Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

“Tell Me A Story®”: Promoting Resiliency In Military Children, Katherine-Marie Conover

Doctoral Dissertations

Multiple and lengthy deployments of military members are common and negatively impact children’s well-being. Programs seek to increase resiliency and reduce potential negative impact of parental deployment on children exist but lack empirical evidence to support their effectiveness. Increased parent engagement through reading and subsequent discussion with their children has positive psychology implications and potential to improve resilience. Thus, this study’s purpose was to examine the effectiveness of the intervention Tell Me A Story® (TMAS) in improving resiliency in school-age children (aged 6 to 10 years) of active duty military members. This study also aims to examine the impact of …

Hepatitis C Virus Education For Nurse Practitioners In Primary Care, Michele Broskey

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

Purpose: The object of this Quality Improvement (QI) project was to appraise the effectiveness of a web-based education resource for APN’s knowledge of HCV recommendations.

Methods: An educational intervention was conducted for APNs working in primary care medicine to increase provider knowledge of screening, diagnosing and management of viral Hepatitis C which utilized a web-based provider-specific curricula. A pre-test and post-test survey was used to assess the APN’s Knowledge, Attitude and Practices (KAP) regarding the current published evidence. Continuing education credits and small financial incentives were offered for participation. The curriculum was evaluated by an Infectious Disease expert APN.

Results: …

Improving Patient Discharge Satisfaction Scores By Implementing Teach-Back Instructions In A Community Hospital Emergency Department (Ed): A Quality Improvement Project, Kristen Burke

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

Background: Health literacy and patient satisfaction play a role in healthcare today and it is the responsibility of all providers to ensure that patients are educated about the care they received in the ED and what they should be doing upon discharge. The teach-back method ensures patients have a complete understanding of their ED stay and discharge instructions.

Purpose: The purpose of this quality improvement project was to increase patient satisfaction scores by implementing the evidenced-based, patient-centered, teach-back method for all patient education opportunities.

Methods: The DNP student led the ED leadership team and staff nurses in a quality improvement …

Best Practice Medication Reconciliation In The Outpatient Setting, Meghan J. Hession

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

Abstract

Background: Medication safety is a focus of the Joint Commission’s National Patient Safety Goals and research supports improved medication reconciliation as a strategy to reduce medication errors and adverse drug events. In a busy, outpatient specialty clinic where patients are routinely considered for high-risk pharmaceutical therapies, a consistent medication reconciliation process is essential for patient safety and positive health outcomes. Purpose: To improve consistency of medication reconciliation in this high-risk outpatient setting. Method: Based on a gap analysis between evidence-based and current practice, a quality improvement intervention was implemented to increase patient engagement in the medication reconciliation process. A …

Reducing Delays In Sexually Transmitted Infections(Sti) Treatment: A Quality Improvement Project To Improve Timely Communication Among Providers And Patients, Kattie Khadar

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

Abstract

Purpose: To use a nurse-communication intervention for timely provider notification of abnormal chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis infections, to reduce delays in treatment at a large Northeastern United States hospital. Methods: The hospital’s communicable disease report was reviewed daily, and treatment of all patients who were seen in the Infectious Disease clinic and diagnosed with chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis infections was monitored. Emails were sent to inform treating providers whenever a patient was not treated within 72 hours after diagnosis. Data from patients in the three months preceding was compared with data during the three months of nurse-communication intervention …

Alzheimer’S Dementia Screening In Primary Care: Quality Improvement Project To Identify Those At Risk, Kirstin Drake

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

Background: Identifying Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer’s Dementia (AD) in the Primary Care Practice (PCP) setting can initiate intervention early, before negative consequences occur including decreased quality of life and caregiver burden.

Purpose: To identify individuals at risk for AD and initiate early treatment and intervention. Methods: The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and Functional Activities Questionnaire (FAQ) were used as screening tools; adults age 65 and older were participants.

Implementation Procedure: Within the Internal Medicine Clinic, the standard annual wellness visits include Registered Nurses that administer a Mini-Cog screening tool with the patients. The Mini-Cog is a brief …

Improving Patients' Understanding Of Their Electronic Medical Record Data In Order To Improve Self-Management - A Quality Improvement Project, Erin Amelia Roth

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

Background: Patients are increasingly given access to their electronic medical records (EMRs) to help them keep track of their care, but many may have a difficult time understanding what is in them. Programs such as NoteAid assist in translating medical records and may increase the number of patients who actively use their EMRs, a development which may improve the management of chronic diseases.

Purpose: To work on a translation system developed by the University of Massachusetts Informatics group to make outpatient records more understandable for adult patients with chronic disease by using and testing a machine-learning database (NoteAid). Patients’ self-management …