Digital Commons Network^™

Developing Interprofessional Collaboration: An Action Research Approach To Change In Residential Care, Denise F. O Leary

Theses

This thesis presents a study which aimed to develop interprofessional teams to drive organisational change at residential care facilities in order to gain insight into the processes involved, as well as the factors influencing them. It is unrealistic to create a team and expect team members to immediately act in a collaborative way to address team goals, yet the development process has been largely overlooked in the literature. This thesis addresses this gap. Healthcare providers at three residential care facilities for older people were invited to become involved in the study and teams were successfully set up at two facilities. …

Motivational Interviewing With Patient Education To Promote A Safe Sleep Environment For Lakota Infants, Kari Johnson

Theses and Graduate Projects

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) has preventable risk factors; the sleep environment of the infant is one of those risk factors. SIDS is the leading cause of infant deaths in the Aberdeen Area of Indian Health Service, accounting for more than one fourth of the infant deaths. The project proposed utilizes Madeline Leininger's Culture Care Theory combined with an education model incorporating motivational interviewing with the current patient education used by the Public Health Nursing Department at the Pine Ridge Indian Health Service Hospital promoting a safe sleep environment.

Using A Telephone Reminder System To Improve Pneumococcal Vaccination Rates For Medicare Recipients, Julie A. Koch

Evidence-Based Practice Project Reports

Despite recent advances in healthcare, Streptococcus pneumonia-associated infections contribute to significant morbidity and mortality in older adults. Because of the pneumococcal vaccine’s efficacy for preventing invasive disease, guidelines for vaccinating older adults have been developed; yet, the nation has not met immunization goals. The purpose of this EBP project was to determine if a telephone reminder, as compared to provider recommendation, would increase pneumococcal vaccination rates. The Iowa model and Kotter’s eight stages of change guided this project within a multi-provider office in Northwest Indiana. Within the practice, Medicare patients scheduled from September 1 to November 10, 2010 received a …

Interventions To Improve The Management Of Medically Uninsured Adult Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus In Primary Care, Community-Based Settings, Lynn Miskovich

Evidence-Based Practice Project Reports

This project measured the effect of a clinical algorithm on the provision of care to medically uninsured adult patients with type 2 diabetes and a low socioeconomic status (SES). Primary providers often fail to implement established standards for diabetes care to their maximal benefit and do not achieve American Diabetes Association (ADA) treatment standards. Saydah, et al. (2004) reported that only 48% of patients with diabetes achieved the recommended HbA1c goal, and 33% reached blood pressure and LDL targets. Goals for all three clinical parameters were obtained by only 7% of patients. The Stetler Model of Evidence-based Practice (EBP) provided …

Transformational Leadership, Job Satisfaction, Organizational Commitment, And Non-Supervisory Nurses' Intention To Leave, Audrey E. Gregory

Graduate Student Dissertations, Theses, Capstones, and Portfolios

The United States is currently experiencing a nursing shortage. To compound the problem, hospital nurses are leaving their organizations and executives are scrambling to figure out the reasons behind the increased turnover. Many factors are associated with nurses' intention to leave their current employment. Among these factors are job satisfaction, organizational commitment, work satisfaction, work setting, control over practice, salary, nurse-physician collaboration, job stress, and leadership style. Effective nursing leadership is an integral factor in the retention of hospital nurses and nurses who perceive their nursing leadership as participative and transformational may be more likely to be satisfied with their …

Cord Blood Collection In Pregnant Women For Stem Cell Research, Irene Carr Phd

Dissertations

Umbilical cord blood (UCB) stem cells form commonly banked types of human tissue. Confusion remains about sources of stem cells and their use. Birth is a once in a lifetime opportunity with 74 million births per year in the world and four million occur in the United States. Cord blood contains hematopoietic stem cells and pluripotent mesenchymal cells (Moise, 2005). There is a surge of interest in the clinical use and research investigation of umbilical cord blood for transplantation and regenerative medicine. Clinicians need increased awareness and education of options for private versus public donation and banking of cord blood …

Finding Healthy In Affordability, Courteney Tucker

Senior Honors Projects

No abstract provided.

Influence Of Peer Mentorship On Nursing Education And Student Attrition, Brittany A. Gisi

HIM 1990-2015

Peer mentoring is the exchange of skills or knowledge from a more experienced individual to a novice in the same field. Due to the constraints placed on nursing education, many students struggle to complete the nursing curriculum. This leads to high attrition rates within colleges of nursing. Without maximizing graduate rates, the current nursing shortage is exacerbated. This integrated literature review examines the impact of more experienced nursing students mentoring their junior peers. With implementation of peer mentoring attrition rates were reduced. Additionally, the research showed that mentees experienced an enhanced feeling of support and were able to learn more …

It’S Time To Teach Back: An Inter-Professional Approach To Enhance Learning And Reduce Readmissions, Debra Peter Msn, Rn, Bc, Cmsrn, Paula Robinson Msn, Rn, Bc

Patient Care Services / Nursing

No abstract provided.

Examining Nursing Presence In The Acute Care Setting As An Indicator Of Patient Satisfaction With Nursing Care, Wendy Hansbrough Phd, Msn, Rn

Dissertations

Nursing presence is conceptualized as occurring within the nurse-patient relationship when the nurse acknowledges the uniqueness of the patient, within his or her context of being and chooses to intervene on the patient's behalf with a patient who allows the nurse into a reciprocal relationship. Nursing presence is described as occurring in varying levels and nurse expertise is suggested as one antecedent. Quantification of nursing presence would be useful in examination of nursing care outcomes, quality management and research. The Presence of Nursing Scale, PONS (Kostovich, 2002) was used in this study to test its reliability and determine its validity …

The Post Deployment Lived Experience Of U.S. Military Troops After Combat-Related Blast Exposure, Shirely A. Jett Phd

Dissertations

Blast-induced neurotrauma (BINT) is a newly emerging re-occurrence of an old combat-related injury in U.S. military troops returning from deployment in Afghanistan and Iraq. BINT is leading to a silent epidemic of symptomatic troops who face barriers to accessing healthcare and suffer debilitating symptoms in silence. The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to discover the meaning of the lived experience of U.S. troops returning from Afghanistan and Iraq after combat-related blast exposure. Eleven service members and veterans ranging in age from 21 to over 30 years old participated in semi-structured face to face interviews. These service members and …

Journaling As Grief Support For Parents Who Have Experienced A Stillbirth, Michelle K. Millam

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Genetic Intervention As A Lifestyle Approach An Analysis Of Disease And Treatment, Jennifer L. Dempton

HIM 1990-2015

Purpose: The scientific knowledge of how genes affect disease expression and evolution can facilitate more effective environmental and drug therapy interventions delivered by health care professionals. The purpose of this paper is to a) describe the role of genetic science in healthcare; b) explore genotype determinants for environmental and pharmacological interventions; c) and analyze ethical dilemmas, barriers to access, and allocation of resources based on genotype. Methods: A review of literature was conducted from the disciplines of nursing, medicine, psychology, and sociology using the CINAHL, Ebsco Host, Medline, and PsychINFO databases. The search was limited to peer reviewed, full text …

Enhancing Communication Through The Use Of Augmentative And Alternative Communication In Patients Status Post Traumatic Brain Injury, Reanna Greene

HIM 1990-2015

Patients who suffer from traumatic brain injury often face communication deficits during their hospital stay. This thesis intended to examine approaches the nurse can use to facilitate communication in collaboration with the speech-language pathologist. A review of literature was conducted to examine current research on the most effective devices used to facilitate communication in this patient population. Research revealed that low-technology devices were the most effective means of communicating in the hospital setting. Barriers to effective communication were identified as lack of time, education and access to the devices. Recommendations for future research include developing a documentation component that emphasizes …

Effectiveness Of Nonpharmacological Techniques For Procedural Analgesia In The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Lauren E. Flaherty

HIM 1990-2015

The purpose of this thesis is to provide a critical analysis of research findings about nonpharmacological techniques used independently of pharmacological techniques to prevent or reduce procedural pain for infants in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). A synthesis of the current research related to nonpharmacological pain relief techniques for infants was conducted for this thesis. Nonpharmacological interventions reviewed in this study include: Kangaroo Care, swaddling, facilitated tucking, positioning, music, non-nutritive sucking and sucrose. An interdisciplinary review of the research was performed using the interdisciplinary databases Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health, PubMED, and PsychINFO. Inclusion criteria for this …

The Effect Of Chemical Fragrances On Child Health And Development, Katie L. Gilton

HIM 1990-2015

The American public is bombarded with chemically fragranced products every day, typically in combination with each other. These products can include cosmetics, perfumes, detergents, air fresheners, soaps, and deodorants. Contained in these fragranced products are chemicals that can be harmful to child health and development. Many articles have been published examining the chemicals found in fragranced products and the effects that these chemicals can have on the human body. This integrated literature review examines empirical evidence related to the health and safety of particular chemicals used in these products. Nurses need to be aware of the actual and potential harms …

The Effects Of Preoperative Education On Stress In The Pediatric Population, Amy Y. Howard

HIM 1990-2015

The purpose of this research was to critically analyze relevant literature regarding the effects of preoperative education on levels of stress in the pediatric population. The goal of this research is to review and analyze the available literature to determine best practice as it relates to educating the pediatric preoperative patient in order to relieve stress. Research was retrieved from Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, PsycINFO, and MEDLINE-EBSCOhost databases using keywords pediatric, preoperative, anxiety, stress, fear, children, hospitalized child, education, play therapy, and surgery. Inclusion criteria included research that focused on relieving anxiety or stress in the …

Factors Related To Stress In Nursing Students, Marie E. Shultz

HIM 1990-2015

The purpose of this review of literature was to explore and critically analyze relevant literature regarding stress factors and the consequences of stress in nursing students. Findings from this review of literature aimed to provide a better understanding of stress factors and the physical and psychological impact of stress on nursing students. Information was collected from the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, PsycINFO, and MEDLINE- EBSCOhost databases to explore what research has been conducted and to assess the current knowledge base. Analysis of the literature indicated that nursing students reported experiencing increased levels of stress during the …

Nursing Interventions In The Care Of Patients Undergoing Induced Hypothermia, Angela D. Zimmerman

HIM 1990-2015

Use of induced hypothermia for the purpose of lowering intracranial pressure and preserving neuronal function has increased as research data reveals a trend of positive outcomes in patients treated with this therapy. Recently induced hypothermia following cardiac arrest due to ventricular fibrillation has been deemed successful. Current research has expanded to evaluate the effectiveness of induced hypothermia as a treatment modality for severe stroke and head trauma. In spite of its efficacy, complications exist with this treatment modality. The purpose of this literature review is to examine potential complications secondary to induced hypothermia and highlight the nurse's role in managing …

Lived Experiences Of Transitions In International Nursing Students, Shellye A. Vardaman

Nursing Theses and Dissertations

Throughout life, individuals are faced with various transitions, and how they manage these transitions impacts the transition outcomes and actual or potential alterations in health. It is imperative that nurses have knowledge of the conditions and processes of transitions as well as possible effects on well-being. From this perspective, nurses are able to intercede and assist individuals to positive transitional outcomes. The purpose of this descriptive phenomenological study was to describe the transition experience of international nursing students studying in the United States.

A Cross-National Analysis Of The Nutrition Habits Of Hispanic Mothers And Daughters, Monica N. Ramirez

Nursing Theses and Dissertations

The rates of obesity in Hispanic women increased significantly between 1994 and 2008 from 35.3% to 45.1% (National Center for Health Statistics, 2010). Poor nutritional habits and obesity have longterm negative health ramifications that warrant targeted efforts to stem this growing epidemic. Two articles are included in this portfolio. The first article discusses the state of the science in relation to cultural aspects of nutrition choices of Hispanic women. The aim of this article is to set the context for the cross-national study which is the focus of the second article. This study examines current eating habits, weight history, health …

Empowerment As A Hypertension Management Strategy For African American Women, E'Loria Simon Campbell

Nursing Theses and Dissertations

Successful health management strategies remain elusive for the 25 million African- American (AA) women afflicted with high blood pressure. The purpose of this study was to determine if a psychological empowerment coaching (PEC) intervention had an impact on health promotion outcomes. The primary research strategy measured the impact of a PEC intervention on health care empowerment, self-efficacy, intent to exercise, and health outcomes among hypertensive AA women. Pender's Revised Health Promotion Model (Figure 1) served as the theoretical model for this quasi-experimental study utilizing pretest-posttest measurement with subjects serving as their own controls. A convenience sample of 35 hypertensive women …

Understanding Autism, Kaileigh J. Sweeney

Senior Honors Projects

Understanding Autism

Kaileigh Sweeney

Faculty Sponsor: Carolyn Hames

Autism spectrum disorders are greatly misunderstood in today’s society.  In the United States, it is estimated that 1 in 110 children are diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder.  Despite this high prevalence, a great deal of the population is under the impression that a diagnosis of autism is straight forward and indicative of one set of devastating signs and symptoms.  However, the severity of this disorder can range from mild to severe. According to the National Institute of Health, an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a range of complex neurodevelopment disorders characterized …

Mother-Son Connectedness, Substance Use, And Young Men's Criminal Justice System Involvement, Kim L. Moreno Phd

Dissertations

The relationship between a mother and her son and its influence on health and risk behaviors as a boy becomes a man has had little exploration. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between mother-son connectedness, substance use, serious delinquency, violent delinquency, and criminal justice system involvement in young men. This study uses data from The National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (ADD Health), a school-based study of students in grades 7–12 in the United States. Multiple regression, ANOVA, and logistic regression were used to analyze independent and dependent variables. Results show a perception of connectedness, which …

A Quantitative Inquiry Into Moral Distress And Psychological Empowerment In Critical Care Nurses Caring For Adults During End Of Life, Annette Marie Browning Phd, Rn, Cns

Dissertations

Background Critical care nurses care for many adults at end of life and it is known that these nurses can experience moral distress. Moral distress occurs when nurses are unable to perform what they believe is ethically correct. There has been speculation that psychological empowerment may ameliorate moral distress among critical care nurses. However, research has yet to examine the relationship between moral distress and psychological empowerment in the population of critical care nurses.

Objectives To describe the relationships between moral distress, psychological empowerment and select demographics in critical care nurses caring for patients at EOL.

Method Using a quantitative …

Multimethod Teaching Strategies To Integrate Selected Qsen Competencies In A Doctor Of Nursing Practice Distance Education Program, Mary Lou Manning, Phd, Crnp, Anthony J. Frisby, Phd

College of Nursing Faculty Papers & Presentations

The Quality and Safety Education for Nurses (QSEN) initiative identified 6 competencies for the education of nurses (patient-centered care, teamwork and collaboration, evidence-based practice, quality improvement, safety, and informatics) and the related knowledge, skills, and attitudes (KSAs) for each competency. The initial QSEN focus was on competency development during prelicensure nursing education, with subsequent attention on adapting the KSAs for graduate programs that prepare advanced practice nurses for clinical roles. Description of successful QSEN competency integration in Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) programs is limited. Although the ultimate goal is executing DNP programs where quality and safety is thoroughly integrated …

Evaluation Of A Safe Patient Handling Program, Patricia A. Ryan

Nursing Masters

Purpose : The purpose of this project was to evaluate the effectiveness of implementing a comprehensive Safe Patient Handling (SPH) Program system wide in a large healthcare organization relative to injury severity and organizational cost. Background : Extensive review of the literature reveals clear evidence that healthcare workers who participate in patient handling activities continue to be at a very high risk for occupational musculoskeletal injuries. Workers employed up to one year, and those employed greater than ten years within the institution studied were noted to have higher rates of injures that were more severe and more costly to the …

Health Care Providers’ Perception Of The Barriers In Practice In Addressing Childhood Obesity, Ernestine Iona Brown

Nursing Masters

Childhood obesity has been identified as a major health problem in America. It has been deemed a social and economical problem that has significantly impacted the health of American youth (Small, Anderson, & Melnyk, 2007). The prevalence of childhood obesity has been associated with the development of chronic illnesses in the pediatric population, such as diabetes type 2 and hypertension, which more commonly impacted adults. Health care providers are essential to intervening with obese children in an appropriate environment. Currently there are barriers in communication on this topic dilemma between parents and health care providers.

Violence Towards Remote Area Nurses: A Delphi Study To Develop A Risk Management Approach, Kylie M. Mccullough

Theses : Honours

Incidents of occupational violence against nurses are unacceptably high. Remote Area
Nurses in Australia frequently encounter violence in the work place and have limited
resources to deal with the problem. Adopting a risk management approach, and
utilising the Delphi method, a panel of expert Remote Area Nurses (n=10) from
geographically diverse communities, identified and prioritised hazards that increase the
risk of violence and made suggestions for controlling those hazards.
Priority hazards included; building maintenance and design, attending call-outs away
from the clinic, staff inexperience and lack of knowledge about the community, as well
as intoxicated clients, communication difficulties and a …

Creating A Therapeutic Milieu In Retirement Communities, Abir K. Bekhet, Jaclene A. Zauszniewski

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

Elderly persons’ relocation to retirement communities is a stressful event that requires person-milieu adjustment. Research has shown differences in relocation adjustment for elders residing in different retirement communities. A secondary analysis used findings from a study of relocated elders in order to determine whether certain therapeutic factors were lacking in retirement communities where elders had difficulty in adjusting. Study participants were 104 elders who relocated to six retirement communities in Northeast Ohio. This study analyzed qualitative data from the researchers’ observations and field notes and narratives obtained from the elders who participated in the original study. The analysis focused on …