systems involved in youth’s lives in treatment and early preventative interventions
High abundance of a single taxon (amphipods) predicts aquatic macrophyte biodiversity in prairie wetlands
Get PDFConservation programs often aim to protect the abundance of individual species and biodiversity simultaneously. We quantified relations between amphipod densities and aquatic macrophyte (large plants and algae) diversity to test a hypothesis that biodiversity can support high abundance of a single taxonomic group. Amphipods (Gammarus lacustris and Hyalella azteca) are key forage for waterfowl and are declining in the Prairie Pothole Region of North America. We sampled a large gradient of amphipod densities (0–7050 amphipods/m3) in 49 semi-permanent wetlands, and 50% of the study wetlands had high amphipod densities (\u3e 500 amphipods/m3). Generalized linear models revealed G. lacustris and H. azteca densities increased exponentially with macrophyte diversity indices. Further, H. azteca densities were greatest at moderate levels of submersed vegetation biomass. Community analyses showed both amphipod species were positively associated with diverse macrophyte assemblages and negatively associated with high coverage of cattails (Typha spp.), a taxon that creates monotypic stands, as well as bladderwort (Utricularia spp.), a carnivorous plant. Our results indicate that amphipods could be used as an umbrella species for protecting diverse macrophyte communities in semi-permanent and permanent wetlands of North America’s Prairie Pothole Region
Caregiver Stress: Aromatherapy to Decrease Burnout
No full textCaregiver stress is contributing to the burnout of nurses at a rapid pace and putting nurses at an increased risk for developing a stress-related illness due to being in a constant state of fight-or-flight where cortisol is released. Continuous release of cortisol inhibits nonessential body functions such as decreasing immune responses, inhibiting digestion, or altering hormones, and can have detrimental effects on the body. Essential oils have been around for many years and the benefits of aromatherapy have been studied extensively on patient use in the hospital. Using those same principles on caregivers will enable the practitioner to provide an additional tool for stress relief to nurses. Utilizing the perceived stress scale before and after essential oil use is a way for the individual to measure the effectiveness of aromatherapy use. Periodic assessments should be performed to validate mitigation of caregiver stress
Promoting Emotional Healing in Nurses During the COVID-19 Pandemic
No full textAmbulatory float nurses at a large Midwestern medical center are experiencing emotional and psychological distress due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The ambulatory float nurses were reassigned to pandemic-related activities with very short notice and for an extended duration of time. In addition, compounding factors such as minimal and ineffective communication, dramatic changes in work schedules, the absence of connectedness with their colleagues, and isolation that came with working from home occurred. The new nurse manager recognized that the ambulatory float nurses were suffering from emotional distress and a loss of psychological safety. In an attempt to begin to resolve these issues, individual listening sessions with the ambulatory float nurses are planned, built on the foundation of Jean Watson’s Theory of Human Caring and the principles of transformational leadership. Concepts shared by these two philosophies include open communication, active listening, and creating a psychologically safe environment through authentic presence. After the listening sessions, results will be interpreted using thematic content analysis and if favorable, should be shared with other nurse leaders across the Midwest medical center to promote psychological safety and emotional well- being of all nurses. Nurse leaders are responsible for providing a psychologically safe environment and the facilitation of emotional healing in their nursing teams
The Impact of Yoga on Performance Anxiety in Adult Motocross Racers
No full textThis scholarly project explored the effects of anxiety on motocross racers and its relation to the racer’s performance in a race. Adult motocross racers (N=10) and their family members were asked to participate in a 45-minute Hatha yoga instruction video for three days per week for four weeks. Participants were also asked to complete a survey before implementing the yoga regimen as well as after the race had concluded. At the end of four weeks, motocross racers and their family members indicated they had reduced anxiety in relation to the racer’s performance in a particular race. These findings were pertinent to the role of the nurse practitioner, as they suggest the possibility of stress reduction in various populations. The implications of this scholarly project can be transferred to all populations including other athletes with the help of technology and indicate potential benefits on stress and anxiety
Diabetes and Cardiovascular Preventative Behavior Through Adult Education Among East African Immigrants
No full textEast African immigrants are at high risk of developing cardiovascular diseases, including diabetes. Among the cardiovascular disease factors that cause debilitating health problems are hypertension, heart attack, and stroke. The dietary choices, acculturation, and physical inactivity are among the risk factors that place East African immigrants as a high-risk population for developing cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Similarly, a lower level of health literacy, limited English proficiency, and lack of understanding of how to access the western medical system have all contributed to the risk of developing chronic diseases. Cardiovascular disease risk factors prevention has been a significant focus for nurses and providers as there continues to be an immigrant global movement to industrialized countries. Several studies show that there is not enough culturally-based appropriate preventative education delivered in the community setting for East African immigrants. This scholarly project explores East African immigrants\u27 lived experience and implements culturally appropriate preventive health care education on risk factors for chronic diseases of diabetes and cardiovascular disease
Benefits of Hatha Yoga use: Integrative Therapy for Chronic Pain
No full textEritrean immigrants who are marginalized are at risk of experiencing chronic pain as an underlying symptom of psycho-social disequilibrium post-migration. Eritrean immigrants have a greater chance of misdiagnoses, inadequate care, and psychological disparities making them susceptible to chronic pain. Advanced nurse practitioners could significantly improve health outcomes by addressing some of these disparities when caring for this population. The purpose of this project was to explore if Eritrean immigrants who are marginalized are at risk of experiencing chronic pain symptoms. The literature review has shown that utilizing an integrative health modality such as Hatha Yoga can alleviate chronic pain for longer duration than other treatment modalities. Hatha Yoga can treat both physical and psychosocial symptoms associated with chronic pain. This project implemented Hatha Yoga to 10 participants who practiced 45-minute weekly sessions for 6 weeks. Participants reported lower pain scores post intervention than pre intervention. Implications for future practice include a longer integrative intervention, continued follow- up care, and promoting a therapeutic patient and practitioner relationship
Mindfulness and Quality of Life: Exploring Parents’ Perceptions
No full textThere are barriers to offering patients, of any age, disease prevention and health management tools in the current healthcare model. This healthcare model allows time for diagnosing and treating, but often does not give time for prevention and health maintenance. The purpose of this project is to evaluate the necessity and feasibility of offering a tool to teach pediatric patients to cope and maintain their mental health and wellbeing using mindfulness activities. To evaluate parental perceptions of quality of life and mindfulness of their children this author will create a short survey, administer a validated questionnaire, and create materials to teach mindfulness activities to an elementary age population with the goal of providing this population with a proven preventative self-care tool. The concept of health in Watson\u27s Theory of Human Caring helped develop the advanced practice nursing intervention of mindfulness in the scholarly project. Developmental evaluation and qualitative inquiry research were methods used to conduct the scholarly project. The finding upon reviewing the survey answers was that most children already practiced mindfulness to some degree, but seventy percent of parents were agreeable to a mindfulness activity being incorporated to their child\u27s Well Child Visit with a primary care provider