Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects
Access Control
Open Access
Embargo Period
4-29-2017
Degree Program
Doctor of Nursing Practice
Degree Track
Public Health Nurse Leader
Year Degree Awarded
2016
Month Degree Awarded
May
Keywords
pedometer, nurse obesity, weight loss, Body Mass Index
Advisor
Karen A Kalmakis
DNP Project Chair
Karen A Kalmakis
DNP Project Member Name
Jean E DeMartinis
DNP Project Outside Member Name
Rhonda Dailey
Abstract
Nurses are at risk for obesity due to shift work, long hours, abnormal eating patterns and job stress. Obesity places nurses at risk for chronic health conditions such as diabetes and coronary artery disease. The goal for this project was to translate evidence of weight loss using the Step it Up Program by launching a pedometer-based walking program for nurses. Measurement methods included pre-intervention measurements of waist and hip circumference in order to calculate waist/hip ratio, and calculate Body Mass Index using a standard BMI Calculator. Fifteen nurses from an inpatient unit of a hospital in southeastern Ohio were issued a FitBit to record the number of steps taken per day, and were then challenged to increase the number of steps per day. Monthly waist and hip measurements, BMI, and steps per day were obtained, demonstrating a total weight loss of 112.2 pounds for the group over a three-month intervention period. The waist/hip ratio for the group decreased from 0.94 to 0.93 and the participants stated that wearing the device and utilizing the phone app provided positive motivation. The nurses involved in the intervention were motivated to walk more as a result of wearing the devices, as they were more aware of how little they were moving.
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