Whole Person Health Initiative Scholarly Project - NI approach

03/15/2022

Spring Break whizzed by in a flash. After two kids' birthday celebrations and trips to see wonderful Army friends in Florida and Texas, I had some well-deserved relaxation and restoration. Now back in front of my laptop. Two of my classes this Spring semester cover social justice, health equity/disparity, moral/ethical dilemmas, healthcare reform/policy, healthcare-for-all, mental health, addiction, and so much more. These have been long-term issues... In these tragic and precarious times of conflict in Ukraine, today, my personal opinions on what we do or need to accomplish daily all boil down to asking ourselves, "What is your purpose in life?" and "What matters to you most?" The horrific tolls and devastating impacts of war make me wonder sometimes if what I'm doing now will make a difference tomorrow. Then I say, "control what you can and let go of the rest." Happy Tuesday, everyone!

02/07/2022

Self-care - Whole Person Health,. Do you ever feel like you have been working for 14 hours on a Monday but have not accomplished anything yet? Well, I think it's time for a good break or to scream and shout to your heart's content :) Sing out loud and don't hold back!

01/27/2022

Life Morals & Ethical Dilemmas...
When your alarm goes off in the morning, what do you usually do? Do you hit the snooze button? What are your feelings about it? Life is full of choices, and it usually begins the moment we wake up in the morning.

Exploring one's values can impact one's life interests and choices. Your values are the motivators for your actions and the reasons for your decisions. They lead you in the direction of what you should take and what you should avoid.

11/05/2021

Family, Friends, and Co-workers:
How do relationships improve your health?
"What you leave behind is not what is engraved in stone monuments, but what is woven into the lives of others" – Pericles
https://www.va.gov/WHOLEHEALTH/veteran-handouts/docs/RelationshipsandHealth_Final508_07-25-2019.pdf

10/29/2021

Family, Friends, and Co-Workers:
Are you surrounded by people you care about and who love you? Do you spend more time in relationships that ‘fuel’ you and less in relationships that ‘drain’ you ..? Mindful Living
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fgNzmQBGehU

10/21/2021

Power of the Mind:
Our thoughts are powerful and can affect our physical, mental, and emotional health. Changing our mindset can aid in healing and coping. Breathing techniques, guided imagery, Tai Chi, yoga, or gratitude can buffer the impact of stress and other emotions (Veterans Affairs, 2019).

02/27/2021

Let's activate our first circle this weekend!
- - - Moving the Body “Energy and Flexibility”- - -

Exercise gives you energy and strength. Movement can make you more flexible. Exercise is also good for your mind. Regular exercise can lower blood pressure and cholesterol and reduce the risk for heart disease. Examples of exercise and movement include walking, gardening, dancing, or lifting weights. It’s important to find what works for you (VA.gov).

02/26/2021

Whole Health: What Matters to You?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fgNzmQBGehU

A brief video explaining VA's Whole Health approach and how this puts Veterans in the center of their health care plans. Visit us at http://www.va.gov/wholeh...

02/25/2021

Whole Health (WH) had a positive impact on reducing opioid use among Veterans. (opioids, sometimes called narcotics, are a type of drug found in the o***m poppy plant).
• There was a threefold reduction in opioid use among Veterans with chronic pain who used WHS services compared to those who did not. Opioid use among comprehensive WH users decreased 38% compared with an 11% decrease among those with no WH use. READ MORE here
https://www.va.gov/WHOLEHEALTH/docs/EPCCWholeHealthSystemofCareEvaluation-2020-02-18FINAL_508.pdf

02/25/2021

What do I want my health for?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UINFbJLuSPg

This video provides a high-level overview of each of the Whole Health components.

02/22/2021

- What REALLY matters to you in your life?
- What brings you sense of joy and happiness?
- What is your purpose / your mission?
These are good questions we can ask ourselves as we start our day ... or anytime
I am leading the whole-person health initiative project using the Veterans Affairs Personal Health Inventory (PHI) and My Strength My Health (MSMH) as my scholarly research project (capstone) for my Doctor of Nursing Practice incorporating a Nursing Informatics approach 💕
https://www.va.gov/WHOLEHEALTH/docs/10-773_PHI_May2020.pdf
https://www.mystrengthsmyhealth.com/
I have been working with my UMN project advisor and looking forward to working with the Omaha System Community Practice Experts, as well as the Whole Person Health Experts at the VA from around the country and abroad.
I continue to serve my adopted country by helping those who served!
If you are interested to get involved, let me know.
Discover What Matters. Live Whole Health
https://www.youtube.com/watch?fbclid=IwAR1X_dYFeiKSL_c__T2EubY0PN6SY7IYQF8w7zljM0UJrbMFH6ojvmwLgoM&v=Rq1UcOPrT70&feature=youtu.be