Date of Award

Summer 2021

Document Type

Final DNP Paper

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Jul 26 2021 (withdrawn)
Jul 22 2021 (withdrawn)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

COinS
 
 

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