Nevada RNformation - September 2021

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Page 10 • Nevada RNformation September, October, November 2021 MINDBODYSTRONG By Tracey Long PhD, APRN-BC, CCRN, CDE Should nurses be the epitome of good health? Ideally, that would be nice, but reality reveals that nurses struggle with the same health challenges as the general population including mental health crisis, obesity, chronic conditions and even disabilities. In the hallmark Nurses’ Health Study of 1976, which was a longitudinal study investigating risk factors for major chronic diseases in women, over 121,700 nurses participated. In the past 40 years, the original study has grown to include the Nurses’ Health Study II and now is recruiting for NHS III. The findings of these studies from 1976-2016 have influenced public health policy, guidelines, and added insights on how to prevent many chronic disease conditions including identifying associations between smoking and type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, cancer, psoriasis, sleep and shift work and chronic diseases and more (Graham et al, 2016). Studying the health of nurses has helped identify what behaviors are associated with disease among people who care about health and wellness. If nurses are having struggles, by inference we know the general population does too. As research studies are still in progress or just being published about the impact of COVID-19 on nurse’s health, many programs and facilities are already developing and using programs to help combat the emotional and physical stress on nurses during the pandemic. One proactive program developed by Ohio State University to help strengthen nurses against depression, burn-out, anxiety and stress is called MINDBODYSTRONG. The Governor’s Office of Workforce Innovation (OWINN), College of Southern Nevada (CSN) and the Nevada Action Coalition, in partnership with MINDBODYSTRONG program, trained 25 facilitators to provide a seven- week training program for 100 healthcare participants, including health profession and nursing students. The Nevada Mind Strong Project’s goal is to improve resilience and self-protective factors for the overall wellbeing of healthcare professionals and students in Nevada. “OWINN is thrilled to be able to fund and support the MINDBODYSTRONG program in partnership with the College of Southern Nevada and the Nevada Action Coalition. As we begin to move forward, making sure our healthcare heroes are honored and cared for is incredibly important. We send our gratitude to all Nevada healthcare workers. Thank you for all you have done to keep Nevadans healthy over the last year!” said Isla Young, OWINN Executive Director. This volunteer 7–8-week interventional group program has been used on newly licensed registered nurses in many states and research results are very promising. Results show statistically significant improvement by participants in job satisfaction, healthy lifestyle beliefs and behaviors, and a decrease in perceived stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms (Sampson, et al (2019). The creation and use of the program are a response to the call to action against clinician stress and burn-out by the National Academy of Medicine’s Action Collaborative on Clinical Well-being and Resilience. Several nursing programs within Nevada have offered the MINDBODYSTRONG program to nurses and nursing students through the College of Southern Nevada, Chamberlain College, Arizona College of Nursing and UNLV. Nursing instructors and leaders were trained this year to offer and moderate the seven sessions, which were offered free to nursing students. Each student received a workbook that guided them in cognitive behavior therapy strategies to improve mental and physical health. Each session provides students an opportunity to return and report their progress in using strategies to combat anxiety and stress and improve their habits of health for nutrition, sleep, and exercise. One third semester nursing student JQ. remarked “I really looked forward to each session because I knew I would be supported and applauded for my progress, which made me work harder during the week.” ZL, a second semester nursing student stated, “This program helped me identify that I can control my own emotions, which impacts my thoughts and behaviors and that’s up to me. It’s a powerful insight for me.” Participants are volunteers and each session is confidential. LK, a 4th semester nursing student stated “This program is so essential in developing the important life skills of stress management and habits of health that nurses need. I loved the program.” To find more about this program or offer it to your nursing school, facility or group, contact Kimberly Nguyen at Nevada Nursing and Healthcare Workforce Center at 702-889-8426. WE’RE HIRING! RNs, LPNs AND CNAs We will work with your schedule • Tuition reimbursement available We welcome new GRADS! Offering Sign On Bonuses! SILVER HILLS HEALTH CARE CENTER Paul Kim, Administrator 702-952-2273 3450 N. Buffalo Dr. • Las Vegas, NV 89129 www.covenantcare.com SILVER RIDGE HEALTHCARE CENTER Misty Harvey, Administrator 702-938-8333 1151 S. Torrey Pines Dr. • Las Vegas, NV 89146 www.silverridgehealthcarecenter.com References and Resources Graham A. Colditz, Sydney E. Philpott, and Susan E. Hankinson, 2016: The Impact of the Nurses’ Health Study on Population Health: Prevention, Translation, and Control American Journal of Public Health 106, 1540_1545, https://doi.org/10.2105/ AJPH.2016.303343 Sampson M, Melnyk BM, Hoying J. Intervention Effects of the MINDBODYSTRONG Cognitive Behavioral Skills Building Program on Newly Licensed Registered Nurses' Mental Health, Healthy Lifestyle Behaviors, and Job Satisfaction. J Nurs Adm. 2019 Oct;49(10):487-495. doi: 10.1097/NNA.0000000000000792. PMID: 31517756. Sampson M, Melnyk BM, Hoying J. The MINDBODYSTRONG Intervention for New Nurse Residents: 6-Month Effects on Mental Health Outcomes, Healthy Lifestyle Behaviors, and Job Satisfaction. Worldviews Evid Based Nurs. 2020 Feb;17(1):16-23. doi: 10.1111/ wvn.12411. Epub 2019 Nov 12. PMID: 31721425. Nevada Action Coalition (NAC). NAC is part of the Future of Nursing: Campaign for Action, a nationwide movement to improve health and health care through nursing. An initiative of AARP and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the Campaign includes Action Coalitions in 50 states and the District of Columbia working to implement the Institute of Medicine’s Future of Nursing recommendations. The Future of Nursing: Campaign for Action is centered on the evidence-based recommendations from the Institute of Medicine’s (IOM) report: The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health. CARSON NURSING & REHABILITATION CENTER Janee Flanders, Administrator 775-882-3301 2898 US Hwy 50 East • Carson City, NV 89701 www.covenantcare.com
September, October, November 2021 Nevada RNformation • Page 11 Antimicrobial Stewardship – Infection Prevention The Greatest Medical Experiment Ever Done By Norman Wright, RN, BSN, MS Last May and June, I heard many people say, “I’M DONE WITH COVID!” - and after being vaccinated, I too felt a sense of freedom and even traveled to New Jersey to visit my daughter and granddaughter for the first time in two years. Many share similar experiences when, in May and June, we believed we were free from COVID and could begin to resume our social lives safely with friends and family. Finally, I felt the freedom to participate in a large social gathering without a mask. On July 13 & 14th, I attended a multi-hour community event held in a crowded enclosed room that many from my community also attended. My sense of COVID security abruptly ended on July 23rd when I was informed that I tested positive for COVID and was quarantined. Unfortunately, I was just one of 26 people from my community who self-reported they also tested positive in the two weeks following the Mid-July community event. Twenty-three (23) of the 26 who tested positive also attended this event. Fortunately, my symptoms were minimal, my wife was not infected, and I have no residual effects. In addition, all 26 who reported they were Sars-Cov-2 positive were also vaccinated, and all have recovered with no serious complications. The community’s rapid response to be proactive and transparent by not hiding the reality of the rapid spread of the Delta COVID strain alerted our community of the danger. In addition, it documented the places where those who were infected went. This surprising development encouraged others to take precautions, get tested, and quarantine themselves, if necessary. These contact tracing actions prevented infected individuals from infecting countless others, and the community’s efforts to prevent infection must be commended because the rapid spread of Delta COVID was averted. The above situation brings me to the topic of this article, “The Greatest Medical Experiment,” which was briefly reviewed in my previous article, “Have Shot Will Travel,” on pages 12 & 13 in the June RNformation found at this link: https://www.nursingald.com/publications/2267 Any medical experiment minimally requires two cohorts; one receives the treatment, the other a placebo. All who participate must agree to willingly and knowingly participate in the experiment, and once that happens, the experiment can begin. Between August 12-22, 2021, the NNA conducted a survey asking if nurses and other healthcare workers should be mandated to be vaccinated, and 527 responded. However, it should be noted that the results are not scientifically valid and cannot be generalized to all who received the questionnaire because the responses were not random, and most of those who did respond appear to have very strong feelings, one way or the other regarding mandating COVID vaccinations. The survey showed 231 (44%) strongly agreed vaccinations should be mandated, and 151 (30%) strongly disagreed. An additional 60 (11%) agreed with mandating vaccinations, 49 (9%) neither disagreed nor agreed, and 28 (5%) disagreed. Regarding vaccination status, 402 (76%) reported being vaccinated with at least one shot, and 124 (24%) reported not being vaccinated. Some reported they would not be vaccinated because no vaccine has received full FDA approval. However, that barrier was removed on August 23rd when the Pfizer vaccine received full FDA approval for anyone 16 or older. Many refusing to be vaccinated use Constitutional, freedom/liberty, and “my body my choice” statements. Others refuse to be vaccinated, saying the vaccine still has not been tested enough, and also argue that the vaccines do not work because breakthrough infections are occurring. However, the facts are overwhelming that fully vaccinated people are 90 to 99 percent less likely to be hospitalized or die from COVID. The August 24th, 2021 MMWR reported that unvaccinated people in Los Angeles are five times more likely to become infected and are 29 times more likely to be hospitalized. https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/70/wr/mm7034e5.htm?s_ cid=mm7034e5_w In Texas, it was reported that out of the 8,787 people who have died due to COVID-19 from February 8th to July 14th, only 43 were fully vaccinated, meaning that 99.5% of deaths due to COVID-19 were unvaccinated people. https://www. texastribune.org/2021/07/21/coronavirus-texas-vaccinated-deaths/ Similar results are reported in Wisconsin: https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/ covid-19/vaccine-status.htm#summary And in South Carolina: https://scdhec.gov/covid19/covid-19-vaccine/ breakthrough-cases-tracking-disease-infection-after-vaccination And Minnesota: https://www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/coronavirus/stats/vbt. html And in Nevada https://thenevadaindependent.com/article/even-with-deltavariant-covid-19-vaccines-substantially-reduce-chances-of-hospitalization-time-anddeath NOTE: The data from Wisconsin, South Carolina, Minnesota, and Nevada is not summarized. You are encouraged to independently research how effective the COVID-19 vaccines are in preventing hospitalizations and deaths in these and other states. This list shows there is indisputable proof that COVID vaccines effectively prevent hospitalizations and deaths, which brings us to the Greatest Medical Experiment that we are all participating in. From comments submitted in the survey, many unvaccinated persons are firm in their conviction to remain unvaccinated. Be aware; if you choose to remain unvaccinated, you are willingly and knowingly putting yourself into the placebo or untreated cohort. CONCLUSION This column will not argue for, or against, mandating vaccinations, and no matter what side you are on, or if you are undecided, discuss the issues with your colleagues and try to understand their position and reasoning. Education, sorting fact from fiction, and accurate information from fake news is essential to achieve understanding. Lastly, one of the survey questions asked, “If unvaccinated, do you intend on being vaccinated within the next 21 days?” Many who are not yet vaccinated reported that they did intend to get vaccinated within the next 21 days. It is my hope that all who answered “yes” follow through and, by the time you read this, you have been fully vaccinated and have removed yourself from being in the placebo cohort.
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Nevada RNformation - September 2021

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