Nurses guide young moms to good health, bright futures

Transcription

1 Nurses guide young moms to good health, bright futures For expectant moms, the impending arrival of a new baby is exciting. But for many pregnant teens who don t have social and financial support, pregnancy can be a frightening experience. In the United States, the teen birth rate remains nine times higher than in other developed countries, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Pregnant teens are more likely to be at risk for inadequate prenatal care and fitness that can lead to high blood pressure, preeclampsia, diabetes and other health issues. If left untreated, these problems can result in complications for the baby including low birth weight and birth defects. Students and faculty in the School of Nursing at the UT Health Science Center San Antonio are working to prevent health problems for pregnant teens and their babies through a successful partnership with the Healy-Murphy Center and the UT Nursing Clinical Enterprise (UTNCE) Wellness Clinic. 1

2 The Healy-Murphy Center is a non-profit organization that has been impacting youth in San Antonio for more than 120 years, focusing on those who have difficulty in succeeding in traditional educational environments. The center offers high school and GED programs, daycare for infants and toddlers up to 5 years, as well as counseling services for teens and their children. The UTNCE Wellness Clinic partnership adds prenatal, parenting and nutrition classes, and primary care including well baby check-ups. Under the direction of Julie Novak, D.N.Sc., RN, CPNP, FAANP, FAAN, professor and vice dean, the UTNCE provides a nurse-led model of care that concentrates on health promotion and disease prevention within the alternative high school/day care center. More recently, through the UTNCE, nursing clinical assistant professors, Pamela Recto, M.S.N., and Laura Sisk, M.S.N., are collaborating with the Healy-Murphy school nurse to provide fitness classes to pregnant and post-partum teens at Healy-Murphy. Through the program called the Healy-Murphy Fitness Project, nursing students work with a group of about 10 to 12 pregnant and post-partum teens ranging in age from 14 to 17. The students use theoretical foundations they learn in the classroom to develop and lead 2

3 evidence-based, creative and engaging health and fitness lessons and activities each week. This year, 36 nursing students are participating. Sisk and Recto said they had no idea how their students would embrace the pilot project. When we took the students to Healy-Murphy, showed them the gym and allowed them to meet the teens, it didn t take long to see the joy they took in impacting the teens lives, Recto said. Their enthusiasm is contagious. They share their own personal stories, become great role models and plant the seed in these teens for a future that includes higher education. Every week we look forward to what the students will achieve. Sisk said the students take the project seriously, creating lessons on topics including self-esteem, stress management and reduction, coping mechanisms, infant care, nutrition and breast feeding. 3

4 They incorporate these topics into fun, fitness activities by creating relay games, exercises, stroller stretches and so much more, Sisk said. Erin Bennett, who is earning her B.S.N, said the program has allowed her to grow. The Healy-Murphy program has been one of the best experiences of my life, she said. It has given me confidence in communicating with high-risk adolescent teenage girls in a non-medical setting. This is an opportunity many students don t get. It is very rewarding to help these young ladies. Debriefing sessions are held after each class. Students work in clinical groups and meet independently outside of class to develop lessons based on a theoretical framework. They communicate with their clinical groups to obtain feedback toward improvement, allowing them to tailor and individualize lessons and create a workbook that serves as a reference guide for the teens. Recto said the Healy-Murphy teens also embrace the program. They ask questions, do not seem to feel intimidated and they open up and share with our students, she said. Nursing students are paired with teens during activities and each teen receives a journal, incentive prizes and healthy snacks. Bennett said surveys collected after the pilot indicated that most of the teens were hesitant in the beginning. But toward the end and on the last day of the program, all the teens were so happy with what this program brought to them, she said. They enjoyed the yoga exercises, nutrition circle and the games we would play in helping them learn to care for their babies. 4

5 Bennett said some of the teen survey comments were: I really enjoyed this. I would invite more friends next time. I hope you guys will be back. It has been an amazing experience that both students and Healy-Murphy teens enjoy, Sisk said. Our students exceeded expectations and are very committed. This innovative project is an application of theory at its finest and is so much more than just a fitness project. Our students feel a real connection to the program and it shows weekly in the activities we accomplish. Dr. Novak helped sum it up by saying, This successful pilot project is a great example of our faculty integrating teaching, practice and research through our UTNCE Healy-Murphy 5

6 Wellness Clinic. The Fitness Project reinforces our focus on healthy eating, active lifestyles and special beginnings for these expectant teens. -End- 6