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 …

Streamlining The Postpartum Educational Process For Safe And Equitable Patient Care: A Quality Improvement Initiative, Shea N. Cook

Master's Theses and Capstones

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Postpartum discharge education is essential in the care of mothers, newborns, and their families as they transition from the hospital setting to home. The U.S Department of Health and Human Services has identified postpartum discharge education content as a public health priority to reduce physical and mood-related postpartum complications. Over half of all serious morbidity and mortality complications occur after a postpartum patient leaves the hospital. It is essential that hospitals utilize the best evidence-based practices to maximize the impact of patient education during maternity care in the hospital.

LOCAL PROBLEM:

Within the given microsystem there is a …

Incorporating Non-Pharmacological Labor Coping Methods To Improve Nursing Care And Reduce Primary Cesarean Section Rates: A Quality Improvement Project, Cait Maccabe

Master's Theses and Capstones

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Cesarean sections (c-sections), while life-saving in some circumstances, carry a significantly higher risk of morbidity and mortality than vaginal birth for birthing patients and neonates alike. Despite this, rates of c-section have continued to rise in the US and around the world. As primary cesarean births are highly likely to lead to repeat cesarean births, concerted efforts are being made to reduce them both broadly and within the setting of this quality improvement (QI) project: a labor and delivery unit located within a Level II trauma center in New Hampshire. A literature review provided evidence supporting the use …

Implementation Of Virtual Reality For The Laboring Patient: A Quality Improvement Project, Chantal Cole

DNP Scholarly Projects

BACKGROUND: Having a baby can be one of the most challenging and painful experiences a woman has in their lifetime. Being able to choose between a variety of pharmacological and non-pharmacological pain-control methods is important to improve the patient experience and outcomes. This quality improvement project aimed to introduce a virtual reality device into the labor and delivery setting as a non-pharmacological pain control method. The goal was to decrease pain and anxiety levels, decrease the rate of epidural anesthesia use, and decrease the length of time epidural anesthesia medication was running before delivery.

METHODS: The four key components of …

Incorporating Non-Pharmacological Labor Coping Methods To Improve Nursing Care And Reduce Primary Cesarean Section Rates: A Quality Improvement Project, Cait Maccabe

Honors Theses and Capstones

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Cesarean sections (c-sections), while life-saving in some circumstances, carry a significantly higher risk of morbidity and mortality than vaginal birth for birthing patients and neonates alike. Despite this, rates of c-section have continued to rise in the US and around the world. As primary cesarean births are highly likely to lead to repeat cesarean births, concerted efforts are being made to reduce them both broadly and within the setting of this quality improvement (QI) project: a labor and delivery unit located within a Level II trauma center in New Hampshire. A literature review provided evidence supporting the use …

Promoting Postpartum Knowledge And Support Through The Provision Of Educational And Support Resources During The Postpartum Admission Stay: A Quality Improvement Project, Danielle Woodman

Master's Theses and Capstones

BACKGROUND: The postpartum period is often imbued with heightened emotions, unfamiliar challenges, and an abundance of uncertainty. Postpartum depression and anxiety are well discussed in literature, yet postpartum mothers may lack knowledge of these conditions and their associated risk factors, signs, and symptoms as well as the support resources which are available to them. Improved postpartum support and awareness may alleviate the prevalence, severity, and progression of these conditions into more severe cases.

LOCAL PROBLEM: Within the given microsystem, a gap in postpartum educational and support resources exists due to a lack of resource awareness and ease of accessibility.

METHODS: …

Improving Breastfeeding Establishment By Reducing The Use Of Bottles And Artificial Nipples With Medically Needed Supplementation In Full-Term Breastfed Infants: A Quality Improvement Project, Sara Fazzi Garcia

Master's Theses and Capstones

Background: Breastfeeding has long been strongly recommended by national and international organizations as a prevention of many common and chronic diseases. Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) was developed to motivate hospitals to protect, promote, and support breastfeeding. This Quality Improvement (QI) project aims at supporting the continuation of the Baby-Friendly designation at the organization is being implemented, by focusing on reducing the use of bottles and artificial nipples for medically necessary supplementation for full-term breastfed newborns.

Methods: The Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) framework was utilized to guide this quality improvement project.

Intervention: Educational posters on the interference of the use …

A Comparison Of Perceptions Of Labor Support Before And During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Sarah Grace Krein

Honors Theses and Capstones

Satisfaction with the experience of birth has been shown to be affected by the quality of support received by the birthing individual and how closely the experience aligns with their expectations. This is important because the hospital and societal restrictions put in place during the COVID-19 pandemic may have altered individuals’ experiences of birth during this time. This is further concerning as there is a known correlation between a negative birth experience and the risk for postpartum depression. This study aimed to identify birthing parents’ perceptions of support during birth and how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted support practices. A survey …

Perinatal Patient Education On Substance Use Risk Factors In The Age Of The Opioid Crisis, Rebecca Ane Leary, Alyssa O'Brien

Honors Theses and Capstones

From 2014 to 2016, NH ranked first for fentanyl and all opioid-related overdose deaths per capita in the United States (Moore et al., 2021). In 2016 the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (NH DHHS) found that there are many repercussions of this opioid crisis including overdose deaths, child and elder abuse, and newborns experiencing withdrawal. In utero substance exposure places a child at a higher risk for developmental, behavioral, and physical health concerns. To address this gap, a secondary data analysis using NH Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) data from 2013 to 2020 was conducted. PRAMS …

Nurses’ Perceptions Of Their Role Utilizing Eat, Sleep, Console, In The Management Of Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome, Cerys Eldred

Honors Theses and Capstones

Background: There is a rising prominence of infants being born and diagnosed with Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) in the United States. In recent years, a new non-pharmacological method of managing these infants called Eat, Sleep, Console (ESC) has emerged. While there is mounting evidence demonstrating the positive outcomes for infants treated with this method, there is limited research regarding nurses’ perceptions of this new intervention. This study seeks to understand the nurse’s experience and role during caring for infants with NAS utilizing the ESC method in comparison to the past practices.

Methods: This study used a qualitative descriptive design to …

Stressful Life Events And Postpartum Depression, Madison E. Laurent

Honors Theses and Capstones

No abstract provided.

Applying Lean Methodology To Improve The Response And Management Of Postpartum Hemorrhage, Caroline Siefken

DNP Scholarly Projects

Postpartum Hemorrhage is an obstetric emergency that can lead to substantial maternal morbidity and mortality. Lean methodology is an improvement framework that addresses processes and identifies opportunities to eliminate waste and introduce efficiencies. The North Shore Medical Center uses an improvement framework modeled after the Toyota Production System that uses lean methodology to assess processes. This framework is called the North Shore Production System. This quality improvement project used the lean methodology tools from the North Shore Production System and applied them to interdisciplinary, simulated drills at the North Shore Medical Center Birthplace. After analysis of the tools, a postpartum …

A Program To Prepare Frontline Nurse Leaders For Peer Review, Suzanne K. Murdock

DNP Scholarly Projects

Introduction: The purpose of nursing peer review is to assess the quality of nursing care against established standards, identify strengths and weaknesses in practice, and identify knowledge gaps. Studies of nurse peer review predominantly focuse on staff nurse attitudes and knowledge after an educational intervention and barriers to implementation. Frontline nurse leaders (FLNL) can influence adoption of new practices such as peer review.

Purpose: The purpose of this project was to engage frontline nurse leaders in a role specific peer review program, preparing them to support their staff in the implementation of peer review in the future and providing an …

Applying Lean Methodology To Improve The Response And Management Of Postpartum Hemorrhage, Caroline Siefken

DNP Scholarly Projects

Postpartum Hemorrhage is an obstetric emergency that can lead to substantial maternal morbidity and mortality. Lean methodology is an improvement framework that addresses processes and identifies opportunities to eliminate waste and introduce efficiencies. The North Shore Medical Center uses an improvement framework modeled after the Toyota Production System that uses lean methodology to assess processes. This framework is called the North Shore Production System. This quality improvement project used the lean methodology tools from the North Shore Production System and applied them to interdisciplinary, simulated drills at the North Shore Medical Center Birthplace. After analysis of the tools, a postpartum …

Applying Lean Methodology To Improve The Response And Management Of Postpartum Hemorrhage, Caroline Siefken

DNP Scholarly Projects

Postpartum Hemorrhage is an obstetric emergency that can lead to substantial maternal morbidity and mortality. Lean methodology is an improvement framework that addresses processes and identifies opportunities to eliminate waste and introduce efficiencies. The North Shore Medical Center uses an improvement framework modeled after the Toyota Production System that uses lean methodology to assess processes. This framework is called the North Shore Production System. This quality improvement project used the lean methodology tools from the North Shore Production System and applied them to interdisciplinary, simulated drills at the North Shore Medical Center Birthplace. After analysis of the tools, a postpartum …

Implementation Of Donor Human Milk In A Newborn Nursery: A Quality Improvement Initiative To Increase Exclusive Breast Milk Feeding, Emily Bombard

DNP Scholarly Projects

Background: At the site of this quality improvement project, exclusive breast milk feeding rates before discharge from a newborn nursery were behind benchmark goals. The aim of this project was to improve exclusive breast milk feeding rates by implementing a Pasteurized Donor Human Milk (PDHM) Program for breastfeeding newborns requiring medically indicated supplementation. The study site was a Level I newborn nursery of a 20-bed, labor, delivery, recovery, and postpartum unit within a 100-bed community hospital (i.e., the agency).

Methods: This retrospective pre-post cohort study used the Plan, Do, Study, Act (PDSA) framework for rapid cycle change to assess the …

Understanding The Experience Of Weight Gain And Body Image During Adolescent Pregnancy, Jessica L. Hinkley, Liana J. Newcombe

Honors Theses and Capstones

This qualitative descriptive study explores the experience of adolescent pregnancy and the influence of body image and other factors on weight gain. It identified three main themes through content analysis: Continuity of Care, Adolescent Investment in a Healthy Pregnancy, and the Impact of Pregnancy Symptoms.