Digital Commons Network^™

The Interim Window: Women’S Experiences During In Vitro Fertilization Leading To Maternal Embryo Attachment, Tammy Mackinnon Lampley

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Infertility affects about 7.3 million women and their partners in the U.S., about 12% of the reproductive-age population. In vitro fertilization (IVF) has been used successfully in the United States since 1981. The number of women seeking artificial reproductive techniques (ART) has increased dramatically and the number of ART cycles performed in the United States has more than doubled, from 64,681 in 1996 to 134,260 in 2005 and 99% of these are IVF. Studies indicated that women rank waiting for the outcome of and IVF treatment and a negative pregnancy result as the most stressful events during their treatment. Although …

Cultural Competence Of Rn To Bsn Students, Dierdre Michelle Riley

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The purpose of this exploratory research study was to examine the cultural competence of registered nurses returning to school for an RN to BSN program in Nevada. Campinha-Bacote's model, The Process of Cultural Competence in the Delivery of Healthcare Services, was used as a theoretical framework for the study. A secondary analysis of data collected as part of a Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Grant was completed. Fifty-three RN to BSN students voluntarily completed the Inventory for Assessing the Process of Cultural Competency Among Healthcare Professionals- Revised (IAPCC-R) electronically in the learning management system of the first nursing course …

Dialysis Communication Record, Paul Howells Rn,Bsn,Mba,Cnn, Susann R. Groller Rn, Bsn, Mba

Patient Care Services / Nursing

No abstract provided.

Vision, Grit, And Collaboration: How The Wisconsin Center For Nursing Achieved Both Sustainable Funding And Established Itself As A State Health Care Workforce Leader, Lea Acord, Gina Dennik-Champion, Sally Peck Lundeen, Suzanne Schuler

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

In 2001, a dedicated group of nurses from across Wisconsin came together to discuss how to create a state center of expertise on key nursing workforce issues. The result was the establishment of the Wisconsin Center for Nursing (WCN) in 2005. Since that time, through its statewide Board of Directors, WCN has clarified and targeted specific state workforce needs and identified gaps that exist in addressing those needs. During its five-year existence, WCN has received funding from a variety of sources, and volunteers have spent hundreds of hours working on behalf of the organization. Finding a sustainable base of funding …

Perioperative Specialty Certification: The Cnor As Evidence For Magnet Excellence, Michelle Byrne, Kathryn Schroeter, Julie Mower

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

No abstract provided.

The Use Of Physical Activity To Promote Effective Coping And Life Skill Development In Minneapolis Sheltered Youth, Kathleen M. Welle

Theses and Graduate Projects

Homeless youth are a marginalized culture in our society. The resiliency of this population is remarkable. It is crucial that the transcultural nurse aid these youth in finding inner strength, making healthy choices, and being a source of support lbr the youth. By developing and implementing this rnodel of integration, the author was able to I organize a time of physical activity, social interaction, relationship building, and positive reinforcement. The processes and relationships unfolded throughout the sessions. The model of integration allowed the author to experience personal and professional growth, acknowledge the profound impact of teamwork, and practice the use …

A Colorectal Cancer Screening Project In An Old Order Mennonite Community: Capstone Project Technical Report, Maria Eve Main

Nursing Faculty Publications

The purpose of this project was to determine if colorectal cancer (CRC) screening education and community access to fecal occult blood tests (FOBT) is associated with an increase in the uptake of FOBT in an old order Mennonite community. Utilizing a modified cultural model, an educational offering on CRC screening and access to FOBT in the community was delivered to a self-selected sample of age-eligible participants. Thirty-three age eligible residents completed the CRC screening questionnaires and received education on CRC screening. Twenty-nine of the age-eligible participants were found to be at average risk and twenty-three elected to receive FOBT testing …

Nursing Simulation Project Improving Patient Safety: Development Of A High-Fidelity Simulation Scenario To Develop Critical Judgment And Drug Calculation Skills In Medication Administration, Joelle Wolf

Graduate Research Projects

No abstract provided.

The Effects Of An Educational Program On Faculty Stages Of Concern Regarding The Use Of Interactive Video Services (Ivs) In Undergraduate Nursing Education, Cathy H. Abell, Dawn M. Garrett, M. Susan Jones

Nursing Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Pushing Techniques Used By Midwives When Providing Second Stage Labor Care, Kathryn Osborne

Dissertations (1934 -)

A growing body of evidence suggests that spontaneous pushing during the second stage of labor results in better outcomes than directed pushing, which usually involves repeated use of the Valsalva maneuver. However, birth attendants in the United States (U.S.) continue to use directive methods when caring for women in the second stage of labor. This study used quantitative methods with the Theory of Diffusion of Innovations as a framework to identify and describe the practices used by certified nurse-midwives and certified midwives, practicing in the U.S., when caring for women in second stage labor. Data were gathered using a questionnaire …

Reliability Measurement Of The Premature Infant Oral Motor Intervention, Clare A. Goebel

Honors Projects

A study was conducted at a Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at a large Midwestern teaching medical center to determine the reliability of the Premature Infant Oral Motor Intervention (PIOMI). The PIOMI is a five minute, oral motor intervention using a gloved finger in the mouths of premature infants of at least 29 weeks post-menstrual age (PMA) developed by Dr. Brenda S. Lessen to improve feeding skills in preterm infants. The PIOMI was first introduced in a pilot study done by Dr. Lessen and the results demonstrated a decrease in the amount of time needed for premature infants …

Community Assessment Of Lead Screening: Health Care Providers In Ada & Elmore Counties, Kayla Anthony, Caitlin Duke, Rn, Jeanette Hinton, Victoria Johnson, Therese Kepner, Natalie Morgan, Jill Rolfson, Ashley Snook, Hannah Tobias

Service-Learning Program

Service Project Purpose: To assess barriers of lead screening among Ada and Elmore Counties Health Care Providers that work with Head Start and Early Head Start children and families and to encourage the use of routine screening methods as part of an early childhood examination regiment through the presentation of available data. Learning Goals: To learn to collaborate with a community agency outside of our discipline. To apply research methods and assessment skills. To utilize community resources as a way of promoting the health of children

Somali Bantu Refugees In Southwest Idaho: Assessment Using Participatory Research, Pamela J. Springer, Mikal Black, Kim Martz, Cathy Marie Deckys, Terri Soelberg

Nursing Faculty Publications and Presentations

Each year, refugees are forced to leave their homes and country due to result of wars or political turmoil. According to the National Office of Refugees, 2.6 million refugees have settled in the United States (U.S.) since 19751. Idaho is a state in which refugees are resettled. The majority of refugees in Idaho are located in the capitol city of Boise. The refugees come from over the globe including Latin America, Europe, Africa and the Middle East.

African refugees represent a unique population in the United States and throughout the world. Many African refugees represent a preliterate population; they have …

Student Perceptions Of Digital Textbooks In A College Nursing Program, Alan D. Eno

College of Journalism and Mass Communications: Theses

The purpose of this research was to study the use of digital textbooks in a small liberal arts college. The research was a mixed methods descriptive study using a pre and post survey to determine student perceptions of the technology. Findings indicated that students needed training in the installation and use of digital textbooks. Findings also indicated the need for further research into what students understand about using digital textbooks. Recommendations are for the college to institute training sessions to teach students how to use the digital textbooks.

Team-Based Learning: Engagement And Accountability With Psychometric Analysis Of A New Instrument, Heidi Ann Mennenga

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

With calls for transformation, innovation, and excellence in nursing education from national bodies of nursing, nurse educators must determine the best possible teaching strategies to meet educational standards. Team-based learning, an innovative teaching strategy, offers educators a structured, student-centered learning environment and may be more effective than current teaching pedagogies in meeting the needs of nurse educators.

The purpose of this study was to (a) examine differences in student engagement between baccalaureate nursing students taught using team-based learning and those taught using traditional lecture, (b) examine how levels of engagement affected examination scores, (c) examine potential differences in student examination …

Shared Presence: Caring For A Dying Spouse, Lana Sue Mclouth Kanacki Phd, Ms, Rn

Dissertations

There is limited research on female spouses and their end-of-life experience with their dying husbands. The purpose of this study was to explore wives' perceptions of hospital and hospice care at their husbands' end-of-life. The grounded theory method was used for this study. Data were collected over thirteen months and then transcribed and coded for meaning. Participants were 25 elderly widows (62-103 years of age) with 19 husbands' deaths in a hospice setting and 6 in the hospital. They were widowed from 6 months to 10 years after the death of their spouses. They were good informants with excellent recollections …

African American Women's Infant Feeding Choices: Analyzing Self-Efficacy And Narratives From A Black Feminist Perspective, Karen Marie Robinson

Dissertations (1934 -)

Breast milk is the optimal form of nutrition for infants up to six months of age. Commercial formula is unequal to breast milk nutritionally, economically, and psychologically. African American women (AAW) continue to breastfeed the least compared to other populations. Few researchers conducting research related AAW's infant feeding preferences have employed the Black Feminist philosophy or the theory of self-efficacy. This philosophy and theory may offer insight into factors that influence AAW's infant feeding choices.

The purpose of this mixed-method study was to examine prenatal breastfeeding self-efficacy (confidence) and actively listen to and analyze AAW's reports of factors influencing their …

Eating Disorder Assessment Handbook For School Nurses In Hamilton County Schools, Victoria A. Brumlow

Graduate Research Projects

No abstract provided.

The Effect Of Arm Dominance On Specimen Integrity When Sampling Blood From Iv Catheters, Jay M. Andross

Nursing Masters

The purpose of this study was to examine whether or not arm dominance contributes to rates of hemolysis in blood samples that are drawn from intravenous catheters at the time of their initial placement. A quantitative, prospective, quasi-experimental design was used. Fifty-eight subjects were randomized to either the control group who had blood drawn through an IV catheter placed in their dominant arm or the experimental group for whom the non-dominant arm was selected. The Sarstedt Monovette collection system was used to obtain blood samples from the IV catheter. Overall, blood specimens demonstrated a very low rate of hemolysis. Only …

Using A Self-Learning Module To Teach Nurses About Caring For Patients With Eating Disorders, Carrie Steinwachs

Nursing Masters

Background: The rate of eating disorders is on a rise, especially in adolescents. Eating disorders are very serious and can cause detrimental health problems requiring hospitalizations. Due to the many complications associated with eating disorders, nurses who care for these patients should have proper training and education regarding the disease and its ‟ treatments. Purpose : The purpose of this study was to increase nurse‟s knowledge about caring for patients with eating disorders along with determining the effectiveness of using a self-learning module (SLM) as a teaching method. Methods: A pre and post-assessment test was used in this study. Participants …

Using Simulation: Emergency Care For Patients With Acute Myocardial Infarction, Katharine M. Mcgahey

Nursing Masters

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, affecting nearly eighty million people (American Heart Association IAHAI, 2009). Included in this population are those with heart attack or myocardial infarction (MI). Coughlin (2008) estimated that about 1.2 to 1.5 million Americans will have an MI annually. For approximately thirty eight percent of these patients, it is a recurrent event.

Pilot Study On Pet Therapy And Quality Of Life, Kathy L. Vanvoorhis

Nursing Masters

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines quality of life (QOL) as an individual’s perception of his or her position in life in the context of their culture and value systems in relation to their goals and expectations. The goal of this pilot study was to determine how pet therapy can influence QOL of residents in assisted living facilities. To measure the anticipated change in QOL, each participant in the experimental group was required to complete the WHO Quality of Life brief questionnaire, WHOQOL-BREF, before the initiation of the pet therapy program and after the session, for a total of two …

Developing An Educational Module For Advanced Practice Nurses: The Screening And Management Of Postpartum Depression In Primary Care, Lynne Weiler

Nursing Masters

Postpartum depression (PPD) is thought to affect 13% of new mothers. Yet it is believed that up to 50% of cases escape detection, resulting in a host of adverse sequelae for mother, infant and family. The current state of the science is promising, as advances in pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy have demonstrated PPD's amenability to treatment. However, expertise among providers appears to be deficient, as seen in survey results which portray most physicians and nurse practitioners largely ill-equipped to detect and deal with PPD. A rich opportunity to intervene exists, particularly within primary care settings, where suffering women may be encountered. …

Parenting Behaviors And Their Relationship With A Child's Weight Status, Michele L. Polfuss

Dissertations (1934 -)

Pediatric obesity is a critical healthcare problem that has continued to increase in prevalence. It has been well established that pediatric obesity is a multifactorial problem

with no easy solution. Complicating matters has been the fact that there has been a disproportionate increase across ethnicity and socioeconomic status. Parents have been found to play a critical role supporting a child's behavior through environment, role modeling and ongoing parenting practices.

This study utilized a cross sectional correlational study design to determine what the relationship is, if any, between a child's weight status and parenting behaviors. In addition the study examined if …

Associate Degree Nursing Students' Thoughts, Feelings, And Experiences Of Short Study Abroad In A Low-Income Country, Cynthia Foronda

Dissertations (1934 -)

Associate Degree Nursing students are rarely offered opportunities to study abroad. Educational research about nursing students studying abroad is limited but suggests positive outcomes. Prior research has focused on graduate or baccalaureate students in developed and less developed countries, thus, the experience of studying abroad in a low-income country for the associate degree student is unknown. The purpose of this study was to describe the thoughts, feelings, and experiences of associate degree nursing students who participated in a short study abroad course in a low-income country. Ten students participated in phone interviews to share narratives two to six weeks following …

Giving Birth: The Voices Of Ecuadorian Women, Lynn Clark Callister, Cheryl A. Corbett, Shelly Reed, Cassidy Tomao, Katie G. Thornton

Faculty Publications

Purpose: The purpose of this ethnographic study was to describe the perceptions of Ecuadorian childbearing women. Background: No studies published in English could be found documenting the perspectives of Ecuadorian childbearing women about their birth experiences. Method: Thirty-two women who had recently given birth in Guayaquil, Ecuador participated in audiotaped interviews, which were analyzed as appropriate for ethnographic inquiry. Results: “Enduring birth to obtain the gift” was the overarching theme. Supporting themes included caring for self and accessing prenatal care to have a healthy newborn; relying on God to ensure positive maternal/newborn outcomes; submission of self to healthcare providers because …

Nurses Of 2010: The Dichotomy Between Continuity Of Patient Care And Nursing Fatigue As Related To Shift Length, Christy Kurtz

Capstone Research Projects

Nursing shift lengths are widely debated, and the implications on both nurse and patient safety are quite large. This work seeks to present a current review of literature describing the current work schedules of nurses in comparison to the Institute of Medicine’s 2004 recommendations and both the positive and negative effects that these schedules have on nurses and their patients. Eleven studies from the past five years (2004-2009) are included, with particular emphasis on those studies that address the dispute between continuity of care and nursing fatigue. Results show that nurses are regularly working longer than is recommended, and this …

A Matter Of Trust: The Impact Of Transcultural Communication Between Culturally Diverse Nursing Staff, Patricia Reed

Theses and Graduate Projects

The diversity in the U.S. population is increasing. Nurse Managers today are challenged by not only a changing health care system but also one that is more culturally diverse than ever. It is also important to recognize the influence culture has on personal relationships, productivity and performance. Expectations about work styles, communication patterns, role relationships, taking initiative and concepts of time are all examples of factors that are influenced by culture. The purpose of this project is to help nursing staff (registered nurses and patient care assistants) come to understand their cultural differences and how these differences impact their communication …

Quality Of Life, Hope, Social Support, And Self-Care In Heart Failure Patients, Karen A. Mcgurk Phd, Mn, Rn

Dissertations

Heart failure is a significant, chronic health problem. Much is known about physiological factors related to this condition. Less is known about the psychosocial aspects that influence disease risk, progression, and treatment. The purpose of this study was to describe the relationships between quality of life, hope, social support, and self-care. A descriptive, correlational study was conducted. The participants were 65 heart failure patients who attended 2 military-based heart failure clinics. Quality of Life was measured using the Left Ventricular Dysfunction Questionnaire (LVD-36), Hope was measured using the Herth Hope Index (HUI), Social Support was measured using the Medical Outcomes …

Identifying Institutional Barriers To Addressing Health Disparities, Julia Ashley

Theses and Graduate Projects

Very little progress has been made in decreasing health disparities in communities of color or for American Indians. Government agencies have a role to play in addressing health disparities through the development of policies that support community efforts to address these disparities. Three concepts provided the framework for research exploring barriers: a) imposition of dominant cultural values, b) marginalization and c) institutional racism. The purpose was to conduct qualitative research by interviewing six individuals from organizations that serve communities of color to discover themes related to their experiences with government funding. Two themes emerged related to the purpose of the …