Browsing by Author "Nieuwsma, Jason A"

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    Collaborative spiritual care for moral injury in the veterans Affairs Healthcare System (VA): Results from a national survey of VA chaplains.
    (Journal of health care chaplaincy, 2021-11-26) Wortmann, Jennifer H; Nieuwsma, Jason A; King, Heather A; Fernandez, Paola; Jackson, George L; Smigelsky, Melissa A; Cantrell, William; Meador, Keith G
    The psychospiritual nature of moral injury invites consideration regarding how chaplains understand the construct and provide care. To identify how chaplains in the VA Healthcare System conceptualize moral injury, we conducted an anonymous online survey (N = 361; 45% response rate). Chaplains responded to a battery of items and provided free-text definitions of moral injury that generally aligned with key elements in the existing literature, though with different emphases. Over 90% of chaplain respondents indicated that they encounter moral injury in their chaplaincy care, and a similar proportion agreed that chaplains and mental health professionals should collaborate in providing care for moral injury. Over one-third of chaplain respondents reported offering or planning to offer a moral injury group. Separately, nearly one-quarter indicated present or planned collaboration with mental health to provide groups that in some manner address moral injury. Previous training in evidence-based and collaborative care approaches appears to contribute to the likelihood of providing integrated psychosocial-spiritual care. Results and future directions are discussed, including a description of moral injury that may be helpful to understand present areas of emphasis in VA chaplains' care for moral injury.
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    Introduction to the special issue "Moral injury care: Practices and collaboration".
    (Journal of health care chaplaincy, 2022-03-07) Nieuwsma, Jason A; Smigelsky, Melissa A; Grossoehme, Daniel H
    Since moral injury was introduced in the psychological literature little more than a decade ago, it has received substantial attention from mental health professionals as well as chaplains. This special issue features ways that chaplains are and can be engaged in addressing moral injury within health care contexts, especially the Department of Veterans Affairs. The efforts highlighted in this special issue provide building blocks for advancing moral injury care practices, research agendas, and interdisciplinary collaborations into the future.
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    Measuring sustainability of a grassroots program in a large integrated health care delivery system: the Warrior to Soul Mate Program.
    (Journal of military, veteran and family health, 2018-01) Stolldorf, Deonni P; Fortune-Britt, Alice G; Nieuwsma, Jason A; Gierisch, Jennifer M; Datta, Santanu K; Angel, Clyde; Millspaugh, Dick D; Jackson, George L
    Introduction:Veterans experience many physical and psychosocial adjustment problems that challenge personal relationships and social functioning and successful social reintegration. The Warrior to Soul Mate (W2SM) program uses a structured curriculum [i.e., the Practical Application of Intimate Relationships Skills (PAIRS)] to address veterans' interpersonal needs by teaching participants effective interpersonal skills. Veterans who attended the W2SM program reported lower anxiety levels, improvements in marital alterations and satisfaction, and increased intimacy, cohesion, and affection. Therefore, sustaining the W2SM program can have long-term positive effects for veterans, families, and the greater society. The purpose of this paper is to describe the sustainability of the W2SM program. Methods:The Model of Community-based Program Sustainability conceptually guided the evaluation. Twenty-three VA hospitals in the U.S. that offer W2SM programs completed a self-report survey to measure sustainability. Results:The highest scoring sustainability elements were "Demonstrating program results" (M=5.82, SD=1.23), "Staff involvement and integration" (M= 5.79, SD= 1.34), and "Program responsivity" (M=4.39, SD= 1.16); the lowest scoring element was "Strategic funding" (M=2.78, SD=1.75). Statistically significant associations were found between the global middle-range program results and three sustainability elements: leadership competence (r = .472, p = .023), effective collaboration (r = .470, p = .024), and strategic funding (r = .507, p = .014). Discussion:Efforts to sustain programs should focus on leaders planning for sustainability at the onset of program implementation, collaborators must be involved in program design, implementation and evaluation, and long-term funding sources must be secured to support program operations and continuation.