Date of Conferral

2022

Degree

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

School

Nursing

Advisor

Melanie Braswell

Abstract

Physical activity and mobility are key indicators of treatment and disease tolerance in cancer patients. Patients are living longer during and after cancer treatment, and staying active prevents many side effects of the disease and the treatment. Staying mobile also prevents some conditions from occurring including bone and muscle loss. A nursing educational platform was identified as a need in the facility site’s cancer center on the importance of patients staying physically active throughout cancer treatment. Nurses did not feel confident to coach patients on their activity levels which was an identified gap in their nursing practice. A nursing educational program was constructed utilizing a conceptual nursing model based on patient-centered care and the application of research to practice. The partnering with patients model of nursing interventions supported the development and implementation of the nursing educational PowerPoint presentation and the development of targeted assessment questions about activity. A pre- and post-survey were used to assess comfort level and feasibility of patient physical activity education during interactions with nurses. The results showed a +17% increase in comfort level after the presentation. The most significant increase were the questions on having tool to recommend and feeling prepared to recommend. The nurses understood the importance of this education. Proposed recommendations included patient teaching materials, acquisition of exercise tools for the outpatient clinic, and recommendations to cancer rehabilitation services for patients with identified individual needs. The PowerPoint presentation will be added to onboarding orientation of new nurses and shared with local and national oncology nursing organizations.

Download

Included in

Nursing Commons

Share

 
COinS