Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Abrupt Changes In Learning Platforms During A Pandemic, Nicole Nelson, Katie M. Villont

Nursing Masters Papers

The purpose of this secondary analysis is to explore academic nurse educators’ perceived changes to accommodate learning for undergraduate (UG) nursing education in the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic. The objective of this secondary analysis is to investigate three research questions: what perceived changes are needed to accommodate learning, what are new/revised teaching innovations applied for undergraduate (UG) students during the pandemic that may be used post-pandemic, and what are concerns about UG students who will enter the workforce following the pandemic.

Implementing Staff Education To Reduce Stress And Increase Resilience, Samantha Lambert, Mariana Corpus, Sherry Chesak, Susanne M. Cutshall, Diane M. Forsyth, Habibo A. Haji

Nursing DNP Projects

Purpose: Persistent levels of high stress among nurses impact work activities and job performance, leading to burnout, compassion fatigue, lower job satisfaction, high workplace turnover, and diminished quality of patient care (Lin et al., 2018). Nurses who demonstrate resilience are better able to adapt to unexpected events with a positive attitude, self-esteem, and tolerance (Huang et al., 2020). The purpose of this project was to decrease stress levels and improve resilience among nursing staff, utilizing education on holistic stress management and resilience techniques.

Methods: A four-hour mindfulness-based education course was provided to staff members (N=76). Components included an initial two-hour …

Covid-19: Does The Timing Of Intubation Affect Overall Outcomes, Jennifer Burvee

Nursing Masters Papers

COVID-19 also known as coronavirus disease of 2019 is a viral illness caused by novel coronavirus SARS-CoV2 that was discovered in December 2019 in Wuhan, China. To date, there have been over 250 million cases worldwide. The severity of COVID-19 ranges from mild symptoms to critical illness warranting hospitalization within an intensive care unit to death. Current treatment modalities include supportive cares, monoclonal antibodies, interleukin inhibitors, convalescent plasma, therapeutic anticoagulants, anti-inflammatory medications and/or corticosteroids. A common complication due to COVID-19 is acute respiratory failure resulting in pulmonary insult which start as cough but progress to the need for supplemental oxygen …

Therapeutic Potential Of Psychedelic Drugs, Specifically Magic Mushrooms, Marijuana, And Mdma With Veterans Who Suffer From Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (Ptsd), Misty Schutterle

Counselor Education Capstones

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a stress-based condition that a person develops after being exposed to an overwhelmingly traumatic event. Military troops frequently experience stress and trauma, making them highly susceptible to psychopathology. This paper evaluates nine clinical trials that used either magic mushrooms, marijuana, or MDMA as an adjunct to traditional psychotherapy to treat veterans who suffer from anxiety, depression, PTSD, suicidality, and other psychopathologies. Multiple scholarly journals and articles were read and analyzed, which show support for the therapeutic potential of psychedelic drugs in treating veterans with PTSD. After receiving psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy, the research showed participants experienced a …

The Efficacy Of Tocilizumab As A Therapeutic Treatment For Sars-Cov-2 Infections: An Integrative Literature Review, Amanda Vancene Peterson

Nursing Masters Papers

The novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 and resulting COVID-19 infection has spread from a cluster of unidentified pneumonia cases in Wuhan, China, into an ongoing global health crisis. The strain on the healthcare systems and loss of human life has made finding ways to treat severe COVID-19 infections of the utmost importance. Mortality from COVID-19 has been shown to result from an overwhelming inflammatory response similar to the cytokine release syndrome seen in certain autoimmune reactions (Tleyjeh et al., 2020). It also can be seen after chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy for certain cancers. It is hypothesized that treatments targeting the …

Education Effectiveness Of Recognizing Asymptomatic Bacteriuria In A Long-Term Care Facility, Xie Zhonghua, Lisa Ertman, Carole Jenson, Kimberly Langer, Kristi Petersen

Nursing DNP Projects

This article presents the educational effectiveness of recognizing asymptomatic bacteriuria (ASB) in a long-term care facility using presentations and clinical pathways. Results indicate interventions are effective in identifying ASB but inconclusive of the number of inappropriate UA reductions.

New Graduate Nurse Retention Strategies: An Integrative Literature Review, Amy Fiala

Nursing Masters Papers

Decreasing nurse retention rates, particularly of new graduate nurses, is a costly issue for health care organizations across the country. Turnover rates for new nurses average around 20% in the first year following graduation (Kovner, et al., 2014). Low retention rates also create staff burnout, orientation fatigue for preceptors, poor morale, and safety concerns. The purpose of this integrative literature review is to identify best practice strategies and interventions to increase new graduate nurse retention in the acute care setting. Ten articles were selected for this review, including three high-level systematic reviews. Bandura’s Self-Efficacy Theory was chosen as the conceptual …

Improving Data Collection And Documentation Within A Post-Hospital Discharge Follow-Up Phone Call Program, Lindsay Horihan, Tasha Flicek

Nursing DNP Projects

Hospital discharge with quality patient education and instruction is paramount for the success of recovery and mitigation of readmission. Identification of gaps within hospital discharge can lead to strategies to improve the discharge process. A project was designed to improve data collection, documentation of discrepancies (gaps/events), and analysis of data relating to patient and process outcomes of a post-discharge follow-up phone call program. Interventions included a newly implemented algorithm to outline a phone call workflow, refine data collection, and evaluate outcomes. Data collection to increase identification of gaps in care from discharge to follow-up aid in improving patient outcomes.

Improving Data Collection And Documentation In A Post-Discharge Follow-Up Phone Call Program, Lindsay Horihan, Tasha Flicek

Nursing DNP Projects

Purpose and Rationale: The purpose of this project is to improve a post-discharge follow-up phone call program by creating evidence-based methods of collecting, documenting, and analyzing data that will provide insight of the program’s impact on patient and process outcomes. There was sufficient evidence to support the use of follow-up phone calls as an effective method to limit hospital readmissions within thirty days of being discharged. The literature also revealed patient and process outcomes to be measured as a final step in the program and to provide data for ongoing process improvement. Practice Change and Implementation Strategies: The current phone …

Barriers To, And Facilitators Of, Patient Self-Management Of Chronic Conditions: An Integrative Literature Review, Shari Frueh

Nursing Masters Papers

The prevalence of adults with chronic medical conditions in the United States is growing. Adequate self-management of chronic conditions enables patients to manage unpleasant symptoms, improve quality of life, avoid life-threatening situations, and slow disease progression. Patients require support from healthcare providers to learn to optimally manage their chronic condition(s). The increasing volume of patients requiring assistance necessitates redesigned approaches to self-management support to meet the demand. The purpose of this inquiry is to gain a deeper understanding of the barriers to, and facilitators of, self-management in adults and to provide recommendations for nursing interventions and healthcare provider approaches that …

Improving Outcomes For Sexual Assault Patients In Alignment With Hiv Npep Clinical Guidelines, Maria Dahlke, Rachel Kanz

Nursing DNP Projects

Purpose and Rationale

The purpose of this project is to improve the follow-up care given to adult patients, 18 years and older, who require human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) non-occupational post-exposure prophylaxis (nPEP) treatment after a sexual assault. The goal is to determine if organizational alignment with HIV nPEP clinical guidelines through staff education improves medication adherence for adult sexual assault patients. Currently, sexual assault survivors have the lowest medication adherence rate to HIV nPEP among those at risk for HIV.

Synthesis of Evidence

The evidence supports the standardization of care for sexual assault patients' individual needs. Educating health care professionals …

Prelicensure Nursing Students’ Perceptions Of A Rapid Transition To An Online Learning Environment, Elizabeth Green, Victoria Mrwoka, Jacqueline Savalle

Nursing Masters Papers

The transition to a fully online environment after the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic left all educators with the need to quickly transition didactic classes to the online environment and attempt to understand and utilize online teaching modalities. Online learning has only recently become integrated into nursing education, creating a gap in literature in relation to the most appropriate strategies for online course delivery, specifically in prelicensure nursing. This chapter explores the background to the project, types of learning environments, definitions of terms utilized, and purpose of the secondary analysis.

Developing An Early Mobility Nurse-Led Protocol In Critical Care Patients, Anne Flicek

Nursing Masters Papers

The growth of the medical field has resulted in an increase of patients with co-morbidities. Many patients admitted to the intensive care unit present (ICU) with multiple co-morbidities. These co-morbidities add to the frailty of the patient. Frailty has an increased an increased 6 month mortality rate (Maguet, Roquilly, Lasocki, Asehnoune,…& Sequin, 2014). Hospital stays, specifically ICU stays, are one of the largest expenditures for Medicare. To reduce costs, ICU lengths of stay need to be shortened. A growing body of evidence supports the feasibility, safety, and short- and long-term functional benefits of early mobility. Early mobility can be maintained …

Caring Calls: A Weekly Phone Call Intervention And The Correlation With Loneliness In Rural Dwelling Adults, Abigail Jumbeck, Jennifer Timm, Mieca Valen, Chris Malone

Nursing DNP Projects

Purpose: This pilot study’s aim was to examine the impact of weekly phone calls from interprofessional students on loneliness in rural dwelling adults.

Design: A pretest and posttest quasi-experimental design was utilized.

Setting: The intervention was based in southeastern Minnesota, although the participants could have lived anywhere. Zoom for Healthcare © was utilized, and students were able to make the phone calls from their homes, therefore, no travel was necessary.

Subjects: The subjects were rural dwelling adults (over the age 18 years old).

Intervention: Interprofessional students made weekly social phone calls to rural dwelling adults over ten weeks.

Measures: The …

Developing A Resiliency Bundle For Home Care Nurses, Candace Unger

Nursing DNP Projects

Home care (HC) nurses are experiencing increased stress related to workload, isolation on the job, and COVID-19 restrictions. A literature review found numerous interventions effective in reducing nurse burnout through building resiliency and decreasing moral distress. The purpose of this evidence-based project was to improve resiliency and decrease the risk of burnout in HC nurses through the introduction of a resiliency bundle. Based on the evidence, the following priority interventions for a resiliency bundle were chosen: a) gratitude strategies, b) connecting with co-workers, c) storytelling, and d) resiliency training. Duffy’s Quality-Caring Model and Neal’s Theory of Home Health Nursing Practice …

Implementation Of A Zoom Toolkit For Web-Based, Evidence-Based Health Promotion Programs, Samantha Brown, Julie Shelton

Nursing DNP Projects

This article describes a project to promote the utilization of online evidence-based programs for the self-management of chronic conditions for older adults. The project has been developed based on the findings of a comprehensive review of literature on the outcomes of online health promotion programs for people with chronic health conditions, and on the training needed prior to starting an online course. The project was completed in partnership with WellConnect^®, a non-profit organization facilitating community-based programs that support people in Southeast Minnesota with tools and resources needed to improve individuals’ health and wellbeing.

Interviews with WellConnect^® stakeholders, …

The Utility Of Masks As Protection Against Viral Respiratory Illnesses In Healthcare Workers, Brian Van Wie

Nursing Masters Papers

The COVID-19 pandemic is sweeping the globe, increasing the mortality and morbidity rates in areas that are experiencing outbreaks and putting excess pressure on healthcare systems. Healthcare workers (HCWs) have risen to the challenge of caring for those infected during the COVID-19 pandemic, putting themselves in high-risk situations. Current Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines require HCWs to follow isolation precautions based on transmission routes to protect themselves from becoming infected. For COVID19, the recommendation for HCWs is continuous wearing of a surgical mask during a shift and donning an N95 mask while in direct contact with patients …

Leadership Strategies To Support Resilience, Katee Paine

Nursing Masters Papers

Healthcare institutions have garnered national attention due to high levels of healthcare worker burnout, stress, and turnover rates. As the largest population of healthcare workers, nurses are often confronted with stressors that can lead to burnout in their practice and work environment. The global COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted and magnified these stressors over the past year, such as emotional strain of caring for dying patients, long shifts, rotating schedules, increased workload demands, and high-stress work environments. Resilience, characterized by an ability to bounce back from adverse situations, has been found to play an important role in navigating and adapting to …

A Bundled Approach To Integrative Care For Peripherally Inserted Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Cannula Insertion Site, Kelly Garaffa, Mickey Amos

Nursing DNP Projects

Purpose and Rationale: This project is designed to translate the collective knowledge and evidence-based interventions surrounding the reduction of central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) and use these evidence-based practices to create an extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) cannula site bundle. The desired outcome of creating an ECMO cannula-site bundle is increased cannula site integrity, decreased frequency of dressing changes, and minimized risk of cannula-site infections.

Synthesis of Evidence: Currently, there are no clinical practice guidelines for ECMO cannula site care to guide bedside practice. The ELSO Infectious Disease Taskforce recommends implementation of a CLABSI bundle for ECMO site care, but many …

Effectiveness Of An Online Intervention Combating Mental Health Stigma On Adolescent Help-Seeking Behaviors, Chelsea Krayecki

Counselor Education Capstones

Mental health stigma has been shown to be a barrier to seeking help for mental health concerns. This is especially true for adolescents due to important developmental characteristics. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) (2021), depression is one of the major causes of mental health concerns and disability among adolescents. In addition, the WHO (2021) also states that mental health conditions account for 16% of global burden of illness in people ages 10-19-years-old. The current pandemic has only increased these concerns, as social, emotional, and mental well-being has been impacted by the pandemic (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, …

Early Mobility In The Intensive Care Unit: An Integrative Review On Safe Practices, Jessica Poehler

Nursing Masters Papers

The effects of immobility in the intensive care unit (ICU) lead to significant short and long-term complications among patients. Early mobility practices positively impact patients’ cognitive and physical outcomes while in the ICU and post ICU discharge; however, patient safety barriers exist with implementing early mobility interventions. An integrative literature review was completed to summarize early mobility practices among individuals in the ICU, adverse safety events that occurred during mobilizing, and best practices to prevent adverse safety events from occurring. Using CINAHL, PubMed, OVID, and ProQuest, eleven articles were analyzed for level and quality of evidence, including two randomized controlled …

Implementation Of The Centor Score In The Assessment Of Pharyngitis In An Atypical Setting During A Pandemic, Holly C. Wright

Nursing DNP Projects

Pharyngitis is a self-limited illness. Antibiotics are indicated if group A streptococcus (GAS) is present, yet 60% of patients receive a prescription. Implementation of the Centor Score at the time of triage can lead to appropriate collection of a rapid strep test (RST). Centor Scores were completed on adult patients presenting for an RST during the COVID-19 pandemic at a drive-up testing site. All five patients who had an RST had a negative GAS result and did not receive an antibiotic. A Centor Score completed at the time of nursing triage can provide guidance related to antibiotic prescribing for pharyngitis.

Influence Of Myelin-Associated Glycoprotein On Axon Subtype Specific Sheath Targeting, Nazmus Sakib Khan

Ramaley Celebration

During the development of the Central Nervous System, oligodendrocytes wrap axons with myelin, which is necessary for rapid, efficient nerve impulse propagation. For reasons unknown, oligodendrocytes direct myelin to certain subtypes of axons, leaving others incompletely myelinated, or even totally unmyelinated. Previous studies demonstrated mice harboring Mag mutations showed improper sheath targeting of myelin to axons indicating that MAG is a possible facilitator of axon-glia communication.

In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that loss of mag decreases the proportion of myelin directed towards specific axon subtypes. To test this, we perturbed Mag function in zebrafish embryos using knockdown …

Identification Of Parasites From Wisconsin And Minnesota Diving Ducks In The Winona Area, Morgan Condon, Kimberly Bates

Ramaley Celebration

Many different diving ducks in the Midwest are hosts to parasites like cestodes, trematodes, and nematodes. These parasites often live in the ducks gastrointestinal tract and use the ducks chyme and intestinal tissues to thrive. For this research, local hunters volunteered to donate diving duck carcasses they harvested. Ducks donated were cut open on the ventral side from esophagus to cloaca. Major organs were separated into bottles containing 0.85% saline, shaken, settled, and then the supernatant removed multiple times to isolate any parasites residing within the duck’s organs and tissues. Any parasites found in dissected diving ducks organ wash were …

Effectiveness Of Promoting Organ Donation With Appeal To Reason Versus Emotion, Katrina Pfaffenbach

Ramaley Celebration

Abstract

Katrina Pfaffenbach

Dr. Amanda Brouwer

The need for organ donors is consistent and enduring; every day in the United States, 17 individuals die waiting for a transplant, and while 90% of U.S. adults state they support donation, only 60% are registered donors (Health Resources & Services Administration, 2021). Organ donation promotional campaigns are routinely done in the realm of public health, yet the most effective approach remains disputed. In this study, separate appeals to reason and emotion were explored to provide a better understanding of how different types of promotion affect attitudes and misconceptions of organ donation. It was …

Best Practices To Prevent Or Delay Diabetes In Adults With Prediabetes, Aminata Cham

Nursing DNP Projects

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus is a common disease prevalent in 10.5% of the US population about 34.2 million people and a disproportionate percentage of people of color. An EBP project for people with prediabetes was conducted in a faith-based based setting after institutional review board approval. The purpose of the project was to increase fruits and vegetable intake and increase physical activity in adults with prediabetes. The Chronic Care Model was used to guide the design and implementation of the project. The project was a modified version of the National Diabetes Prevention Program (NDPP) in a series of four 2-hour sessions …

Risk Stratification For Acute Heart Failure In The Emergency Department, Danika M. Nelson

Nursing DNP Projects

Background

Heart Failure (HF) is a primary diagnosis for hospital admission in adults from the Emergency Department (ED), but not all patients require hospitalization. Emergency Heart Failure Mortality Risk Grade (EHMRG) is designed to estimate mortality in patients with acute HF in ED settings.

Objectives

To risk-stratify patients with acute HF using EHMRG scores and assess patient safety.

Methods

Retrospective cohort analysis of 304 patients with acute HF presenting to an ED at a large tertiary healthcare center. EHMRG scores were calculated per previous thresholds. Mortality and Major Adverse Cardiac Event (MACE) rates were analyzed.

Results

EHMRG risk group respective …

Advocating For Palliative Care In The Intensive Care Unit: A Nursing Approach, Andrea Kirk, Erin Leach

Nursing DNP Projects

Purpose and Rational

Intensive Care Unit (ICU) patients often receive aggressive medical treatment with advanced illness or injury, and frequently have unmet palliative care (PC) needs. ICU nurses bear witness to the suffering of their patients and in turn, suffer a disproportionate amount of moral distress. The purpose of this clinical scholarship project is to empower nurses with knowledge and skills to advocate for PC for critically ill patients within the ICU setting at a Midwestern, urban, academic medical center. This will be achieved by providing education to nurses about PC and its utilization in the ICU setting and implementing …

Addressing Psychosocial Outcomes Of Social Isolation In Older Adults, Megan Friesen, Madeline M. Christensen

Nursing DNP Projects

Purpose and Rationale

The aim of the evidence-based practice (EBP) project is to improve psychological outcomes for socially isolated older adults enrolled in a Homebound Program (HP) through the implementation of an EBP intervention. Social isolation has a multitude of negative consequences, including impacting the psychological health (e.g. depression, loneliness, anxiety) of the older adult population.

Synthesis of Evidence

Meta-analyses, systematic reviews, and randomized controlled trials addressing the clinical problem of social isolation were identified. Through critical appraisal of the evidence, physical activity, psychotherapy, and socialization interventions have shown to decrease depression and loneliness in older adults. There were mixed …

Dnp Proposal: Implementing Staff Education To Reduce Stress And Increase Resiliency, Samantha Lambert, Mariana Corpus

Nursing DNP Projects

Problem: Increased stress and decreased resiliency are concerning concepts that continue to be common themes within nursing practice. Stress, compassion fatigue, and burnout among nurses pose a great risk to the health care system, the patients it serves, as well as the nurses. Persistent levels of high stress additionally impact work activities and job performance, leading nurses to experience burnout, compassion fatigue, lower job satisfaction, high workplace turnover, and poor quality of care for patients. Nurses who demonstrate resiliency can adapt to unexpected events with a positive attitude, self-esteem, and tolerance.

Purpose: To decrease stress levels and improve resiliency among …