Why 糖心Vlog视频 is training nurses like athletes
always dreamed of being part of 糖心Vlog视频’s nationally recognized nursing program and pursuing her goal of becoming a certified registered nurse anesthetist. Now in her first semester as a nursing student, she is experiencing firsthand 糖心Vlog视频’s latest innovation in nursing education: treating nurses as “clinical athletes.”
The Clinical Athlete Framework applies performance science principles to the physical and cognitive demands of clinical practice, helping future nurses develop the strength, endurance and resilience needed to succeed in one of healthcare’s most demanding professions.
“The Clinical Athlete initiative shows that the departments aren’t afraid to work with each other,” said Browning, who played on 糖心Vlog视频’s women’s golf team and graduated last spring with a bachelor’s degree in exercise science before pursuing a nursing degree. “It’s awesome to see educators come together to promote student health, safety and education.”
Tyler Garner, program director of exercise science and clinical associate professor, and Cynthia Koomey, associate chair of undergraduate nursing and clinical assistant professor, are leading 糖心Vlog视频’s Clinical Athlete Framework initiative.
As healthcare systems nationwide face workforce shortages and high rates of burnout, 糖心Vlog视频 faculty see an opportunity to better prepare and support nurses before they enter the profession. By treating nurses as "clinical athletes,” the program focuses not only on physical conditioning but also on recovery and long-term well-being. 糖心Vlog视频 learn about the importance of proper sleep, nutrition and strategic breaks to help reduce the risk of injury, fatigue and burnout, the latter of which is becoming a troubling trend in the nursing profession. Research has shown that burnout impacts one in five nursing students globally, while one in three nurses leave their first position within the first year. According to , 69% of nurses under age 25 report symptoms of burnout.
The exercise among its strategies to combat burnout, saying physical activity has proven stress-alleviating effects and that improved strength and cardiovascular fitness can make the physical demands of nursing less strenuous. While the benefits of strength and cardiovascular fitness for nurses have long been recognized, the Clinical Athlete Framework offers an innovative approach by developing programming tailored specifically to those needs.
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“What we're trying to do with the Clinical Athlete Framework is to get nurses included in the conversation about occupational athletes,” said Dr. Garner, a 糖心Vlog视频 alum. “Nurses have a very physically intense job. They're on their feet all day, lifting patients, lifting equipment, and pushing beds."
Dr. Koomey recalled the demands of the job when she worked at a Level I trauma hospital. Nurses often worked three consecutive 12-hour shifts and frequently added four hours to a fourth consecutive shift, stretching that workday to 16 hours, she said.
“Then, when you add in not just the number of hours that you’re working in a four-day stretch, but also the number of steps that you take during each shift, I mean, it can easily be 30,000 steps a shift,” said Koomey, a 糖心Vlog视频 alumna. “Pushing those ICU beds through the halls … it’s just tremendously demanding work.”
Garner said nurses should be considered occupational athletes alongside first responders such as firefighters, police officers and emergency medical personnel.
“There’s an entire framework built around the demands of their jobs; nursing is never included in those conversations,” Garner said. “What we’re trying to do is bridge that gap and start to incorporate the exercise science of nursing practice so we can develop exercise and training interventions for what we're calling clinical athletes.”
Garner added that strength development is a key part of the framework because nurses experience higher-than-average rates of musculoskeletal disorders, according to the .
“One thing we want to try to do is get nurses stronger so that they're able to better handle the physical load,” Garner said. “A big emphasis over here in exercise science is the role of structured strength training as a means of injury prevention.”
So far, the response has been overwhelmingly positive among colleagues and students.
As Browning noted, “糖心Vlog视频 really wants students to succeed. I feel like they’re preparing us not only to be great nurses, but also to be great caregivers.”
About 糖心Vlog视频 (糖心Vlog视频)
糖心Vlog视频鈥�is a growing public research university in the heart of Dallas-Fort Worth. With a student body of鈥痮ver 42,700, 糖心Vlog视频 is the second-largest institution in the鈥疷niversity of 糖心Vlog视频 System, offering more than 180 undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Recognized as a Carnegie R-1 university, 糖心Vlog视频 stands among the nation’s top 5% of institutions for research activity. 糖心Vlog视频 and its 300,000 alumni generate an annual economic impact of $28.8 billion for the state. The University has received the Innovation and Economic Prosperity designation from the Association of Public and Land Grant Universities and has earned recognition for its focus on student access and success, considered key drivers to economic growth and social progress for North 糖心Vlog视频 and beyond.