Adolescent Relatedness Through the Lens of Unitary Caring Theory.

Caring as a central focus within nursing has evolved into a relational ontology to guide practice and enhance well-being. Caring praxis has the potential to address the complexities of adolescent development and to allow for authentic engagement, breaking down the barriers of resistance to care. It is clear from the alarming statistics related to the prevalence of anxiety and depression in adolescents that teens are in distress. The authors in this article examine the construct of relatedness in adolescence through the lens of the theory of unitary caring and propose a trans-theoretical transdisciplinary model of relatedness that informs adolescent practice.

The Lived Experiences of Students With Food Allergies During a Usual Weekday.

BACKGROUND: Extant literature indicates students living with food allergies (FA) experience biopsychosocial challenges (eg, social isolation, anxiety). The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of students living with FA during a usual weekday in a school setting. METHODS: Phenomenological study with purposive convenience sample from the US states of Florida and Colorado. Students aged 10-14 years who have been managing an IgE-mediated FA for more than 1 year within a school setting. Data collection was guided by a story path process with semi-structured interview, with Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis used to ascribe meaning to their experiences. RESULTS: Four themes: (1) Living with Restraints: A Way of Life, (2) Managing Exposure, (3) Experiencing Stigma, and (4) Experiencing Lack of Knowledge. CONCLUSION: Findings underscore unique biopsychosocial challenges faced by students living with FA, highlighting the need for comprehensive approaches beyond traditional biological management in developing strategies, policies, future research, and recommendations in school settings.

Immersion Experiences About Homelessness and Psychological Processes of Nursing Students: A Pilot Study.

BACKGROUND: Across disciplines, research findings demonstrate that positive exposure to members of stigmatized groups is effective in reducing social stigma. This study explored differences in nursing students' psychological processes about people experiencing homelessness related to a community immersion intervention. METHOD: This descriptive exploratory study examined change from pre- to postintervention. Linguistic inquiry and word count explores affective psychological and social psychological processes of undergraduate and graduate nursing students. RESULTS: Average word use for overall affective and social psychological processes showed significant difference postimmersion intervention. No significant difference was found between affective and social processes postimmersion intervention in relation to nursing students' gender, previous experience with people experiencing homelessness, or previous nursing experience working in an emergency care setting. CONCLUSION: Affective and social psychological processes had significant differences after an immersion event. This supports that a well-designed immersion experience can be effective in both graduate and undergraduate programs and across student characteristics. [J Nurs Educ. 2021;60(4):216-219.].

"You got to eat, but then what you are eating, it's going to kill you": Living with hypertension while experiencing homelessness.

Heart disease, including hypertension, is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among persons experiencing homelessness (PEH). PEH exhibit a greater number of modifiable risk factors for hypertension than the general population and are challenged to reach optimal blood pressure control despite receiving medical treatment. This descriptive qualitative study used data collected from three focus groups to explore the barriers and facilitators of self-management of hypertension while experiencing homelessness. Participants discussed co-morbidity, limited food choices, medication issues, stress, and negative health care provider experiences as the biggest barriers toward self-management of hypertension. To address the barriers described above, participants discussed strategies to manage their medications, healthy eating, exercise, social support, and reducing stress. Strategies for health care practitioners and shelter providers to reduce barriers to self-management of hypertension among PEH are discussed.

Mindfulness and Self-Regulation in a Summer Camp Setting: An EBP Project.

BACKGROUND: Guidelines for pediatric mental/behavioral health promotion call for preventative mental health services. Previous studies have found mindfulness an effective approach to addressing self-regulation/behavior concerns. Behavioral and self-regulation concerns had been identified in a summer camp program held in a large urban setting. Camp directors sought methods to address concerns, nurture the whole child and improve the overall program. PURPOSE: The purposes of this evidence-based practice (EBP) project in a summer day-camp setting were to (1) implement an evidence-based mindfulness program for children and (2) evaluate the impact on child self-regulation skills and behavior. METHODOLOGY: Two questions consistent with the purpose guided this project: 1) How can a mindfulness program be implemented in a summer camp setting 2) What impact does a mindfulness program have on self-regulation of school age participants in a camp setting? To achieve the purpose of this EBP project, an eight-week program guided by the Mindful Schools© curricula was implemented in a summer day camp program in a large urban setting. Descriptive statistics and qualitative methods were used for evaluation of the program. RESULTS: We were able to show a decrease in emotional distress and assess the mindful strategies which most connected with a school age population. In addition, camp counselor responses illuminated the value of dyad instruction approach in which child and counselors engaged in the Mindful Schools© guided program. CONCLUSIONS: Use of an evidenced-based programs allows for sustainability of programs in community settings outside of schools setting to broaden the reach of mental health promotion in a pediatric population.

Foods served at faith community events for children - Is there room for improvements in this unexplored child nutrition site?

OBJECTIVE: To describe food and beverage provisions by Faith Communities from one denomination in association with events for children. DESIGN, SAMPLE AND MEASURES: Foods and beverages provided at 32 child-focused activities were documented using direct observation methodology and analyzed for contribution to food groups and per serving energy, fat, saturated fat, sugar, and sodium contents. RESULTS: Main dishes were mostly (71%) convenience/casserole-type foods, and averaged 962 mg sodium and 436 kcal, with 36% of energy from fat and 14% as saturated fat. Cheese was the main source of dairy products. Grain-based side dishes, provided at 29% of meals, included white rice, pasta, and bread. Non-starchy vegetables were provided at three (29%) meals. Fruits were served at six events. Desserts, served at 75% of events, contained 41% of energy from fat, with 17% as saturated fat, and 22 g of added sugar. Snack chips, provided at 31% of events, contributed 165 kcal mostly from fat and 243 mg of sodium. Sugar-sweetened beverages, served at 71% of events, contributed 28 g of added sugar. CONCLUSIONS: This pilot investigation identified areas for improvements in the nutritional quality of foods/beverages served at faith community child-focused events and aligns with expanding public health efforts to improve child nutrition beyond traditional settings.

Building the Concept of Nurturing Resilience.

THEORETICAL PRINCIPLES: Children and adolescents are faced with ubiquitous daily stressors. When faced with various stressors, they will either recover or stay distressed. For those unable to recover, acute daily stressors have potential to turn chronic with long term negative mental health outcomes. Nurturing resilience is one way to prevent distress from turning to mental health disorders. With the ability of adolescents and children to access nurses with various specialties, it is imperative nurses understand the nuances of resilience and the core elements to nurture resilience in youth. PHENOMENA ADDRESSED: The purpose of building the concept of nurturing resilience is to clarify the meaning of this concept in children and adolescents, develop a conceptual definition of nurturing resilience, and provide a conceptual model of nurturing resilience based on the building process. The concept was formulated utilizing Liehr and Smith's practice-based approach to concept building. RESEARCH LINKAGES: Concept building defines nurturing resilience as developing secure connections with another to support self-acceptance that aids in tempering reactivity when faced with environmental hardships. Resilience is a protective mechanism which keeps youth balanced while promoting positive mental health when faced with adversities by allowing one to bounce back after adversity to an original, fundamental state. Understanding patterns and processes of resilience enables nurses to nurture resilience. Nurturing resilience provides adolescents and children the ability to change in response to difficult circumstances; in turn, mental distress is reduced, and mental health of youth are optimized.

Health Habit: A Concept Analysis.

The aim of this article is to provide clarity of the concept of health habit. Using Walker and Avant's (1983; 2010) method for conducting a concept analysis, the authors identify the attributes and characteristics of health habit, its theoretical and practical application to nursing, and sample cases to further illustrate the concept. Empirical and conceptual literature was used to inform this concept analysis. Articles and one book from 1977 to 2014 were reviewed from PsycINFO, Medline, Cumulative Index to Nursing Health Literature (CINAHL), Science Direct, EBSCOhost and Web of Science. Offering a clear definition and conceptual model of health habit provide the foundation to identify/develop appropriate measures of the concept and guide further investigation of understanding the development and sustainability of healthy habits. Additional research is needed to test the conceptual relationships between health habits and outcome variables as they apply to different groups across the age continuum.

Structured Coaching Programs to Develop Staff.

Health care environments are complex and chaotic, therein challenging patients and professionals to attain satisfaction, well-being, and exceptional outcomes. These chaotic environments increase the stress and burnout of professionals and reduce the likelihood of optimizing success in many dimensions. Coaching is evolving as a professional skill that may influence the optimization of the health care environment. This article reflects on three coaching programs: Gallup Strengths-Based Coaching, Dartmouth Microsystem Coaching, and Health and Wellness Nurse Coaching. Each approach is presented, processes and outcomes are considered, and implications for educators are offered. Continuing education departments may recognize various coaching approaches as opportunities to support staff professionals achieve not only the triple aim, but also the quadruple aim. J Contin Educ Nurs. 2017;48(8):373-378.

Food culture of faith communities and potential impact on childhood obesity.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the food culture within faith communities (FC) in order to examine the consumption of away-from-home foods, and to provide an evidence base for the future development of healthy away-from-home meal initiatives though FCs. DESIGN AND SAMPLE: A qualitative descriptive design informed by an ethnographic method of free listing was utilized. A purposive sample of 34 FC leaders from seven distinct FCs participated in this study. RESULTS: The top five salience scores for five research questions are considered in detail. Of note, food is provided at multiple FC events including at worship time and Bible or group study, but also as part of school, youth programming, and special events. The purposes of serving food were reported to be not only for modes of entertainment and fellowship but also for promoting attendance and providing basic nutrition needs. CONCLUSIONS: Professionals practicing in public health, faith community nursing, or in community health nursing are apt to engage in focused dialogues regarding the multidimensional health problem of childhood obesity. This research study directs nurses to consider food culture as a dimension of importance, especially within FCs. Appreciating FC food culture is important because many families engage in the settings for years, decades, and possibly a life span.

Caring Across the Continuum: A Call to Nurse Leaders to Manifest Values Through Action With Community Outreach.

As health reform continues to advance, there is a need for nurse leaders to broaden their perspective related to possible nursing practice models and potential community partners in order to successfully address caring, accomplish the triple aim mandate, and achieve suitable metrics for maximum reimbursement. Intentional efforts must be made by nurse leaders to maximize caring and ensure that professional nurses are responding to the key drivers shifting health care delivery in the 21st century. Academic-practice collaboration (APC) and community-based participatory action research (CBPAR) align well. Together, they provide an ideal mechanism to pursue endeavors that extend evidence for caring services across the health care continuum. One APC/CBPAR model for community outreach that can maximize individual and population health outcomes is highlighted in this article. Furthermore, useful action steps are offered that could be taken by a nurse leader to develop and maintain any form of APC/CBPAR in order to manifest values through caring action across the health care continuum.

Do Faith Communities Have a Role in Addressing Childhood Obesity?

OBJECTIVES: Pediatric obesity is a multifaceted phenomenon. A partnership with faith-based communities to address the issue has been suggested. The purpose of this study was to describe the cultural beliefs of faith community leaders regarding childhood obesity and to examine attitudes about their role in addressing the issue. DESIGN AND SAMPLE: A qualitative descriptive design informed by ethnographic methods and triangulation of multiple data sources was utilized to assess the cultural beliefs of faith community leaders. A purposive sample of 13 leaders (nine females, four males) from seven multicultural and multigenerational local faith communities participated in the study. No more than three participants from any one faith community were enrolled in the study. RESULTS: Twenty-first century lifestyle challenges, accountability of behaviors (a dichotomy that fluctuated between individual responsibility to community and/or social responsibility), and the need for intentionality emerged as themes from the data. CONCLUSIONS: Faith community leaders envisioned a role for faith communities in addressing childhood obesity. Findings support the ongoing development of population based health promotion programs through faith community engagement. The findings provide a foundation for nurses partnering with faith communities on health promotion programs targeting childhood obesity to address family health issues in a holistic way.

Pouring rights contracts and childhood overweight: a critical theory perspective.

PURPOSE: To examine school environments, and in particular, pouring rights contracts and how they relate to childhood overweight from a critical theory perspective. CONCLUSIONS: Pouring rights contracts provide a profit to powerful mega-corporations at the expense of children's health. There is a need to move beyond a solely individual approach to addressing childhood overweight and involve a social ecology approach. This would involve a push for social change, including removal of soda machines from schools, and changing marketing practices targeted at children. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Nurses are poised in community situations to actively effect social changes to improve health outcomes of our nation's most vulnerable people, but nurses must get involved.