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Leading Rural Nurse Academic Progression, Cynthia Jean Larsen

Dissertations (1934 -)

Higher levels of nurse education have been associated with improved patient outcomes and lower healthcare costs. Members of rural populations are vulnerable, having poorer outcomes than urban inhabitants on a number of health indicators. Rural nurses are more likely than urban nurses to enter practice with associates degrees. Hence, academic progression is important for rural nurses and for the health of rural patients and communities. Rural nurse leaders work to promote the academic progression of rural nurses. Grounded theory methodology was used in this study to describe the concerns of and the actions taken by nurse leaders in the promotion …

Relationships Among Uncertainty, Coping, And Psychological Distress In Older Adults With Mild Cognitive Impairment, Jennifer Sjostedt Avery

Dissertations (1934 -)

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) has an average prevalence of 18.9% and most often affects people 60 years of age or older. It is a cognitive stage between normal functioning and dementia (Petersen, 2003; Petersen, 2011; Petersen et al., 2014). MCI can be broken into two subtypes classified by the presence of memory impairment (amnestic MCI) or the lack thereof (nonamnestic MCI). Medical diagnostic criteria are commonly used to guide research with older adults with MCI. A theoretical framework that addresses the antecedents and consequences of MCI, specifically one examining the relationships among MCI, uncertainty, coping and psychological distress, is essential …

The Lived Experience Of Hispanic New Graduate Nurses In The United States, Esther Morales

Dissertations (1934 -)

There has been a significant increase in the Hispanic population in the United States that is not mirrored by representation of Hispanic registered nurses in the United States . Hispanic new graduate nurses enter nursing practice with few Hispanic role models and their story is not found in nursing literature. A qualitative study with a phenomenological philosophy and methodology was conducted to investigate the lived experience of seven Mexican American new graduate nurses, a subgroup of Hispanic nurses. Findings of this study were the seven themes: (a) being an employee; (b) an orientation with or without preceptors; (c) a transition; …

Pushing Techniques Used By Midwives When Providing Second Stage Labor Care, Kathryn Osborne

Dissertations (1934 -)

A growing body of evidence suggests that spontaneous pushing during the second stage of labor results in better outcomes than directed pushing, which usually involves repeated use of the Valsalva maneuver. However, birth attendants in the United States (U.S.) continue to use directive methods when caring for women in the second stage of labor. This study used quantitative methods with the Theory of Diffusion of Innovations as a framework to identify and describe the practices used by certified nurse-midwives and certified midwives, practicing in the U.S., when caring for women in second stage labor. Data were gathered using a questionnaire …

Efficacy Of A Behavioral Intervention To Decrease Medication Transcription Errors Among Professional Nurses, Kathleen Ann Becker

Dissertations (1934 -)

The purpose of this study, guided by Donabedian's structure-process-outcome model, was to evaluate if a cognitive-behavioral education intervention would decrease medication transcription errors among professional nurses when admitting patients 65 years of age or older on 5 or more prescribed medications to a hospital. The conceptual framework for this study is derived from Donabedian's structure-process-outcome health model. The premise suggests improving the structure or process of a system can improve health outcomes. My intervention (cognitive behavioral education), specifically influences the process of medication history obtainment which improved medication error score. In this study, a randomized intervention design was used where …

Understanding Relationships In Health Related Quality Of Life For Parents Of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Norah Louise Johnson

Dissertations (1934 -)

Nurses encounter many parents of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Both parents are under stress that ultimately impacts their health related quality of life (HRQL). Few studies assess the mediators of parenting stress on HRQL for both parents. This study explored the relationship of parenting stress, family functioning and HRQL for parenting dyads of children with ASD. Lazarus and Folkman's (1984) Transactional Model of Stress and Coping and Lakey and Cohen's (2000) Social Support Theory framed the study.

Implementing a cross sectional, descriptive design, 387 parents (n=64 dyads) of ASD-affected children, from 46 states, completed web-based surveys. Demographics, the …

Is A School Based Educational Program Effective In Changing Knowledge Regarding The Prevention Of Shaken Baby Syndrome?, Margaret Kay Stelzel

Dissertations (1934 -)

Shaken baby syndrome (SBS) involves physiological and neuropsychological sequelae secondary to parental or caregiver handling of an infant or young child (Goldberg & Goldberg, 2002). According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (APA) (2001), non-accidental head injuries are the leading cause of traumatic death and cause of child abuse fatalities. The prognosis is extremely poor with a death rate of 26-36% and up to 78% of the survivors suffer long-term disability (Barlow & Minns, 2000). According to Prevent Violence Against Children Act, 2005 Wisconsin Act 165; SECTION 7.121.02(1)(L)6 educational SBS requirements are mandated, effective school year 2007-2008. Two instrument development …