FNP and Post-Masters Student Presentations
Promoting Self-Care: A Study of Perceived Anxiety Levels of Nurses after Stress Management Education
Academic Level at Time of Presentation
Graduate
Major
Doctor of Nursing Practice - Family Nurse Practitioner
List all Project Mentors & Advisor(s)
Dr. Dana Todd
Presentation Format
Poster Presentation
Abstract/Description
The purpose of this project was to decrease the perceived anxiety levels of nurses. Anxiety can lead to numerous additional problems like increased rates of burnout, physiological and physical ailments, and negative outcomes within the healthcare system. A come-and-go educational program with interactive stations was implemented at a rural hospital targeting nurses to attend. The educational program provided nurses self-help techniques for lowering stress and anxiety. Before beginning the program, informed consent was reviewed with the nurses. The participants were then asked to complete a self-assessment of their anxiety levels, which included the topics of tension, insomnia, mood, and behavior. Participants were provided with a copy of the assessment. After a two-week period of implementing the newly learned techniques into their daily lives, the participants were asked to complete this second assessment. The average number of participants that rated their anxiety levels as “not present” for the topics listed on the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale increased from 41% to 60% from the pre to post test. This indicated that for each of the topics on the questionnaire, there was a decrease in anxiety symptoms after the educational program and two weeks of practicing stress reduction. Therefore, the educational program on self-care techniques seemed to have made a positive impact on the mental health and anxiety levels of nurses. This program has the potential to reduce anxiety among healthcare providers by teaching them to lower their stress levels and focus their energy on making constructive and evidence-based changes in the field.
Key words: anxiety, self-assessment, stress, nurses, self-help, education, healthcare
Spring Scholars Week 2024 Event
FNP and Post-Masters Student Presentations
Promoting Self-Care: A Study of Perceived Anxiety Levels of Nurses after Stress Management Education
The purpose of this project was to decrease the perceived anxiety levels of nurses. Anxiety can lead to numerous additional problems like increased rates of burnout, physiological and physical ailments, and negative outcomes within the healthcare system. A come-and-go educational program with interactive stations was implemented at a rural hospital targeting nurses to attend. The educational program provided nurses self-help techniques for lowering stress and anxiety. Before beginning the program, informed consent was reviewed with the nurses. The participants were then asked to complete a self-assessment of their anxiety levels, which included the topics of tension, insomnia, mood, and behavior. Participants were provided with a copy of the assessment. After a two-week period of implementing the newly learned techniques into their daily lives, the participants were asked to complete this second assessment. The average number of participants that rated their anxiety levels as “not present” for the topics listed on the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale increased from 41% to 60% from the pre to post test. This indicated that for each of the topics on the questionnaire, there was a decrease in anxiety symptoms after the educational program and two weeks of practicing stress reduction. Therefore, the educational program on self-care techniques seemed to have made a positive impact on the mental health and anxiety levels of nurses. This program has the potential to reduce anxiety among healthcare providers by teaching them to lower their stress levels and focus their energy on making constructive and evidence-based changes in the field.
Key words: anxiety, self-assessment, stress, nurses, self-help, education, healthcare