Digital Commons Network^™

Interventions To Alleviate Guilt In Family Caregivers Of Patients Receiving Hospice Or End-Of-Life Care: A Scoping Review, Kyla N. Huelle

Honors Undergraduate Theses

This scoping review contains a literature analysis regarding interventions used by health care workers to alleviate guilt in caregivers of patients during end-of-life care. During end-of-life care, many transitions and decisions are made that add to the burden of caregivers. Family caregivers experience many physical, financial, and emotional stressors during the journey of end-of-life care, and this can result in guilt. Feelings of guilt can lead to poorer health outcomes and coping in family caregivers and should be addressed by health providers. In this scoping review, a literature search was conducted using various key terms like "guilt," "hospice," "end-of-life care," …

The Effects Of Mindfulness Meditation On Stress And Burnout In Nurses, Alyssa Green

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Occupational burnout related to stress in the workplace is frequently experienced by nurses who are regularly confronted with trauma, suffering, and high workloads. Burnout can negatively impact patient care and have detrimental effects on nurse’s physical and mental health. Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction programs have been researched as a potential intervention for reducing stress and burnout through cultivating present awareness, emotional regulation, and positive thinking. A literature review was performed to explore the current knowledge on the effectiveness of mindfulness meditation related to stress and burnout in nurses and to provide recommendations for future research on this topic. Findings reveal …

Factors Contributing To The Negative And Unhealthy Psychological Conditions In The Ed Rn, Ariana M. Nieves

Honors Undergraduate Theses

The emergency department is a stressful environment. Emergency department registered nurses (ED RNs) are at an increased risk of development of negative and unhealthy psychological conditions due to their frequent exposure to stress and traumatic events. These conditions include post-traumatic stress disorder, compassion fatigue, and burnout syndrome, which are already known to be common in the emergency department registered nurse population. It is important to understand the factors that influence the development of these psychological conditions in order to provide better education to nurses regarding prevention of the development of these psychological conditions. This literature review aimed to identify articles …

The Effect Of Nursing Interventions And Health Promotion On Childhood Obesity: A Literature Review, Grace N. Mageloff

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Childhood obesity is a growing epidemic in the United States that has short-term and long-term health consequences for the children affected. Nurses are patient advocates and are responsible for speaking up for the patient; in the pediatric population, a nurse must act as an advocate on behalf of the child. The purpose of this literature review is to look at different barriers to nursing interventions in regard to childhood obesity. A literature review was done by using different databases, with 11 articles having similar themes and interventions used. The main themes from the literature review were parental willingness and involvement …

Sepsis Knowledge In Undergraduate Nursing Students, Kelsey E. Tilton

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Background: Sepsis is the most common cause of death in critically ill patients in settings other than cardiovascular intensive care units (ICUs). Research shows that early detection is the best way to prevent sepsis progression and improve patient outcomes. Nurses can play a critical role in the treatment of sepsis using their knowledge and resources to detect the presence of sepsis at the earliest possible point in the progression of the syndrome. Baccalaureate nursing students were surveyed to assess students' beliefs and knowledge of sepsis and to examine the gaps in students' abilities to identify sepsis. Methodology: An …

Alpha Amylase As An Emerging Biomarker Of Microaspiration In Mechanically Ventilated Patients: An Integrative Review Of The Literature, Chloe Chase

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Aims: The purpose of this thesis was to synthesize the current literature on alpha amylase as an emerging biomarker of microaspiration in mechanically ventilated patient.

Methods: The methodology included a review and synthesis of pertinent research articles from 1981-2018, written in English language. Criteria for inclusion in the review were all articles that evaluated α- amylase in tracheal secretions or bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BAL) as a diagnostic tool for identifying microaspiration. The search yielded 11 studies that were reviewed.

Findings: The findings suggest that once aspiration occurs, the duration of α-amylase in the lungs requires further exploration to assist in …

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, And Transgender (Lgbt) Healthcare In Rural Settings: An Integrative Review Of The Literature, Caitlin Cox

Honors Undergraduate Theses

The lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community is a unique population that has specific health issues and health care needs associated with lifestyle behaviors that increase risk for certain diseases. Health concerns include mental and behavioral health, issues associated with gender identity and relationships (i.e. intimate partner violence), sexually transmitted infections, and chronic illnesses. The research suggests poorer health outcomes for the LGBT population compared to heterosexual and/or cisgender counterparts. Most research conducted with LGBT populations occurred in more populated urban settings with very few studies focusing on this population in the rural context. Consequently, there is a paucity …

The Effects Of Medical Cannabis Use Among Adults With Chronic Pain: An Integrative Review Of The Literature, Bridget A. Asevedo

Honors Undergraduate Theses

The purpose of this integrative literature review was to understand the effects of medical cannabis for chronic pain management in adults. Anecdotal reports suggest the use of medical marijuana as a pain management therapy could be an alternative to opioids and other medications which have long term consequences. Potential uses span the health care continuum, from prescribed outpatient symptom management, to acute care, extended care, home care, and hospice treatment settings. The methodology included a review and synthesis of relevant research articles from 2012 to 2018, written in the English language. The findings suggest medical cannabis has the potential of …

Barriers To Healthcare For The Transgender Population: A Focus On The Trans Persons' Experience Accessing Healthcare Services, Bryce E. Harrison

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Background: Transgender people face several barriers to healthcare when accessing services. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore the lived-experience of the transgender person accessing healthcare. Methods: Colaizzi phenomenological method was used to delve into the experience. The guiding question was: What is the lived experience (challenges, barriers, and/or difficulties) that the transgender person experiences when accessing healthcare? Results: Initial themes were collapsed to create relevant meanings. Five themes emerged from the protocols and were validated by participants. Overall, the transgender person is vulnerable in the healthcare system due to the lack of representation of their identity, which …

Homophobia In Registered Nurses, Matthew Berry

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Homophobia plays a significant role in the treatment of individuals who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender (LGBT). The purpose of this study is to explore the presence of these types of negative attitudes as they present themselves in the nursing workforce. 520 registered nurses were contacted via email to partake in a survey assessing homophobic attitudes and perceptions regarding nursing care of LGBT persons. A total of 27 registered nurses responded and the resulting data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. A majority of registered nurses were female (89.3%), greater than 40 years of age (75%), white (75%), heterosexual …

Considering Stress In A Nursing Student Context: Pre-Admission To Pre-Graduation, Daniel M. Regner

Honors Undergraduate Theses

In moderation, stress is a normal response to a perceived challenge which can motivate an individual to perform at their best. Nursing students consistently report a significant amount of stress which has been found to be greater than their non-nursing peers. The purpose of this study is to assess the level of stress reported by second-semester freshman and sophomore students who have declared nursing as a major, compared with the level of stress experienced by junior and senior students who are enrolled in the university's nursing program. Through this comparison, a conclusion can be drawn as to the level of …

Bsn Students' Opinions Of Mentally Ill Patients, Kavika Chugh

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Compassionate care, or humanism, should be available to all patients, but the stigma associated with mental illness is a barrier to many people receiving the appropriate care. Views held by Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) students can vary from custodial, or the belief in a traditional medical model which involved a highly controlled setting for all mentally ill patients, to humanistic, or viewing the hospital as a therapeutic community for the human needs of a patient. This study examines the views of BSN students before their psychiatric clinical experience through a pretest and post-test survey and analyzes for a …

Pre-Licensure Nursing Student Attitudes Toward Physician-Assisted Suicide, Stephanie K. Cox

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Physician assisted suicide (PAS) has been a legalized presence in the United States since Oregon first passed the Death with Dignity Act in 1994. Now PAS is legalized in six states and it is realistic that nurses may encounter PAS during their career. This project explores pre-licensure nursing student attitudes toward PAS.

A mixed method design incorporating descriptive correlation and thematic analysis of an open-ended question was used. Surveys were sent to 550 nursing students enrolled in the UCF nursing program asking participants to complete the 34-question survey. This survey included a 12 item “Domino scale” on student nursing opinions …

Evaluating Outcomes Of Education On Waste Management In The Hospital Setting, Taryn N. Schlather

Honors Undergraduate Theses

With advancements in healthcare, we continue to find new needs that must be addressed. Hospitals generate a substantial amount of medical waste, and proper disposal is important for patient and staff safety, environmental protection, and cost efficiency. A series of studies show there is a need for further education on hospital waste management policies. This thesis aims to evaluate education interventions to improve knowledge and healthcare waste disposal practices. This literature review was conducted using multiple databases, including MedLINE, CINAHL, GreenFILE, Google Scholar, EBSCOhost, and NCBI, to find qualifying research articles in the English language from 2005-2018. Key terms for …

Effects Of Energy-Based Therapies On Postoperative Recovery: An Integrative Review Of The Literature, Emily M. Wooten

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Associated with health care reform, there has been a growing interest among healthcare professionals regarding use of energy-based therapies as a complementary therapeutic intervention. The purpose of this integrative literature review was to examine the impact of energy-based therapies (i.e. healing touch, reiki, therapeutic touch) on patients’ postoperative recovery. The methodology included identifying appropriate peer-reviewed, English-language research articles on the topic area that were published between 2006 to 2018. Following a search in select data bases, articles focusing on the topic were critiqued, analyzed and synthesized by the researcher. Consistent and inconsistent findings along with gaps in the literature are …

Risk Of Medication Errors In The Home: An Integrative Literature Review, Maria M. Crescenzi

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Regardless of the setting, medication errors are of great concern when associated with an individual’s health outcomes, along with the increased costs to society, healthcare institutions, and providers. Current research focuses on medication error data primarily in acute and extended care facilities. However, there is a paucity of research examining the causes of medication errors that occur post hospital discharge when individuals transition to the home. The purpose of this integrative literature review is to examine risk factors for medication errors outside of these settings, specifically in the home. A systematic literature search was conducted using multiple databases for relevant …

Pain Management In Patients With Fibromyalgia, Linsey Fischer

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Fibromyalgia is a chronic widespread pain disorder that can also cause fatigue, depression, sleep disturbances, and cognitive symptoms. Because the etiology of fibromyalgia is unknown, it is difficult to treat. Research shows that medication alone is insufficient to treat the symptoms of fibromyalgia and that complementary therapies are required to fully manage this disorder. The purpose of this research was to determine what complementary therapies patients with fibromyalgia were currently using. The sample for the survey was taken from fibromyalgia support groups throughout the state of Florida. A total of 15 people diagnosed with fibromyalgia participated in the survey. The …

Exploring The Relationship Between Symptom Management And Distress In Pediatric Oncology Nurses, Amanda M. Schultz

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Pediatric oncology is known to be a stressful work environment due to the difficult aspects regarding patient care. This known stress related to work and caring for pediatric oncology patients can negatively impact nurses, patients, and families. The purpose of this study is to examine: relationships between patient symptom management and nurse distress; strategies used by nurses to manage symptoms in pediatric patients with cancer; nurse perceptions of the effectiveness of non-pharmacologic or nursing interventions; and nurse distress related to managing symptoms in pediatric patients with cancer. Registered nurses (N=13) at a local children’s hospital participated in an online survey. …

An Exploratory Inquiry And Creation Of Emergency Room Discharge Education Materials, Ivory Catalano

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Background

Each Emergency Room (ER) across the USA provides every patient with paperwork upon discharge, which commonly includes information about the patient’s diagnosis. This information will briefly describe the condition, provide information on treatment outside the ER, and possibly more, depending on the document and source. These documents are not made by hospital staff, but are generally purchased from outside providers who mass market such documents as resources for hospitals to use to educate patients. One issue with these documents lies in their mass usage, which is not necessarily designed to target the general population’s reading and educational levels.

Purpose …

Pharmacogenomic Management Of Familial Hypercholesterolemia: An Integrative Review Of The Literature, Brian V. Skibo

Honors Undergraduate Theses

The purpose of this thesis is to examine familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) and emerging pharmacogenomics therapies that propose to lower serum low density lipid (LDL) levels. The search of various data bases resulted in nine research articles being selected for review. Syntheses of the articles suggest emerging phamacogenomic drug therapy can improve treatment outcomes for individuals with a diagnosis of FH. The Human Genome Project (HGP) has had far reaching applications for genomic technologies and pharmacagenomic interventions, tailored to human conditions associated with select genomic traits. Synthesis of nine research articles demonstrate that little is known on the topic and reveals …

Nursing Knowledge And Perceived Comfort Level In Acute Infusion Reactions From Antineoplastic Agents, Andrea L. Maiorini

Honors Undergraduate Theses

INTRODUCTION: Acute infusion reactions from antineoplastic agents can include hypersensitivity reactions, anaphylaxis, and cytokine release infusion reactions. Severe acute infusion reactions happen in about 5% of the oncology patient population and nurses are responsible for assessment and management of the reaction. This is a high-stress task for a nurse magnified by the lack of exposure. This project explores nursing knowledge and perceived comfort level of acute infusion reactions caused by antineoplastic agents.

METHODOLOGY: An original survey was created to test nursing knowledge and assess comfort level. Nursing knowledge was broken down into six subscales: general knowledge of acute infusion reactions, …