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Monday, 31 October 2011: 3:35 PM
Learning Objective 1: Identify the prevalence of the phenomenon of non-suicidal self-injurious behavior in undergraduate nursing students
Learning Objective 2: Clarify the demographic, developmental, psychological, and health related correlates of non suicidal self injury in nursing students and use of available resources by nursing students.
For the past 10 years there has been increasing attention to the phenomenon of self-injury – the deliberate destruction of body tissue without conscious suicidal intent. Although the professional literature discussing non suicidal self-injury (NSSI) in the undergraduate population is sparse, estimates range from 7% over the past 4 weeks to 38% life time prevalence. The nursing education literature does not address this issue in its students, but anecdotal indices are that the phenomenon is present and may be increasing. Developmentally nursing students face the task of becoming responsible practitioners in a demanding profession. This educational process can be marked with stress, anxiety, and depression – noted to be associated with self-injury. A mixed methodology design was used examine the phenomenon of non-suicidal self-injurious behavior in undergraduate nursing students who practice self-injury behavior. Students enrolled in BSN programs at three universities were sent an invitation via e-mail to participate via a web-based survey mode of data collection. The first part of the questionnaire was designed to collect data on the prevalence of the phenomenon. Twenty-five BSN participants who acknowledged NSSI continued on to complete the Measures of Psychosocial Development instrument and responded to interview questions. Findings regarding demographic, developmental, psychological, and health related correlates of non suicidal self injury in nursing students and use of available resources by nursing students emerged from the data collected. The “train ride” emerged as the metaphor to synthesize the major themes into a conceptual meaning of the experience: Building Steam; The Tension; The Freedom; The Screeching Halt. Recommendations focused on developing awareness of self-injury behavior as it occurs in nursing students, learning to recognize the symptomology, and the development of facilitative skills to intervene and to help students to engage needed resources and services to alleviate symptoms to promote personal and professional growth.
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See more of: Oral Paper & Poster: Clinical Sessions
See more of: Oral Paper & Poster: Clinical Sessions