The Quest For Self: Using Mandala Art In Reflective Practice Journaling, Kathleen Quinn

Comparative Woman

This article is a nexus of research, personal journaling reflections, and mandala creation from the authors own journals and focuses on the use of Mandalas as part of a reflective practice journaling process. Attention to mandala usage within reflective practice considering depth interiority, engaging and sharing with others. The authors approach to mandala construction is included followed by an exercise for observation and assessment of mandalas. The structure for reflective practice helps shape transformational leaders, using expressive arts, narratives in journaling. This transformational Discovery pathway and narrative exercises can be used for creating professional learning communities. This form of reflective …

Quality Of Care Strategies And The Subsequent Improvement Of Kangaroo Care Incidence Rates In Premature Infants, Sarah Anderson

Posters-at-the-Capitol

Purpose: The benefits of kangaroo care (KC) has long been studied and proven. Despite the research, incidence rates of KC are low in the neonatal ICU at the Kentucky Children’s Hospital. Some barriers to KC exist in our NICU and this study strives to address them. This study aims to develop and implement strategies to increase utilization of KC from 41% to  75% for eligible infants.

Methods: KC occurrence was monitored in 364 infants with birth weight ≤ 1250 grams. Strategies implemented were education of nurses, improved nurse-to-patient ratio, emphasis of KC in multidisciplinary rounding, improved documentation, …

Exploring Unmet Healthcare Needs, Healthcare Access, And The Use Of Complementary And Alternative Medicine By Chronic Pain Sufferers- An Analysis Of The National Population Health Survey, Jessica Lachance

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Background: Chronic pain is a condition nurses encounter in their practice often; estimated to affect 1 in 5 Canadian adults, resulting in significant disability, a deleterious impact on health and quality of life, and a large financial and operational burden on the health care system. It is a complex and multifactorial phenomenon that despite research efforts remains poorly understood. Consequently, the focus of chronic pain treatment targets the managementof pain to improve quality of life and reduce suffering as much as possible, rather than a curative approach. Chronic pain has been recognized as one of the most pervasive and …

The Effects Of Complementary And Alternative Medicine Therapies On Cognition In Older Adults Diagnosed With Mild Cognitive Impairment: An Integrative Literature Review, Candance Swanigan

Grace Peterson Nursing Research Colloquium

Background: The aging U.S. population is expected to produce a significant increase in persons with progressive cognitive impairment or dementia. A method to prevent, halt, or slow this decline has yet to be found. Research suggests that a multidomain approach in the early stages of impairment, such as in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) should be investigated as an integrative strategy to prevent cognitive decline. Complementary and alternative therapies have the ability to be a part of an integrative approach to preventing cognitive decline.

Objectives: The purpose of study is to explore what research has been conducted regarding complementary and alternative …

Fatigue Associated With Rheumatoid Arthritis In Young Adults, Sydney Van Alstyne

Grace Peterson Nursing Research Colloquium

Background: Often, practitioners do not address their Rheumatoid Arthritis patients' fatigue and do not perceive it as a detriment to the patient's wellness. In actuality, fatigue has been determined to be proportionate to the other variables, such as pain and disease progression, of rheumatoid arthritis.

Objectives: to determine the cause(s) of fatigue in rheumatoid arthritis and determine how fatigue can be used in a clinical setting to determine disease progression and status in patients suffering from chronic illness.

Method: This integrative literature review was conducted using the keywords, “fatigue, rheumatoid arthritis, young adults, perception of fatigue” to search the literature …

Traumatic Brain Injuries: A Telehealth Alternative For Veterans, Jessica Dickman

Dissertations

Problem: Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI) are known as the signature wound of veterans serving in Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) and the Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF). After the initial TBI diagnosis, outpatient TBI follow-up rates are reported to be approximately 9% less in the Veteran Healthcare Administration (VA) system when compared to the private sector. The purpose of this quality initiative was to decrease the rate of missed appointments among OEF/OIF veterans using a telehealth alternative.

Methods: The Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) method was used to implement a consistent process for the telehealth visit option. A retrospective medical record review over the same …

Improving Quality Of Life In Veterans With Chronic Pain Through Patient Engagement, Linda Nyagaya

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Manuscripts

Background: Various psychosocial factors affect follow up care among veterans with chronic pain. Engaging veterans by giving them the choice to decide contact modality for after clinic visit increases likelihood of successfully reaching patient and adherence to recommended pain management.

Purpose: To engage veterans through self-determined effective communication method: telephone, email or Myhealthevet for follow up care. The intervention aims to improve chronic pain self-care by assessing number of medications used for pain, numeric pain rating and quality of life score.

Framework/EBP Model: The Iowa Model and 5A’s will guide implementation and assessment of this project. Patients will self-determine the …

The Dancing Nurse: Addressing Barriers To The Implementation Of Movement-Based Interventions In Holistic Patient Care, Jessica Collier, Audrey Thompson Phd

Nursing Undergraduate Work

The efficacy of dance movement therapy (DMT) is well demonstrated in contemporary nursing literature; however, implementation by healthcare professionals is often limited. Dance movement therapy was pioneered in the mid-20^th century by classically trained modern dancer Marian Chace. Recent trends toward patient-centered care and interdisciplinary approaches render therapies such as DMT important modalities which nurses and other healthcare providers may become familiar with. This systematic research review focused on answering the question: “what are hindrances perceived by members of the healthcare team to implementing DMT as an alternative treatment modality?” Two variables were identified for the purposes of this …

Three Speeds Of Yoga And The Effects On Salivary Cortisol Levels In Female Nursing Students, Meagan Hennekens

All NMU Master's Theses

Purpose: Nursing students are prone to stress-related diseases, such as depression and anxiety, which are associated with chronically elevated cortisol levels due to the excessive firing of the Hypothalamic Pituitary Adrenal (HPA) axis. This study assessed three speeds of yoga and how they acutely affected salivary cortisol levels within female nursing students. Methods: Students participated in three yoga sessions cadenced at different speeds in a non-randomized order: (i) standard-speed yoga (SSY), (ii) high-speed yoga (HSY), and (iii) slow-speed yoga (SLSY). Each class integrated sequencing concepts from the brahmana/langhana strategy (BLS) and the Para Yoga Blueprint (PYB). Cortisol samples were …

Yoga And Its Influence On Children's Behavior, Paige Sellen

The Eleanor Mann School of Nursing Undergraduate Honors Theses

This study looked at the impact ten minutes of daily yoga had on the behavior of elementary school children. Yoga was led by classroom teachers once daily for ten minutes over a sixteen-week period. At weeks one, eight, and sixteen, classroom teachers evaluated student behavior in six categories: personal awareness, attention, rapport with friends, rapport with teacher, following rules and transition between activities. The teachers rated the behaviors on a never, sometimes, mostly or always scale. The data was then analyzed and interpreted. Results revealed a significant difference in the attention, ability to follow rules, transition between activities, and personal …

Health Benefits Of Pet Ownership For Older Adults, Molly Cook, Sydney Busch

Grace Peterson Nursing Research Colloquium

Background: Over the last few decades, life expectancy has increased causing a significant rise and rising number of senior citizens. This has resulted in greater demand and spending in healthcare for this growing population, due to, the increase risk for health problems that are associated with older age.

Objectives: The purpose of this literature review is to examine the health benefits of pet ownership for older adults. This study will provide information on what health benefits come with pet ownership, and how this can affect the elderly population.

Method: A computerized integrative review was conducted using various combinations of the …

Complementary And Alternative Therapies Education For High-Risk Women, Maya Ellen Carlet Dnp, Rn, L.Ac

College of Nursing and Health Sciences Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Project Publications

Purpose. Women with substance use disorder (SUD) are considered high-risk and face many barriers accessing health care. One common barrier is distrust of the traditional medical model. Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) provides these women an opportunity to build self-care skills and resiliency. This project was designed to address the complex healthcare needs of mothers with SUD by adding CAM modules to a current self-care skills curriculum.

Methods. To assess feasibility, a pilot program was created for a residential facility in Burlington, Vermont. The pilot program consisted of weekly 60 minute sessions over the course of 10 weeks. There …

Music Heals: Therapeutic Music To Reduce Pain And Anxiety In Adult Icu Patients, Kathleen Sowada

Nursing Posters

To decrease pain and anxiety in adult intensive care unit patients through the use of therapeutic music as compared to no music intervention.

Integrating Holsitic Care Modalities Into An Inpatient Physical Rehabiliation Program, Kathleen Sowada

Nursing Posters

The purpose of this pilot project was to determine the feasibility of incorporating integrative therapies, including acupuncture, into the plan of care of patients undergoing physical rehabilitation in an inpatient setting, and to improve outcomes and patient satisfaction.

The Impact Of Schizophrenia On Copd Readmission Rate Among Hospitalized South Carolinians, Emilienne Y. Watonsi

DNP Research Projects

Due to elevated readmission costs, the Affordable Care Act established the Hospital Readmission Reduction Program in 2012 to curb the 30-day readmission rates. COPD and schizophrenia are two very expensive diseases, COPD national medical costs is projected to be $49.0 billion in 2020; the cost of schizophrenia was 155.7 billion in 2013. The main objective of this study was to determine if schizophrenia is a significant predictor of 30-day readmission following hospitalization for acute exacerbation of COPD after adjusting for age, gender, anxiety, smoking status, T2DM, chronic ischemic heart disease, and GERD. Methods: A retrospective cohort design was used to …

Parkinson's Disease: Promoting Wellbeing Through Creation Health, Rupelin Pichot

DNP Research Projects

There are approximately 1.5 million Americans affected by Parkinson’s disease (PD). In spite of medications and technological advances in managing the disease, patients with PD still live poor quality lives. Therefore, effective natural interventions are essential in promoting wellbeing and quality of life among PD patients. This research study aimed to examine the usefulness and efficacy of a PD brochure designed especially for PD patients and their caregivers by utilizing CREATION Health (CH) principles to promote wellbeing and quality of life in patients with PD. This study employed mixed methods of quantitative and qualitative research designs to evaluate the design, …

Using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy To Treat Insomnia In Adults, Alexandra Christodoulou

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

Background: Insomnia is a physically, mentally, and psychologically complicated and distressing medical condition that can affect adults with or without comorbid conditions. Research indicates that cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is an underutilized, but extremely beneficial intervention that may support individuals in overcoming insomnia and other comorbid conditions, without ever ingesting a pill. Unfortunately, CBT is underutilized due to the patient educational time requirements; therefore, medication is often prescribed as a first line of treatment for insomnia. Adults suffering from insomnia with or without comorbid conditions such as psychiatric disorders or cancer have benefitted from CBT as opposed to oral …

Effects Of Energy-Based Therapies On Postoperative Recovery: An Integrative Review Of The Literature, Emily M. Wooten

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Associated with health care reform, there has been a growing interest among healthcare professionals regarding use of energy-based therapies as a complementary therapeutic intervention. The purpose of this integrative literature review was to examine the impact of energy-based therapies (i.e. healing touch, reiki, therapeutic touch) on patients’ postoperative recovery. The methodology included identifying appropriate peer-reviewed, English-language research articles on the topic area that were published between 2006 to 2018. Following a search in select data bases, articles focusing on the topic were critiqued, analyzed and synthesized by the researcher. Consistent and inconsistent findings along with gaps in the literature are …

Veterans With Chronic Back Pain Managed In Primary Care: Patient Aligned Care Team, Bonnie Grimes

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Chronic pain affects approximately 100 million adults in the United States annually, and costs exceeding $635 billion. Pain is the most common complaint in primary care, and chronic pain accounts for up to 16% of emergency room visits. Additionally, chronic pain accounts for 25% of missed workdays annually. Veterans are particularly vulnerable to chronic pain and have an increased incidence of chronic non-cancer pain. Chronic pain for veterans cost the Veterans Administration (VA) about $385 billion each year. This project evaluated the Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT) model to manage chronic lower back pain (CLBP) at a VA primary care …

Relative Effectiveness Of Mindfulness And Cognitive Behavioral Interventions For Anxiety Disorders: Meta-Analytic Review, Samina K. Singh, Kevin M. Gorey

Social Work Publications

Increasingly popular mindfulness intervention innovations seem demonstrably effective in alleviating anxiety among people with anxiety disorders. However, the basis of such primary and synthetic evidence has, for the most part, been comparisons with non-active comparison conditions such as waiting lists. The longest-standing and strongest evidence-informed practices in this field have been cognitive behavioral interventions (CBI). This meta-analysis synthesized evidence from nine randomized trials of the relative effectiveness of mindfulness interventions compared to CBIs (i.e., active control groups) in treating anxiety disorders. The sample-weighted synthesis found no statistically or practically significant differences between the two groups on anxiety alleviation: Cohen’s d …

A Systematic Review Of Non-Pharmacological Interventions To Improve Nighttime Sleep Among Residents Of Long-Term Care Settings, Elizabeth Capezuti, Rana Sagha Zadeh, Kevin Pain, Aleksa Basara, Nancy Ziyan Jiang, Ana C. Krieger

Publications and Research

Background: Disturbances in sleep and circadian rhythms are common among residents of long-term care facilities. In this systematic review, we aim to identify and evaluate the literature documenting the outcomes associated with non-pharmacological interventions to improve nighttime sleep among long-term care residents.

Methods: The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews guided searches of five databases (MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, Scopus, and Cochrane Library) for articles reporting results of experimental or quasi-experimental studies conducted in long-term care settings (nursing homes, assisted-living facilities, or group homes) in which nighttime sleep was subjectively or objectively measured as a primary outcome. We categorized each intervention …

Effects Of Music Therapy On Individuals With Dementia: An Intergrative Literature Review, Liani Sanchez

Honors Undergraduate Theses

The purpose of this integrative review was to examine the effects of music therapy, a complementary intervention, on individuals with dementia. Peer-reviewed journals were retrieved from MEDLINE, CINAHL, CINAHL Plus with Full Text, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Music Index to evaluate their relevance to music therapy use in people diagnosed with dementia. English and Spanish-language research articles published from 2000-2017 were included for the review (n=15). The literature indicates the use of music therapy as an adjuvant therapy for the treatment of dementia in older adults may be beneficial in decreasing symptoms of aggression, anxiety, agitation and depression. …

The Effect Of Complementary Therapies On The Treatment Of Chemotherapeutic Induced Nausea And Vomiting: A Systematic Review, Kailyn Sickel, Mary Barrett, Abigal Siegenthaler

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Chemotherapy is one of the most prevalent treatment options for cancer patients, but a major side effect of this treatment, chemotherapeutic induced nausea and vomiting (CINV), can often be debilitating and problematic for patients. The goal of this systematic review is to evaluate the effectiveness of complementary therapies in reducing CINV in adult oncology patients. A total of 20 studies were reviewed of adult populations that received standard antiemetic care, with each study failing to yield the same results upon evaluating the effectiveness of complementary therapies on patients’ CINV. The complementary therapies studied included ginger therapy, acupressure, acupuncture, guided imagery …

Vapocoolant Spray’S Effect On Peripheral Inserted Venous Catheter Pain In Adult Patients, Zachary Krol, Fiona Flaherty, Ryan Williams

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Intravenous (IV) cannulation is required to administer medications and fluids to patients. In addition, it is also a recognized source of pain and anxiety in over one-half of all patients requiring IV insertion (Page & Taylor, 2010). Pain management is within nurses’ scope of practice, therefore it’s important to identify effective pain management strategies. The purpose of this study is to determine the effect that a topical vapocoolant spray has on pain in pre-operative adults during IV cannulation. The gate control theory of pain will guide this randomized, experimental study of a convenience sample of adults in an outpatient endoscopic …