Date of Conferral
2023
Degree
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
School
Nursing
Advisor
Cheryl Holly
Abstract
AbstractSelf-Care Education for Nurses Following an Assault by Barbara Lynn Schwarz MS, Nebraska Wesleyan University, 2008 BS, Nebraska Wesleyan University, 2004
Project Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Nursing Practice
Walden University August 2023 Abstract Every day, 1 in 4 nurses experience physical and/or verbal assault, surpassing the rates among police officers and prison guards. This issue is particularly widespread among nurses working in mental health settings. The local practice problem for this project was the absence of self-care education for nurses following workplace assaults. The literature revealed that such assaults have traumatic effects on nurses, with a systematic review indicating that they endure significant and enduring psychological trauma due to workplace violence. The support available for nurses in such situations remains inadequate. To address this problem, the project was guided by Orem’s self-care theory, which emphasizes the importance of individuals being self-reliant and responsible for their own care. An education program was designed to provide nurses with knowledge about self-care following a workplace assault. The program spanned 2 weeks, with a 2-hour session held each week at a secure location away from high-risk areas and offered at two times of the day. Ten nursing staff participated in the program, which involved discussions on self-care, demonstrations of relaxation skills, and a supportive sharing environment for the participants. To assess the program’s effectiveness, a pretest/posttest was administered to the participants. The results indicated an 11% increase in knowledge (pretest mean score 7, posttest mean score 7.8). By equipping nurses with the knowledge to care for themselves after experiencing workplace violence, the program may enhance their well-being and resilience in challenging situations to promote positive social change.
Recommended Citation
Schwarz, Barbara Lynn, "Self Care Education for Nurses Following an Assault" (2023). Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies. 14906.
https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/14906
