Date of Award
8-2024
Degree Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
School
Leadership and Advanced Nursing Practice
Committee Chair School
Leadership and Advanced Nursing Practice
Committee Member 2
Dr. Lachel Story
Committee Member 2 School
Leadership and Advanced Nursing Practice
Committee Member 3
Dr. Mary Jane Collins
Committee Member 3 School
Leadership and Advanced Nursing Practice
Committee Member 4
Dr. Michong Rayborn
Committee Member 4 School
Leadership and Advanced Nursing Practice
Abstract
Across the country, the mental health crisis continues to rage. Varying degrees of depression, stress, and anxiety are commonly found in college-age students. The COVID-19 pandemic augmented this crisis, but the pandemic is not the sole culprit for the escalation of mental health disorders in the United States. Students across the globe suffer mental health disorders that include depression, anxiety, and stress. Research has shown that graduate students are six times more likely to develop anxiety and depression than the general population. Student registered nurse anesthetists (SRNAs) are vulnerable to mental health disorders. SRNAs enter labor-intensive doctoral programs fraught with stressors. Research concludes that untreated mental health disorders predispose students to various consequences including drug and alcohol abuse, poor relationship building, academic dishonesty, and death by suicide. Previous studies have shown that mindfulness-based interventions decrease anxiety. In addition, the element of nature has effectively reduced anxiety and depression. The purpose of this study is to blend these two approaches—mindfulness and nature—and investigate a nature-based mindfulness intervention (NBMI) in nurse anesthesia students. Using a pretest/posttest design, 18 third-year SRNAs participated in the pilot study. Participants’ levels of depression, anxiety, and stress were measured using the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scales-21. After pre-intervention scores are obtained, participants are engaged in eight NBMI sessions. Statistical analysis included paired samples t-test and analysis of variance. Statistical significance (p-value < 0.05) was achieved in the difference between pre-intervention and post-intervention anxiety scores. In conclusion, the author argued that NBMIs are effective measures to lower depression, anxiety, and stress in SRNAs. Administrators and faculty were encouraged to incorporate NBMIs into all phases of SRNA education, identify at-risk students, and enhance mental health resources across the university. Limitations and recommendations for future studies will be considered.
Copyright
Douglas Lovern, 2024
Recommended Citation
Lovern, Douglas, "Investigating Nature-Based Mindfulness in Nurse Anesthesia Students: A Pilot Study" (2024). Dissertations. 2263.
https://aquila.usm.edu/dissertations/2263