Digital Commons Network^™

The Benefits Of Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 Agonists In Adult Women With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, Bethany A. Johnson

Nursing Capstones

Background: PCOS is the most common endocrinopathy in women of reproductive age, affecting 5-6 million women in the United States. Symptoms include hirsutism, acne, hormone imbalances, menstrual irregularity, obesity, infertility, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia. GLP-1s are being studied for their benefits in women with PCOS.

Purpose: To review the current evidence on the efficacy of GLP-1 receptor agonists in improving symptoms and complications of PCOS.

Methods: This scoping literature review used three databases, including CINAHL Ultimate, PubMed, and ClinicalKey. Inclusion criteria were women 18 and older diagnosed with PCOS and studies that evaluated any type of GLP-1 and their effect on …

Analyzing Pressure Injury Trends Among Hospitalized Older Adults From Tarrant County, Oluwafunto M. Olorundare

2026 Spring Honors Capstones Projects

Pressure injuries occur when skin and underlying tissues are damaged due to unrelieved pressure that reduces blood circulation to the affected area. Hospitalized older adults are vulnerable to pressure injuries due to factors such as limited mobility, physiological changes associated with aging, chronic conditions, and longer hospital stays. Despite multiple studies on the prevalence and incidence of pressure injuries at the national and global levels, there is limited research that analyzes trends among hospitalized older adults at the county level, specifically Tarrant County. This research aims to examine pressure injury trends among hospitalized older adults residing in Tarrant County. Using …

Reducing Computed Tomography Delay In A High-Volume Emergency Department, Sarah Ouedraogo

All Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Scholarly Projects

Problem:

Delays in computed tomography (CT) imaging contribute to prolonged emergency department (ED) length of stay and delayed clinical decision-making. At the project site, baseline data demonstrated an average ASAP CT order-to-scan time of approximately 116 minutes for non-critical ED patients, with CT readiness compliance rates of 0%. Gap analysis identified inconsistent patient preparation and fragmented communication between ED nursing and radiology as key contributors to avoidable delays. PICOT question: In non-emergent emergency department (ED) patients (P), how does the use of a CT readiness checklist by ED nurses (I), compared with no standardized readiness checklist (C), affect patient readiness …

Global Trends In Bioterrorism And Biosecurity Research Publications (1997–2025): A Scopus Bibliometric Analysis, Festus Mulakoli, Samuel Gesaka, John Mbataru

School of Nursing & Midwifery, East Africa

Introduction: Bioterrorism and biosecurity preparedness are critical pillars of global public health protection and resilience of health systems worldwide. Although this field has grown over the past few decades, there remains limited clarity on how research efforts have evolved and where critical gaps persist, particularly regarding global collaboration and emerging biological threats. To address this, we conducted a bibliometric analysis to map publication trends, influential contributors, and collaboration networks in bioterrorism and biosecurity from 1997 to 2025. This study analyzed global research output, collaboration, and thematic evolution in bioterrorism and biosecurity and identified gaps relevant to preparedness and policy. …

Developing A Pediatric Pain Curriculum For Pediatric Anesthesia Fellows In Sub-Saharan Africa: A Delphi Study, Anisa Bhettay, Rebecca Gray, Romy Parker, Nikki Allorto, Abigail Amponsah, Brian Anderson, Lillian Baranzila, Charles Carapinha, Susan Carolus, O' Brien Kyololo

School of Nursing & Midwifery, East Africa

Background Comprehensive pain management in children requires a specialized skillset, with a limited number of clinicians possessing the level of expertise required to successfully navigate the complexities of holistic care. The emergence of pediatric anesthesia fellowship programs in sub-Saharan Africa presents an opportunity to embed a pediatric pain curriculum for trainees, improving the availability of specialist skill and knowledge in the field. Existing pain curricula fall short in addressing the sociocultural aspects of pediatric pain identified through research as being unique to the African context, and do not include elements of leadership and advocacy training required to navigate the complexities …

A Qualitative Socioecological Exploration Of Community Health Promoters’ Barriers And Facilitators In Cardiovascular Disease Prevention In Kenya, Emily Muchina, Maureen Akolo, Rose Maina

School of Nursing & Midwifery, East Africa

Background:

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) remain a growing public health challenge in low- and middle-income countries, where there is an upsurge of risk factors. Community health promoters (CHPs) have the potential to play a crucial role in CVD prevention and care to underserved communities in Kenya. However, there are limited studies on their experiences, which are likely shaped by multilevel barriers and facilitators across the individual CHP, the community, relationships with primary health systems, and societal-level policies and structures. This study explored the barriers and facilitators shaping CHPs’ experiences in mitigating CVD in Kenya.

Methods:

A qualitative descriptive study was conducted …

Implementing And Evaluating A Mental Health Education And Mindfulness Program For Police Officers, Patricia Lynn Young

Doctor of Nursing Practice

Background: Police officers are routinely exposed to occupational stress and trauma, contributing to an increased risk of anxiety, depression, substance misuse, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Targeted mental health interventions are needed to proactively address their mental health. Purpose: This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project implemented and evaluated a mental health education and mindfulness program designed to reduce operational stress and increase knowledge and use of departmental mental health resources and mindfulness techniques among police officers. Methods: A pre–post intervention design was used over a 10-week period. Participants (n = 14) completed the Operational Police Stress Questionnaire (PSQ-Op) and …

Evaluation Of The Prevention And Management Of Assaultive Behaviors (Pmab) Training For Outpatient Ambulatory Care Staff, Michaela Bowles

Doctor of Nursing Practice

Background: Workplace violence (WPV) disproportionately affects healthcare workers and harms both staff well-being and the healthcare organization. Despite growing attention to WPV prevention, effective solutions remain limited. The purpose of this project was to evaluate the Prevention and Management of Assaultive Behaviors (PMAB) training in an outpatient ambulatory care setting and to assess staff’s confidence and ability to respond to escalating situations. Methods: A pre/post observational survey using Likert-scale, multiple choice, yes/no questions and narrative responses measured confidence before, immediately after, and 3 to 12 months following PMAB training. A retrospective review of WPV incident reports three months before and …

Mindbodystrong: A Pilot To Address Nursing Burnout & To Promote Wellness, Leilah Hunt

Doctor of Nursing Practice

Background: Nursing burnout rates have increased significantly since the Covid-19 pandemic, not only within the United States but throughout the world. As burnout is multifaceted in nature, identifying and addressing the root cause of burnout has been challenging. One approach to remedy burnout effects is by enhancing wellness through daily practice of healthy habits. Purpose: The purpose of this DNP project was to pilot and evaluate the effects of the MINDBODYSTRONG Cognitive Behavioral Skills Building Program on self-rated anxiety, stress, depressive symptoms, and burnout symptoms in a sample population of nurses at a large psychiatric hospital. This program has …

Measuring Provider Confidence In Using Long-Acting Injectable Antipsychotics In Hospitalized Adults With Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders, Rachel Mccluskey

Doctor of Nursing Practice

Background: Schizophrenia spectrum disorders are severely disabling conditions requiring ongoing pharmacological management. Rates of medication nonadherence among individuals with schizophrenia spectrum disorder are high and strong evidence exists for the benefits of long-acting injectable antipsychotics (LAI) over oral antipsychotics. Despite this, only 10% of patients in Washington State with schizophrenia spectrum disorders are administered longacting injectable antipsychotics. Purpose: The purpose of this project was to measure change in provider’s confidence in prescribing LAI for hospitalized patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders following one-on-one motivational information (MI) style informational/discussion sessions coupled with a prescribing reference. Methods: This quality improvement project surveyed provider’s …

Blink & Beat: Pupillometry Response In Autonomic Nervous System Monitoring, Ximena Castillo

2026 Spring Honors Capstones Projects

In the neuroscience intensive care unit (NSICU), nurses rely on advanced monitoring tools to detect neurological deterioration. Two noninvasive measures, heart rate variability (HRV) and pupillary light reflex (PLR), are used to assess autonomic nervous system function; however, it remains unclear whether these indicators provide overlapping or distinct information. The purpose of this observational prospective study is to evaluate the relationship between HRV and quantitative pupillometry measurements to determine whether these noninvasive indicators provide congruent information. Data already collected as routine care from NSICU patients is extracted from the medical record for analysis. Understanding the correlation between HRV and PLR …

Examining The Relationship Of Work Stressors And Resilience Among Inpatient Oncology Nurses: A Cross-Sectional Study:, Blanca Melida Vasquez-Clarfield

Theses & Dissertations

Burnout among inpatient oncology nurses remains a concern in a specialty marked by high patient acuity, complex care regimens, emotional intensity, and repeated exposure to suffering and death. Resilience is often discussed as a protective resource in nursing, yet less is known about how personal resilience and work resilience relate to work stress and burnout within inpatient oncology practice. This study examined the relationships among perceived work stress, personal resilience, work resilience, and burnout among registered nurses working in inpatient oncology units. It also explored whether selected nurse characteristics were associated with these variables and how nurses described workplace stressors, …

Exploring The Relationship Between Workplace Social Capital, Organizational Commitment, And Intent To Stay Among Clinical Nurses In The Acute Care Setting, Leigh Erin Griffis-Cogan

Theses & Dissertations

Background

The persistent nursing shortage, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent “Great Resignation,” continues to challenge healthcare systems nationwide. High turnover rates among acute care nurses negatively affect patient outcomes, organizational stability, and healthcare costs. Prior research highlights the importance of workplace factors, such as social capital and organizational commitment, in shaping nurses’ intentions to stay in their roles. However, limited studies have examined these relationships collectively within the acute care setting.

Purpose

The purpose of the quantitative cross-sectional study was to examine the relationships between workplace social capital, organizational commitment, and intent to stay among clinical nurses …

Collaboration Between People Admitted To Acute Mental Health Units, Their Family Members And Nurses In The Detection Of Mental State Changes And Recovery: A Qualitative Systematic Review, Karen Foster, Coventry, Yvonne Middlewick, Lindsay Smith, Beverley Ewens

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Mental health nurses can engage with people with mental health challenges and their families due to their presence on acute mental health units. This presence helps to facilitate recovery-focused care within a physically and emotionally safe environment. Mental health care should be person-centred, individualised, and include wherever possible family and other people in the person's support network. The objective of this systematic review was to explore the existing qualitative literature that describes experiences of collaboration between people with lived experience of mental health challenges, their family members, and nurses in relation to changes in mental state during an admission to …

Reducing Humpty Dumpty Syndrome In Pediatric Inpatients, Jeanene Burns

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The Doctor of Nursing Practice project examined pediatric inpatient falls. The healthcare agency involved in the project identified concerns regarding pediatric inpatient falls. Data were collected on pediatric inpatient falls that occurred on two nursing units at this agency based on the Generalized Risk Assessment for Pediatric Inpatient Falls and the Humpty Dumpty Falls Prevention Scale. Results from the project indicated marginal statistical significance, with approximately a 60% reduction in falls after the implementation of the Humpty Dumpty Falls Prevention Scale. A recommendation for future research is a comparison of the two pediatric fall risk assessment tools after the Humpty …

Dna Methylation Of Slc6a4 And Nr3c1 In Term And Preterm Infants: A Pilot Study Of Nicu-Associated Stress, Kathryn J. Malin, Yvette P. Conley, Aleigha Barry, Rosemary White-Traut

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

Background: Preterm infants requiring prolonged hospitalization in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) are often exposed to early-life stress, which may contribute to long-term health consequences. Epigenetic markers, particularly DNA methylation (DNAm) of stress-related genes such as SLC6A4 and NR3C1, have been identified as potential biomarkers of early-life stress. Limited research has compared DNAm patterns between term and preterm infants or examined associations between NICU-related stress and DNAm in preterm populations. Objectives: This pilot study aimed to (1) compare DNAm patterns between preterm and term infants, (2) examine relationships between NICU-related stress and DNAm alterations in preterm infants, and …

Integrating Artificial Intelligence Into Fnp/Dnp Simulation To Enhance Clinical Competency, Doris K. Gonzales

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

Abstract  

This poster presents a theoretically grounded, AI-integrated simulation program design structured across 3-4 semesters of Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) and Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) education. This program is designed to support the development of clinical judgment and diagnostic reasoning among FNP students. Guided by Tanner’s Clinical Judgment Model and Roy's Adaptive Model as Theoretical Framework. The program addresses identified gaps in differential diagnosis and role transition from Registered Nurse (RN) to FNP practice. A needs assessment informed the development of a semester-sequenced curricular framework integrating AI-supported simulation across four semesters. The proposed design illustrates how progressive simulation experiences …

The Predictive Ability Of Child Characteristics And Parenting Factors On Four Developmental Domains In Toddlers, Melly Latifah, Dwi Hastuti, Neti Hernawati, Reisi Nurdiani, Raihan Ainun Hasanah

Jurnal Keperawatan Indonesia

Stunting is a chronic condition that has a significant impact on child development. This phenomenon is primarily caused by prolonged nutritional deficiency, especially during the first 1,000 days of life. In addition, as family factors also play a crucial role in children’s development, this study aims to analyze the influence of child and family characteristics, mother–child attachment, parenting practices, and the nutritional status of children (stunted/non-stunted) on children’s gross motor, fine motor, language, and personal–social skills. This study used a quantitative design with an explanatory approach involving 202 mother–child pairs with children aged 12–36 months. The findings show that healthcare …

Educating Staff Nurses On Pain Reassessment, Katie Louise Pemberton

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Pain is one of the most common reasons that patients seek medical care, and chronic pain is a major health problem. The goal of this project was to address a lack of current, evidence-based knowledge of nurses regarding pain reassessment. The context for this project was a medical-surgical area in a rural hospital. The Doctor of Nursing Practice project attempted to answer the practice focus question on whether education improved knowledge related to improving pain reassessment. The project framework utilized in the doctoral project was the analysis, design, development, implementation, and evaluation model. An education program was designed with the …

A Systematic Review Of Implementing Iot Healthcare Systems: Technological, Organizational, And Ethical Barriers In Rural Settings, Mudzramer A. Hayudini, Angela Joy A. Jimpoy, Jonel T. Alibasa, Aisha A. Carolino, Jenden M. Julkamri, Nagdir B. Muhadja, Al Rajab H. Aming, Hamdoni K. Pangandaman, John Ed Augustus A. Escorial

Jurnal Keperawatan Indonesia

The implementation of Internet of Things (IoT) technologies holds transformative potential for healthcare delivery in rural and underserved regions. This systematic review focuses on technological, organizational, and ethical barriers. A comprehensive literature search across six major academic databases yielded eleven empirical studies published between 2015 and 2025. The review adhered to PRISMA protocols, with data synthesized using the Synthesis Without Meta- Analysis (SWiM) guidelines. Findings revealed that technological challenges—such as unreliable internet connectivity, lack of device interoperability, and power supply issues—are widespread across rural implementations. Organizational limitations included inadequate training, resistance to workflow changes, and financial constraints. Ethical concerns primarily …

Meet The Team: Exploring Health Professional Roles And Responsibilities In An Introductory Interprofessional Course, Elizabeth W. Blake, Kimberly A. Taylor, Beverly Baliko, Teri Browne, Donna D. Ray, Abbas Tavakoli Drph, Mph, Me

Publications

Introduction: Health professional academic programs require interprofessional education (IPE) to meet accreditation standards and better prepare students for collaborative patient care. The Interprofessional Education Collaborative (IPEC) includes the roles and responsibilities of the health professions as a key domain of IPE curricula. A learning module focusing on this domain was developed for an interprofessional introductory course involving 12 health professions. Adaptations to this module over time aimed to enhance content and student knowledge. Methods: Students were assigned to small interprofessional teams throughout the course and completed modules aligned with the IPEC core competencies. The first module highlighted roles and responsibilities. …

Effect Of The Senior Clinical Practicum On Baccalaureate Nursing Student Self-Efficacy, Allyson N. Mattingly

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Capstones

While nursing shortages are increasing and nurses are reporting higher rates of burnout and job-related stress, it is critical that educators in pre-licensure nursing programs identify strategies to better prepare novice nurses for entering the workforce. Using Bandura’s Social Cognitive Theory as a framework, this study sought to investigate whether a senior clinical practicum experience increases general and nursing competence self-efficacy, which may indicate better ability to cope in the face of adversity. This study was a quantitative one-group pretest-posttest design, investigating undergraduate Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) students from accredited institutions in Kentucky. Results suggest that the clinical …

Staff Education To Improve Mental Health Staff Knowledge On Mobile Health Applications For Medication Adherence, Chipasha Chingwengwezi

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Despite rising evidence supporting the efficacy of mobile health (mHealth) applications to enhance medication adherence among individuals with mental health conditions, there is little utilization of these applications within mental health facilities. This project aimed to address the issue of implementing an interactive education program to enhance the knowledge of mental health staff and skills in the application of mHealth apps to enhance medication adherence. The main objective of this project was to fill the gap between conducting research and implementing its outcomes by providing staff with the knowledge and skills to incorporate mHealth applications into their daily practice. The …

Nursing Students’ Attitudes About Correcting Health Misinformation On Social Media, Heather Ann Hill

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Health misinformation on social media is a global public health concern. Research has shown that health misinformation causes significant harm in communities, especially for vulnerable populations with existing health disparities. Nurses have been urged to play a more significant role in combating health misinformation. Existing research has shown that nurses are hesitant to correct health misinformation on social media, but attitudes among current nursing students have not been examined. The purpose of this qualitative descriptive study was to explore nursing students' attitudes about correcting health misinformation on social media. Guided by Ajzen’s theory of planned behavior and Paterson and Zderad’s …

Transforming Nursing Clinical Education: The Power Of Environment, Student Motivation, And Clinical Instructors, Lia Mulyati, Nur Wulan, Abdal Rohim

Jurnal Keperawatan Indonesia

Clinical learning is an important component in the formation of nursing students’ professional competence. The clinical environment, student motivation, and the role of clinical instructors are factors that influence the achievement of learning outcomes in nursing clinical practice. However, the relationship between these factors is still not fully understood. This study aims to examine the relationship between the clinical environment, student motivation, and the role of clinical instructors, and to determine how these three factors contribute to learning outcomes in nursing clinical practice. A quantitative design with a cross-sectional survey approach was used. The sample consisted of 117 nursing students, …

Association Of Central Obesity And Hypertension In An Urban Area, Chandrayani Simanjorang, Diva Anita Churiana Sudrajat, Ulya Qoulan Karima

Jurnal Keperawatan Indonesia

Hypertension is one of the non-communicable diseases in Indonesia that is closely related to obesity. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the association between central obesity and hypertension in a cohort study group in Bogor City, West Java from 2011 to 2021. A retrospective cohort study design was employed, with multivariate Cox regression analysis performed using secondary data from the Risk Factors for Non-Communicable Diseases (FRPTM) Cohort Study. Among 3,586 samples, 879 incident cases of hypertension were observed by the end of follow-up, accounting for 24.5% of the at-risk population. The incidence rate of hypertension was 28 cases per 1000 …

Ventilator Weaning Through Spontaneous Breathing Trials In Children With Tetralogy Of Fallot In The Picu: A Case Report, Megah Fitrian, Kadek Ayu Erika, Muhammad Yunus

Jurnal Keperawatan Indonesia

Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) is a congenital heart defect that causes chronic low oxygen levels, increased right ventricular workload, and a higher risk of complications. Weaning mechanical ventilation in patients with TOF is particularly challenging due to right ventricular dysfunction, muscle weakness, and the risk of heart failure. This study evaluates the use of a spontaneous breathing trial (SBT) strategy with pressure support ventilation (PSV) mode for mechanical ventilation weaning in pediatric patients with TOF. An observational study was conducted on a six-year-old pediatric patient with TOF and a cerebral abscess who underwent mechanical ventilation weaning using the SBT technique …

The Role Of Health Workers In Interprofessional Collaboration For Cancer Patient Navigators: A Scoping Review, Agung Subakti Nuzulullail, Aulia Diah Rahayu, Rury Nindya Taluphyta, Ika Arif Lidiyana, Mohamad Rusdiyansyah, Petrus Paris Rumsori, Riyati Riyati, Suci Wahyu Hariyanto, Wa Ode Umi Kalsum, Sri Hartini

Jurnal Keperawatan Indonesia

Cancer remains a leading cause of death worldwide. The complexity of cancer care demands strong interprofessional collaboration (IPC), particularly within cancer patient navigator (CPN) programmes. However, research examining IPC in the context of CPN implementation is still limited. This scoping review aims to explore the various roles of healthcare workers in the IPC process within cancer navigator programme interventions. The review was conducted using four databases: PubMed, Clinical Key, EBSCOhost, and ScienceDirect. The Arksey and O'Malley framework was used to address the research question: “What is the role of health workers in interprofessional collaboration within cancer patient navigation?” Study selection …

Prevalence Of Fall Among Elderly In Rural Sabah And Its Associated Factors, Khalid Mokti, Mohd. Yusof Ibrahim, Syed Sharizman Abd Rahim, Mohammad Saffree Jeffree, Mazlinda Musa, Mohd. Rohaizat Hassan, Yugo Shobugawa, Muhammad Aklil Abd Rahim, Ahmad Faizal Roslan, Mervynn Koon Kar-Wai

Jurnal Keperawatan Indonesia

Falls are a leading cause of injury among older adults, often resulting in significant physical, psychological, and social consequences. This study aims to determine the factors that contribute significantly to fall risks among the older adults in rural Sabah. A cross-sectional community study was conducted in the Kudat Division, Sabah, Malaysia from January to June 2021. Using multistage random sampling, 700 adults aged ≥60 years were recruited, excluding those with severe disability, mental illness, or institutionalized. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews with a structured questionnaire adapted from the validated Japanese Gerontological Evaluation Study (JAGES) tool, and anthropometric measures were …

The Effectiveness Of Psychoeducation And Mind Mapping In Preventing Early Marriages In Central Java, Indonesia, Eviyati Aini Muriana, Mardiyono Mardiyono, Lanny Sunarjo, Melyana Nurul Widyawati

Jurnal Keperawatan Indonesia

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of early marriages increased. Early marriage causes biological and psychological problems in the mother and her baby. The combination of psychoeducation and mind mapping emerged as a preventive effort against early marriage. The aim of this study was to analyze the effectiveness of this combination in preventing early marriage in Central Java, Indonesia by influencing adolescents’ knowledge and intentions. This study was conducted using a convergent mixed-methods design. For the quantitative phase, the pre-test – post-test control group experimental design was used, while in the qualitative phase, a thematic analysis was performed using focus …