Digital Commons Network^™

Translating Transformative Human Rights Education Through Visual Languages & Informal Spaces, Jazzmin Chizu Gota

Master's Projects and Capstones

This project examines methods, theories, and practices of translating human rights education through multiple vernaculars. Developed as a workshop in sociocultural syntax deconstruction and an educational human rights education website focused on the domestic population of the US, the project focuses on localizing human rights concepts to the public vernacular of the country. Human rights education (HRE) and media and information literacy (MIL) are expanded and redefined as social literacy, or the ability to navigate and decode the present, complex realities that both HRE and MIL were developed to address. Reframing media and visual arts as an archive of past …

Authoritarian Member States In International Organizations, Matt Barg

Master's Theses

This thesis investigates under which conditions do authoritarian Member States exist in International Organizations that require democratic governance in their treaty law. The European Union is used as a case study along with two of its Member States that are in the process of transitioning to democracy from previous authoritarian regimes—Hungary and Romania. This thesis employs stealth authoritarian theory to analyze how a democratizing Member State may violate these laws and revert to authoritarian governance. It also critiques international enforcement mechanisms to consider their effectiveness to enforce their laws and norms as well as prevent an authoritarian reversal. Finally, cultural …

Improving Patient Safety Through Accurate Medication Reconciliation, Dominique Watt

Master's Projects and Capstones

Medication errors due to incorrect medication reconciliation are a very present and serious problem in our microsystem. As an preop/postop outpatient unit, we see an average of 50 patients daily and perform medication reconciliations regularly. The problem is our nurses perform this task inconsistently and often incomplete, leading us to potential medication errors. During my CNL project, I worked with a committee of staff champions and developed a standard work guide for nurses to use in order to effective reconcile patient medications. We used fishbone diagrams, audit tools, surveys and led regular discussions in our huddles in order to develop …

Photooxidation Reactions Of Small-Chain Methyl Esters, Aerosol Photoelectron Spectroscopy, And The Photodissociation Of Ethylenediamine, Giel Muller

Master's Theses

Research conducted at the University of San Francisco is presented within this masters thesis, including the Cl-initiated photooxidation reactions of methyl propanoate, methyl butanoate, and methyl valerate (pentanoate), the aerosol photoelectron spectroscopy of isoprene and gamma-valerolactone, and the TPEPICO investigation of ethylenediamine. Experiments were conducted at the Lawrence Berkeley National Lab Advanced Light Source (ALS), the National Synchrotron Radiation Research Center in Hsinchu City (NSRRC), and the University of Stockton in California, respectively.

Dislocation And Adjustment Of International Student-Athletes, Thiago Brito Lopes

Master's Theses

One reason that attracts international student-athletes to American universities could be the interest in earning high quality education with the possibility of playing high performance sports. However, when compared to other international students, differences are seen: Other foreign students who look for a degree in the US desire not only an international education, but also potentially staying in the country. The University of San Francisco, where a cosmopolitan city meets education, fits it best. At USF, 82 countries are represented, reaching a number of 1708 students. Approximately ¼ of the whole student population is international. The ratio with student-athletes is …

Power, Subjectivity, And Life In Spain: A Continuation Of Elite Power, Matthew Mason

Master's Theses

On December 20, Spain will hold national elections to determine the new prime minister and national and local parliaments. These elections will be another crossroads in the long history of Spain. The elections come about in a political and social atmosphere of ‘change’ and ‘regeneration,’ marked by the rise of two new political parties, Podemos and Ciudanos. These parties are the new forces in the political scene in Spain. This atmosphere of change is the result of the 2008 economic crisis. The economic crisis of 2008 was not only an economic crisis in Spain, but it provoked a political and …

Evolution Of A Nation After A Dictatorship: How Law, Politics And Society Of The 1973 Dictatorship In Uruguay And Of The Subsequent Return Of Democracy In 1985, Potentially Helped Evolve The Nation Of Today., Jonathan A. Fein Proaño

Master's Theses

In 1973, Uruguay’s president authored a coup d’état with the military and changed the history and fabric of Uruguay. Once democracy returned to Uruguay in 1985, it was a chance to see if an evolution of the law, politics and society would occur. This thesis aims to analyze and understand the patterns of change and de-evolution or evolution that happened during the dictatorship and then over the last 30 years. I break down the process of changes that happened legally and politically, how the dictatorship and its leaders used law to destroy rule of law, and how society changed.

This …

Implementation Of A Warming Protocol To Prevent Inadvertent Perioperative Hypothermia In The Ambulatory Surgical Setting, Joan Abigail Slagle

Master's Projects and Capstones

The implementation of a standardized warming protocol aims to improve patient outcomes by preventing inadvertent perioperative hypothermia (IPH) and its complications in the ambulatory surgical setting. All patients, regardless of age or gender, are at risk for experiencing a 1-2° C drop in body core temperature within thirty minutes of anesthesia induction. The global aim of this project is to prevent IPH and its complications in the ambulatory surgical setting by implementing a warming protocol at a freestanding ambulatory surgery center. While an audit of the microsystem revealed a normothermia rate of 28%, a standardized warming protocol is expected to …

Decreasing Risk Of Delirium With Early Progressive Mobility, Donna J. Larson Mrs.

Master's Projects and Capstones

Abstract

The goal to consistently mobilize the mechanically ventilated patient to decrease the risk or progression of delirium is the primary focus of my project. This project took place in two, 12-bed critical care units. One is a cardiovascular, medical, surgical intensive care unit and the other is a neurotrauma critical care unit. The methods for implementation included writing the management of pain, agitation, and delirium policy based upon the recommended bundle from the Society of Critical Care Medicine referred to as the ABCDE bundle. As part of this bundle, the progressive mobility policy was revised so that a physician …

Improving Patient Satisfaction, Wait Times, And Access To Care In A College Health Setting; Expanding The Rn Role As Prescribing Agent With Standardized Procedures, Kimberly D. Perris

Master's Projects and Capstones

The CNL theme for this project is Nursing Leadership, Advocate for the Profession and is inspired by the Institute of Medicine’s call for all nurses to work to the maximum scope of their practice. The specific aim was to demonstrate RN confidence working independently, and proficiency using one RN protocol to provide hormonal contraception with an overall aim of improving patient satisfaction and access to care. This project took place in a rural university student health center where family planning and contraception services are the number one service provided.

The RN visit project has been multidisciplinary and collaborative in creating …

Reducing Preventable Emergency Department Visits By Improving Patient Care Access To Primary Care, Lizeth Rodriguez

Master's Projects and Capstones

Abstract

Inadequate access to primary care creates a concern to receive comprehensive medical care. Improving access to a consistent source of care can help to obtain high quality of care, continuity of care, and reduce preventable emergency department (ED) visits. The aim of this project is to reduce preventable ED visits by improving patient care access to primary care. Comparing preventable ED visit rates between patients with access to primary care against those without access to primary care services, essentially focusing on those without access to primary care, which live in a medically undeserved community. The data collected was analyzed …

Monitoring Biodiversity Of San Francisco Peninsula Grasslands Using Lepidoptera As A Bioindicator, Jonathan B. Sifuentes-Winter

Master's Projects and Capstones

San Francisco Peninsula grasslands have seen an influx of non-native invasive species starting in the 1500’s, threatening ecological stability by reducing biological diversity. To combat these invasive species, multiple public agencies have begun to adopt an integrated pest management (IPM) approach. This ecologically-based approach to pest management utilizes three controversial techniques, which are presently used or are under consideration for use on the San Francisco Peninsula: herbicide application, conservation grazing, and prescribed fire. In this paper, I will evaluate the use of the taxa Lepidoptera as a bioindicator of biodiversity to assess the environmental impacts of these techniques. The application …

Designing A Care Delivery System Through Interprofessional Coordinated Care In A Medical Neighborhood Setting, Diane P. Kelly

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

Abstract

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (2010) has two significant aims: to improve the quality of healthcare and in doing so, to lower the cost of healthcare. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that chronic health conditions, such as diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and mental health, which in 2005 affected nearly one of every two Americans, continues to increase (CDC, 2010). Chronic health conditions and lack of access to care are both national and local concerns. These challenges will require the exploration of new models for the delivery of care, as needs shift over time …

Using A Strategic Model For Professional Development: The Importance Of Evidence-Based Competencies As A Foundation For Professional Practice., Peggi B. Winter

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

Abstract

A nursing professional practice model (PPM) is designed to provide a framework for how nursing practices, communicates, leads, collaborates, and provides the highest quality of care as we navigate the complex healthcare system. An infrastructure for learning, competency, and performance needs to be integrated into this model as a foundation for accelerating business and clinical initiatives, promoting standardization, and sharing successful practices. It is now, more than ever, a necessity to have a well-trained, highly competent nursing workforce. Simply having the knowledge and the skill to do a job is insufficient; rather, it is implied that a competency has …

A Population Health Approach For Community Health Improvement, Sandra Gregg

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

Providence Health & Services (Providence), a not-for-profit Catholic health care system serving five western states, established an organizational vision of Creating healthier communities, together (Providence Health & Services, 2014). This vision served as the catalyst for the alignment of divisional initiatives to positively impact community health status. To effectively achieve its vision, the organization committed to the incorporation of population health principles in the development of an infrastructure to expand the reach and impact of community investments, along with the establishment of effective processes for inter-divisional collaboration and compliance with community benefit mandates. Thus, in 2015, Providence established a community …

Impetus To Transform: Essential Nursing Leadership Development Through Simulation, Mary J. Mette

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

Abstract

A nurse manager’s ability to effect positive change and inspire others to higher levels of achievement is related to his or her leadership style in the practice setting, as well as the culture present in the organization as a whole. The aim of this Doctor of Nursing evidence-based change in practice project was to create an educational modality that supported training nurse leaders through innovation and creative problem solving in today’s acute healthcare setting.

A survey was administered to 48 frontline managers in a Northern California healthcare system to access the gaps and voids in their ability to integrate …

The Role Of A Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner As Part Of A Mobile Health Unit For The Homeless Population, Joan Alviar Fraino

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

An estimated 2.3 to 3.5 million people are homeless in the U.S., often living with chronic medical and mental illnesses. The underserved population, such as the homeless, continues to experience gaps in services, resulting in poor healthcare outcomes and readmission to the hospital setting. They often present in crisis through the emergency room, contributing to an already overburdened healthcare system. Increased spending and overutilization of healthcare services continues to rise in the United States (U.S.). Due in part to advancements in technology and expanded health insurance coverage, American healthcare continues be one of the most expensive commodities in the U.S. …

Development And Implementation Of A Violence Risk Assessment Tool, Mira Aidasani-Diwata

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

The purpose of this quality improvement project was to provide a means to effectively assess patients as they are admitted to the hospitals and to effectively communicate a patient’s violent tendencies within the healthcare setting. Workplace violence is a serious problem that affects all healthcare professionals. Although serious assaults and homicides attract more media attention, the majority of workplace violence consists of non-fatal assaults. Nurses, aides, and patient care technicians suffer the most non-fatal assaults resulting in injury. Due to the growing incidence of assault and injury among healthcare workers, some states are calling for additional study on workplace violence. …

The Creation And Implementation Of Guidelines For The Appropriate Termination Of Patient-Provider Relationships, Rowena D. Nolasco

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

Primary care providers have terminated patient-provider relationships when they deem them no longer therapeutic. Healthcare providers are increasingly considering this an acceptable practice. However, the criteria for this decision remain unclear. As providers discharge challenging or difficult patients from their practices, questions to support this decision arise. Discharged patients face displacement and healthcare is disrupted. This project will (a) describe problematic patient-provider relationships and its effects, (b) identify possible alternatives to the firing of patients, (c) list appropriate reasons for termination, and (d) present recommended procedures to avoid allegations of medical abandonment. The project's product is an Appropriate Discharge or …

Caution: Line-Of-Sight In Icu Designs, Diane C. Bartos

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

It has been estimated that by the end of 2015, the U.S. will spend approximately $200 billion in new healthcare facilities construction. Infection prevention, patient and family satisfaction, and technologies influence contemporary designs of critical care units. All of these impacts have created larger patient care units, with a majority of single patient rooms. These larger spaces have created challenges for the clinicians to maintain the line-of-sight. The line-of-sight is one tool clinicians often use to maintain patient safety.

Since the seminal publication by the Institute of Medicine in 1999, patient safety concerns have escalated after revealing numerous deaths in …

Fnp Led Mobile Health Services For The Homeless Population, Tenzin D. Lama

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

A small percentage of the U.S. population uses the greatest portion of the healthcare services. Homeless people are often such a group of “super-utilizers” of the healthcare system. Due to multiple medical and psychosocial conditions, people experiencing homelessness face numerous barriers to accessing healthcare, thus leading increased utilization of hospitals and emergency departments (EDs) services. Many of these events are preventable through improved primary care interventions. The literature on Respite/Recuperative Care, Transitional Care, and Mobile Health interventions have shown effectiveness in providing safe and quality care to homeless individuals during the critical transitional period post hospital discharge while also reducing …

Patient-Reported Outcomes Screening For Improved Patient Wellness: A Cancer Center Initiative, Alison Morris

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

Background: People experiencing serious illness have significant unmet physical, emotional, social and spiritual needs. The Quality Oncology Practice Initiative (QOPI) requires patients to be screened for emotional wellbeing and pain by their second oncology visit. This project details one cancer center’s quality improvement initiative to (a) implement electronic screening of every cancer patient by their second oncology visit, (b) design processes for ongoing assessment and intervention of need(s), and (c) develop measurable and sustainable evaluation metrics to ensure that palliative care needs are met. Methods: In June 2015, we launched electronic collection of patient-reported outcomes (PROs) using the Patient Reported …

Depression Screening And Early Intervention On The Post-Stroke Patient, Marco Oliver Dugan Lopez

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

Statistics in the United States (US) have shown an increase in the prevalence of Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) or risk for developing CVD. Approximately 78 million American adults, 20 years and older, have hypertension, 31.9 million have elevated serum cholesterol levels, and 68.2 million use tobacco products. Within California, San Francisco (SF) was ranked 8th among counties with adult residents that have CVD. It is estimated that approximately 1.02% of these individuals will have a stroke each year and 16.25% will die from stroke. Of those that survive, it is estimated that at least half will develop neurologic deficits, and at …

Improving The Patient Experience By Implementing Patient-Centered Care In A Community Hospital, Richard A. Billingsley Dnp, Mha, Rn

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

Health care is a complex business currently undergoing extensive reform. These changes require new methods of care deliver and ways in which health care organizations are operating. At the forefront of this change effort is the 2010 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, which is transforming health care from a volume-based, fee-for-service process to the delivery of services that have value, improve quality outcomes, increase satisfaction, elicit greater efficiency, demonstrate improved safety outcomes, show cost-effectiveness, promote better access to services, and result in high reliability between providers and organizations. The goal of providing a more positive health care experience is …

The Multidimensionality Of Schoolgirl Dropouts In Rural Bangladesh, Tiffany Yancey

Master's Theses

This thesis outlines the underlying causes for girl dropouts in the secondary school system of rural Bangladesh and assesses the barriers that affect adolescent girls and their families. The complex dynamics of the historical context within the patriarchal-dominant structure of society creates a system that hinders girls’ education and forces them into marriage at an early age. Poverty and lack of parental involvement in schools, as well as societal traditions and lack of government infrastructure play an enormous role and are the main structural factors that are linked to schoolgirl dropouts in this study. This thesis also analyzes previous education …

The Tunisian Revolution: Empire And The Power Of The Multitude, Caroline A. Burns

Master's Theses

The self-immolation of Mohammed Bouazizi ignited the revolution that would oust Tunisian dictator Ben Ali in 2011. The momentum of the revolution in Tunisia spread ideas, tactics, and revolutionary chants across borders to various parts of the globe. The speed and intensity of the revolution dominated the attention of the unsuspecting global community. In order to understand the conditions under which this revolution transpired, I use Michael Hardt and Antonio Negri's theory of Empire to show how the contemporary global system functions. Through the historical development of Tunisia and concurrent rise of Empire emerges "the multitude," the heterogeneous manifestation of …

The German Army At A Crossroads Of Modernization, Sarah E. Liebig

Master's Theses

This thesis examines the German civil-military relationship and the challenges the country is facing amidst modernizing reforms to the German armed forces. Over the last quarter of a century, new international security threats have manifested and continue to transform requiring Germany to adapt its military and defense policies in order to effectively protect itself and serve as a capable ally to other member states of international organizations such as NATO and the EU. The adaptations and reforms required of Germany have led to concern that the cornerstone civil-military relationship concepts are at risk. In this thesis I identify the major …

Preoperative Education: A Patient-Centered Care Approach, Gia L. Wendt

Master's Projects and Capstones

Abstract

This project addresses the need for delivering high quality preoperative education to the Arabic speaking patient population served by Sharp Healthcare’s orthopedic service line. A goal set during the institution’s 2015 The Joint Commission Disease-Specific Care survey is to discharge major joint patients to home in two days or less. Data abstracted from Sharp Healthcare’s orthopedic registry revealed that only 30% of Arabic speaking patients are meeting this goal. The current process for educating Arabic speaking patients preoperatively during a one to one educational session with a third party interpreter takes three hours, costs $402.00 per patient, and education …

Improving Patient Medication Reconciliation Participation And Compliance Through Education, Maria Elena Herrera

Master's Projects and Capstones

Abstract

The healthcare world is complex. At the center of this world are patients and their safety. Medication knowledge and medication reconciliation compliance are factors that influence patient’s safety and their overall health outcomes. This project explores the theme of patient safety by examining the relationship between patient education and health outcomes. The microsystem, located in the heart of San Francisco, is an outpatient clinic specializing in patients with renal impairment that each diverse and unique. A pre-implementation survey found that only 38% of patients were bringing their medications to appointments. A goal of improving compliance to 50% by December …

Increasing Hpv Awareness And 3-Dose Series Compliance Among The Female Population (Ages 11-26) In A Community Health Clinic, Vanessa Orozco

Master's Projects and Capstones

Abstract

The overall goal of this project was to increase HPV 2nd and 3rd dose compliance rates by a combined 10% among the female adolescent population (ages 11-26). This was to be achieved by implementing EBP follow-up calls to not only schedule appointments but also to serve as a reminder for patients to come into previously scheduled appointments. This project was chosen as prior clinic and organization-wide meetings had delineated compliance rates at just 7%. There were various methods employed to implement this project including an initial microsystem assessment, which entailed a Root Cause Analysis, Process Mapping, SWOT analysis, Cost-Analysis, …