Nurses\u27 Health and Professional Quality of Life

Nurse\u27s Health and Professional Quality of Life Abstract This study investigated relationships between general health (GH), professional quality of life (PQL) and perceived stress (PS) of nurses at a 382-bed southeastern hospital. Background: Several studies showed that GH and PQL are associated. The health, quality of life, and perceived stress of nurses was a growing concern in the hospital. Nurse leaders needed data to inform evidence-based efforts to promote nurse health and improve quality of life while reducing stress. Design: This cross-sectional correlation study measured GH, PQL, and PS using four validated and reliable instruments: The Medical Outcomes Short Form (SF-12), the Professional Quality of Life scale (ProQOL), the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) and the Pittsburgh Quality Sleep Index (PQSI). Descriptive data was gathered based on associations found in the literature. Relationships between variables were tested using multiple regression. Discussion: This study found several significant relationships between general health, quality of life, stress, and sleep for nurses, however, there was no correlation between physical health and all other health indicators. Data provided nurse leaders with evidence to inform targeted interventions based on needs of nurses employed at this hospital. Generalization is limited but provides a foundation for future research and can inform efforts at hospitals of similar size and scope. Key words: compassion fatigue, health, professional quality of life, nurses, perceived stress, sleep qualit

The Effect of an Educational Intervention in Women with Gestational Diabetes: A Pilot Study

Women with gestational diabetes (GD) are at higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes (DM) after delivery compared to those without GD. Numerous studies in the general population have identified that adoption of healthy lifestyles can prevent DM; however limited research has focused on women with GD. The purpose of this randomized pilot study was to determine the effectiveness of an educational intervention of SUGAR (Start Understanding Gestational Diabetes and Risk of Type 2 Diabetes), on women’s perceived risk of developing DM, knowledge of DM, self-efficacy to adopt healthy lifestyle behaviors and adoption of healthy lifestyle behaviors after childbirth among women with GD. A total of 23 women (mean age of 29.7, SD=3.9), 18 in SUGAR group and 5 in control group (CG) completed self-reported standardized questionnaires (Risk Perception Survey for Developing Diabetes adapted for women with GD; Self-Rated Abilities for Health Practices; Health Promotion Lifestyle Profile II; General Sleep Disturbance Scale; and Demographic Questionnaire) at baseline (third trimester) and post-test (postpartum 6-8 weeks). Intervention was given post the baseline data collection with a booster session at 2-4 weeks postpartum. The women in CG received attention control treatment. Study participants were obese (BMI M=33.1, SD=7.7) and a majority had a family history of DM. Findings showed that self-efficacy was the single significant predictor and accounted for 22% of the variance of healthy lifestyle behaviors. Participants had a clinical significant sleep disturbance during both pregnancy and postpartum. At baseline, poor sleepers reported a lower self-efficacy. The intervention significantly increased DM knowledge for women in the SUGAR group; however, not for perceived risk, self-efficacy nor healthy lifestyle behaviors. There was no difference between groups for postpartum glucose screening rates with only 39% receiving recommended testing. Future research needs to focus on prevention programs and center on self-efficacy, postpartum glucose screening, improve sleep, and adoption of healthy lifestyle behaviors. To ensure a better preventive care for GD women, education provided for both patients and health care provider is needed

The Making and Unmaking of an Appalachian “Home”: Tensions between Tourism and Housing Development in Gatlinburg, Tennessee

This article examines the economic and symbolic dimensions of redevelopment in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. I focus on one particular project, the East Parkway at Baskins Creek Bypass District, which concerned ten acres that contained a vital housing resource for low-income tourism-industry workers: residential motels. I connect Gatlinburg’s housing crisis with changing labor patterns in the wake of economic restructuring. I present two letters submitted by real estate developers and solicited by the City of Gatlinburg. In analyzing the letters, I identify two tensions: (1) between workers’ homes and the aesthetics of “Appalachian” tourism, and (2) between representations of workers and the diverse realities of workers’ lives. I conclude by arguing that solutions addressing housing alone—without also considering tourism-industry labor patterns, including fluctuating wages— will ultimately fall short of accomplishing affordable housing for Gatlinburg’s residential workforce

Counselor Education Graduate Students’ Experiences with Multiple Roles and Relationships

Counselor Education graduate students participate in multiple roles and relationships during their programs (Dickens, Ebrahim, & Herilhy, 2016). The purpose of this quantitative investigation was to explore counselor education graduate students’ awareness of and experiences with multiple roles and relationships through the development of a self-report scale. Building on previous qualitative studies, the authors constructed a 41-item survey – the Multiple Roles, Relationships, and Responsibilities (M3R). Exploratory factor analysis was applied to data from a sampling of counseling students (n = 140) yielding an 8-factor solution accounting for approximately 63% of the variance. Implications for faculty are discussed and programmatic recommendations are offered

SDO FlatSat Facility

The goal of the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) is to understand and, ideally, predict the solar variations that influence life and society. It's instruments will measure the properties of the Sun and will take hifh definition images of the Sun every few seconds, all day every day. The FlatSat is a high fidelity electrical and functional representation of the SDO spacecraft bus. It is a high fidelity test bed for Integration & Test (I & T), flight software, and flight operations. For I & T purposes FlatSat will be a driver to development and dry run electrical integration procedures, STOL test procedures, page displays, and the command and telemetry database. FlatSat will also serve as a platform for flight software acceptance and systems testing for the flight software system component including the spacecraft main processors, power supply electronics, attitude control electronic, gimbal control electrons and the S-band communications card. FlatSat will also benefit the flight operations team through post-launch flight software code and table update development and verification and verification of new and updated flight operations products. This document highlights the benefits of FlatSat; describes the building of FlatSat; provides FlatSat facility requirements, access roles and responsibilities; and, and discusses FlatSat mechanical and electrical integration and functional testing

Advising Black Students and Anti-Oppressive Frameworks: A Systematic Review of College Access and College Counseling Literature

It is well known that Black students have higher expectations for attending college than their White and non-White peers, yet consistently lag behind in degree attainment. It is important then that practitioners use differentiated approaches with and researchers offer disaggregated analyses of historically underrepresented racial/ethnic minoritized populations in the college advising process. Doing so could reveal systemic barriers to achievement and advancement that are specific, in this instance, to Black students. Since the role and practice of college advising is (or at least should be) informed by the extant literature, then a systematic review is an ideal avenue for scholarly inquiry, paying particular attention to how prior literature utilized anti-oppressive frameworks. This method allowed us to map current knowledge and strategies, as well as identify conceptual, methodological, and interpretive gaps in the current literature. Across our analysis, our findings reveal there is more work to be done, particularly focusing on representation, disaggregation, and application

From the Classroom to the Tip of the Spear – Designing a System to Track USMA’s Intellectual Capital

As the world becomes increasingly interconnected and unstable, the US Army’s mission becomes more complex. This reality, when coupled with a smaller force, is increasing the Army’s reliance on foreign partners and its need for non-traditional skills. Given these challenges, deployed units often offset capability gaps using “reachback,” the act of contacting external organizations for critical expertise. Based on recent support to the 1st Infantry Division in Iraq, the United States Military Academy (USMA) possesses considerable reachback potential; however, to fulfill such requests, USMA must first understand its capability and capacity. With this in mind, our research shows that although USMA’s faculty is quite willing to help deployed units, no formalized process exists to catalogue and leverage its collective intellectual capital. As such, we identify the requirement for an intuitive system to fill this void, and we develop and analyze several alternative

Are prenatal exercise volume and level different between c-section and natural birth groups?

Title: Are prenatal exercise volume and level different between c-section and natural birth groups? Authors: Brianna Lee1, DJ Phillips1, Ami Eho2, Juliana Meireles, Ph.D.2, Sadaf Dabeer, Ph.D.3, Janeen Amason, Ph.D.1, Katherine Ingram, Ph.D.2 Institution: 1Wellstar School of Nursing, Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, GA, USA 2Department of Exercise Science and Sports Management, Kennesaw State University, 3 Department of Endocrinology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA Background: According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the ideal rate for c-section births is between 10% and 15% of births. However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports there is a current rate of 31% for C-section births in the United States. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) mentioned that based on observational studies, women who exercise during pregnancy have shown benefits such as decreased C-section births. Objective: The purpose of the study is to compare exercise volume and level between c-section and natural birth groups. Methods: Women who had given birth in the past two years were invited to participate in an online survey that asked for descriptive information (age and race) and mode of delivery. They provided information about the frequency of overall exercise and the frequency of engaging in high, moderate, and light intensity exercise. Exercise volume score was calculated using [(high intensity exercise frequency*3) + (moderate intensity exercise frequency*2) + (light intensity exercise frequency*1)]. Exercise level was calculated as Exercise volume score * Frequency of overall exercise. Comparisons were made using Mann Whitney U test. Results: Data from 232 women (33±4.61 years, 75% white) was used for analysis. Responses show that 163 women (70.3%) gave birth naturally while 69 women (29.7%) had c-section delivery. Natural delivery group (8.19±6.18) had a significantly higher exercise volume score (p=0.048) when compared to the c-section group (6.39±5.50). No statistical difference was found in exercise level (p=0.102) between mode of delivery groups (17.63±17.92 vs 12.72±14.41). Conclusion: Exercise level was similar between mode of delivery groups. However, women who gave birth naturally reported a higher volume of exercise than those who had a c-section. Health care providers should emphasize exercise intensity and frequency guidelines when discussing exercise with pregnant women

The Relationship Between Self-Reported Exercise Levels During Pregnancy and Labor Pains

Abstract Background: Physical activity is important to maintain overall health and wellness even during pregnancy. There are numerous benefits to exercise during pregnancy that include reduced back pain and lower risk of preeclampsia and gestational diabetes. Recent studies have shown an association between aerobic exercise and reduction in the intensity of labor pains. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to determine the association among level of exercise level and the intensity of pain during active labor. Methods: Women up to 2 years postpartum were invited to complete an online survey about the frequency of exercise (none, occasionally, a few times a week, or most days of the week) and intensity (high, moderate, and light). To calculate exercise level, we used the formula exercise level = [(high x 3) + (moderate x 2) +(light x 1)]*Frequency. Participants also answered how intense their active labor pains were using a scale of 1-10, with 10 being the worst. The Kolmogorov-Smirnov test was used to evaluate data distribution and Spearman’s test to verify the correlations. Results: A cohort of 160 women aged between 22 to 47 years (mean age 32±.36 years, BMI 29 ±0.47) suggested no correlation between exercise intensity during pregnancy and pain intensity during active labor (p\u3e0.05). In addition, the mean exercise level was 20.17, the maximum being 69. The labor pain mean was 7.5, with the maximum being 10. For high exercise intensity, half of the population reported none. For moderate exercise intensity, the majority reported sometimes. For light exercise intensity, the majority claimed they exercised 2-3 days of the week. Conclusion:There was no correlation between exercise levels during pregnancy and labor pains. However, ACOG recommends that women include exercise in a healthy pregnancy to ease discomfort. Therefore, further research is needed to determine the role of exercise in labor pains with previous studies showing a linkage between exercise and pain during labor