Digital Commons Network^™

Text-Based Reminders: Pathways To Improve Hemoglobin A1c And Fasting Blood Glucose Levels Of People With T2 Diabetes Mellitus, David Bamidele Alao

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Background

Research studies have shown that self-monitoring blood glucose levels is a cornerstone in DM management. Various studies have shown that a text message intervention effectively reminds people with T2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) to check their blood glucose levels at home. Text message reminders successfully encourage medication adherence, blood glucose self-monitoring, and lifestyle changes (Xiqian et al., 2019). Through the beneficial effects on HgbA1c and blood glucose, text-based reminders have been demonstrated to improve blood glucose self-monitoring, essential to managing diabetes.

Purpose

This project aims to evaluate the effects of the 12-week text-based reminder intervention on the patient's blood sugar …

Employees' Perception Of The Management Of The Covid-19 Crisis At Najran University, Saudi Arabia, Noora Nasser Alsuhaibani

Dissertations

Problem

During the COVID-19 crisis, particularly in the context of Saudi education, the ability to physically attend schools and colleges was greatly hindered due to the widespread transmission of the virus and the resulting obstacles. The issues necessitated the use of crisis management strategies. Some Saudi universities are capable of implementing an organized plan both before to and during crisis management, whereas others lack this competence. This is a substantial problem. Several universities in Saudi Arabia effectively managed the COVID-19 epidemic, whereas others did not. Furthermore, prior studies on crisis management indicate that administrators exhibit diverse responses. By participating in …

Parental Beliefs About Mental Health And Available Support, Michele O'Geare

Master's Theses

This study adds information to the field by investigating the relationship between parental beliefs about mental health and the services they use to support their child’s mental health issues. The study targeted 224 parents from a private K-12 school in the Midwest. The school was selected because of the many students from diverse backgrounds. This study does not intend to influence parental beliefs but investigates ways families seek support for their children. Descriptive statistics like mean and standard deviation were combined to analyze quantitative data used to interpret parents’ beliefs toward mental health and the use of specific mental health …

Improving The Mental Health Nursing Competencies Of Nurses Caring For Patients With History Of Substance Use Disorder In Long-Term Care Settings, Nancyver Lafleur-Omeler

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Background

While nurses are often on the front lines of working with patients with a history of substance use disorders (SUD), most have limited training in this area. Nurses who work in Long Term Care (LTC) settings are often challenged to resolve the practical issue of needing more competency in caring for SUD patients. Horner et al. (2019) agreed that the deficiency of mental health knowledge and skills in healthcare workers is linked to decreased quality of care, which can diminish patient outcomes. This lack of competency must be addressed (Margoliese & Vandyck, 2019).

Purpose

The goal of this project …

Factors Influencing High Nurse Turnover In A Midwestern U.S.A. Community Hospital And A Proposal For Change, Deborah Mokeira Omagwa

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Nurse turnover has become a universal problem in recent years, causing nurses to bear the burden of higher patient loads, working overtime hours, and dealing with unfavorable working conditions. Nurses sometimes feel they have no voice to fight for them while they struggle at the bedside to improve patient outcomes. The purpose of this project was to be a voice for the nurses to inform the hospital administration on data driven results on how nurse turnover can be reduced, with the goal that the proposed nurse retention strategies will be implemented in this community hospital.

This was a qualitative project …

Mitigating Risks To Improve Hypertension Medication Adherence In A Medically Vulnerable Population, Donna Hales-Teat

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

This project assessed the effect of an evidence-based medication adherence intervention on adherence rates at a Northern Indiana clinic led by a sole nurse practitioner, receptionist, and continuous rotation of graduate nursing students from several nursing programs in the Northern Indiana area. Patient education and comprehension were poor in terms of understanding disease process, treatment options, and disease management that led to poor communication with the medical provider. The process and steps in which patients matriculate through was described by Johnson’s (2002) Medication Adherence Model (MAM) with concepts of purposeful action, pattern behavior, and feedback; these helped to construct, steer, …

Group-Based Interventions Using A Low-Fat Diabetes Diet To Improve Self-Efficacy And Hba1c Levels In African American Type 2 Diabetics, Linda Baker-Bynum

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Background and Problem

Type two diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a chronic medical condition of impaired glucose metabolism that has significantly impacted the health of Americans. According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), T2DM is the seventh leading cause of death making up over 270,000 deaths in 2017 (CDC, 2020a). There are noted disparities among African Americans who are disproportionately affected by T2DM more than Caucasians. African Americans account for 13% of the population in the United States of which 11.7% are diagnosed with T2DM as compared to Caucasians who make up 76.3% of the population of which 7.5% …

Perioperative Pain Control: Evaluating Best Practices In Perioperative Pain Measures, Lisa M. Malakowsky

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Background

Postoperative pain is contributing to the nation's opioid epidemic. Pain is an unpleasant sensation felt by the patient. When it is experienced postoperatively, it is a result of the surgical process. Patients up to 80% worldwide state that their pain is not controlled to their satisfaction. When postoperative pain is not treated adequately, it can contribute to chronic pain.

Purpose

Perioperative pain assessment and treatment policy at a rural critical access hospital and compare it to evidence-based guidelines for best practice. The project assessed the patient's pain treatment effectiveness compared to the pain management policy by using the CDC …

Effects Of Hope Intervention On Hope And Quality Of Life In Senior People Who Live Alone, Sophia Abraham

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Background

In the United States, there is a growing number of seniors who frequently present with increased risk for reduced hope and quality of life (QOL). Quality of life in the senior population is a world-wide concern and it is believed to be directly associated with their well-being. Senior people living alone experience a higher degree of depression, reduced hope, isolation, falls, and increased mortality. The literature indicates that there is a significant relationship between the level of hope and QOL. Hope is an inner source that plays a vital part in how an individual think and behaves. Hope shapes …

Effects Of A Mindfulness Intervention On Nurse Burnout, Sandra Elanges

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Background

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, nurse retention was a known issue; current nurse retention has worsened. This project examined the burnout of nurses and offered some potential interventions to assist in retaining nurses in the field of nursing.

Purpose

To determine whether a six-week online mindfulness intervention improved the Oldenburg Burnout Inventory (OLBI) scores of nurse participants.

Methods

This project used a convenience snowball sample of participants recruited through social media platforms including Reddit, Twitter, Facebook, TikTok, AllNurses, and word of mouth. This quantitative quasi-experimental design utilized pre- and post-testing to measure baseline burnout and evaluate the intervention’s efficacy. The …

Effects Of A 12-Week Plant-Based Diet Program On Obese And Overweight Adults In Rural Michigan, Nadine Larcher

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Background

Overweight and obesity among adults are a rising epidemic in the U.S. Obesity is a risk factor for many chronic diseases and impacts morbidity and mortality. Despite our high-tech medical care system in the U.S., we are losing the war on obesity due to not addressing the underlying problems. These include unhealthy lifestyles and an unhealthy diet. A growing body of research studies has shown that adopting a low-fat whole food plant-based diet (WFPBD) regime consisting of whole grains, fruits, vegetables, legumes, and no animal-based products is an effective measure to counteract the rising pandemic of chronic diseases related …

Evaluating A Rapid Response Team Performance To Implement Best Practice In Rapid Response Team Protocol, Pansy Samuel

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Background

Rapid Response Teams (RRT) provide clinical resources to improve patient safety outcomes at healthcare institutions. This team promptly responds to deteriorating patient conditions to prevent further deterioration and reduce mortality rates. Rapid response teams do not always perform optimally. Reasons for this performance failure include breakdowns in communication, team dynamics, or other variables that can often be adjusted when the team members understand the role these variables play in undermining the performance of the RRT. An understanding of the perceptions of the RRT members regarding their roles and potential areas of improvement did provide valuable data that was utilized …

Childhood Trauma And The Faith Maturity Of Seventh-Day Adventist Pastors And Seminarians, Pete A. Palmer

Dissertations

Problem

Unfortunately, Childhood Trauma is a fact of life. For instance, children lose parents/guardians through death or divorce. Children grow up in impoverished situations. Children have parents who suffer from mental illness and/or commit suicide. In addition, more unfortunately, some children are mistreated, neglected, and/or abused. The long-lasting impact of Childhood Trauma includes increased morbidity and mortality, and decreased opportunities for prosperity. This research sought to establish a statistical relationship between Childhood Trauma and Faith Maturity. Childhood Trauma has been demonstrated to affect attachment processes in children and, since religion is an attachment process and God is an attachment figure, …

Evaluation Of Communication Sciences And Disorders Graduate Student Attitudes Related To Trauma-Informed Client Interactions, Jenica Joseph

Dissertations

Problem

Communication sciences and disorders (CSD) graduate students may have trauma histories and may be ill-equipped to identify and manage trauma responses in clients. This mixed-methods study examined graduate student attitudes towards implementing trauma-informed educational practice (TIEP) methods and trauma-informed patient care.

Method

The Attitudes Related to Trauma-Informed Care (ARTIC) Scale (Baker et al., 2016) quantitatively measured pretest/posttest changes in CSD graduate student attitudes towards use of trauma-informed care with clients. Participants (n=43) were assigned to non-equivalent experimental and control groups. Groups received the pre/posttest and either an immediate (experimental) or delayed (control) trauma-informed educational session. Twenty-one participants completed focus …

Implementation Of An E-Learning Module To Increase Rn Knowledge And Skills Of Emergency Preparedness, Kaitlyn Hope Chung

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Background

By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail. —Benjamin Franklin, writer, philosopher, politician. Having education initiatives for mass casualty incidents and disaster preparedness that are concise and organized is of high importance. This issue is pertinent to the midwestern medical center where this project took place because in the event of a true mass casualty or disaster scenario, many lives could be saved if registered nurses (RNs) in the emergency department (ED) were better prepared. For a hospital to provide adequate and effective care during a crisis, healthcare workers must be effectively trained to do so. However, many …

Occupational Stress In Psychiatric Nurses And The Impact Of Self-Care Activities, Jacqueline Lowe

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Background

The nursing profession is an extremely stressful occupation. Psychiatric nurses face many of the general stressors that are inherent within the profession as well as unique challenges in taking care of psychiatric patients. Prolonged exposure to stress can impact the quality of the nurses' lives as well as the quality of patient care. Engagement in self-care activities can promote the well-being of psychiatric nurses.

Purpose

To investigate the level of occupational stress in psychiatric nurses and offer them a guided six-week program on self-care activities. This intervention was measured for any change in the level of occupational stress that …

Childhood Obesity Interventions In The Republic Of Trinidad And Tobago: A Qualitative Study Exploring Government Policies And Their Implementation By Health Practitioners, Phyllis Woolford

Dissertations

Because of the rising prevalence of childhood obesity and overweight in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, and the observation that efforts to address the problem were showing disappointing results, this study seeks to explore the experiences and views of policymakers, health practitioners, and parents of overweight and obese children, in order to inform leaders and policy makers regarding the current interventions.

Method

A qualitative research case study methodology is the research design used, which, with my research questions, I considered would best uncover knowledge and provide perspectives that would provide an increased understanding of the issues arising from the …

Racial Identity, Hair Esteem, Hair Texture, And Hairstyle Choice As Correlates Of Psychological Well-Being Among Afro-Latinas In The United States, Marielsy Esther Pimentel

Dissertations

Problem

During the Colonial period, hair was one of the designated phenotypic markers of racial group membership used to assign or deny privilege. Privileges are still assigned to people based on their racial group membership and their proximity to Whiteness. As such, Hair remains a salient part of Afro-Latina women’s lives and identities, with its influences seen in the personal, social, and mental realms. How an Afro-Latina wears her hair can have legal, social, and intrapersonal consequences. The subsequent treatment of Afro-Latinas because of their hairstyle can affect how they view themselves and even how they relate to others, especially …

Factors That Contribute To Life Satisfaction Of Parents Of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder In Trinidad & Tobago, Paul Gerard Richards

Dissertations

Problem

The goal of the study was to understand factors contributing to life satisfaction of parents of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) from the perspective of positive psychology. The challenges of parenting a child with ASD have been documented extensively, with these parents experiencing higher levels of stress, depression, and lower overall mental health than parents of typically developing children. Stress and hardship can lead to mental health problems for such families. A lack of research was observed about positive outcomes for parents of children with ASD; in particular, no research was available for these parents in Trinidad and …

Policy Analysis Of The Illinois Nurse Practice Act (Aprn Title Section 65/65-50), Sara Kim

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Background

Physician groups claim allowing nurses to use the title "doctor" confuses patients. Nurses assert that the title is common to many disciplines, and nurses should be trusted like other professionals to identify their specialty to patients. Currently, qualified nurses in Illinois using the title "doctor" in clinical areas must introduce themselves to each patient in the following way: "Hi, I'm Dr. Smith, the nurse practitioner taking care of you today. I do not have a degree in medicine, and I am not a physician or medical doctor” (225 ILCS § 65/65-50).

Purpose

This project aimed to evaluate Illinois Nurse …

The Impact Of Technology On The Developing Visual And/Or Auditory Memory In School-Aged Children, Cameron Mayer

Honors Theses

This study aimed to determine whether time spent on technology impacts the developing auditory or visual memory in school-aged children. A survey was completed with the child participants to acquire a catalog of time spent on both technological devices and non-technological activities. Tests included a visual and auditory memory assessment adapted from the Preschool Language Scales Fifth Edition (PLS-5). The results indicated that there was no significance between the time spent on technology and the visual and auditory memory scores. However, the researchers did find that the auditory mean scores were significantly different from the visual mean scores across the …

Modeling Of Covid-19 Utilizing Various Compartmental Models To Predict Infection Rates Throughout Michigan, Colleen M. Staniszewski

Honors Theses

Compartmental modeling is a method of employing math to create a visual representation of a disease interacting with a select population, typically used in epidemiology analyses. This project applies compartmental modeling equations to data collected on the various aspects of COVID-19 in Michigan. Comparing current data to past predictive models, as well as the visual representations that were developed through the various compartmental modeling methods, allows an assessment of the effects of the preventative measures taken by the state, the various rates at which the infection is able to spread, as well as the potential path and spread of the …

Healthcare Leadership In The Context Of Cognitive Diseases Of Aging: A Community-Based Participatory Research Model, Dean Sherzai

Dissertations

The Problem

The world is facing a tsunami of chronic diseases of the brain such as dementia, Parkinson's, and stroke. But all populations are not affected equally. Though we are all at greater risk of developing these diseases, minority communities such as the Black and Hispanic populations are at much greater risk of succumbing to these conditions. To date we have spent billions of dollars on research and public health measures that have repeatedly failed, but over the last decade it has become evident that much of these diseases can simply be averted through effective public health and community-based measures …

Coping Skills, Emotional Intelligence, Attachment, And Resilience On Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder In Private Sector Emergency Medical Technicians, Brenda-Joyce Gonzales Orozco Markert-Green

Dissertations

Problem

Private sector Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) are first responders who respond to traumatic incident scenes along with firefighters and police officers. However, news agencies and the public do not acknowledge private sector EMTs with the same vigor or accolade as public sector EMTs, nor are the risks to life, health, and mental well-being recognized among this population. Thus, the research literature has been sparse regarding how private sector EMTs experience PTSD, and what unique risk factors and needs may be present.

Purpose Statement

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between PTSD symptoms and coping skills, …

Baccalaureate Nursing Students' Lived Experiences Of A Leadership Role During Clinical Practicum, Gisela E. Schmidt

Dissertations

Problem

Leadership is an essential component of professional nursing practice used in many aspects of the Registered Nurse (RN) role. Baccalaureate nursing (BN) programs have the responsibility of preparing graduating nursing students with leadership orientation and practice. Excellent professional preparation of RNs starts with their education during nursing school. The fast-paced and high-demand healthcare environment needs RNs who can be accountable for patient care that enables excellent patient outcomes and sound patient-centered care. Taking this into consideration, nursing educators are in a special position to promote nursing education which prepares their students with leadership education and training. The purpose of …

How Faculty And Student Preferences For Active And Traditional Instructional Methods Relate To Their Beliefs, Quantity, And Quality Of Experiences, Knowledge Of The Benefits, And Professional Training, Tammy R. Shilling

Dissertations

Purpose

The complexity of preparing students for clinical practice and the mitigating factors that influence pedagogical preferences impact the current realities of health professional education. The purpose of this quantitative, correlational study is to explain the relationships between faculty preferences and student preferences for active over traditional methods and their beliefs, the frequency and positiveness of their experiences, and the amount and extent of the knowledge or training they have had regarding active and traditional teaching methods. Results may further inform and refine health professional education infrastructure changes to support faculty in pedagogical change as they prepare students with the …

The Effect Of An Online Mental Health Promotion Program During Covid-19, Juliana Maldonado

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Background

The negative impact of Coronavirus 19 (COVID-19) on mental health has been observed through the pandemic. People have had to adapt to a new norm of social distancing, wearing a mask, and abstaining from big group gatherings. These changes have impacted all levels of society and the rise of mental health care continues to grow as COVID-19 continues at this time. Mental health promotion strategies may be enhanced through the use of telehealth.

Purpose

To determine if a six-week online mental health promotion intervention would improve the GAD-7 scores of participants.

Methods

This project utilized a quantitative quasi-experimental pre-test/post-test …

The Effect Of An Online Educational Intervention On The Community Knowledge Of Physical Health, Mental Health And Self-Efficacy During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Kerstin Ashby Ferguson

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Background

Community health education during times of pandemic is of utmost importance to disseminate information regarding safety precautions, educate the public regarding the disease process, and provide accurate health information during a time when individuals are specifically vulnerable to inaccurate sources of information. During the COVID-19 pandemic, physical gatherings were highly restricted; therefore, it became important to incorporate technology into the educational process.

Purpose

The purpose of this project was to determine if a thirty-day, online community health education program would increase the health knowledge and self-efficacy of participants.

Methods

This project utilized a quantitative quasi-experimental pre-test/post-test design from a …

Lectin Properties Of Synthetically Produced Glucuronate, Alginate, And Related Boronates, Vanessa Angel

Honors Theses

In the nineteenth century, researchers discovered that some proteins had the ability to agglutinate red blood cells (Goldstein, 1980). These proteins were found mainly in the seeds of leguminous plants and were named phytohemagglutinins or hemagglutinins. Particular hemagglutinins were able to agglutinate red blood cells (RBCs) of a specific blood type. Now a days, these proteins are more widely known as Lectins. Lectins are proteinaceous macromolecules of nonimmune origin, capable of interacting with carbohydrates to form complexes (Goldstein, 1980). Lectins sources derive mainly from leguminous plants, animals, fruiting bodies of fungi, and bacteria. This research focuses on identifying the lectin …

Does Use Of A Mobile App And Telephone Support Promote Improved Self-Care Of Heart Failure?, April Christine Chew

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Background

Heart failure is a complex disease and a growing global epidemic. Symptoms and multiple comorbidities contribute to the overwhelming burden of heart failure, and support people make an important contribution to self-care. Effective self-care maintenance behaviors along with confidence and support can help people living with heart failure to effectively self-manage the disease.

Purpose

This project aimed to determine if use of a mobile app with telephone support calls was an effective intervention to promote improved self-care of heart failure and caregiver contribution to self-care of heart failure compared to the standard of care where the intervention was not …