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Full-Text Articles in Medicine and Health Sciences
Feasibility Study Among Military Personnel With Traumatic Amputation During Military Combat Or Training, Michele (Shelly) R. Burdette-Taylor Phd, Msn, Rn-Bc, Cwcn, Cfcn
Feasibility Study Among Military Personnel With Traumatic Amputation During Military Combat Or Training, Michele (Shelly) R. Burdette-Taylor Phd, Msn, Rn-Bc, Cwcn, Cfcn
Dissertations
Military operations have resulted in a significant number of mangled extremities leading to traumatic amputations. Extremity injuries predominate, representing 50% to 70% of all injuries treated (Melcer, 2010). The majority of injuries sustained in Operation Endearing Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom (OEF/OIF) are combined penetrating, burn and blast injuries, traumatic amputation, and infections from the multi-drug resistant organism, Acinetobacter (Melcer, 2010). The purpose of this study was to measure the quality of well-being and impact of events in a group of adults who served in the U.S. armed forces and sustained the loss of one or more limbs during any combat or …
A Critical Reflection On Advanced Practice Nursing, Patricia Quinn Phd
A Critical Reflection On Advanced Practice Nursing, Patricia Quinn Phd
Dissertations
Legitimation of the Nurse Practitioner (NP) and advanced practice nursing is explored using the framework of critical theory and the case study methodology of Yin. Three different cases are analyzed using classic themes of critical theory - oppression, alienation and ideology and false consciousness. Three publishable articles comprise this portfolio. First is "Looking for love (legitimation) in all the wrong places - A critique of Nurse Practitioner effectiveness literature". This article reviews the literature of NP effectiveness and offers an analysis of the failures and problems of these positivistic studies. Article two is "At least some of us are still …
Thai Patients' Experiences Of End-Stage Renal Disease: A Path Through An Unknown World, Chuleeporn Piyasut Phd
Thai Patients' Experiences Of End-Stage Renal Disease: A Path Through An Unknown World, Chuleeporn Piyasut Phd
Dissertations
The purpose of the study was to explore how Thai end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients manage the challenges of living with hemodialysis. The participants were Thai ESRD patients, who were receiving hemodialysis in one of the central provinces in Thailand. A grounded theory approach was employed in this study as it focuses on social processes grounded in individual experiences of participants in the study. The participants included 30 ESRD patients, aged 26-75, who had been undergoing hemodialysis from 6 months to 12 years. Individual in-depth interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed. Data were analyzed by using Atlas.ti. Data analysis revealed "a …
Breastfeeding And Mothers With Chronic Health Conditions, Blanche Landis Phd
Breastfeeding And Mothers With Chronic Health Conditions, Blanche Landis Phd
Dissertations
Breastfeeding and Mothers with Chronic Health Conditions Breastfeeding may be most beneficial for women with specific chronic illness and may decrease the risk or prevent those illnesses from developing in their children. This study examined the initiation and duration rates of mothers identified as having asthma, hypertension, and diabetes; differences between the three groups in their efforts to breastfeed, and associations between determinants/outcomes of breastfeeding and behavioral beliefs, normative beliefs, and perceived control of mothers using Ajzen's Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB). A retrospective quantitative methodology was used to compare rates of initiation and duration, the differences between the three …
The Effect Of Shapedown On Habits And Self-Esteem For Overweight And Obese Children, Susan Bonnell Phd
The Effect Of Shapedown On Habits And Self-Esteem For Overweight And Obese Children, Susan Bonnell Phd
Dissertations
Obesity in children is increased in the United States and globally which creates both physical and psychological health risks and co-morbidities affecting the development of positive self-esteem (Sinton & Birch, 2005; Whetstone, Morrissey, & Cummings, 2007). The development of poor self-esteem in children increases the risk of problem behaviors such as aggression, crime, teenage pregnancy, drug and alcohol use, tobacco use, and eating disorders (Brook et al., 2007). Treatment of childhood obesity is multifaceted, requiring behavioral and lifestyle changes for both child and family to achieve a healthy weight (De-Santis-Moniaci & Altshuler, 2007; Plourde, 2006; Ritchie, Crawford, Hoelscher, & Sothern, …
Battery And Abuse In The Elderly: A Forensic Analysis, Amy Y. Carney Phd, Mfs, Np
Battery And Abuse In The Elderly: A Forensic Analysis, Amy Y. Carney Phd, Mfs, Np
Dissertations
Elder abuse is a recognized social problem in the United States. First labeled as "granny battering" and originally studied under the umbrella of family violence, maltreatment of the elderly has received more funding and research in recent years. Multiple aspects of elder abuse have been examined in the literature including measures for detection, assessment, and documentation. Although studies have examined the circumstances surrounding abuse as well as theories of causation and characteristics of the abuser and the abused, studies of the relationship between the abuser and the abused are less well documented. The purpose of this research was to examine …
Application Of Systems Engineering Science To The Healthcare Environment, Jonathan Mack Phd, Msn, Anp, Rn
Application Of Systems Engineering Science To The Healthcare Environment, Jonathan Mack Phd, Msn, Anp, Rn
Dissertations
This Doctoral dissertation consists of a research portfolio examining the application of systems engineering techniques to the healthcare environment. The portfolio consists of three final publishable articles submitted to meet the program requirements for the, Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing degree from the University of San Diego, Hahn school of Nursing and Health Sciences. Article one is titled; "Use of a bed projection tool to predict ICU bed needs." This article describes the dissertation research study in which a bed projection tool was piloted on an ICU unit to determine the tool's ability to predict inpatient bed requirements. Article 2 …
Predictors Of Job Satisfaction And Burnout In Travel Nurses, Marcia Faller Phd, Msn, Rn
Predictors Of Job Satisfaction And Burnout In Travel Nurses, Marcia Faller Phd, Msn, Rn
Dissertations
This study examined various individual and work environment characteristics and their influence as predictors of travel nurse job satisfaction and burnout. In addition it described travel nurses; a population of nurses that has not been previously studied. An explanatory sequential mixed methods design was used in order to take advantage of the exploratory nature of the qualitative portion in describing the attitudes and motivations of travel nurses in detail; and to further explain the findings from the quantitative portion of the study. The quantitative portion of the study used a descriptive correlational methodology with secondary data analysis of a cross-sectional …
Violence, Depression, Parental Stress, And Child Neglect Among High Risk Postpartum Women, Kristen D. Lambert Phd, Msn, Rn
Violence, Depression, Parental Stress, And Child Neglect Among High Risk Postpartum Women, Kristen D. Lambert Phd, Msn, Rn
Dissertations
The purpose of this study was to characterize a vulnerable population of postpartum women at risk for family violence and maladaptive outcomes and to determine the degree the identified attributes increase the risk of child neglect and psychological aggression. Lazarus' Appraisal Theory and Scaer's Traumatic Spectrum framework provided a conceptual basis to examine the interrelationships between intimate partner violence (IPV), depression, previous traumatic history, and child neglect. A descriptive correlation design using secondary analysis of longitudinal data collected for the Healthy Families San Diego Clinical Trial was used. Standardized measures including the CTS, CTS2, CTSPC, CES-D and PSI were administered …
The Impact Of A Clinical Mentor Program On Patient Outcomes, Cynthia M. Steckel Phd
The Impact Of A Clinical Mentor Program On Patient Outcomes, Cynthia M. Steckel Phd
Dissertations
The increasing complexity of patient care requires an expert nurse to navigate the hospital stay, yet today's workforce brings a declining supply of seasoned nurses, creating a patient need/nurse expertise gap. The clinical mentor role was developed to bridge this gap and create a safety net, using expert nurses, relieved of a patient assignment, to provide oversight for quality patient care. Results reported elsewhere showed improvements in failure to rescue and pressure ulcers six months before and after implementation. The purpose of this study was to examine the long-term impact of this new care model over the subsequent three years …
Neurodevelopmental Outcomes Of High Risk Infants, Lisa E. Miklush Phd, Msn, Rnc, Cns
Neurodevelopmental Outcomes Of High Risk Infants, Lisa E. Miklush Phd, Msn, Rnc, Cns
Dissertations
Background: Infant developmental research has revealed amazing physical, cognitive, and social capacities of the human infant. Along with this knowledge is a growing appreciation of numerous factors that have the potential to impact the individual infant's developmental trajectory, either enhancing or compromising the eventual outcome. Enhanced understanding of those factors that shape infant developmental trajectories will provide an evidence base for the establishment of a supportive environment for the youngest members of society. Purpose: To determine the relationship between neurodevelopmental outcome and gestational age, birth weight, Apgar scores, NICU admission, infant gender, maternal depression, home environment, and parent-child interaction. Methodology: …
Shared Presence: Caring For A Dying Spouse, Lana Sue Mclouth Kanacki Phd, Ms, Rn
Shared Presence: Caring For A Dying Spouse, Lana Sue Mclouth Kanacki Phd, Ms, Rn
Dissertations
There is limited research on female spouses and their end-of-life experience with their dying husbands. The purpose of this study was to explore wives' perceptions of hospital and hospice care at their husbands' end-of-life. The grounded theory method was used for this study. Data were collected over thirteen months and then transcribed and coded for meaning. Participants were 25 elderly widows (62-103 years of age) with 19 husbands' deaths in a hospice setting and 6 in the hospital. They were widowed from 6 months to 10 years after the death of their spouses. They were good informants with excellent recollections …
Quality Of Life, Hope, Social Support, And Self-Care In Heart Failure Patients, Karen A. Mcgurk Phd, Mn, Rn
Quality Of Life, Hope, Social Support, And Self-Care In Heart Failure Patients, Karen A. Mcgurk Phd, Mn, Rn
Dissertations
Heart failure is a significant, chronic health problem. Much is known about physiological factors related to this condition. Less is known about the psychosocial aspects that influence disease risk, progression, and treatment. The purpose of this study was to describe the relationships between quality of life, hope, social support, and self-care. A descriptive, correlational study was conducted. The participants were 65 heart failure patients who attended 2 military-based heart failure clinics. Quality of Life was measured using the Left Ventricular Dysfunction Questionnaire (LVD-36), Hope was measured using the Herth Hope Index (HUI), Social Support was measured using the Medical Outcomes …
Quality Of Life, Religious/Spiritual Coping, Demoralization And Depression In Heart Failure Patients, Terry Larsen Phd, Rn, Cns
Quality Of Life, Religious/Spiritual Coping, Demoralization And Depression In Heart Failure Patients, Terry Larsen Phd, Rn, Cns
Dissertations
Background: Research suggests that the heart failure (HF) population is particularly vulnerable to depression. Other factors may also affect quality of life such as religious/spiritual coping, and demoralization. Purpose: The purpose of this descriptive correlational study was to examine factors that predict health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in adults with heart failure. Specific Aims: (1) to examine level of religious/spiritual coping, spiritual distress, demoralization, depression and HRQoL among adults with heart failure; (2) to examine the relationships of religious/spiritual coping, spiritual distress demoralization, depression and selected demographic variables (age, gender, race/ethnicity and length of living with HF) with HRQoL. Methods: …
Tuberculosis Awareness And Public Opinion On Expanding Health Insurance Coverage, Belal A. Saadeh Phd, Msn, Rn
Tuberculosis Awareness And Public Opinion On Expanding Health Insurance Coverage, Belal A. Saadeh Phd, Msn, Rn
Dissertations
This quantitative descriptive cross-sectional study examined the effect of TB awareness and demographic variables on the level of support for expanding health insurance coverage for all residents, including undocumented immigrants. A modified 13-item tool developed by Morisky et al. (1990) was used to measure TB awareness; a single item created by the researcher assessed personal opinion regarding expansion of health insurance coverage; and a demographic questionnaire was used to collect data from 281 registered voters in San Diego County. The majority of San Diego County voters participating in the study supported at least some expansion of health insurance coverage. ANOVA …
Pressure Ulcer Risk Factors For Patients With Hospital Versus Community Acquired Pressure Ulcers, Margaret Talley Phd, Mn, Rn, Cns, Cwcn-Ap
Pressure Ulcer Risk Factors For Patients With Hospital Versus Community Acquired Pressure Ulcers, Margaret Talley Phd, Mn, Rn, Cns, Cwcn-Ap
Dissertations
Purpose: Pressure ulcers are a major health problem in the United States. Patients who develop pressure ulcers have longer hospital stays, significant increase in morbidity and mortality, added pain and suffering. The purpose of this study was to examine community versus hospital specific pressure ulcer risk factors to identify whether the most severe pressure ulcer stages can be predicted from the knowledge of an individual's risk factors as has been reported in the literature. Methodology: The sample of patients with stageable III-IV and unstageable pressure ulcer patients included in the analysis was extracted from a Microsoft Access database developed by …