Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Utilization Of The Nurse Practitioner Skillset In Partnership With The Medical Device Industry, Daniel C. Rowland

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

BACKGROUND: Millions of nurse practitioners (NP), physician assistants (PA), and registered nurses (RN) are optimistic that their current employers will help them reach their full potential. One area that can add value to the hospital and empower employees to work to the full scope of their practice, and utilize the skillsets like that of an NP, is to train these providers to support medical device equipment in the operating room instead of relying on medical device representatives (MDRs) of medical device companies.

METHODS: Training NPs, PAs, or RNs how to support neurological medical device equipment will better utilize the skillset …

Standardizing Behavioral Health Triage: Using The Heads-Ed Tool, Sarah K. Peifer

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

Background: In the past two years emergency departments across the country have experienced an increase in pediatric patients requiring behavioral health care. It is essential to provide efficient, early intervention to these vulnerable patients. The use of a standardized tool can improve management of pediatric patients and allow access to resources in a timely manner.

Purpose: To evaluate the implementation of the HEADS-ED in a community hospital ED, to provide rapid behavioral health assessment.

Methods: Education for staff was provided through various platforms and involved regular support for staff throughout the intervention. It was hypothesized that implementation of …

Nurse Practitioner-Led Care Pods: A Team Communication Enhancement Model, Miranda Saint-Louis, Miranda Saint Louis

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

Background: Communication has become a key performance measure in the shift to value-based healthcare. Given the impact of communication failures on patient harm, length of stay, and dissatisfaction with care, new models of care with better communication through structured teamwork and interdisciplinary collaboration are needed.

Problem: In a 16-bed geriatric medical/surgical unit of a New York City multispecialty community hospital, the workflow structure unintentionally created inconsistent handoff communication, gaps in continuity of care, missed care events, and inattention to the patient’s priorities in the care plan. A gap analysis identified communication deficiencies that impacted team effectiveness and patient care …

Elearning Module For Nursing Students To Improve Delirium Identification, Prevention, And Management, Shannon Baker

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

Background and Review of Literature: Delirium is a serious, acute alteration in cognition and consciousness, which is common amongst older hospitalized patients and has an overwhelmingly negative impact on patient outcomes. Under-recognition by healthcare providers poses a barrier and contributes to poor patient outcomes, including increased morbidity and mortality.

Purpose: To reduce the incidence of delirium amongst acutely ill patients via internet-based education for student nurses on delirium prevention, assessment, and management.

Methods: An eLearning intervention consisting of a virtual lecture with an unfolding case study for undergraduate nursing students. This project utilized the Nurses’ Delirium Knowledge Assessment (NDKA) …

In Beers We Trust: Using Deprescribing Tools To Reduce Inappropriate Polypharmacy In Adults Age ≥ 65, Angelica Ferrazzi

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

Background: Adverse drug events (ADEs) are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in older adults (age ≥ 65). Polypharmacy and potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) are especially prevalent in this population and are a notable contributing risk factor for ADEs. Research demonstrates that comprehensive medication reconciliation that includes evaluation of both the risks and benefits of medications, in conjunction with deprescribing practices, can reduce PIMs; therefore, reducing ADEs.

Purpose: The aim of this quality improvement project was to empower clinicians to deprescribe current medications that are inappropriate, as well as reduce the rate of newly prescribed PIMs among patients age …

Strengthening The Advanced Practice Clinician Workforce Pipeline Through Preceptor Education And Support, Tarina Levitt-Trujillo

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

Problem: The Advanced Practice Clinician (APC) workforce pipeline is dependent on clinical training opportunities. Clinician providers are encouraged to precept students but rarely are offered support tools to ensure a successful process. Lack of adequate support can result in a suboptimal outcome for the APC students.

Context: Clinician preceptors in a large healthcare organization looking to build a robust APC pipeline to support future patient populations.

Interventions: Preceptor materials were developed and delivered to clinical preceptors to help them successfully precept advanced practice clinician students during their clinical rotations. This material consisted of 20 microlearning modules to help clinicians …

Fluoride Varnish Application In The Pediatric Population, Ellen Gnaedinger

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

Purpose: The United States (U.S.) has a persistent problem of dental caries in primary teeth with a greater prevalence of dental caries found in minority and poor children. The majority of children in the U.S. experience dental caries in their primary teeth by age eight. This problem could be addressed by primary care providers applying fluoride varnish (FV) to children's teeth starting at the age of primary tooth eruption. The causes of dental caries in children’s primary teeth are multifactorial and therefore require multiple interventions. Around the world providers are utilizing FV as an effective and easily administered strategy. This …