Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

The Effectiveness Of Mindfulness-Acceptance-Commitment Therapy To Decrease Anxiety And Stress In College Athletes, Breana Hunt, Samantha Bauer

Graduate Publications and Other Selected Works - Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

Background: Elite athletes experience up to 640 stressors daily that can impact their mental health, such as injuries, inadequate financial support, and team dynamics. The NCAA found that female athletes endorsed feeling overwhelmed with anxiety, mentally exhausted, and feeling overwhelmed by all they have to do two times more likely than their male counterparts. Current research suggest Mindfulness-Acceptance-Commitment (MAC) therapy is more effective in improving mental health in athletes compared to other sports therapies.

Local Problem: The southeastern university’s mental health and wellness department currently follows the NCAA’s mental health practice recommendations (UT Sports, 2018). While the athletics department has …

Mindfulness-Based Educational Module For Nurses Caring For Pediatric Mental Health Patients, Brianna Mai Desjardins, Katherine Marie Newnam

Graduate Publications and Other Selected Works - Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

BACKGROUND: Emergency pediatric nurses have the added stress of not only caring for medical patients but must also care for patients experiencing mental health issues. Many nurses feel unprepared to care for this specialized patient population. To bridge this gap, mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) have been shown to provide nurses with the skills needed to care for mental health patients. This same concept can be applied to pediatric patients. Pediatric-focused mindfulness-based techniques can be used to help pediatric patients manage their symptoms.

LOCAL PROBLEM: The setting for this project was an urban pediatric emergency department in East Tennessee. At the state …

Effectiveness Of An Evidenced-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Intervention For Adolescents In A School Setting, Sarah Ellen Gray, Kimberly Michaela Carter, Amanda Harper

Graduate Publications and Other Selected Works - Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

Abstract

The adolescent years are a formative time when rapid hormonal and physical changes stimulate the developing mind. Exposure to poverty, abuse, violence, and lack of peer and social support causes an increase in vulnerability to the development of mental health problems. The COVID-19 pandemic has also exacerbated symptoms of depression and anxiety. Regardless of the risk factors, anxiety and depression continue to be significant health problems, affecting thousands of adolescents yearly in the United States. The first-line treatment recommendation for managing anxiety and depression symptoms is cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). However, access to a provider for CBT treatment is …

Advancing The Care Continuum For The Homeless: A Shelter-Based Care Coordination Project Focused On Mental Health, Alexandra H. Sain, Allyson Neal Dr, Deborah Nichols Mrs.

Graduate Publications and Other Selected Works - Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

Advances in the care continuum are crucial for those with serious mental illness, especially those homeless individuals in the community. Schizophrenia is a leading cause of re-hospitalization and disability, accounting for billions of dollars spent in the United States. A prominent city shelter reports the prevalence of schizophrenia among its guests, and the community recognizes homeless shelters as the greatest source of 911 calls with countless surrounding emergency department visits. This project’s purpose is to implement a shelter-based, internal process to identify these high-risk guests and increase their subsequent care coordination services. Outcomes reflect individual benefits with increased shelter-based contacts …

A School-Based Cognitive Behavioral Progrm To Improve Adolescent Mental Health, Amanda Harper, Tracy L. Brewer

Graduate Publications and Other Selected Works - Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

Problem. While anxiety and depression are prevalent in the adolescent population and can have significant long-term consequences, treatment rates remain low. The gold standard for treatment is cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), but this is often unavailable.

Methods. This project aimed to increase access to CBT through a school-based program. Students from a local homeschool cooperative participated in the Creating Opportunities for Personal Empowerment (COPE). Measures of anxiety and depressive symptoms were collected at baseline, after the program, and one month after the program. A Friedman test was used to evaluate medians’ differences on the screening tools at all three time …