Date of Award

8-3-2020

Document Type

Restricted Access Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts in Nursing (MAN)

Department

Nursing

First Advisor

Joyce P. Miller DNP, RN

Second Advisor

Deborah Schuhmacher DNP, RN

Third Advisor

Erin M. Carder MSN, RN PHN

Abstract

Families of children with complex health care needs are at a greater risk to experience poor health and well-being. Research has shown families of complex health care needs experience increased financial, physical, and emotional caregiver burdens resulting in a negative impact on the family’s health and well-being. While providing public health nurse home visits in collaboration with community partners to families of children with complex health care needs, observations identified a gap in knowledge and awareness of services offered through the home visiting program. To address the gap in knowledge and awareness by community partners, a Midwest public health agency conducted a focus group to improve the knowledge, awareness, and utilization of services offered. A project guided by Jean Watson’s Human Caring Theory demonstrates the importance of a transpersonal relationship and Caritas process seven to implement teaching and learning through a relational connection addressing the needs and concerns of the family and community partners. The proposed project consisted of an educational video and written material providing an overview of services offered for community partners to use when referring families of children with complex health care needs to the home visiting program. The goal of this educational project was to improve the knowledge, awareness, and utilization of an established family-inclusive program, ultimately increasing the health and well-being of the family unit. The nurse’s ability to recognize the impact experiences, culture, and relational connection can have on understanding and attaining health and well-being is essential.

Identifier

SC 11.MAN.2020.Odegard.J

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