Evidence for effective Nursing: Stress Management and a Mindfulness Program for Nursing Students - Essay Example

Stress management and a mindfulness program for First Year Nursing The analysis will focus on the appropriateness of the researchquestion and relevance of the study. Assessment of its application by undergraduate nurses and reason for its understanding will be done besides whether it conforms to all the research process stages. Further analysis will focus on each stage of the research process assessing the strengths and weaknesses. Further analysis will focus on analysing the discussions, conclusions of the research in relation to the research question and identification of any limitation in the study. Finally, the relevance of the research to effective nursing will be analysed. Evidence to of its effectiveness in nursing will be examined to support the research. Stress management and a mindfulness program for First Year Nursing Students. Introduction In recent times, the number of university students with heightened stress levels and a myriad of mental problems has skyrocketed. Pamela van der Riet, Rachel Rossiter, Dianne Kirby, Teresa Dluzewska, and Charles Harmon conducted the research above that was accepted in May 2014. Their main argument was that a stress management and mindfulness program could be incorporated into learning support besides being a stress reduction method to support nursing and midwifery students build resilience and improve wellbeing. This study was in response to incorporation of the mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) program in Western clinical practice since the 1940s in managing stress and mental illness. This program initially was designed to assist clinicians adapt to the demanding healthcare environment. The idea is to transfer this program and incorporate as a learning support for the students who are pursuing nursing and midwifery. The stress management and mindfulness program is a superb addition to the education and support for nursing and midwifery students and should, therefore, be incorporated. Critical Analysis As the nursing and midwifery profession continue to grow, there is increasing need for quality services from these careers (Maclnnes and Lamont, 2014). The research confirms and follows all the stages of the research process. The problem was determined as the increased frequency of stress and mental illness among the university students. The research question (Michigan Library, 2015) was explicitly stated as ascertaining the impact of a stress management and mindfulness program in reducing stress levels among nursing students. The background of the study was also solid (Michigan Library, 2015). The MSBR has been in clinical practice use since the 1945s to combat mental and stress illness. These studies compelled the question of whether its use could be extended to university students (Riet et al., 2014). Data Collection Methods Data was collected in seven sessions of 60 minutes each that involved semi-structured interviews with the participants (Riet et al., 2014). The choice of a semi-structured interview was an excellent choice opposed to a structured interview. The semi-structured interview provided for flexibility throughout the interview and allowing the interviewer to follow a guide in relation to the set of questions provided in a structured interview (Cohen and Crabtree, 2006). The semi-structured interview also included a set of open-ended questions that allowed for all views from the respondents to be collected. It also did not limit their responses. The choice of recording the responses was also a good call for the researchers to prevent instances of distractions during the interview process (Cohen and Crabtree, 2006). Use of the prompts was also effective in enhancing participation of the students in the interview process (Riet et al., 2014). Ethics The research was keen in adhering to rules that govern research ethics. For example, ethics requires that the participants take part in the study voluntarily (ESRC, 2015). It should also be worth performing and, in this case, the research was worth performing since it would greatly help the nursing students manage stress. Also, ESRC 2015, requires that the participants receive appropriate information about the research that they are supposed to take part. This was evident in the flyers that they distributed in the recruitment of students who would participate in the research. In addition to this, permission to conduct the research was also sought (Riet et al., 2014). Sampling Holloway and Wheeler (2013), asserts that the aim of any researcher is to obtain rich data, this necessitates sampling whereby he benefits from the opportunity to access different people from whom the rich data may be collected. A sample unit, in this case, the first-year nursing and midwifery students is selected. This method of sampling is referred to as purposive sampling (Chaturvedi, 2015). In adherence to the principle of inclusion in research, the research fails to incorporate all groups (NCEHR, 2015). The continuing nursing students who are even at greater risk of the stress and mental illness would benefit more from the program. As one progresses in nursing, and so does the learning workload increase and consequently the stress levels (Barton, 2013). Background/Literature Review and Research Aim According to Lie (2015), an excellent literature review should be a synthesis of the available research that touches on the similar topic. In this case, the researchers provided in their literature review evidence of similar studies in the past. For example, the study examines the use of the MSBR program in clinical practice to manage stress (Riet et al., 2014). The literature review also has to be a critical evaluation of the research itself. Causes of stress were examined as part of the critical assessment of the research. This included care for the fairly as well as coming from different socio-economic backgrounds. This, in addition to the studies at hand, for example, the clinical practicums. The literature review had appropriate depth and insight into stress and how the students are affected was clear and used rigorous and consistent methods (Lie, 2015), (McConatha, 2014). The literature review also incorporated the findings of the previous researches done in support of their research (Riet et al., 2014). Title; Credibility Authors; Abstract The title of the research though lacking a bit tried to capture the purpose of the study. The research question acts as the guide for the research ad should, therefore, be clear to present a unique argument (University, 2015). In this case, the writers did not present a clear point of argument. According to the Centre for innovation in research and teaching (CIRT, 2015), the research question should be neither too narrow nor too broad. It should be concrete and measurable. In this case, the research question failed to be specific. The research question mainly focused on the first-year undergraduates, but this was not captured in the research topic (Riet et al., 2014). The objective too was not clear since the research focused more on the feedback, and the lessons learned rather than the potential use of the stress and mindfulness program to fight stress in undergraduate nursing and midwifery students. The authors are credible having backgrounds in nursing midwifery and counseling. With such background, the researchers can identify with the students in terms of stress. The counselor is also relevant to the research because counselors handle the stress related problems and offer advice to the students. The research had an abstract that is a very imperative part of any research paper. The abstract or the summary provided brief insights into the research article preceding the in-depth analysis of the research itself (ACP, 2015). Methodology Methodology in simple terms refers to the methods that would be employed in data collection. In relation to the study objective of determining the impact the research paradigm or the guide to do the research that was chose was the qualitative model (Bryman, 1998). Being a study to determine the impact the of the stress and mindfulness program data to be collected from the respondents was qualitative in nature (Cohen and Crabtree, 2006). The research paradigm that was chosen was sufficient for the research question since the aim was a collection of data that was qualitative in nature from the open-ended questions (Manchester University, 2015). Data Analysis Methods To ensure accurate data analysis, the interviews were recorded, then transcribed by an experienced transcriber to enable accuracy. Two independent researchers to exclude the element of biases from the results, therefore, analyzed the results. The results were also subjected to analysis by the whole research team besides references from the recordings (Riet et al., 2014). Presentation of Results The presentation is a fundamental component of any scientific research (Bart, 2015). Presentation may be presented orally, as a PowerPoint presentation or as a written paper to be read. In this case, the results were presented orally to the students after the program (Riet et al. , 2014). This was the best way of results presentation since it allowed for feedback from the students. In addition to presenting only to the students who participated in the research the results would have appealed to the larger university population to cover students in other disciplines who also undergo stress in the course of their study. This could give them a very much-needed tool for managing stress. Findings Three main themes emerged from the research. The stress and mindfulness program helped the students better attend to themselves, attend to others, and even attend the program. Attention to themselves involves the students being more self-aware; improve self-management especially in terms of sleep. It also helped them focus on their studies and bring themselves to live the moment and stop worrying. As nurses and midwives, the program also brought the theme of attending to others. As nurses and midwives, most of their work involved attending to others, and the program helped them to more attentive to the needs of others and hence improved their strengths. Attending to the program was the other theme that came up. Ability to slot time for the program especially on hectic Friday schedules and this helped improve their stress management. In response to the research question of determining the feedback and results, it is right to conclude that the results were supportive of the research question. The stress and mindfulness program helped in the reduction of stress and better equipped the students to handle and manage stress. Relevance of the study to Nursing Practice Stress has been for a long time categorized as an occupational hazard. In studies and stress research’s profession, it has emerged that stress is linked to patient dissatisfaction failure to rescue and even mortality (Jennings, 2008). According to research done in America by the American Nurses Association the chronic nurse shortage is blamed on the stress-related fatigue and burnout (Gupta, 2015). In the same article Gupta (2015) asserts that from one of the nurses on whom the survey was conducted the best way to reduce the burnout rate among nurses was to address the issue early. The nurse explicitly points that nurses should be taught on stress management while still at school. She stressed that the only way she honestly believed would help her fellow nurses avoid suffering from burnout was a solid stress management foundation from school. This would help the young nurses know their strengths, weaknesses, understand the importance of self-care, and understand it comes first (Gupta, 2015, Lucier, 2014). Nurses agree that indeed stress and effectiveness at work are interrelated and inseparable. Therefore, in managing stress, a holistic program such as the stress management and mindfulness program as tested in the research would be effective in managing stress. Besides, as witnessed in the research adopting such a holistic process does not only affect the work life but also affects the personal life of the nurse (AHNA, 2015). Conclusion Stress and mindfulness programs should be incorporated in all midwifery and nursing schools to help the students especially the first-year cope with the stress. Major benefits accrue from the program, not only on the individual and his studies but also to his patients. The research was conducted in line with all regulations that cover research with the exception of minor inefficiencies and therefore results should be accepted and incorporated for nursing students benefit. Reference List ACP, 2015. Writing a Research Abstract. [Online] Available at: https://www.acponline.org/education_recertification/education/program_directors/abstracts/prepare/res_abs.htm [Accessed 29 May 2015]. AHNA, 2015. Holistic Stress Management for Nurses. [Online] Available at: http://www.ahna.org/Resources/Stress-Management [Accessed 29 May 2015]. MacInnes, A., & Lamont T, 2014. Critical Appraisal of a Research Paper. Scottish Universities Medical Journal , Vol. 3(Issue 1), p. 8. Bart, H. L., 2015. 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Oakland, CA, New Harbinger Publications. http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&scope=site&db=nlebk&db=nlabk&AN=419953. University, D., 2015. What Makes a Good Research Question?. [Online] Available at: http://twp.duke.edu/uploads/media_items/research-questions.original.pdf [Accessed 29 May 2015]. Read More