Digital Commons Network^™

Transitioning With Grace: Improving Quality Of Life For Comfort Care Patients In The Intensive Care Unit, Melissa Ashley

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

The primary aim of this project was to develop and execute a standard protocol of interventions for comfort care patients on a medical intensive care unit. Staff at a 15 bed MICU at a Midwest urban teaching hospital from June 1 until August 11, 2018 were trained to execute a standardized protocol of interventions for comfort care patients. Seventeen MICU patients who transitioned to comfort care were offered a standardized set of evidence-based interventions, after staff attended educational in-services on providing high quality end of life (EOL) care. Checklists were used to determine intervention compliance. Pre-project and post-project surveys were …

Transitioning Experienced General Care Float Pool Nurses To A Critical Care Float Pool, Troy T. Betts, Dnp, Msn, Rn-Bc

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Background: A nationwide nursing shortage has resulted in a significant reduction in the number of qualified nurse applicants for critical care positions. Additional recruitment solutions for critical care staffing needed to be explored.

Purpose: The purpose of this project was to evaluate the effectiveness of an orientation program designed to transition experienced general care trained float pool nurses to a critical care float pool.

Methods: This descriptive study measured participants’ pre and post critical care orientation knowledge, and completion of core computerized competencies. Critical thinking questions, unit-based competencies, and measurement of participants’ individual perception of competence were also completed. Pre …