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**A Quality Improvement Initiative - by Dr. Jill Espelin**

**Educating Undergraduate Nursing Students to be RN's or "Resilient Nurses"** **(Topic currently being written for publication, Espelin, 2015) jill.espelin@ccsu.edu**

** The ideal after graduating from Nursing School is to find a well liked job and function as an RN ** ** How you function as a Nurse depends upon your ability to cope and deal with stress adequately **

[[image:http://teens.drugabuse.gov/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/NDFW-drug-facts.jpg width="104" height="94" align="left"]]

 * **Nurses are exposed to MORE stress than most professions**
 * **10-20% of Nurses use substances to deal with stress**
 * **Most substance abuse problems begin in Nursing School**
 * **Family History of Substance Abuse is a strong risk factor indicator**
 * **How do you deal with stress?**

**Signs of Stress**
 * **Headaches and other pain [[file:Perceived Stress Scale.doc]]**
 * **Problems with memory and sleep**
 * **Racing thoughts**
 * **Inability to concentrate and think clearly**
 * **Irritability and fatigue**
 * **Inability to relax**

Ways to Reduce Stress


 * ** Develop hobbies and interests unrelated to work or school **
 * ** Eat healthy **
 * ** Exercise to release natural endorphins **
 * ** Keep well rested by going to bed at regularly scheduled times **
 * ** Talk through frustrations with peers or a faculty member **
 * ** Develop a support base **
 * ** Take time to be with friends even for an hour or two **
 * ** Don't procrastinate **
 * **Prepare for exams and class by studying adequately**
 * **Chew gum, take a relaxing warm shower or bath**
 * **If you work, leave work at work**



**University Student + Nursing Student + Academic Demands = THE PERFECT STORM** **Attitudes are everything: "I deserve to party and get blasted because I nailed that exam!"** **"I worked so hard this week, I deserve to go out to celebrate and party until I pass out!"**

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uDMVfFgykP8 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Env5iMrBjws http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eG61N6OhRWE http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j61e2KiA00M



**Are you at risk?** Check out these links and identify your stressors and how you deal with them.



**Adapting healthy stress busting choices and identifying your risk factors are the key**
 * Now come up with your "stress busting plan!" [[image:Pressure.gif width="35" height="35" caption="I can't take the pressure!"]] **

QSEN (Quality and Safety Education for Nurses) //**New Graduate Nurses need KSA's (Knowledge, Skills, and Attitude)**//

A Reactionary Approach in addressing Substance Abuse and Addiction in Nursing has been employed for years. When education is provided to Nursing Students prior to launching a nursing career, new nurses are better equipped to deal with stressors in a healthy way (Espelin, 2009). Educating RN's to be Resilient Nurses by providing substance abuse education is addressing the problem of Substance Abuse and Addiction in Nursing by using a Preventative Approach. Resilient Nurses are better RN's.The Quality Improvement, Educating Undergraduate Nursing Students to be Resilient Nurses (RN's), is important to providing a highly educated, proficient and Resilient Nursing Workforce.

**The Goal of this QI initiative is to: Keep Stress in check and Reduce Substance Abuse among Nurses. Not only will the rate of Substance Abuse decline, but by providing education prior to launching a career, patient safety will also be** **positively impacted**. **Healthy Nurses are necessary for optimal outcomes.**


 * Work-based or school-based Journal Clubs **
 * Regularly scheduled meetings with preceptor or faculty member to discuss concerns **
 * After work or school exercise class **
 * Scheduled break and meal times **
 * Promotion of healthy non threatening work or classroom environment **
 * Opportunities for sharing ideas, EBP initiatives, and collaboration **
 * Faculty facilitated regularly scheduled study sessions **
 * Leaders, managers, and nurses all need buy in on any change to promote a healthy workforce and classroom **

**C O M P E T E N C I E S **: as a **Baccalaureate Prepared Nurse**, **YOU** will be expected to: **serve** on committees; **delegate** and **supervise** other RN's, LPN's and Unlicensed Personnel; **engage** in bringing about healthy change in the workplace; **adjust** your style according to patient assignments; ** function ** as a team member; **listen** to others with an open mind; **compromise** with other team members; **process** stress; **communicate** effectively. **AND MOST OF ALL BALANCE EVERYTHING!**

** THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A QUICK FIX! DO NOT USE DRUGS TO BOOST PERFORMANCE OR TO REDUCE STRESS! **

**DO IT THE HEALTHY WAY!! PRACTICE HEALTHY COPING SKILLS!!** **Don't be a Bird Brain**