Nature Nurtures: Mind, Body & Spirit

Explore the profound connection between nature, play, and therapy and their impact on our development from infancy to adulthood. In this episode, we delve into how natural environments and therapeutic practices support and enhance our emotional, mental, and physical well-being at every stage of life.

Through insightful interviews with experts, personal stories, and research-backed discussions, we explore the powerful role that nature-informed education and therapeutic play have on our growth and resilience. Whether you're a parent, educator, therapist, or lifelong learner, this podcast offers valuable perspectives and practical tools to foster holistic development in ourselves and the communities around us.
From playful interactions in childhood to therapeutic practices in later years, join us as we celebrate the transformative power of nature, play, and healing, empowering humans of all ages to thrive and grow.

Objectives:
- Define nature-informed education, play, and therapy.
- Describe evidence of the benefits of nature for health and well-being across the lifespan.
- Identify ways to promote health and well-being utilizing outdoor spaces

Angela Rekers-Power, PhD

Angela is an Associate Professor at St. Ambrose University, teaching in the School of Education teacher preparation program. She holds a BA in English and teaching licensure in secondary Language Arts. However, after teaching in a breeze-block high school in the late 1980s, she decided she needed to be outside more often than not! She completed her MSc in Environmental Education for Sustainability and spent the next 20 years working for a UK non-profit as a Forest School leader facilitating outdoor learning and play for learners of all ages and abilities. She also trained teaching staff to become Forest School and outdoor learning and play facilitators, and consulted in developing school grounds for learning. In 2020, Angela completed her PhD study of young children’s participation in the classroom and in the woodlands, using ecological and developmental psychology theories for analysis.

Angela McCombs, OTD

Angie is the program director and senior lecturer at St. Ambrose University's Occupational Therapy program. Angie has been an occupational therapist for 17 years, primarily working with pediatrics across various settings. Her interest is in promoting social participation for children and youth within the community setting. Angie has completed trainings in outdoor learning environments from North Carolina State University and Outdoor Kids Occupational Therapy. Her bachelor's degree is in Health Sciences from Purdue University, and her clinical doctorate is from Washington University in St. Louis.

Virtual Nursing: From Planning to Evaluation of Innovative Care Solutions

Description: In this episode, we explore an innovative approach to addressing nursing workforce shortages through virtual nursing programs. Explore how an inpatient virtual nursing program has made a significant impact, improving nurse retention, enhancing patient safety, and reducing length of stay in rural and critical access hospitals. Discuss model expansion that includes a virtual obstetrics nursing program aimed at improving maternal and neonatal outcomes in underserved areas and the impact these programs had on rural health. Join us as we discuss the technology, operational impact, and real-world results of these initiatives, including key metrics and anecdotal success stories.

Objectives

1.Discuss how virtual nursing programs are helping to alleviate nursing workforce shortages and improve patient care in rural hospitals.
2. Explain the integration of virtual obstetrics nursing and its potential to enhance maternal and neonatal outcomes in underserved areas.
3.Identify operational changes, technology, and impact of a virtual nursing program.
4. Describe how AI-driven monitoring and virtual nursing can improve patient safety by reducing falls and enhances nurse retention.

Guest/Bios

Karna Pfeffer, MSN, RN, RHNC

Karna Pfeffer serves as the Director of Clinical Excellence, Education and Quality at Avera St. Mary’s hospital in Pierre, SD. She has over 15 years of hospital nursing experience, specializing in process improvement and quality with a focus in rural healthcare. She received a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from South Dakota State University, and an MSN in Nursing Leadership from Western Governors University.

Kristine Becker, MA

Kristine Becker serves as the director of Virtual Health at Avera Health in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. With nearly 20 years of experience in healthcare, Kristine is an experienced professional specializing in process improvement, healthcare technology and telehealth solutions. With a solid background in rural healthcare, she brings expertise in virtual and digital health initiatives and managing complex technology implementations and systems. Kristine holds a bachelor's and a graduate degree in anthropology from the University of Minnesota.

References

The Center for Health Workforce Studies (CHWS). Health Care Employment Projections: 2010-2020, March 2012. Retrieved from www.healthit.gov/sites/default/fi…_report_2012.pdf 2022 March of Dimes Maternity Care Report. Retrieved from www.marchofdimes.org/sites/default/files/2022- 10/2022_Maternity_Care_Report.pdf

2023 South Dakota Department of Health Maternal Mortality in South Dakota. Retrieved from doh.sd.gov/media/2q4nzral/mate…ty-1-pager_2023.pdf