Other Nursing Commons^™

Homophobia In Registered Nurses, Matthew Berry

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Homophobia plays a significant role in the treatment of individuals who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender (LGBT). The purpose of this study is to explore the presence of these types of negative attitudes as they present themselves in the nursing workforce. 520 registered nurses were contacted via email to partake in a survey assessing homophobic attitudes and perceptions regarding nursing care of LGBT persons. A total of 27 registered nurses responded and the resulting data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. A majority of registered nurses were female (89.3%), greater than 40 years of age (75%), white (75%), heterosexual …

Considering Stress In A Nursing Student Context: Pre-Admission To Pre-Graduation, Daniel M. Regner

Honors Undergraduate Theses

In moderation, stress is a normal response to a perceived challenge which can motivate an individual to perform at their best. Nursing students consistently report a significant amount of stress which has been found to be greater than their non-nursing peers. The purpose of this study is to assess the level of stress reported by second-semester freshman and sophomore students who have declared nursing as a major, compared with the level of stress experienced by junior and senior students who are enrolled in the university's nursing program. Through this comparison, a conclusion can be drawn as to the level of …

Prone Positioning In Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome Patients, Sarah Rose H. Thornton

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Introduction: Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), seen in critically ill patients, is a disease process that affects the lungs and directly impacts a patient’s oxygenation. Despite treatment, patients often die of ARDS secondary to systemic complications. Prone positioning has been introduced as a treatment to improve the outcomes of ARDS patients. This thesis summarized and critiqued recent literature on the outcomes of prone positioning in ARDS patients.

Methodology: An initial literature search was conducted using CINAHL Plus with Text, Medline, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health. Multiple search terms …

Complementary And Integrative Therapies For The Treatment Of Fibromyalgia, Jennifer Hushla

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is a debilitating and chronic condition with an array of symptoms, the most distinguishable being widespread pain. FMS patients experience a marked decrease in quality of life related to intensity of symptoms. Current treatment options and pharmaceuticals do not provide adequate relief. This thesis examines integrative and complementary therapy options for symptom management and improvement of quality of life for FMS patients. A literature review was conducted of English current research using multiple databases. Findings indicate mindful movement therapies (MMT) such as yoga and tai chi, mindfulness, sensory-related relaxation techniques with guided imagery, and cognitive behavioral therapy …

The Effects Of Emerging Technology On Healthcare And The Difficulties Of Integration, Skyler J. Pavlish-Carpenter

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Background: Disruptive technology describes technology that is significantly more advanced than previous iterations, such as: 3D printing, genetic manipulation, stem cell research, innovative surgical procedures, and computer-based charting software. These technologies often require extensive overhauls to implement into older systems and must overcome many difficult financial and societal complications before they can be widely used. In a field like healthcare that makes frequent advancements, these difficulties can mean that the technology will not be utilized to its full potential or implemented at all.

Objective: To determine the inhibiting factors that prevent disruptive technology from being implemented in conventional healthcare.

Methods: …

Online Support Group For Chinese Women With Ovarian Or Cervical Cancer, Yuan Xing

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Women with gynecological (GYN) cancer experience a wide spectrum of physical, emotional and social effects after diagnosis and treatment of their cancer. The insufficient availability of local support groups, limited transportation for the rural Chinese population and a shortage of oncologists make it difficult to have face-to-face support groups for Chinese GYN cancer patients. However, the wide access of Internet has provided an opportunity for people to have online support groups. The purpose of this study was to observe and describe the types of support given to and by Chinese GYN cancer survivors in a QQ chat group. This was …

Pre-Licensure Nursing Student Attitudes Toward Physician-Assisted Suicide, Stephanie K. Cox

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Physician assisted suicide (PAS) has been a legalized presence in the United States since Oregon first passed the Death with Dignity Act in 1994. Now PAS is legalized in six states and it is realistic that nurses may encounter PAS during their career. This project explores pre-licensure nursing student attitudes toward PAS.

A mixed method design incorporating descriptive correlation and thematic analysis of an open-ended question was used. Surveys were sent to 550 nursing students enrolled in the UCF nursing program asking participants to complete the 34-question survey. This survey included a 12 item “Domino scale” on student nursing opinions …

The Effects Of Hormone Replacement Therapy (Hrt) On Surgically Postmenopausal Women: A Review Of The Literature, Leslie M. Hertweck

Honors Undergraduate Theses

The primary purpose of this research was to examine the effects of HRT in women with acute estrogen deficiency from surgically induced menopause. The secondary purpose was to evaluate how HRT improves symptoms of acute estrogen deficiency and quality of life (QOL) in women using hormone supplementation. Peer reviewed articles published from 2000 to 2017 that were written in the English language with a focus on the use of HRT in women with acute estrogen deficiency after surgical menopause were evaluated for relevance. Evidence suggests the primary reason for decreased use of HRT is the associated risks outweighing the benefits; …

Nursing Students' Attitude And Commitment Toward Substance-Abusing Patients, Amy L. O'Conner

Honors Undergraduate Theses

The topic of substance-abuse has received increasing attention in recent years, as the number of individuals experiencing drug abuse and addiction is on the rise. With substance-use on the rise, the number of patients admitted to the hospital with this disorder is increasing also. It is important hospital staff are aware and educated on how to provide adequate care to these patients without judgement regarding their choices or their lifestyle. This study was done to determine how prepared nursing students are to care for patients with drug abuse or addiction. Specifically, the project explores student nurses' attitudes and commitment toward …

A Comparison Of The Quality Of Care And Cost Efficiency Between Anesthesia Providers, Daniel A. Carter

Honors Undergraduate Theses

The development of anesthesia has greatly contributed to the safety of surgeries, reduced the level of invasiveness of many procedures, and provided increased comfort for patients. The delivery of anesthetics has been primarily provided by one of two unique health care providers: a trained physician who has specialized in anesthesia, or an advanced practice nurse—the certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA). Both providers have a similar scope of practice, are nationally certified, and often work side-by-side. However, in recent years there has been some controversy between the two providers regarding autonomy, safety, and quality of services. The purpose of this study …

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 …

Exploring What It Is Like To Be An Undocumented Alien In Seek Of Healthcare, Eliany C. Torrez Pon

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Currently, there are about 11.8 million undocumented aliens in the United States who are not eligible for public insurance or any type of private coverage obtained through the American Health Care Act of 2017. This creates barriers to healthcare for this large population and has negative implications for the healthcare system. Despite the availability of clinics and low-cost healthcare, this group tends to underuse resources or seek healthcare for emergencies only which leads to increased cost totaling approximately $1.1 billion a year. The goal of this qualitative study is to better understand what it is like to be an undocumented …