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Local Anesthetic Systemic Toxicity: Last Protocol Development, Implementation, And Evaluation For Healthcare Providers, Rachel Vaughn

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

LAST is an uncommon but deadly complication of local anesthetic administration. Healthcare facilities benefit from protocol implementation to help streamline best evidence-based practice. The American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine warrants a LAST emergency protocol for any healthcare facility practicing regional anesthesia. Healthcare personnel encountering patients at risk for LAST must understand the symptoms and treatment of LAST to improve response time and patient outcomes. The project implemented a LAST protocol at a rural hospital in Southern Illinois in July 2023. The investigator held an educational service to discuss the new LAST protocol and implementation. The educational service …

Development And Implementation Of An Evidence Based Practice Guideline Related To The Management Of Adult Angioedema, Megan Przybysz

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

Angioedema (AE) is a potentially life-threatening medical condition that occurs with a higher frequency than medical providers may expect, with the emergency department (ED) serving as the usual first point of medical contact for patients. Any hesitation in recognizing AE or inconsideration of the disease process in differential diagnoses may lead to a dangerous delay of care. Due to the potential rapid progression of airway obstruction in AE, inexperienced providers should not attempt intubation, instead deferring to providers experienced in alternative airway techniques (i.e., anesthesia providers). The primary goal of this project is to develop an evidencebased practice guideline for …

Final Scholarly Project: Clinical Guidelines For The Perioperative Management Of Patients With Opioid Use Disorder Requiring Anesthesia, Jessica Kayla Joos

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

Opioids have highly addictive properties that allow for high levels of misuse. Since the early 1990s, the misuse and deaths rates related to narcotics have steadily risen in the United States. Efforts to identify individuals using opioids prior to surgery have proven difficult. The number of patients misusing opioids and reporting for surgery can only be estimated due to under-reporting related to fear and self-stigma. With 50 million surgeries in the U.S. annually and 3.32 million people misusing opioids monthly, the chances of a patient with Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) presenting for anesthesia are exceptionally high. Moreover, patients who rate …

Evidence Based Practice Change To Incorporate A Standardized Process Checklist For Fecal Microbiota Therapy (Fmt) To Increase Staff Adherence, Alicia Gomez

Student Scholarly Projects

Practice Problem: Staff adherence to new procedures is crucial for ensuring patient safety, maintaining quality care, reducing risks and liabilities, and fostering a positive organizational culture that supports continuous improvement. Having a procedure done safely for patients infected with C.diff provides an overall benefit to the healthcare system.

PICOT: In an endoscopy lab staffed with nurses and surgical technicians (P), does the implementation of a new standardized process of administering FDA approved Fecal Microbiota Transplant Therapy (I) compared to the current process (C), increase staff adherence to the process (O) over 12 weeks(T)?

Evidence: Leadership, supervision, and organizational culture are …

Shivering In Postpartum Women: Development Of A Perioperative Protocol For Women Undergoing Cesarean Section, Lindsay Dawson, Kara Peters

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

In obstetric patients undergoing a cesarean section, a spinal anesthetic is the most common form of anesthesia (Hannallah, 2016). An intrathecal (or spinal) block is not benign. Postpartum shivering is a potential risk with any neuraxial procedure, with an incidence of 40-80% specifically following a spinal anesthetic (Feng et al., 2021). Patients who experience shivering are at a greater risk for postoperative complications, impaired mother-newborn bonding, and decreased patient satisfaction. Both nonpharmacological and pharmacological treatment options exist for prevention and treatment of postpartum shivering. The objective of this project was to introduce a standardized, evidence-based protocol to decrease the incidence …

Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (Eras) Protocol For Bariatric Surgery, Krista Bunch

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Bariatric surgery has been utilized in treating severe obesity and offers several benefits, such as sustainable weight loss, treatment of various metabolic comorbidities, and improved life expectancy (Sundbom et al., 2017). With these benefits and procedural improvements, there has been a marked increase in the demand for bariatric surgery and increased interest in shifting some of these procedures to an ambulatory care setting (Stenberg et al., 2022). However, postoperative complications such as pain, nausea, and inability to tolerate oral intake can cause patients to experience an increased length of stay in the hospital and suboptimal outcomes (King et al., 2018). …

Preoperative Warming To Improve Patient Outcomes: Implementation Of A Warming Protocol, Tiara Switzer-Houston

Student Scholarly Projects

Practice Problem: Inadvertent perioperative hypothermia (IPH) is noted to be the most common surgical complication. IPH is associated with a variety of complications which are known to impact the well-being of the patient, family, and healthcare system.

PICOT: The PICOT question that guided this scholarly project was scheduled for total hip and knee arthroplasty surgical procedures under general or neuraxial anesthesia greater than 60 minutes (P), how effective is the implementation of an evidence-based pre-surgical warming protocol including forced-air warming (FAW) (I) compared to current practices (C) in improving normothermia readings within 15 minutes of arriving to the PACU, …

Effects Of Compassion Fatigue On Surgical Staff Productivity, Marcy I. Harris

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Compassion fatigue is a psychological phenomenon affecting many healthcare professionals; however, many professionals are unaware of compassion fatigue or its signs and symptoms. Individuals suffering from compassion fatigue may experience mental and physical side effects and a decline in their work productivity. This quality improvement project was aimed at determining if implementing Vintapatr’s compassion fatigue education and management program would improve perceived levels of compassion fatigue and reduce operating room turnover time. The researcher utilized a descriptive correlational design to identify the relationship between compassion fatigue levels and operating room turnover times. This quality improvement project was implemented at a …

Determining The Need For 23-Hour Observation Following Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusions: A Patient Perspective On Recovery At Home, Lacey Irias

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Minimally invasive surgery (MIS) for transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) is becoming more frequently performed in ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs). Subsequently, patients are scheduled for an option to undergo a 23-hour observation which requires staff preparation. The preparation increases costs and creates a shortage during a standard daytime shift which can reflect negatively on patient care. Most patients elect to be discharged the same day, on account of experiencing minimal pain and seeking the comfort of their own home. The goal of this DNP project was to assess the necessity of scheduling a patient 23 hours for observation following a …

The Effects Of An Educational Intervention On Nursing Knowledge Of Post-Operative Care Of Patients After Minimally Invasive Esophagectomy Surgery, Kelli Curry

DNP Projects

Abstract

Background: Minimally invasive esophagectomy surgery is commonly performed by thoracic surgeons on patients with esophageal cancer. The post-operative care of these patients is meticulous and follows a protocol developed by the thoracic surgeons at the University of Kentucky. At UK Chandler Medical Center, concerns have been raised regarding nurses’ lack of education of the protocol, and therefore decreased implementation. Increasing nursing knowledge pertaining to this protocol by performing educational in-services periodically and standardizing and implementing formal education as part of nursing orientation will decrease the knowledge gap and improve patient outcomes and increase utilization of the post-operative protocol.

Purpose: …

Implementation Of The Academic Autistic Spectrum Partnership In Research And Education (Aaspire)-Based Guidelines To Improve Perioperative Care Of Patients With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Kayleigh Brink

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

ABSTRACT

Implementation of the Academic Autistic Spectrum Partnership in Research and Education (AASPIRE)-based Guidelines to Improve Perioperative Care of Patients with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Kayleigh Brink

Introduction: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is becoming more prevalent with an increasing need to identify and eliminate barriers to care. Healthcare Providers (HCP) have shown limited knowledge and confidence when managing patients with ASD. The inability to provide specialized care and recognize symptoms of pain or discomfort could result in behavioral difficulties.

Purpose: The purpose of this project was to improve confidence among HCPs to identify ASD characteristics and to improve the use of …