Key result
Junior nurses delivering CV health promotion to Special Olympics athletes demonstrate competent strengths-based nursing expertise.
Why the study?
Nurses often lack training and self-confidence to provide care for people living with intellectual disabilities.
Participating in a cardiovascular health promotion initiative for Special Olympics athletes is perceived as educationally enriching by junior nurses, improving their preparedness to care for special-needs populations.
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
May enhance junior nurse preparedness for special-needs CV care via strengths-based approaches; leaves open impact on clinical outcomes.
BACKGROUND: Nurses often lack training and self-confidence to provide care for people living with intellectual disabilities. We explored experiences and levels of preparedness among junior nurses trained to deliver cardiovascular health promotion to Special Olympics athletes. METHODS: A qualitative descriptive approach was used among junior nurses (n = 20) who participated in the delivery of a cardiovascular health promotion intervention, with semi-structured individual interviews or focus-group discussions and qualitative content analysis. RESULTS: Nurses showed evidence of advanced beginner and competent levels of expertise in their approaches to Special Olympics athletes in relation to 5 themes linked to strengths-based nursing and health (SBNH) values: Endorsing person-centeredness; Fostering self-determination and empowerment; Building collaborative partnerships; Recognising interconnections between athletes and their surroundings; and Seizing learning opportunities. CONCLUSIONS: Junior nurses who participated in this cardiovascular health promotion initiative perceived the experience as educationally enriching, advocating for practical, real-life opportunities to better prepare them to deliver health promotion care for special-needs populations.
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Hulst et al. (2026) studied Junior nurses delivering cardiovascular health promotion to people with intellectual disabilities (n=20). Delivery of a cardiovascular health promotion intervention was evaluated on Experiences and levels of preparedness. Junior nurses (n=20) delivering cardiovascular health promotion to Special Olympics athletes demonstrated advanced beginner and competent levels of expertise across 5 themes of strengths-based nursing.
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