Implementing a CAPS Simulation to Increase Nursing Education Practice Students’ Self-awareness of Attitudes and Beliefs about Poverty

Author

Melissa Ehmke, University of Missouri-St. LouisFollow

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree

Doctor of Nursing Practice

Major

Nursing

Date of Defense

7-11-2018

Graduate Advisor

Nancy Magnuson, DSN, CS, FNP-BC

Committee

Susie Fliesher, DNP, CPNP, RN

Sheila Grigsby, PhD, RN, MPH, APHN-BC

Ericka Sanner-Stiehr, PhD, RN

Abstract

Problem. The purpose of this project is to determine if college students who are currently in nursing school, will benefit from the addition of a poverty simulation to positively influence their self-awareness and individual-level beliefs and attitudes towards poverty, therefore being able to serve those in poverty fully and guide them to appropriate resources.

Methods. Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and Doctoral Nursing Practice (DNP) students participated in a three-hour Community Action Poverty Simulation (CAPS). A twenty-one item Attitude Toward Poverty Scale short form (ATPS) survey was completed pre and post-simulation participation.

Results. Significant improvements resulted in three of the twenty-one ATPS short form items with the Bachelor of Science in Nursing group, and six with the Doctoral Practice Nursing students respectively. Positive improvements occurred in eighteen of the twenty-one items within all three domains with the BSN/DNP cohorts combined. Significant BSN changes occurred in the stigma domain, and DNP changes happened in the stigma and personal deficiency domain. The structural perspective domain did not have any significant positive improvements. Combined results included 58% becoming more aware of the beliefs and attitudes, 67% increased sensitivity to poverty, and 66% improvement in their ability to make more appropriate referrals to community resources.

Implications for Practice. The CAPS experience positively and significantly impacted the attitudes of the BSN and DNP students through self-reflection towards poverty. The current undergraduate and graduate curriculum should implement CAPS to positively influence the beliefs and attitudes of nursing students towards poverty, therefore being able to adequately serve those in need and guide them to appropriate resources for this social determinant of health.

OCLC Number

1065523724

Recommended Citation

Ehmke, Melissa, "Implementing a CAPS Simulation to Increase Nursing Education Practice Students’ Self-awareness of Attitudes and Beliefs about Poverty" (2018). Dissertations. 759.
https://irl.umsl.edu/dissertation/759