Tennessee Yearbook 2020

Recommendations for Practice/Research:
TNA VIRTUAL CONFERENCE | 2020: YEAR OF THE NURSE
Additionally, research is needed to identify additional best practices to improve/ reduce moral distress.
Problem Addressed:
The Power of Music: Affirming Elderly Refugees’ Cultural Identity
Holly Harris (Student Presenter)
Carina Anderson (Student Co-Presenter)
Lydia Lee (Student Co-Presenter)
Lauren Schwarz (Student Co-Presenter)
Brooke Simpson (Student Co-Presenter)
Rebeccah Tovar (Student Co-Presenter)
Jade Vergara, AGPCNP-C, MSN (Co-Presenter)
Currently, there are over 80,0000 individuals claiming foreign citizenship in Tennessee. Between 2016 and
2018, Davidson County/Nashville alone received over 2,500 refugees, the majority of them coming from
war torn and impoverished countries. Current literature supports many refugees suffer from mental health
issues related to trauma and stress, social isolation, and feelings of cultural loss. Music, social engagement,
and affirmation of individual cultural identity is shown to have positive outcomes for refugees, specifically
elderly refugees.
Objectives:
VUSN students sought to increase psychosocial well-being and group cohesiveness in elderly refugees
at Catholic Charities by strengthening cultural identity. Students aimed to increase these facets of
psychosocial health from baseline by 20% by two months.
Methods/Procedures:
Over two months, students implemented a bi-monthly intervention of group activities with and without
culturally relevant music. After collecting music specific to each participants’ country of origin, the music
was played during Bingo and a field day designed by VUSN students. Our intervention was evaluated
by using participant pre and post FACES mood surveys, volunteer post questionnaires, and volunteer
structured exit interviews.
Findings:
With music interventions, FACES mood surveys measuring psychosocial well-being improved from 4.17 to
4.71, and volunteer questionnaires measuring group cohesiveness improved from 4.23 to 4.46. Additionally,
volunteer exit interviews reflected intervention success in accomplishing aims. Key interview themes
included increased cheerfulness, love of meeting new people and activities, increased interaction and
engagement, and sharing of culture.
Recommendations for Practice/Research:
Affirming cultural identity by providing culturally relevant music during activities positively impacts
observed psychosocial well-being and group cohesiveness in elderly refugees. Use of Catholic Charities
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