|
3) Articles of Interest
*Of interest to Student Nurses
i) Yoga Reduces Inflammatory & Endocrine Responses To Stress
Kiecolt-Glaser JK, Christian L, Preston H, Houts CR, Malarkey WB, Emery CF, Glaser R. Stress, inflammation, and yoga practice. Psychosomatic Medicine. 2010 Feb ;72 (2) pages :113-21.
Epub 2010 Jan 11.
From: Belleruth Naparstek <bnaparstek@healthjourneys.com>
Monday, 19 April 2010
Pioneer guided imagery researchers from Ohio State University College of Medicine in Columbus, Ohio, examined whether the practice of hatha yoga can reduce stress responses, as indicated by measurable inflammatory and endocrine shifts in the body immediately after a session. This study compares the reactions of novice and expert yoga practitioners before, during, and after a restorative hatha yoga session, as compared to two control conditions.
Stressors were imposed on the subjects before each of the three conditions in order to provided data on the extent to which the yoga accelerated physiological recovery from the heightened stress.
A total of 50 healthy women (mean age, 41.32 years; range, 30-65 years), 25 novices and 25 experts, were all exposed to each of the conditions (yoga, movement control, and passive-video control) during three separate visits.
The single yoga session boosted participants' positive affect (mood). compared with the control conditions, but no overall differences in inflammatory or endocrine responses were unique to the yoga session.
More importantly, even though novices and experts did not differ on key variables, including age, abdominal fat or cardio-respiratory fitness, the novices' serum interleukin (IL)-6 levels were 41% higher than those of the experts across sessions, and the odds of a novice having detectable C-reactive protein (CRP) were 4.75 times as high as that of a yoga expert.
These consistent differences in stress responses between the experts and the novices provided a plausible mechanism for their divergent serum IL-6 data, as experts produced less lipopolysaccharide-stimulated IL-6 in response to the stressor than the novices, and IL-6 promotes CRP production.
The study concludes that the ability to minimize inflammatory responses to stressful encounters influences the burden that stressors place on an individual. If yoga dampens or limits stress-related changes, then regular practice could have substantial health benefits.
ii) Healthy Buildings: Impact on Nurses and Nursing Practice
Citation: Guenther, R., Gilmore Hall, A. (May 31, 2007). "Healthy Buildings: Impact on Nurses and Nursing Practice." OJIN: The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing. Vol. 12 No. 2 Manuscript 2.
Available: Click Here
Abstract
Mounting evidence indicates that buildings can be a significant cause of human illness and environmental degradation. According to the United States (US) Environmental Protection Agency, indoor air pollution is one of the top five environmental risks to public health in the US. This may be related, to a large extent, to the fact that US citizens spend as much as 95% of their time indoors. Health care leaders, designers, and architects, recognizing the connection between health and the buildings in which much time is spent, are engaging in sustainable design and construction for healthy, 'green' buildings. The purpose of this article is to assist nurses in understanding the impact that unhealthy buildings can have on nurses and nursing practice and to provide tools and resources to assist nurses in transforming the health care industry with the goal of creating healing environments and reducing the negative environmental impact of the health care industry. First definitions, current initiatives, and motivations related to sustainable designs will be presented. Next sustainable health care design strategies, such as site planning, clean transportation, water conservation, healthy materials selection, indoor environmental quality, and also the benefits of sustainable design will be discussed. The article will conclude by sharing a variety of resources nurses can use to create healing environments in health care settings.
*iii) Excerpt from Self-Care: Your Tool for Empowerment
Lucia Thornton. NSNA Imprint. Feb/Mar 2010
As a student nurse you face enormous challenges, stressors and workload. Studies have shown that student nurses experience higher levels of stress than medical, social work, or pharmacy students. Student nurses can experience stress severe enough to induce anxiety or depression.
Your #1 Priority: Taking Care of Yourself
One of the first lessons you need to learn is the importance and primacy of taking care of yourself. Traditionally nurses have put themselves last on the list when it comes to being cared for. Nurses will take care of everyone else before they take time to care for themselves.
"But I Don't Have Time to Take Care of Myself !"
You will find that once you begin to incorporate self-care activities into your life on a daily basis you will have more energy and accomplish much more then you did before. Here are a few tips to help you stay organized and create the time and space to bring healthy and wholesome patterns of living into your life.
1. Use a daily planner or calendar to track assignments, projects and class times.
2. Prioritize your assignments, allocating specific times for each project and subject, then stick to those times.
3. Designate a specific area for studying and also for relaxation and down time.
4. Create a routine bedtime and build in 15 minutes of relaxation prior to bedtime for relaxing. A bath with soothing essential oils or salts, an inspirational or fictional book, gentle stretching, restorative yoga, or meditation will foster more restful sleep.
5. Schedule time in the morning for reflection, intention setting and exercise.
Creating a regular time to go to bed each night will help regulate your biorhythm and make you more resilient to the stressors in your life.
Also scheduling 5-10 minutes in the morning for reflection and intention setting followed by a 30 to 45 minute program of movement or exercise will help you greet each day with
inspiration, a positive attitude, and abundant energy. ©Thinkstock
Start Your Day with Inspiration and Intention: Set aside time when you first wake up for prayer, reflection, meditation and to set an intention for the day. Make it a habit to begin your day with whatever spiritual practice you choose and during this time create an intention for what you want to manifest during the day. Creating an intention sets into motion what you will achieve. Setting aside 5-10 minutes when you first wake up to engage in a spiritual practice sets the tone for the entire day and will help you move through challenges with grace and equanimity.
*iv) The Evolution of Student Nurses' Concepts of Spirituality
Salmon, Becky MS, BS, RN, CCRN; Bruick-Sorge, Cheryl MA, BS, RN; Beckman, Sarah J. MSN, BS, RN; Boxley-Harges, Sanna MA, BS, RN
Holistic Nursing Practice: March/April 2010 - Volume 24 - Issue 2 - p 73-78
Abstract
Spirituality has different meanings to individuals from diverse backgrounds with minimal definitions documented in academe. This qualitative research study was to determine the evolution of student nurses' concepts of spirituality by comparing their definitions on admission and at completion of their nursing education. Student responses are discussed.
|
