Evidence Based Practice Report: Stress Impact on Mental Health

This report investigates the impact of stress on an individual's mental health using an evidence-based practice (EBP) approach. The assignment begins with an introduction to EBP, emphasizing its importance in nursing and the need for nurses to critically analyze research. The report outlines the literature search process, including the formulation of a research question, selection of the CINAHL database, the use of search terms, Boolean operators, and inclusion/exclusion criteria. The discussion section synthesizes the findings from seven selected papers, exploring various aspects of stress and mental health across different populations, such as athletes, immigrants, and older adults. The papers highlight the relationship between stress and mental illness, exploring factors like mental toughness, trauma, post-migration stress, and life stressors. The report discusses the implications of the findings for EBP, suggesting innovative measures to improve stress management skills and highlighting the need for trauma-informed interventions and mood assessments in specific populations. The limitations of the studies are also addressed, along with suggestions for future research, particularly concerning the mental health of immigrants and older adults. The report aims to provide insights into how stress affects mental health and how nurses can use EBP to improve patient outcomes.