Date of Award

4-21-2021

Document Type

Open Access Thesis

Degree Name

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

Department

Nursing

First Advisor

Lisa VanGetson APRN, DNP, FNP-C

Second Advisor

Briana Darcy APRN, DNP, FNP-C

Abstract

The practice of mindfulness meditation may be beneficial for college athlete’s mental health and wellness. College athletes are in a period of significant personal growth and experience high amounts of stress related to athletic performance, academics, and peer relationships. Integrating mindfulness meditation for college athletes has been linked to improving relaxation, concentration, and performance while decreasing fatigue and negative emotions related to fear or anxiety. This scholarly project explores the implementation of four mindfulness meditation sessions on perceptions of stress, mental focus, athletic performance, and presence in female college track and field athletes. The participants were attending an urban college in Minnesota and were between the age of 18 and 22 years old. A holistic approach from the healing framework of nursing theorist, Jean Watson, was embraced throughout the project. Pre and post evaluations were given to guide the developmental evaluation. There was a high level of interest in learning mindfulness meditation and all the college athletes reported stress related to academics. Although the mean level of stress increased from the first to last session, secondary to outside influences, most college athletes would recommend the program. This scholarly project followed the Essentials of Doctorate Education for Advanced Nursing Practice and the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties Competencies. The scholarly project may be applied to nurse practitioner practice by improving the emotional wellness and healthy habits of colleges athletes’ responses to stressful situation while contributing to a decrease in medication usage and health care costs.

Identifier

SC 11.DNP.2021.Braatz.LR

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