Date of Award

Summer 2021

Degree Name

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

Department

Nursing

Faculty Chair

Dr. Leigh Ann Keith

Preceptor

Dr. Todd Pledger

Abstract

Background: Self-care is about physical health and includes the individual's emotional, mental, and spiritual aspects. Self-care behaviors are tailored to an individual's perceptions and values. Stress among nurses has been linked to high turnover rates and nursing shortages. When nurses experience job-related stress, effectively managing a patient's care becomes difficult.

Purpose: This project aimed to create a website presenting creative strategies that encourage a healthy lifestyle and teach nurses how to engage in self-care practices. Through interviews with executives at a privately owned, multi-specialty physician clinic, stakeholders identified the need for easy access to information supporting nurses' ability to practice self-care.

Design Method: The Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) Model for Quality Improvement was used for this project. A systematic review of the literature was performed to ascertain the effectiveness of self-care strategies for nurses.

Conclusion: The Unifying Vision website on self-care strategies for nurses increases awareness of self-care practices among nursing staff in a multi-specialty physician clinic.

Implications for Nursing: Self-care practices are perceived as crucial in improving nurses' work-life quality, and influencing nursing staff's quality of care. Self-care is essential to improving mood, reducing anxiety, and creating a healthy relationship with oneself and others. Engaging in a self-care routine has been clinically proven to reduce or eliminate anxiety and depression, reduce stress, improve concentration, minimize frustration and anger, increase happiness, and improve energy.

Keywords: self-care, patient outcomes, self-care strategies

Previous Versions

Jul 26 2021 (withdrawn)
Jul 22 2021 (withdrawn)

Included in

Nursing Commons

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