Exploring The Lived Experience Of Significant Other Caregivers Providing Care To Partners Surviving A Spinal Cord Injury, Lisa Ann Lumley

Theses & Dissertations

According to the World Health Organization, 250,000 to 500,000 people worldwide have suffered a spinal cord injury. Significant others may become caregivers responsible for meeting the needs of the dependent partner. The focus of this study is on significant other caregivers’ experiences providing care for partners after a spinal cord injury. The effects of stress from providing care may be detrimental to caregivers' psychological and physical well-being. Psychological distress, such as anxiety and depression in caregivers, is a significant public health issue that affects the quality of life for millions of individuals. There is a lack of studies focusing on …

Secondary Data Analysis: Predictors Of Employment Among Young Adults With Cerebral Palsy, Eduardo Santos Del Rosario

Theses & Dissertations

Young adults with cerebral palsy have lower employment rates as compared to young adults in general, as they may be confronted with complex interactions between cognitive delays, physical impairments, activity limitations, participation challenges, and personal and/or societal barriers as they progress to adulthood. These challenges are clear, the solutions, less so. Understanding the predicting factors of employment is vital to future generations of this population. The purpose of this study is to identify predictor variables and examine the relationship of those variables to employment. It has explored existing Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA-911) data through the lens of the International Classification …

A Psychometric Validation Of The Provider Responses, Treatment, And Care For Trafficked People Instrument, Shaneke O. Pryce

Theses & Dissertations

Background

Human trafficking (HT) is often referred to as modern-day slavery, where force, fraud, or coercion is used to lure an individual into a life of labor or sexual exploitation. Although trafficked persons commonly interface with the healthcare setting, they are often unidentified and returned to the trafficked population. Previous studies have shown that while in captivity, trafficked persons have accessed medical care on various occasions, seeking treatments ranging from minor ailments to more severe ones at emergency departments, primary care clinics, and specialized clinics for sexual and reproductive health (Chisolm-Straker et al., 2016; Lederer &Wetzel, 2014). The inability to …

New York State Emergency Department Assessment Treatment And Referral Of Individuals Presenting To The Emergency Department With Opioid Use Disorder, Macia Victoria Drummond

Theses & Dissertations

Opioid dependence and addiction are classified as severe medical conditions that cause adverse effects on the individual, their family, and society as a whole. The increasing number of opioid overdose cases and deaths has posed a significant challenge for emergency departments (EDs) as they play a crucial role in providing immediate medical attention to patients with opioid use disorder (OUD). The consequences of OUD are alarming, with high morbidity and mortality rates. The purpose of this study was to examine the policies, practices, and barriers to adherence to nationally recognized clinical best practices for treating patients with OUD in New …

Chronic Kidney Disease Patients' Experiences In The Decision Making Process: The Relationship Between Personal Characteristics And Decisional Self-Efficacy On Decisional Conflict And The Dialysis Decision In Patients Who Participated In Shared Decision Making, Lincy Jojan

Theses & Dissertations

Patients with End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) experience a complex and stressful decision making when comes to dialysis modality selection. There are pros and cons to both hemodialysis (HD) and peritoneal dialysis (PD). Patients are often uncertain as to which one is the best modality for them. This decisional conflict increases the likelihood of making a decision that is not based on the patient’s values or preferences and may result in undesirable post-decisional consequences. Purpose The purpose of this study was to explore Chronic Kidney Diseases (CKD) patients' experiences regarding their decision making process in selecting a dialysis modality. The …

The Lived Experience Of Older Adults With Visual Impairments And Their Integration Into Social And Recreational Activities In The Long-Term Care Setting: A Phenomenological Study, Julie Ann Conboy Russo

Theses & Dissertations

The prevalence of vision loss in the elderly is high. Visual impairment in long-term care (LTC) settings may be a barrier to fully interacting in therapeutic recreational and social activities. Living with visual barriers may hamper safety (i.e., fear of falling and navigating in unfamiliar settings); cognitive ability; and participation in activities leading to isolation, depression, and loss of self-esteem. Decreased stimulation may affect one’s overall happiness and quality of life. A qualitative phenomenological design was followed to capture the lived experience of older adults with visual impairments living in LTC settings and their integration into social and recreational activities …

Descriptive, Comparative, And Correlational Study Related To End-Of-Life Care Prior To The Covid-19 Pandemic Outbreak (Time 1) And 12 Months Following Lockdown (Time2), Elizabeth Infante

Theses & Dissertations

Background

Palliative care has grown in its acceptance nationally and formed the base of a growing number of programs to provide care in a way that recognizes the importance of supporting people with chronic, debilitating, and life-limiting illnesses by focusing on “care” rather than “cure.” This special care warrants an understanding by all nurses and requires education across specialties and disciplines. Despite the increase of palliative care services in hospitals and other settings, long-term care and home care agencies continue to struggle with the education of staff and delivery of care to clients that incorporate the central tenets of what …

Urinary Incontinence In The Pre-Menopausal Woman And Impact On Quality Of Life, Jacqueline Skene Kirk

Theses & Dissertations

Background

Urinary incontinence (UI) is a medical condition that plagues millions of women worldwide, negatively affecting their quality of life. UI is the involuntary release of urine or what women refer to as having “accidents.” Women suffering from UI often feel embarrassed and become socially isolated. The majority of studies in the literature focus on UI in postmenopausal women. However, very few studies explore the lived experience of living with UI as a premenopausal woman, who are at a time in their lives when they are involved in their careers, having intimate relationships with their partners, and are raising their …

Inpatient Pediatric Nurses’ Knowledge, Attitudes, Beliefs, And Practices Of Infant Safe Sleep, Francince Bono-Neri

Theses & Dissertations

Background According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 3,600 infants died suddenly and unexpectedly in the US in 2017 (CDC, 2020a). These deaths occurred among infants less than 1 year of age, having no immediately obvious cause. These sudden unexpected infant deaths (SUID) have three commonly reported mortality (or vital records) codes, which include Accidental Suffocation and Strangulation in Bed (ASSB), Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), and other ill-defined deaths (CDC, 2020b; Mathews, MacDorman, & Thoma, 2015). These infant fatalities, with infant defined as a newborn through 12 months of age, collectively fall under the umbrella …

Parents Raising Children With Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities In Jamaica: A Grounded Theory Approach, Maureen Lowers-Roach

Theses & Dissertations

Purpose The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences and/or challenges of parents or guardians of school-aged children who have intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (IDD) and are living in Jamaica. Background Raising a child with IDD can be overwhelming for parents and families, as it may drain them financially, emotionally, psychologically, and socially. Due to the relative poverty and scarcity of adequate resources in Jamaica, the burden of caring for a child with special needs may be challenging. Attitudes toward persons with disabilities are negative in Jamaica. Although several laws are designed to protect children with disabilities, there …

Individual Characteristics And Shared Decision Making For Stroke Prevention In Atrial Fibrillation, Patricia Nadraus

Theses & Dissertations

With the advent of patient-centered care, individuals with Afib are asked to participate in the shared decision-making (SDM) process. Choosing therapies in thromboembolic risk reduction is complex, involves trade-offs along with considering risks and benefits of therapeutics. Afib affects between 2.7 million and 6.1 million American adults (January et al., 2014), and with the growing elderly population that number is expected to double by 2030 (Colilla et al., 2013). In 2016 Medicare required a SDM process for individuals considering left atrial appendage for stroke prevention. There have been no studies reported examining individual characteristics and participating in SDM in individuals …

A National Study Of Undergraduate Nursing Students' Early Consideration Of Doctoral Education: What Characteristics Predict Students' Report Of Intention And Readiness To Continue Graduate Education Toward The Doctorate?, Renee Lynn Buonaguro

Theses & Dissertations

Statement of the Problem The looming nursing faculty shortage has already had a direct effect on schools of nursing. With our current understanding about enrollments needed to meet the demands of an adequately prepared healthcare workforce, attention needs to be directed toward the preparation of an adequate educator workforce. A consequence of not having doctorally prepared nursing faculty would result in an inadequate number of professors to accommodate the 70,000 applicants who are desiring to pursue their nursing degrees. One solution to the faculty shortage is to vastly increase the number of doctorally prepared faculty earlier in their careers. This …

The Relationahips Between Health Behaviors Of Women And Health Locus Of Control Among Black Caribbean Women And Black American Women With Hypertension, Camelle Charles

Theses & Dissertations

Background

Millions of Caribbean women have migrated to the United States, and a sizeable number of these women and Black American women suffer from hypertension and other cardiovascular health problems. This research showed the comparison of health behaviors of both groups of women and the difference in their health outcomes. Today, there are more migrants in the world than ever before; an estimated 272 million international migrants in 2019, which is an increase in 51 million since 2010 (United Nations, 2019) and Caribbean migrants are a substantial portion of this pool. Approximately 4.4 million Caribbean immigrants reside in the U.S. …

Temporal Pain Pattern Sequencing In The Older Adult After Joint Replacement Surgery, Jennifer B. Withall

Theses & Dissertations

Background

Large joint replacement surgery, including hip and knee arthroplasties, are two of the most common surgical procedures that American adults aged 65 years and older undergo annually. While postoperative pain is expected, if it is not properly managed, it can have deleterious effects on postoperative recovery, including an increased length of stay, increased risk for postoperative complications, and decreased patient satisfaction.

Problem

Postoperative pain is primarily managed pharmacologically, typically with opioid pain medications are administered as needed (i.e., pro re nata [PRN]). Patients request pain-relieving medications when they are experiencing escalating pain, which can be challenging to maintain comfort …

Neonatal Nurses' Perceptions Of Providing Palliative Care In The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Susan Di Nonno Chin

Theses & Dissertations

Although advances in neonatal medicine have greatly improved infant survival rates, there remains a significant number of infants admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit who will not survive. It is estimated that 50% of the 25,000 annual hospital pediatric deaths occur in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) (Conway-Oriel & Edlund, 2015). Despite widely supported guidelines endorsing neonatal palliative care (NPC), implementation has been sporadic and inconsistent (Kain & Wilkinson, 2013). Lack of palliative care protocols has been associated with negative impacts on infants, their families, and multidisciplinary team members. NICU nurses are uniquely positioned to influence end-of-life care …

Male Nurses’ Experience Of Gender Stereotyping Over The Past Five Decades: A Narrative Approach, Michael W. Finnegan

Theses & Dissertations

Negative stereotyping of men in nursing has been a chronic problem that has a direct effect on males and detracts from efforts to recruit and retain them. At this time in American history (2018), traditionally male-dominated professions are making significant progress toward the goal of a gender-balanced workplace. However, the opposite is not true. Traditionally female-dominated professions are not attracting or appealing to men. In the nursing profession, the number of male nurses is relatively small and has remained relatively fixed over time. Estimates vary between 6-15 percent, with the current average being approximately 11 percent (American Nurses Association, 2014). …

Does The Theory Of Reasoned Action Inform The Willingness Of Individuals Undergoing Genetic Testing To Seek Disclosure Of Incidental Findings Related To The Risk For Alzheimer Disease?, Alisa M. Forrest

Theses & Dissertations

Background: In recent years, researchers have increasingly employed genetic testing as a means for understanding and treating diseases like Alzheimer disease, a common progressive disease affecting cognition and behavior. Genetic studies hold the potential for major breakthroughs in treatment of diseases like Alzheimer disease. However, with the increase in the use of genomewide association, microarray, and whole genome sequencing comes the potential for a greater number of incidental findings in genetic research—findings not central to the aim of a study but nonetheless informative about a participant’s health. Although many studies have documented the ethical implications around disclosure of such findings …

The Experience Of Female Veterans’ Transitioning To Post—Active— Duty Health Care, Sarah A. Bradwisch

Theses & Dissertations

Problem Statement: Female veterans are growing in record numbers and are the fastest growing segment of the veteran population in the United States(U.S.). After discharge from the military, female veterans face a difficult challenge in finding quality, efficient, and gender-specific health care following active duty. The growing number of female veterans in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care facilities has highlighted gaps in access to care and quality of care for female veterans. Methodology: Interpretive phenomenology was used to better understand the meaning of 11 U.S. female veterans’ experiences. Semi-structured telephone interviews and the analytic approach of Martin …

Millenial Nurses Connecting With Patients In The 21st Century: A Phenomenological Studyh, Heather Caramanzana

Theses & Dissertations

Problem: Millennial nurses are the largest portion of the profession reporting burnout and compassion fatigue. The millennial generation was impacted by the explosion of technology in the late twentieth century. Constant technological stimulation heavily impacted developmental milestones. Early adolescence is a critical time for the abstract development of empathy and compassion. The millennial generation communicates through technology while performing more than one task in a short amount of time, known as multi-tasking. With less time spent at the bedside due to increases in administrative tasks, deficits in the development of empathy and expression of compassion may impact the development of …

Factors Associated With College Students' Willingness And Readiness To Act In A Food Allergic Emergency, Olga Kagan

Theses & Dissertations

Problem/Significance: Food allergy is a growing public health concern in the United States affecting nearly 15 million Americans. According to FAIR Health (Gelburd, 2017), diagnoses of anaphylactic food reactions increased by 377% nationwide from 2007 to 2016, with 66% among patients 18 years or younger, and 34% in those over 18 years old. Several tragic incidents and lawsuits have occurred on college campuses in recent years raising concerns over the safety of college students experiencing a food allergic emergency. Purpose: The purpose of this quantitative descriptive correlational study is to identify factors associated with college students’ willingness and readiness to …

Maternal Child Health Nurses' Care Of The Opioid Addicted Mother And Infant: A Grounded Theory Study, Alice Marie Nash

Theses & Dissertations

Problem: Opioid addiction in pregnancy is a public health crisis that is growing daily. This increased use of opioids during pregnancy has caused a steady rise in the number of infants born addicted to opioids. Current trends in maternal child heath (MCH) settings encourage mothers and babies to be cared for together. Nurses who work in MCH settings care for the opioid addicted mother and her infant(s) as a single patient dyad. Care required for the opioid-addicted mother-infant dyad (OAMID) presents challenges to maternal-child health (MCH) nurses related to the consequences of opioid addiction.

Purpose: The purpose of this grounded …

A Comparison Of Two Debriefing Methods On Clinical Reasoning Outcomes, Learner Satisfaction With Debriefing And Reflection, Clinical Learning And Clinical Reasoning, And Psychological Safety Of Nurse Orientees In Simulation-Based Education, Lori Persico

Theses & Dissertations

Simulation-based education is a teaching method used successfully in military, aviation, and medical education; however, the evidence rarely indicates how debriefing affects the learners’ experiences. Debriefing is an essential component of simulation-based education that fosters conceptual learning, critical thinking, and clinical reasoning. The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of two different debriefing methods on nurses’ perceptions of psychological safety, satisfaction with development of clinical reasoning skills, and satisfaction with learning. In this quasi-experimental, posttest study the researcher explored the effect of each debriefing method. Using the 18-item Satisfaction with Simulation Experience Scale developed by Levett-Jones et …

The Lived Experience Of Relationship Transition In Significant Others Caring For A Partner With Younger Onset Dementia, Diane Peyser

Theses & Dissertations

Background

Approximately 5% of dementia sufferers are individuals younger than age 65. The majority of studies have focused on individuals with late-onset dementia. The limited studies conducted on caregivers of younger onset dementia individuals identify that they have a different set of needs based upon their unique experiences. Significant others such as spouses frequently fulfill the role of caregiver for a partner with younger onset dementia. Little is known about the lived experience of significant others caring for a partner with younger onset dementia in the context of relationship transition that occurs in this dynamic situation. This study illustrates the …

Middle School Students’ Knowledge Of Skin Cancer, Sun Protective Behaviors, And Perceptions Of Acquiring Skin Cancer., Anna George

Theses & Dissertations

The incidence of skin cancer especially melanoma among children, adolescents, and young adults has reached epidemic proportions, with young females at highest risk for this deadly cancer. Increasing sun protection for children and making them aware of the dangers of the ultraviolet rays of the sun may reduce their risk of developing skin cancer. Therefore, teaching sun protective behaviors in schools should start early in childhood. Developing comprehensive sun safety programs for children that are motivating and individualized will help them to get involved in the programs and also help to retain the information that they have learned during these …

Factors Influencing The Perceived Stressors Of New Graduate Nurses Transitioning Into Acute Care Settings: A Secondary Data Analysis, Eileen K. Mahler

Theses & Dissertations

Background: The transition into practice of new graduate nurses continues to be of concern to the nursing profession. Smooth transition into practice takes on increased importance in the current era of healthcare transformation and resulting impact on the clinical environments within which nurses practice. It is important to study the stressors and challenges new graduates face in the practice environment. Methods: This descriptive study utilized secondary data analysis to explore new graduate nurses' self-report of clinical stressors during their transition into the professional RN role. Meleis’ Transitions Theory and Lazarus and Folkman’s Transactional Model of Stress and Coping provided the …

Nurses’ Perceptions Of Importance And Achievability Of The Ten Attributes Of Health Literate Healthcare Organizations In Their Institutions: A Descriptive Study, Anna Ten Napel

Theses & Dissertations

Health literacy defined is the degree to which individuals have the capacity to obtain process and understand basic health information to make appropriate health decisions (IOM, 2004). To be a health literate consumer, a person must be able to read, listen, understand, and make decisions related to their health. Hospitals seeking to be Health Literate Organizations must have a strong commitment to improving and reengineering to make it easier for patients to navigate, understand and use information and services to take care of their health (IOM, 2013). High quality, safe health care depends on clear communication between patients, families, providers, …

Patient Complexity Factors And Their Influence On Nurses' Perception Of Staffing Adequacy, Margaret M. Duffy

Theses & Dissertations

Nurse leaders must consider the influence of nurse-specific and patient-specific factors on nursing workload and nurses’ perception of staffing adequacy when developing nurse staffing plans. All of the factors that influence individual nurses’ perception of staffing adequacy are not known. Using a synthesis of the Roy Adaptation Model (RAM) and economic theory as a guiding model, the purpose of the current study was to determine if selected patient complexity factors that are not consistently captured in the measurement of patient acuity by an automated workforce management system influence nurses’ perception of staffing adequacy. The current study employed a complex predictive …

The Knowledge, Attitude, And Self-Reported Behaviors Of Psychiatric Nurses Towards Obese Psychiatric Patients On Atypical Anti-Psychotic Medications, Marcia D. Williams-Hailey

Theses & Dissertations

Background/Purpose: Obesity has continued to increase over the years with increase in morbidity and mortality. The advancement of psychiatric treatment has resulted in a higher prevalence of obesity among the psychiatric population related to the side-effects of the newer atypical anti-psychotics. This study addresses nurses’ attitudes towards obesity and people who are obese, focusing on psychiatric patients. Negative attitudes and low knowledge about psychiatric patients on atypical anti-psychotics can interfere with psychiatric nurses’ therapeutic potential to support patients with health promotion behaviors. The purpose of this study was to develop an instrument to measure the knowledge, attitudes, and self-reported behavior …

The Relationship Between New Nurses Who Volunteer And The Caring Behavior New Nurses Exhibit In The Practice Setting, One Year Post Graduation, Nicolette Fiore-Lopez

Theses & Dissertations

Volunteering is engaged in by millions world-wide and nurses comprise a significant portion of those who provide their professional talents, unpaid, to the underserved in local, national and international efforts. Nurses who have engaged in volunteer activities anecdotally describe personally transforming experiences gained through their efforts and for many nurses volunteering becomes part of their professional mandate. Although many social disciplines have studied volunteering, to date there has been a paucity of research on nurses who volunteer. The purpose of this study was to describe the characteristics of novice nurses who volunteer and determine the influence of volunteering and associated …

The Impact Of Technology-Enhanced Learning Activities On Nursing Student Engagement In The Classroom, Alicia A. Stone

Theses & Dissertations

Educating student nurses in the present environment requires professors to stay current with new methodologies as well as innovations in technology. The question is how to address both the impact of technology and the skills of clinical reasoning, and keep the students involved in the material. If there can be integration of each aspect through the use of technology-enhanced learning activities on the internet and preparation to approach the issue, then perhaps this can increase success. This is a quasi-experimental intervention study that explored the impact of a case study blogging assignment on the engagement of students enrolled in a …