Public Health Education and Promotion Commons^™

School-Based Telemental Health And Family Psychoeducation: A Program Evaluation, Ainat Koren

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

Background: Telemental Health has been established as an effective model of care in the adult population. There are few studies that addressed the effects of providing child and parent telehealth services in underserved communities where mental health services are sparse. Families who attend face to face mental health support report high levels of satisfaction, show increased knowledge about mental illness/treatment, and youth have a lower risk of relapse.

Purpose: The purpose of this DNP project was to evaluate an innovative Telemental Health model offering timely social/behavioral health support for children/families’ mental health services in rural Massachusetts.

Methods: Process …

Adolescent Mental Health Training For Middle School Educators, Sarah Minton

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

Abstract

Background: Adolescent mental health disorders are an increasing concern in the United States. School systems, specifically educators, are in the unique role to aid in early identification of mental health disorders, as well to intervene in mental health distress. However, mental health training for educators is lacking, leaving educators unprepared to manage mental health concerns within their classroom.

Purpose: The purpose was to utilize an evidence-based training, the “Teacher Knowledge Update Guide” from TeenMentalHealth.org to train middle school educators on the signs and symptoms of mental health conditions in the adolescent population with the intent to increase awareness, knowledge, …

Food Safety And Risk Of Foodborne Illness At A Food Center Extension: Toolkit For Front-Line Volunteers, Sara Anderson

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

Background: Foodborne illness is a serious public health issue. One in six Americans has an episode of foodborne illness each year and over 50,000 are hospitalized. Food distribution centers are instrumental in decreasing food insecurity, however, some of the food donated is expired or may be damaged leading to increased risk of foodborne illness.

Purpose: The purpose of this project was to educate front-line volunteers at a local food center regarding food safety.

Methods: A toolkit was developed to teach food safety to the front-line volunteers. Seven classes were given to front-line volunteers including a pre and post intervention …

Delivering Culturally Competent Care To The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, And Transgender (Lgbt) Population, Evan M. Mcewing

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

Purpose: To this day, the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) communities still experience negative health outcomes due to social stigma and discrimination. Additionally, nursing has lagged behind other health professions in the promotion of culturally competent care to members of this minority group. Several national authorities on LGBT health have proposed guidelines for providing such care to the LGBT population; however, many nursing schools are not integrating these recommendations into their curricula. Methods: Using these national guidelines, an educational program was developed for BSN students at a large south Florida university to improve competency in providing care for LGBT …

Pneumococcal Pneumonia In The Older Adult: Increasing Patient Education And Vaccination, Jessica E. Valletta

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

Background:Pneumococcal disease is a transmitted infectious illness that results in serious complications and death every year in the United States. Given their increased susceptibility to the potential complications of this disease, patients aged 65 and older are considered to be high-risk, but vaccination compliance for this population remain well below state and national goals.

Purpose: The purpose of this project was to increase pneumococcal vaccination rates among adults aged 65 and older in a primary care clinic by increasing patient education.

Methods: An educational intervention was implemented within a large primary care practice located in Central Massachusetts. Educational …

Improving Hpv Vaccination Initiation And Completion Rates: A Qi Project, Princy M. Varughese

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a common sexually transmitted infection in the United States and is the cause of most cervical cancers in women, as well as anogenital cancers, oropharyngeal cancer, and genital warts in both men and women (Centers for Disease Control [CDC], 2014b). The HPV vaccine is recommended for preteen girls and boys to protect against HPV infections (CDC, 2011). In line with the goal of Healthy People 2020, the purpose of this evidence-based quality improvement (QI) project was to implement a text message reminder system, and calculate the completion rate of the 3-dose HPV vaccination series among adolescents …

Copd Dyspnea Palliation Project: Dyspnea Palliation In End-Stage Copd Patients, Kaveri M. Roy

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

Chronic Pulmonary Obstructive Disease (COPD) is a chronic and incurable disease that affects over 12 million Americans. The number of people with COPD is rising, and it is the third leading cause of death in the United States. Management and palliation of COPD symptoms has become a public health issue. The capstone project, the COPD Palliation Project, was a pilot study that combined nursing case management and patient education to provide optimal patient dyspnea palliation and self-efficacy of dyspnea management to end-stage COPD hospice patients. For the intervention, end-stage COPD patients were taught to use a dyspnea algorithm to palliate …

Heightening Mental Health Awareness On A Diverse, Urban Public University Campus Through A Media Outreach Campaign, Kathleen R. Golden Mcandrew

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

Abstract

Mental health problems among students on college campuses have increased in severity over the last decade. On-campus health providers have reported seeing students with more complex problems such as depression, bipolar disorder, and mixed diagnoses that require frequent and regular follow-up and treatment. Students who require mental health services assistance from on-campus services need to be informed about what resources and services are available and how to access them. Since most on-campus counseling services are set up as short-term treatment models, providing students with community-based resource options is also important.

The purpose of this capstone project was to examine …

Program Evaluation For Tdap Immunization Standing Orders In A Birthing Hospital, Helen Crean Taugher

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

Newborn infants are vulnerable to pertussis infections. Although the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends that babies begin their diphtheria, tetanus and acellular pertussis (DTaP) immunization series at two months of age, the minimum age for administration of the vaccine is six weeks of age (Centers for Disease Control [CDC], 2008). Young infants are at risk for whooping cough infection transmitted from parents, siblings and care-givers during the pre-vaccination period in the first two months of life, particularly pertussis transmitted from their mothers. Since the licensure of adult/adolescent formulations of tetanus, diphtheria and acellular pertussis (Tdap) vaccine in 2005, …