OTD Capstone Projects

Abstract

This doctoral capstone project was completed through a partnership with Nurses for Newborns, a nonprofit organization sending specially trained, registered nurses to the homes of babies, moms, caregivers, and teens who face medical, social, or environmental risks. Nurses for Newborns of Tennessee exists as a safety net for families most at-risk in order to prevent infant mortality, child abuse, and neglect by providing home nursing visits promoting healthcare, education, and positive parenting skills. This project was driven by the organization’s need to increase three areas: parent/caregiver participation in physical activity while also bonding with their child, parent/caregiver knowledge of activities to support their child’s physical, cognitive and social/emotional development, and nursing staff’s knowledge of updated developmental milestones and activities to teach parents/caregivers to support each skill. To meet these needs an educational handout was created with exercises parents/caregivers can complete at home with their child. Next, a series of handouts were created with play-based activities to address development at different age periods. Lastly, a powerpoint was created for current and future nursing staff which covers the most recent developmental milestone expectations and activities to support each area. Nurses for Newborns serves a diverse population and all family educational handouts are available in English, Spanish and Arabic.

Publication Date

Spring 4-25-2023

Faculty Mentor

Elena Wong Espiritu, OTD, OTR/L, BCPR

Department

Occupational Therapy, School of

College

Health Sciences & Nursing, Gordon E. Inman College of

Document Type

Scholarly Project

Degree

Doctorate of Occupational Therapy (OTD)

Degree Level

Doctoral

Degree Grantor

Belmont University

Keywords

Parent/caregiver education; exercise; developmental milestones; play-based activities; occupational therapy

Download

Share

COinS