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Reducing Inpatient Falls Utilizing Multimodal Standardized Patient Education: An Evidence-Based Practice Project, Sheryl Almandrez

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Manuscripts

Purpose of Project: This project aims to utilize multimodal standardized patient education as an evidence-based practice intervention to reduce inpatient falls.

Background: In 2022, Kaiser Foundation Hospital (KFH) San Diego had 116 falls. Inpatient falls with injury account for the second-highest Joint Commission (TJC) sentinel event and California Department of Public Health (CDPH) adverse events. These injuries include lacerations, subdural hematoma, subdural hemorrhage, hip fractures, and wrist fractures. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) have also stopped reimbursing hospitals for the care provided after patients have sustained a fall with injury.

The project was implemented at KFH-San Diego …

Implementation Of Lymphedema Education Toolkit For Nurse Coordinators, Heather Gee

Master's Projects and Capstones

Problem: Lymphedema is a chronic condition that develops secondary to cancer treatments such as chemotherapy, radiation, and surgical removal of affected lymph nodes. This swelling in patient’s limbs can cause discomfort and limit mobility, however lymphedema is often not detected until later stages, delaying treatment and patient education.

Context: This quality improvement project was conducted at Hospital S Women’s Cancer Center, an outpatient center specializing in advanced treatments for breast and gynecological cancers. This center has a multidisciplinary team focusing on both the medical and surgical aspects of oncology treatment.

Interventions: An evidence-based lymphedema education toolkit was created for nurse …

Evaluating Nurse Comfort Levels Assessing For Depression In An Urban Hospital Setting, Jonathan Shafer, Riley R. Clubb

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Evidence shows that a fraction of nurses are uncomfortable assessing patients for depression. When depression assessments are uncomfortable for the clinician, there may be inconsistencies in practice which can negatively affect patient outcomes. An evidence-based survey was developed and distributed to nurses at an urban hospital in Missouri. The survey assessed nurse's confidence, frequency of assessment, and understanding in evaluating patients for depression. Seventy-three nurses took part in the confidential survey. Thirty percent of the participants reported that they sometimes ask about mood and twenty-one percent reported that they rarely ask about mood. Although results showed that nurses were not …

Nursing Students’ Perceptions Of The Impact Of Teamwork And Collaboration On Patient Care, Riana Square

Honors College Theses

Teamwork and communication are two topics that a vast majority of nursing students are introduced to in their first semester of nursing school. Many nursing students have a desire to improve their communication skills and have a better understanding of the inner workings of interdisciplinary collaboration. A study across multiple cohorts of Georgia Southern Nursing students was conducted to explore their perceptions of the correlation between teamwork and patient care outcomes. This study also explores nursing students’ readiness to communicate with other healthcare professionals and the effectiveness of the means to practice these communication skills while in nursing school. It …

Improving Early Identification And Management Of Depression Symptomology Through Implementation Of Universal Depression Screening In A University Student Health Center, Jessica M. Monjaras

Evidence-Based Practice Project Reports

Depression is the leading cause of disability in the United States for individuals aged 15 to 44 (Anxiety and Depression Association of America, 2023). The purpose of this evidence-based practice (EBP) project was to increase early identification of depression through implementation of universal depression screening, and to implement management strategies to decrease symptoms of depression. A two-tiered approach to universal depression screening was utilized through use of the PHQ-2 and PHQ-9 screening tools. Ten young adult patients, between the ages of 18 to 25, from a university student health center clinic in Northwest Indiana participated in this project. Participants underwent …

A Multi-Modal Intervention To Decrease Hpv Vaccine Hesitancy And Increase Uptake In Young Adult Women, Rylee Cartales

Evidence-Based Practice Project Reports

Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is the leading cause of cervical cancer worldwide and the most common sexually transmitted disease, yet hesitancy towards the HPV vaccine remains high and uptake of the HPV vaccine remains remarkably low (CDC, 2021b). The purpose of this evidence-based practice (EBP) project was to determine if the implementation of a multimodal intervention including a motivational interview, strong provider recommendation, and educational materials will decrease HPV vaccine hesitancy and consequentially increase uptake of the vaccine. Eleven young adult women ages 18-26 from a rural outpatient Obstetrics and Gynecology (OBGYN) clinic in Indiana participated in this project. After agreeing …

Respiratory Illnesses In Women And Children From Ghana: Problem Identification And Intervention, Stephanie Dale

The Eleanor Mann School of Nursing Undergraduate Honors Theses

Rural communities in the upper east region of Ghana currently cook with traditional coal pots that produce increased levels of smoke resulting in rapid fuel consumption, increased air pollution, and high levels of respiratory illness in the women and children who use them. New stoves have been developed that remain similar to the traditional ones in use but are designed to provide a variety of benefits such as lowering the cost of fuel, reducing air pollution, and decreasing rates of respiratory illness in women and children. The purpose of this research study was to identify why women have not begun …

A Multimodal Intervention To Aid In Smoking Cessation, Lauren Druzbicki

Evidence-Based Practice Project Reports

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC; 2023a) notes there are 28.3 million smokers in the United States. In Indiana alone, nearly 29% of adults currently use tobacco, with 19% of the total being cigarette smokers (Indiana Department of Health, 2022). The purpose of this evidence-based practice (EBP) project was to implement a multi-modal intervention to aid in smoking cessation in adults aged 18 and older who are cigarette smokers. The intervention included physician/nurse advise using the ask, advise, refer (AAR) model, the SmokefreeTXT program, and FDA approved smoking cessation medications. The project took place at a primary care …

Strategies Over Knowledge: Training Gaps Present In Caring For Patients With Autism Spectrum Disorder For Pediatric And Student Nurses, Jasmine E. Johnson

Honors Thesis

With Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) prevalence ever increasing among the pediatric population, nurses can expect to see an increase in the number of autistic patients within their clinical practice settings. Previous researchers have shown that pediatric nurses are required to overcome many barriers when working with autistic patients, and adequate training is necessary to achieve genuine patient-centered care. However, parents have reported less than optimal care received by their children with ASD within the healthcare system. Therefore, research is needed to determine where training could be improved for this patient population. This study aimed to identify where training deficits are …

Implementation And Evaluation Of A Structured Mentorship Program, Cary Bedinghaus, Caroline Hillman

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

The project addresses mentorship in a graduate nursing anesthesia program. The goal is to improve the existing mentorship program and to implement a durable and consistent system that gathers and responds to feedback from the students. Two literature reviews form the underpinnings of the structure and evaluation components of the project. Three structural components were identified in the review as highly effective in multiple studies of diverse mentorship programs. The first component is establishing an effective dyad matching scheme. The second component is establishing clear goals. The third component is maintaining the relationship and achieving goals through frequent and consistent …

A Job Satisfaction Evaluation Of Nursing In The United States And Greece Utilizing The American Nurses Association's Scope And Standards Of Practice, Audrey Narhi

Honors Projects

Nursing is a multifaceted profession that is constantly evolving with the health needs of the populations it serves. Professional organizations within the field utilize evidence-based practice to provide guidelines of what best-practice nursing is. This study aims to evaluate if the American Nurse's Association (ANA), a professional nursing organization in the United States, supports the realities of nursing in a rural US hospital. An international perspective is also considered by evaluating the same principles to a urban hospital in Athens, Greece. Categories that align with ANA Scope and Standards, including workplace environment, career development, supervisor relationships, and personal work practice, …

Social, Cognitive, And Teaching Presence As Predictors Of Online Student Engagement Among Msn Students, Mark Littler

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The dynamics of higher education have changed as a result of online learning. However, it can be challenging for teachers to effectively engage students online. Furthermore, limited research about the relationship between presence and online student engagement is a social problem that impacts the quality of online nursing education. The purpose of this nonexperimental quantitative research study was to examine the relationship between social presence, cognitive presence, teaching presence, and online student engagement among MSN students. The community of inquiry (CoI) framework was used to guide this study. The research question addressed the relationship between social presence, cognitive presence, teaching …

Experiences Of Undergraduate Nursing Faculty Adapting To The Changes Of The Next Generation Nclex, Marlene Kilpack Whiteside

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Undergraduate nursing faculty are responsible for preparing nursing students for patient care in a dynamic health care setting and are challenged with meeting the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) change to the Next Generation NCLEX (NGN). The National Council of State Boards of Nursing recommended the incorporation of the Clinical Judgment Measurement Model (CJMM) and competency-based curriculum in preparation for NGN testing that began in 2023. Understanding how faculty experienced and adapted to changes in curriculum, patient-centered instruction, and NGN testing may help future nurse faculty in adapting. The purpose of this basic exploratory, qualitative study guided by the achievement …

The Effect Of Nursing Education On The Utilization Of Kangaroo Mother Care And Weight Gain Of Preterm And Low Birth Weight Infants, Jhenalynn Valete

Nursing | Senior Theses

Aim: The goal of this quantitative study is to investigate if educating nurses about the significance of KMC will increase its utilization and promote weight gain in low birthweight and preterm infants. Additionally, it aims to find the optimal duration of KMC required to maximize health outcomes for the infant. This research proposal aims to provide nursing professionals with valuable insights, allowing them to effectively educate parents on practices that promote maximal weight gain in neonates.

Background: This is a cost-effective and natural way to enhance health outcomes such as temperature regulation, weight gain, respiratory function, pain mitigation, …

The Effects Of Music Therapy On Pediatric Patients With Congenital Heart Defects In The Pre And Postoperative Setting, Janelle Marie Choy

Nursing | Senior Theses

Congenital heart defects is a prominent medical occurrence especially in pediatrics. These defects often require surgeries and extensive treatment plans. These treatment plans often include invasive surgeries and extensive treatment plans which can require long recovery times along with potential surgical complications. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of music therapy on pediatric patients with congenital heart defects in the pre and postoperative setting and how music therapy can be implemented in treatment plans to yield effective recovery results for these patients. This research is significant as elevated vital signs and preoperative anxiety are associated with an increased need …

Promoting Parental Comfort To Facilitate Conversations On Adolescent Sexual Health And Behaviors, Angelina Jolie Banes, Lauren Liddell

Nursing | Senior Theses

This thesis proposal will investigate the impact of a comprehensive digital sexual health education program on the comfort levels of parents and teens when discussing sensitive topics such as pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). The research is guided by Orem’s Self-Care Deficit Nursing Theory, which emphasizes the need to assess and address individuals’ self-care deficits, including the ability to engage in safe and informed sexual behaviors. The research design is a quantitative, quasi-experimental study with a one-group pre and post-test design. The sample consists of 50 parents and 50 teens from Marin County, who will participate in an online …

Evaluating The Impact Of Simulation On Perceived Knowledge And Confidence Of New Graduate Nurses (Ngns) In Maternal-Newborn Care, Disa Seymour

DNP Scholarly Projects

Abstract

Background: Nursing education worldwide varies in duration and training process, with nurses often facing rapid immersion into patient care complexities when entering the workforce. While new nurses contribute significantly to the nursing community with contemporary knowledge, their transition to practice can be daunting, necessitating support for both competence and retention. As specialty care settings integrate more new graduate nurses (NGNs) to address workforce shortages, collaboration between leaders and educators becomes crucial. Simulation emerges as a vital tool in building confidence while learning, offering a safe space for skill development and growth of confidence.

Purpose: This project’s objective was to …

Pediatric Vaccination Adherence: Enhancing Compliance Among First-Generation Asian American Parents, Katelyn Leong

Nursing | Senior Theses

Background: Vaccine adherence in the pediatric population refers to receiving vaccines as per the recommended schedule, which significantly reduces vaccine-preventable diseases and enhances community immunity. Vaccine hesitancy, driven by concerns such as safety, misinformation, or cultural beliefs can affect adherence. National coverage of state-mandated vaccines among kindergarteners declined from 95% to around 93% between 2019 and 2022, varying across different vaccines. Objective: This research proposal’s focus is to determine if an educational intervention targeting first-generation Asian Americans, who have adopted their immigrant parents' misinformation about vaccines, will effectively increase vaccination rates among their children. The study aims to assess the …

The Impact Of Spanish Language Training For Labor And Delivery Nurses On Postpartum Depression Incidence Among Hispanic Women, Leilani Gutierrez

Nursing | Senior Theses

Postpartum depression and anxiety are experienced by 70-80% of new mothers, and the likelihood is twice as high for Hispanic women compared to caucasian women. Supportive techniques to help monolingual mothers in labor are lacking. A translator's assistance on the hospital floor, such as a video call from an iPad, is often impersonal and lacks the supportive atmosphere that women preparing to give birth need. The primary objective of this study is to explore the potential benefits of providing Spanish-speaking courses to labor and delivery nurses, particularly in cultivating a nurturing and supportive atmosphere for Hispanic mothers during childbirth. By …

Feasibility And Measurement Of Bedside Pumping In The Nicu: A Mixed Methods Study, Jessica Gomez

Dissertations & Theses (Open Access)

Abstract

Background: Supporting preterm infants with mother’s own milk (MOM) can improve health outcomes and decrease mortality.¹ Freshly pumped MOM, within four hours of expression, has the highest availability of bioactive components versus stored MOM. However, fresh milk is often not readily available due to the disconnected process of breastfeeding that occurs with preterm infants in the NICU. One convenient solution to improve access to fresh MOM is for the mother to pump at the infant's bedside. This intervention could improve the mother's pumping experience and provide the infant access to fresh MOM.

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate …

Give Love With Lovenox: Improving Nurse Education On Lovenox Prophylaxis To Reduce Pulmonary Embolism Risk On The Postpartum Unit, Jennifer G. Domingo Rn

Master's Projects and Capstones

This quality improvement project aims to improve nurse education about Lovenox prophylaxis to reduce the risk of pulmonary emboli – post-discharge – amongst high-risk postpartum women who underwent vaginal and cesarean deliveries on the family baby unit. This project took place in a Family Baby/Postpartum Unit at Hospital SC. This unit has a total of 25 beds with an increased prevalence of pulmonary embolism following cesarean delivery. Nurses were given anonymous pre- and post-survey questionnaires and provided educational sessions with distributed handouts. A unit needs assessment was conducted using the 5 P’s. Out of the 72 nurses on the staff …

Surgical Fire Prevention And Management: An Objective Structured Clinical Examination For Nurse Anesthesia, Tate Fazio, Kaleb Killens

Doctoral Projects

Sentinel events in health care are rare events, often corresponding with permanent injury or death. Fires in the operating room (OR) are one type of sentinel event. Although rare due to possible life-threatening injuries to patients and staff, appropriate surgical fire education is critical in nurse anesthesia education, as anesthesia providers play a significant role in surgical fires (Wunder et al., 2020). The development of simulation exercises has the potential for students to experience and become competent in managing high-acuity, low-frequency events, such as surgical fires (Wunder et al., 2020). The Nurse Anesthesia Program (NAP) at The University of Southern …

Moral Distress As A Predictive Variable Of Perceived Job Retention In Senior Nursing Students, Rebekah L. Barber

Honors College Theses

New Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) graduate nurses are leaving careers within inpatient healthcare facilities presumably because of moral distress related to the anticipated workload of registered nurses (RN). BSN curriculums are responsible for providing practical education through clinical instruction; however, many students experience inconsistencies in best practice recommendations. The inconsistencies predominantly originate between didactic nursing instruction and clinical learning within inpatient healthcare facilities. Using a cross-sectional descriptive research design, this thesis utilized the validated Moral Distress Scale-Revised (MDS-R), a 21-item instrument that assesses the frequency and intensity of moral distress experienced by healthcare workers. Student responses to the …

Postpartum Visitation Policies, Jenna B. Holderman, Morgan E. Matthews

The Eleanor Mann School of Nursing Undergraduate Honors Theses

Background: Continual support for the birthing person during labor improves delivery outcomes and overall childbirth experiences. How many support people are present and their relation to the birthing person varies based on individual preference, family dynamics, and sociocultural expectations. During the Covid-19 pandemic, many hospitals implemented a one-visitor policy for deliveries. With these new guidelines in place, the length of hospital stays significantly decreased, and there were a variety of opinions towards these restrictions.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore birthing persons’ overall sentiment towards visitors in the immediate postpartum period.

Methods: The current study analyzed …

Moral Distress In Critical Care Nursing: A Literature Review, Anna Tindell

The Eleanor Mann School of Nursing Undergraduate Honors Theses

Moral distress is a pressing concern in the healthcare field with significant implications for all areas of nursing and patient outcomes. However, those within the specialty of critical care nursing experience moral distress more frequently than those in other specialties. It arises from the complex ethical dilemmas nurses in critical intensive care units face as they work in these high-pressure environments. The purpose of this literature review is to discuss moral distress in critical care nursing and how it affects a nurse’s ability to provide quality care. Furthermore, this review will determine factors contributing to moral distress and potential interventions …

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder And Teachers, Samantha Ann Tierney, Samantha Ann Tierney

Honors College Theses

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a common disorder, estimated to affect 5% of all children and adolescents. The current rate of diagnosis is steadily increasing. This increase in the number of students with ADHD affects educators, who have a large role in the success of students with ADHD. Despite this, many teachers are not prepared to deal with the extra challenges that come with teaching students with ADHD. Teachers may not be properly taught how to deal with children who have ADHD in their classrooms or the role they have in these children’s lives. The purpose of this study is to …

Transformational Leadership Training For Leaders, Kristie Gilliland

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the impact of transformational leadership training on improving a leader’s skills and knowledge in performing daily operations and interacting with frontline staff, decreasing attrition. Ineffective leadership contributes to staff dissatisfaction, poor performance, and attrition. The literature supports transformational leadership is effective in leading teams of nurses and contributes to staff autonomy, staff satisfaction, decreased attrition, and improved patient outcomes. A quasi-experimental research study was completed on a leadership team in a managed care organization. Fourteen leaders with anywhere from 1 to more than 6 years of leadership experience were evaluated. Lewin’s change …

Lost In Interpretation: The Lived Experience Of Nurse Interpreters In The Clinical Setting, Byron Batz

Dissertations

The use of language interpreters in the health care setting constitutes a vital part of provider-patient communication but remains a relatively unexplored phenomenon. Registered nurses (RNs) are often called upon to serve as interpreters when linguistically diverse patients constitute a large segment of the patient population. That RNs serve simultaneously in an interpreter role – in addition to clinical and advocacy roles – is a complex facet of contemporary nursing practice in a diverse U.S. culture. The purpose of this qualitative descriptive study was to examine the lived experience of RNs serving as interpreters in health care institutions in Southern …

Exploring The Lived Experience Of Significant Other Caregivers Providing Care To Partners Surviving A Spinal Cord Injury, Lisa Ann Lumley

Theses & Dissertations

According to the World Health Organization, 250,000 to 500,000 people worldwide have suffered a spinal cord injury. Significant others may become caregivers responsible for meeting the needs of the dependent partner. The focus of this study is on significant other caregivers’ experiences providing care for partners after a spinal cord injury. The effects of stress from providing care may be detrimental to caregivers' psychological and physical well-being. Psychological distress, such as anxiety and depression in caregivers, is a significant public health issue that affects the quality of life for millions of individuals. There is a lack of studies focusing on …

The Effects Of Postpartum Hemorrhage Simulation, Kera Olson

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) is the leading cause of maternal morbidity and mortality worldwide. Evidence supports the importance and impact simulation has had on preparation for postpartum hemorrhage. Preparation with hands-on education is imperative for a safe outcome during a real-life hemorrhage situation. Lack of frequent education and simulation can equate to negative outcomes for all involved. The purpose of this project was to increase exposure to a safe environment to explore knowledge and skills during a postpartum hemorrhage event. This quality improvement project surveyed postpartum nurses pre and post-mock postpartum hemorrhage simulation. The setting allowed for mistakes, discussion, and open …