Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Utilizing Aromatherapy To Decrease Anxiety In Adults Experiencing Homelessness, Thomas A. Clawson

Theses and Graduate Projects

This scholarly project analyzes health disparities faced by people experiencing homelessness, specifically in regard to their mental health and how they experience heightened levels of anxiety when compared to individuals who have stable housing. Through a literature review, the use of Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) was analyzed and has shown to be an effective non-pharmacologic treatment for anxiety in a multitude of settings. Utilizing a theoretical framework distilled from Margret Newman’s theory Health as Expanding Consciousness, and Martha Rogers’ The Science of Unitary Human Beings. The quality improvement project was implemented at an inner city resource center for people experiencing homelessness. …

Implementation Of Vinyasa Yoga For Adults Experiencing Anxiety, Megan K. Malyuk

Theses and Graduate Projects

Anxiety disorders are the most prevalent mental illness in the United States (US) and holistic treatment approaches, such as vinyasa yoga, are often practiced to alleviate the severity of symptoms (The Anxiety and Depression Association of America, 2020). A comprehensive literature review including evidence-based research, Metis-based knowledge, and personal accounts are used to support this scholarly project. Jean Watson’s Theory of Human Caring is explicated and synthesized as a theoretical framework. Methodology and evaluation of the scholarly project are described, analyzed, and reflected that vinyasa yoga has a positive impact on individuals who experience anxiety. This scholarly project was implemented …

Virtual Reality Pain Intervention For Pediatric Burn Patients, Tanya Ann Hinrichs

Theses and Graduate Projects

Burns can be devasting trauma in the pediatric population, leading to lifelong physical and psychological pain and anxiety. Burn pain management is complicated and undertreated traditionally. The purpose of this scholarly project is to examine the use of virtual reality (VR) for distraction in pediatric patients who have experienced a burn to determine if VR improves pain management during painful procedures. A literature review revealed a gap in pain management in pediatric burn survivors with just traditional pharmacologic analgesia during painful procedures. Leininger’s Culture Care Theory provides a theoretical framework for this project’s purpose to determine if implementing a virtual …

Patient Positioning To Prevent Pressure Injuries, Maria D. Trevis

Theses and Graduate Projects

Skincare is an important intervention to prevent pressure injuries (PIs) during hospitalization. Prolonged pressure on a body part can result in restricted blood flow and oxygen, inadequate nutrition, and varying degrees of tissue damage, ultimately leading to a PI. Patients who have undergone surgery or have limited mobility are particularly vulnerable to developing PIs. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services made a ruling in 2008 that hospitals would not be reimbursed for any hospital-acquired PIs as they are costly and preventable. Unfortunately, there is a knowledge gap in PI prevention due to a shortage of nursing staff, and changes …

Stress Management For Healthcare Providers In The Emergency Department During Covid-19 Pandemic, Carrie A. Warns

Theses and Graduate Projects

The challenges healthcare providers face during the COVID-19 pandemic are

unprecedented, leading to work-related stress and burnout symptoms. Stress management for health care providers is crucial during the COVID-19 pandemic. Healthcare providers must find effective modalities during this time. Animal Assist therapy is a stress management modality that evidence-based research has proven to be effective. A comprehensive literature review of the importance of stress reduction for health care providers and the effectiveness of Animal Assist Therapy will help support this project. Jean Watson's human caring theory will serve as a model for this project. The implementation of the scholarly project …

Integrative Music Therapy: A Healing Intervention For Children With Disabilities, Francesca N. Do

Theses and Graduate Projects

Children with developmental delays have barriers to accessing early interventions to help develop their childhood milestones. An accessible intervention considered a universal language to all cultures is integrative music therapy. Music therapy paired with in-home care can create a healing environment for children to learn developmental skills, initiate play, and express their emotions with the nurse’s guidance. An integrative music therapy educational program was developed using Jean Watson’s Theory of Human Caring as a theoretical framework for the pediatric nurses working in a rural Midwest home health care company. The goal of the educational program is to promote awareness of …

Self-Healing With Reiki For Homeless Individuals Suffering From Past Traumatic Events, Kathryn Piha

Theses and Graduate Projects

Living with symptoms that resemble PTSD from past trauma can be detrimental to health, healing, and quality of life. Symptoms that resemble PTSD are intrusive and disruptive to daily life and can cause anxiety, vivid flashbacks and nightmares, and intense memories. Homeless individuals navigate challenges and are at increased risk for developing symptoms that resemble PTSD. This project explored Reiki as a healing modality to improve health, healing, and quality of life from the negative implications of past traumatic experiences. Guided by Martha Roher's SUHB Theory, this project connects Reiki with energy as healing. Understanding energy and energy fields can …

Addressing Lgbtq Anxiety With Mindful Meditation, Mark Pequignot

Theses and Graduate Projects

The current study investigated the effect of mindful meditation on anxiety levels in the LGBTQ+ urban student population. An incorporation of Margaret Newman’s Theory of Health as Expanding Consciousness and theoretical concepts of living in the present moment guided these participants in exposing traumas and relational development forming anxiety. Ten LGBTQ+ urban students (N=10) were randomly selected to examine their involvements via the practice of mindful meditation, further determine past traumas associated with identifying within the LGTBQ+ community, and examine how these impact daily experiences of anxiety. Participants completed Likert Surveys to ascertain the effect that mindful meditation had on …

Adolescent Anxiety: Implementing Mindfulness Techniques To Lessen Mental Health Crises, Britt Schultz

Theses and Graduate Projects

Adolescence is one of the most challenging times in life as many transitions occur while a child grows into a young adult. In a school-based program, this doctoral of nursing practice project implemented mindfulness techniques to lessen mental health crises in anxious adolescents. This scholarly project educated adolescents in a small town in rural southeast Minnesota on the effective coping exercises of mindfulness and deep breathing to lessen anxiety and decrease mental health crises. Jean Watson’s Theory of Human Caring is the framework for the project and three of her Carative Factors guided this project. A literature review identified opportunities …

Mindfulness Meditation Program For Parents, Jennifer L. Lothert

Theses and Graduate Projects

A literature search on parenting stress determined there is a need for treatment options to reduce parenting stress. Stress resulting from parenting can be physically and emotionally damaging to both the parent and their child. Mindfulness meditation provides parents with the skills to become conscious of their emotions before acting upon them. Newman's (1994) Health as Expanding Consciousness Theory (HEC) explained that as a person continues to develop, the persong's consciousness expands and coexists with the universe, resulting in higher levels of consciousness. The more conscious parents become will help to reduce the parenting stress they are experiencing. The scholarly …

Improving Advanced Practice Nursing Care To Children With Autism In The Emergency Department, Suzanne J. Bartell

Theses and Graduate Projects

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) prevalence rates are increasing within the pediatric population. Often, these children present to emergency departments (EDs) for care that could typically be managed in a primary care setting. Furthermore, pediatric patients with ASD utilize EDs at a rate higher than children without (Baio et al., 2018). Parents, patients, and providers within the pediatric ED setting report a lack of understanding and tools needed to provide quality and meaningful care to this population. The utilization of nurse practitioners in the ED setting is increasing due to affordability and quality of care delivery. The intersection of these two …

Building Resiliency In Children Through Mindfulness, Karissa Buck

Theses and Graduate Projects

This scholarly work recognizes the profound impact of toxic stress on children as a result of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). According to the MDH (2011), ACEs are the main contributor to toxic stress within children. ACEs include physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, mental illness of a household member, drug or drinking problems of a household member, divorce or separation of parents, domestic violence between adults in the household, and incarceration of a household member (MDH, 2011). Fifty-five percent of Minnesotans experience at least one adverse childhood experience during childhood. Results of toxic stress can include impaired brain development, behavioral …

Incorporating Quality Improvement And Problem-Solving Into A Unit Safety Huddle, Kay M. Rowles

Theses and Graduate Projects

The complex nature of healthcare creates significant risks of harm to patients. Safety huddles are a mechanism some hospitals utilize to raise awareness of safety concerns and minimize risks. Typically occurring at the start of each shift, safety huddles generally take the form of a brief, structured discussion with visual management for information sharing. In addition, safety huddles create a safe space for nursing staff to escalate concerns, supporting a culture of safety. This quality improvement project describes the expansion of a safety huddle process that has become a mere ritual at the start of each shift on a 25-bed …

Integration Of Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (Sane’S) Care Program, Erin B. Mehta

Theses and Graduate Projects

Sexual assault is a public health issue, especially for individuals experiencing homelessness, violence, and victimization. Barriers to post-sexual assault health care must be addressed to ensure individuals experiencing homelessness receive effective and adequate care. Traditionally found in Emergency Departments, Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANEs) offer patient-centered, comprehensive health care to sexual assault survivors. To reduce barriers for individuals experiencing homelessness, SANEs must be accessible where health care services are utilized. Guided by Jean Watson’s Theory of Human Caring and trauma-informed principles, this project aims to embed a SANE program into a homeless-specific Midwest Health Care Center. The SANE program will …

The Art Of Emotional Intelligence: Decreasing Lateral Violence Among Nurses, Cheryl Ann Brugger

Theses and Graduate Projects

Nurses work in stressful and complex work environments and, unfortunately, can be subjected to lateral violence. Lateral violence is described as repetitive actions and behaviors of verbal and emotional abuse or acts of incivility from one nurse(s) to another on equal levels of the organizational structure; the behaviors are meant to threaten, harm, or intimidate. Nurses will not stay in an environment that is negative, hostile, and demoralizing; lateral violence can decrease nursing retention rates and increase turnover and job dissatisfaction. Nurses leaving the profession contributing to shortages, poor patient outcomes, and safety concerns. Enhancing nurses’ emotional intelligence may assist …

Exercise As Self-Care To Combat Nurse Burnout, Jessica Petefish

Theses and Graduate Projects

The demands on nurses continue to grow, inducing stress and other symptoms of burnout. Nurse burnout can cause short and long term physiological and psychological symptoms. Nurse burnout not only affects nurses but has implications for patients and hospitals as well. Exercise has been proven to have many health benefits and the ability to alleviate symptoms of burnout. Nurses on a hematology/oncology unit cited burnout as their reason for leaving the unit. This project proposes a walking program as a self-care method to reduce symptoms of nurse burnout. Utilizing Jean Watson’s Theory of Human Caring and her idea of self-care …

Holistic Admissions, Anna Kam

Theses and Graduate Projects

As patient populations of Minnesota and the nation become more diverse there is much work to do in preparing a nursing workforce that has the experiences and attributes to provide holistic and culturally congruent care. The process of holistic admissions admits the most qualified applicants into schools of nursing who bring with them life experiences and crucial attributes. These holistic aspects of the applicants support both academic success and promote quality nursing practice. Holistic review aims to align the mission and vision of academic institutions with the admissions process ensuring that both the applicant and organization are clear in their …

Complementary Alternative Medicine: An Education Of Guided Self-Care In The Elderly Population For Management Of Chronic Conditions, Janice B. Gerber

Theses and Graduate Projects

The elderly population, specifically the residents in the Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) or nursing homes, suffer from chronic conditions, many of which have a psychological and behavioral component. Conventional medicine treats the chronic conditions from one symptom to another through pharmacological interventions, which resulted in polypharmacy. Gathering evidenced-base practice of Complementary Alternative Medicine (CAM) will maximize opportunities for the elderly population to manage chronic conditions. The application of Parse’s Theory of Human Becoming (HBT) with self-guided education of CAM modalities in SNF explores the significant concepts of personal meaning, rhythmical patterns, and transcendence. Grounded on HBT, the self- guided education …

Promoting Wellness For College Athletes Through Mindfulness Meditation, Lisa R. Braatz

Theses and Graduate Projects

The practice of mindfulness meditation may be beneficial for college athlete’s mental health and wellness. College athletes are in a period of significant personal growth and experience high amounts of stress related to athletic performance, academics, and peer relationships. Integrating mindfulness meditation for college athletes has been linked to improving relaxation, concentration, and performance while decreasing fatigue and negative emotions related to fear or anxiety. This scholarly project explores the implementation of four mindfulness meditation sessions on perceptions of stress, mental focus, athletic performance, and presence in female college track and field athletes. The participants were attending an urban college …

Pediatric Obesity: Prevention, Assessment And Treatment In Primary Care, Susan Johnson

Theses and Graduate Projects

People of all ages deserve care for the disease of obesity. Pediatric obesity affects one in three children in the United States, and the number of obese children has tripled since the 1970s (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 2018a). High blood pressure, high cholesterol, type 2 diabetes, and sleep apnea are complications that pediatric patients now face, and these diseases are well known to worsen quality of, and potentially shorten life. This scholarly project addresses the question: How can family nurse practitioners effectively address pediatric obesity in the primary care setting? Interventions early in life, perhaps even pre-conception, …

Eating For Health, Tanya Reese

Theses and Graduate Projects

As anxiety and depression have increased exponentially, researchers have discovered a link between nutrition and incidences of anxiety and depression. The communication between the gut and the brain is imperative for mental health. The inflammatory process that is initiated in the intestinal tract can change the chemistry of the brain resulting in anxiety and depression. Newman’s Theory, Health as Expanding Consciousness, helps people to identify patterns in their food choices and change those patterns to choose healthier foods. This scholarly project was implemented to teach youth and adults living in a rural community about the link between food and anxiety …

Latina Adolescent Dating Violence Public Narrative, Megan Staffen

Theses and Graduate Projects

A scholarly project has been conducted to assess use of public narrative between health care providers (HCPs) and Latina adolescents to reduce dating violence (DV) health consequences. Latina adolescents require an innovative, transcultural approach for dating violence care to reduce barriers to care. Healthcare providers must structure dating violence care to Latina adolescents due to different dating violence patterns and health consequences compared to other ethnicities and generations. There is minimal evidence- based research on the use of public narrative and its effects of use in the healthcare setting. The application of public narrative and the citizen professional will be …

Advance Care Planning Education For Older Adults, Jamie E. Seaquist

Theses and Graduate Projects

Advanced care planning guides health care professionals and surrogate decision-makers choices on end of life (EOL) care when individuals are no longer able to speak for themselves. Advanced care plans can benefit patients in their last six months of life by improving their quality of life and by reducing family members anxiety, depression, and stress when dealing with EOL treatment options. Aside from these benefits, poor communication and knowledge deficits often create barriers when medical staff, families or patients try to broach the subject of EOL care. Barriers can be overcome when health care professionals facilitate advanced care planning conversations …

Social Empowerment Of Children With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Shawna Hanson

Theses and Graduate Projects

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is the most common childhood neurodevelopmental disorder, marked by symptoms of inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity. These symptoms contribute to difficulties with psychosocial functioning, often leading to feelings of inferiority. Several studies identify that those with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder have lower self-perceptions with risks for comorbidities and poor quality of life. However, few studies have attempted to provide interventions to increase the self-perceptions of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Most interventions for those with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder focus on giving medications and implementing behavioral modification techniques to externally control behaviors. However, this scholarly project …

From Bunks And Bars To Sidewalks And Skies: Support For Reentry From Incarceration, Ashley Ann Steen

Theses and Graduate Projects

Currently, there are over 2.3 million inmates in the prison system throughout the United States (Bureau of Justice Statistics, 2018). Over 10,000 ex-prisoners are released from America's state and federal prisons every week and studies show that approximately two-thirds will likely be rearrested within three years of release (Bureau of Justice Statistics, 2018). This scholarly project will explore the literature on why inmates face such a high rate of recidivism. It will further explore the current programming that is provided to inmates prior to release back to the community and offer a questionnaire to utilize in all reentry programs to …

Nurse Practitioners And Community Health Workers Improve Community Health, Emmalee F. Voskuil

Theses and Graduate Projects

Addressing health disparities in primary care is essential for the advanced practice nurse practitioner(NP). Recent research demonstrates that the United States spends more money on health care than any other country of equal income but has worse outcomes, including lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality rates, and more stratified health inequities (Papanicolas, Woskie, & Jha, 2018). The NP has many opportunities to improve healthcare by partnering with diverse voices that seek to change the healthcare system. To better address health disparities among marginalized people in Minnesota, this scholarly project will determine best practices for the development and incorporation of community …

Postpartum Support: Application Of A Local Peer Support, Community Care Model, Stephanie E. Ward

Theses and Graduate Projects

The postpartum period is one of the most influential developmental stages of a women’s life and represents a time of heightened risk for mental health decline. Perinatal mood and anxiety disorders have been implicated as a key influence of negative parenting experiences, poor newborn psychological outcomes, delayed newborn development, and inadequately adaptive family development behaviors. Integrating established resiliency components against mental illness, such as social support, into a postpartum care model can benefit postpartum women and secondarily positively impact the aforementioned outcomes. A community care model highlighting social support for postpartum mothers was integrated into a rural Minnesota region and …

Improving Family Nurse Practitioners’ Knowledge Of Palliative Care Resources, Michelle L. Bond

Theses and Graduate Projects

The shift in healthcare indicates Americans are living longer with progressive chronic illnesses subsequently reducing quality-of-life. Primary care providers have opportunities to assess the need for and implement palliative care to offer holistic symptom management to improve patient’s quality-of-life. The purpose of this scholarly project, guided by Jean Watson’s Theory of Human Caring, is to assess primary care providers knowledge and comfort regarding initiating palliative care while determining if additional education improves their familiarity. The objectives were to review current palliative care literature identifying barriers and inadequacies, determine evidence-based practice to develop an educational presentation and resources to improve communication, …

Achieving An Inclusive Nursing Culture: Developing A Model For Diversity And Inclusion Education, Amber K. Charleville

Theses and Graduate Projects

The creation of an inclusive environment is essential in health care. Therefore, this paper describes the development of an educational project to achieve a more inclusive nursing culture with registered nurse case managers at a large Midwest teaching hospital. This project sets forth the goal of establishing and discussing diversity and inclusion education by proposing a model with reflection, learning, and growth as self- sustaining practices in an ongoing cycle of praxis with Chinn and Kramer’s emancipatory knowing. Over the course of a year, monthly modules will be taught by a facilitator who will encourage discussion and reflection on various …

Increasing Autism Awareness In The Somali Community, Safiya Ahmed

Theses and Graduate Projects

Autism spectrum disorder has become more prevalent in recent years, especially in the Somali community in Minneapolis. Early detection, diagnosis and interventions are essential for children with this disorder. A recent study on the prevalence of autism spectrum disorder in Minneapolis, Minnesota reported that Somali children not only have the highest prevalence of this disorder among all races and ethnicity but also receive late diagnosis and interventions. A comprehensive literature review identified lack of awareness, cultural stigma, and difficulty to access services as barriers for early diagnosis and interventions for Somali children. The literature also supported the importance of early …