Digital Commons Network^™

Comparing Fall Champions Versus Standard Protocol To Enhance Fall Prevention In An Adult Medical-Surgical Unit, Lily Denney

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

I conducted this quality improvement (QI) initiative with the aim of reducing inpatient falls within an adult medical-surgical unit through the implementation of a Fall Champions model supported by structured education and decentralized nursing leadership. Inpatient falls pose a persistent threat to patient safety, often leading to injury, prolonged hospitalization, and increased healthcare costs. Internal audits conducted through VigiLanz reporting revealed inconsistent protocol compliance and minimal accountability, signaling the need for targeted practice reform. Framed by the guiding question of whether Fall Champions could reduce inpatient falls compared to standard protocols, I evaluated the role of frontline leadership in reinforcing …

Does Staff Education About Diabetic Self-Management Improve Knowledge And Intent To Educate Their Patients?, Bambi Lee Lane

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This doctoral project was an education program for staff aimed at increasing their knowledge about diabetic self-management compliance. With improved knowledge, they will be better prepared to educate their patients. Diabetes is a highly complex disease that requires self-management care, including monitoring of blood glucose levels, control of diet, and medication adherence. Despite extensive pharmacology and diet counseling, irregularities between staff training and education program implementation have led to variable results in patients' compliance and control of glycemia at the project site. The significance of such an issue lies in its direct impact on patient morbidity, avoidable complications, and increased …

Addressing The Impact Of Workplace Violence On Staff Injury And Turnover Rates, Kia Denae Walker

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This is an evaluation of a quality initiative (QI) project to determine the effectiveness of the 2023 workplace violence prevention training program in reducing workplace violence-related injures increasing the staff’s self-reported confidence in managing violence-related injuries and increasing the staff’s self-reported confidence in managing violent incidents during the six-month evaluation period. The objective of this QI evaluation project was to analyze the effectiveness of staff education intervention in reducing workplace violence and its costs. The level of increase in staff’s knowledge, level of compliance with safety measures, and number of violence-related cases and claims was the focus of the post-implementation …

Staff Education Program To Increase Staff Knowledge On Evidence-Based Practices To Reduce Falls, Ariella Carrenan

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Falls among older adults in long-term care facilities constitute a pressing concern, affecting 30% to 40% of residents each year due to physiological changes associated with aging. Such incidents precipitated injuries, extended hospitalizations, elevated healthcare costs, and increased the potential for legal liabilities. This project investigated the effect of a structured educational intervention on nursing staff knowledge of fall prevention strategies in a long-term care facility where the fall rate of 3.4% exceeded the state average of 2.5% and the national average of 3.3%. The project explored the question: In a long-term care facility, does staff education increase staff knowledge …

Orthostatic Hypotension In Older Adults And Its Economic Impact On The Healthcare System: A Systematic Literature Review, Olushola E. Ilogho, Jennifer Broyles, Viet Le, Denise Rizzolo

Lynchburg Journal of Medical Science

ABSTRACT

Orthostatic Hypotension (OH) has been shown to lead to poor quality of life, falls, and death. Literature suggests that falls from OH may be preventable, therefore opportunities to reduce its associated cost to the healthcare system exist. This literature review aims to evaluate the importance of diagnosing and treating OH in older adult patients. OH is the drop in blood pressure upon changing to an upright position. This acute hemodynamic drop in blood pressure causes hypoperfusion in the brain, leading to dizziness, syncope, and falls. An extensive literature search for publications in PubMed and Cumulative Index in Nursing and …

Reducing Burnout And Improving Staff Retention In Critical Care, Shane Rhodes

Nurse Residency

For hospital-based nurses, how do team-level or systemic interventions, compared to approaches focusing on individual resilience or well-being, affect burnout, retention, and perceptions of patient safety?

Importance Of Interdepartmental Communication In Relation To Patient Outcomes, Murphy Duffy Rn, Joseph Sargent Rn

Nurse Residency

No abstract provided.

The Impact Workplace Violence Has On Nurse Burnout, Olivia Merryman Rn

Nurse Residency

In nurses working in the healthcare field, how does increased exposure to workplace violence, in comparison to an environment with effective violence prevention affect the rates of nurse burnout and retention of staff?

Well Controlled Gdm Vs Poorly Controlled Gdm Effects On Infant Blood Glucose Levels At Birth, Molly Chicoine Bsn, Rn, Cheyanne Greene Bsn, Rn, Ainsley Bryant Bsn, Rn

Nurse Residency

In pregnant women with gestational diabetes, how does well-controlled maternal blood glucose during pregnancy, compared to poorly controlled glucose levels, affect the incidence of abnormal newborn blood glucose levels at birth?

Using Artificial Intelligence Algorithms In Predicting Discharge From The Postanesthesia Recovery Unit (Pacu), Jonathan Vaughn

Nursing Publications

Working in the postanesthesia care unit (PACU) and the operating room (OR) for the last two decades, the number of daily tasks is growing longer and longer. This increase in the number of tasks for each health care worker is partially due to the shrinking workforce. A 2024 study found that since 2021, there has been a noted loss of competitiveness in health care jobs due to health care workers exiting health care to other industries.1 Along with increased daily tasks, I have experienced the average patient to be more medically complex. My average patient now has more medical …

Identifying And Addressing Barriers To Long Term Follow Up Care Of Patients With Hepatitis C In A Rural Southern Appalachian Clinic, Sarah M. Brown

Doctoral Projects

This project addressed the issue of loss to follow-up (LTFU) among patients infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV), a significant barrier to achieving sustained virologic response (SVR) and improving outcomes. LTFU is particularly critical among marginalized and rural populations who face socioeconomic barriers, stigma, and other social determinants of health (SDOH) that affect treatment adherence. Grounded in the Social Ecological Model (SEM), this project examined systemic, community, interpersonal, and individual factors influencing LTFU (Ahmed et al., 2022; Al-Khazraji et al., 2019; Kilanowski, 2017).

This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) quality improvement initiative sought to improve patient retention in HCV care …

Reducing Falls In Medical-Surgical Patients, Braelyn Bailey Bsn, Rn, Haylee Paione Bsn, Rn, Elizabeth Young Bsn, Rn

Nurse Residency

PICO: In adult patients at risk for falls on Med Surg units, how does the implementation of fall-reducing interventions compare to standard fall precautions impact inpatient fall rates?

Bridging Education And Practice: The Role Of Academic Ehrs In Developing Nursing Workforce Readiness, Ann Varghese

2025 Fall Honors Capstones Projects - Archive

Charting plays a vital role in nursing practice, yet many new graduate nurses find it challenging to master as they learn to document accurately while managing multiple patient care responsibilities. The integration of electronic health record (EHR) training into nursing curricula aims to bridge the gap between education and clinical practice. This study explores whether the use of an academic EHR named "EHR Go" helps prepare nursing students for documenting in real-world clinical settings. A thematic analysis of student feedback on EHR Go was conducted using the Delphi technique and Microsoft Copilot 365. IBM SPSS was then used to compare …

Music Therapy: Treating Pain And Anxiety In The Perioperative Patient, Derek Bascom Rn

Nurse Residency

In perioperative patients, what is the effectiveness of music therapy in treating anxiety and pain compared to standard care without music therapy?

Assisting New Graduate Nurses Through Support Systems, Shaianne Kaye S. Intal

Nursing | Student Research Posters

No abstract provided.

Implementing A Pap Smear Tracking Tool For Increased Compliance, Meghan Marie Madea Msn, Cnm, Whnp-Bc, Katherine Ferrell Fouquier Phd, Cnm, Facnm, Bobby Bellflower Dnsc, Nnp-Bc, Faan, Faanp, Fnap

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Purpose/Background

The Papanicolaou “pap” smear screens for cervical cancer in women ages 21-65 with a cervix. Inconsistent locations for lab results lead to a decrease in provider efficiency, and patients are unaware of results or recommended follow-up. This quality improvement project implemented a tracking tool within the electronic medical record (EMR) in a busy midwifery clinic. The outcomes are the identification of patients overdue for pap smears, scheduling the procedure, recording of results, and patient notification with recommended follow-up.

Methods

A one-month chart review was performed of fifty gynecology patients within a midwifery clinic. Results of pap smears were located …

Herding Cats: Reflections On Designing And Implementing An Interprofessional Education Simulation, Valerie M. Wright, Antony Joseph

Faculty Publications - Mennonite College of Nursing

No abstract provided.

Leading Change: Clinical Coaching In The Icu, Megan Jones, Kristen Mayberry

Articles, Abstracts, and Reports

Purpose (What): This project aims to describe how transformational leadership by an ICU nurse leader led to the creation of the clinical coach program. This program supports and retains newly graduated nurses and experienced nurses transitioning into the ICU through collaboration with experienced preceptors.

Relevance/Significance (Why): In 2022, hospital leadership charged the ICU nurse manager with stabilizing the ICU workforce by reducing the reliance on costly temporary travel staff, a priority due to turnover during the COVID pandemic. The nurse manager, concerned about the impact of hiring many novice ICU nurses on patient safety, collaborated with experienced preceptors to develop …

Determinants Of Uptake Of Breast Cancer Screening Among Women Of Reproductive Age In Makueni County, Lola Ndirangu

MSc in Advanced Practice Nursing

Background: Breast cancer is the most diagnosed cancer in all women worldwide, with women in low and middle-income countries dying of the disease in disproportionate numbers because of late diagnosis and access to screening services. Sub-Saharan Africa is an under-researched area, and the level of screening uptake in Kenya, especially in rural and semi-arid areas, including Makueni County, is low. This research assessed the factors that determine the reproductive age women's screening uptake of breast cancer in Makueni County.

Methodology: The cross-sectional design was analytical and was conducted in Makueni County Referral Hospital, where 301 randomly chosen women …

Loma Linda Nurse - Vol. 34, Loma Linda University School Of Nursing

Loma Linda Nurse

FEATURES

4 | Jordan Robison Profile

6 | LLUSN Mission Service— A Living Legacy

10 | Steps to a New School

12 | Entry Level Master’s at Murietta

LLUSN HIGHLIGHTS

14-21 | ALUMNI NEWS

22-27 | ACADEMICS

28-33 | HOMECOMING

34-37 | FACULTY UPDATES

Increasing Clinical Internal Mobility Through A Student Nurse Technician Program, Radiance G. Bean

EBP Fellowship

Practice Problem: Currently 67% of internal applicants are hired into our nurse residency program. Feedback from nursing leadership suggests internal candidates often fall short in areas like interviewing skills and professionalism, making external candidates stronger. Given the higher education resources provided to team members and our organization’s commitment to internal mobility, identifying ways to support employees and retaining top nursing talent is a priority. Our EBP question is: Will participation in a Student Nurse Technician (SNT) program increase the percentage of Patient Care Technicians (PCTs) in good standing that are accepted into the nurse residency compared to the current …

Elevating Nursing Leadership: How Nurse Managers Empower Unit Practice Councils, Katie Fields

EBP Fellowship

Problem: Unit Practice Councils (UPCs) are foundational to Nursing Professional Governance (NPG), a structure that is designed to foster autonomy, accountability and authority for nurses. These councils are vital for empowering nurses to engage in decision-making and implementing practice changes. At one large pediatric hospital, UPC effectiveness varied across units, largely due to differences in nurse manager engagement and support. This variation highlighted a critical gap in how nurse managers were supporting UPCs within their unit. To close this gap, it was important to identify leadership best practices and behaviors that lead to successful UPCs. The following PICOT question …

Combating Obesity: Creating A Comprehensive Wellness Plan For Uninsured & Low-Income Populations, Kayla C. Berrios

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

Aim: The aim of this project was to research the specific barriers encountered by obese patients that are low-income and uninsured. The goal of this data collection was to inform the stakeholders involved in creating a comprehensive wellness plan for obese patients.

Background: The staff at Good Neighbor Clinic have struggled to support their support their obese patients with weight reduction. Many of the ailments that patients seek care for correlate to their obesity. Health promotion in this community clinic needs a more comprehensive program to support patients during their weight loss experience, providing support and resources to allow for …

Exploring Barriers To Patient Care In A South Carolina Free Clinic, Jonathan G. Green

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

Access to healthcare remains a persistent challenge for medically underserved populations who rely on free medical clinics for primary care services, particularly in non-Medicaid expansion states such as South Carolina. Free clinics serve as critical safety-net providers, yet patients frequently encounter barriers that limit access, continuity, and quality of care. The purpose of this Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project was to explore and identify the structural, social, and interprofessional barriers to patient care within a South Carolina free medical clinic to inform targeted, evidence-based interventions. A mixed-methods needs assessment design was used, combining a retrospective chart review of forty …

Empowering Mothers: A Digital Intervention For Perinatal Mental Wellness, Morgan Edmunds

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

Aim: The aim of this project was to develop a smartphone application prototype for peripartum mental health. The goal of this application was to enhance access to education and quality mental health care.

Background: Currently, in the United States, peripartum mental health conditions are the leading cause of maternal morbidity and mortality (The Joint Commission, 2023). There is a gap in education, screening, and treatment for peripartum mental health due to distrust and a lack of resources, including a lack of mental health providers (Dossette et al., 2024; Feldman & Perret, 2023). Therefore, there is a significant number of women …

Global Npd Volunteerism From Your Home Office, Leanna Ross

Publications 2026-present

No abstract provided.

Reducing Aspiration Pneumonia By Implementing An Enhanced Oral Care Toolkit, Jennifer London

All Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Scholarly Projects

Problem: Oral care is essential for reducing bacteria and preventing aspiration pneumonia. The risk of aspiration pneumonia increases when protocols are not followed. In 2024, a regional hospital in the Midwest United States spent approximately one million dollars on the preventable healthcare-associated infection known as aspiration pneumonia. A pre-project chart audit of 100 random patient charts on a medical/surgical step-down unit revealed that only 1 of the 100 charts had oral care documented as completed.

Aim of the Project: The primary aims of this project were to increase nursing documentation of oral care by 50% and to decrease …

Improving Pain Assessment After Bedside Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy (Peg) Placement, Sherman Cotton

All Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Scholarly Projects

Problem: Baseline audits at a 44-bed critical-illness recovery hospital showed low reliability in two post-PEG practices: (1) pain reassessment within 90 minutes of an intervention and (2) complete PEG-site documentation (skin, drainage, tube position/measurement). Baseline performance averaged 55% and 62%, both of which were below the organization’s 90% benchmark.

Aim of the Project: From May to July 2025 (12 weeks), improve on-time pain reassessment and ensure PEG-site documentation reaches at least 90%, maintaining this level for three or more consecutive weeks; monitor workload to prevent increases in perceived charting time and ensure safety by avoiding a rise in PEG-related …

Implementing A Standardized Ssri Tapering Protocol In The Outpatient Setting, Chelsea Sopo-Ngwa

All Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Scholarly Projects

Problem: Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are one of the most prescribed antidepressant medications in the outpatient psychiatric setting. Abrupt discontinuation or improper tapering of these medications may result in SSRI withdrawal symptoms. Adverse effects may lead to poor patient outcomes and increase healthcare utilization. A baseline chart review and provider readiness survey within the outpatient psychiatric practice revealed inconsistency in provider documentation related to SSRI tapering plans, patient education, and follow-up planning. The gap in practice highlighted the lack of a standardized SSRI tapering protocol to guide evidence-based medication tapering practices and promote patient safety.

Aim: The …

Reducing Hospital-Acquired Pressure Injuries In Critical Care Using A Preventing Pressure Ulcers Data Tool, Elizabeth Appiah-Caslin

All Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Scholarly Projects

Problem: Hospital-acquired pressure injuries (HAPIs) are preventable yet remain a significant source of patient harm, especially in high-acuity settings like the Neurocritical Care (NCC) unit. HAPIs increase morbidity, length of stay, and healthcare costs. Despite having a prevention bundle, the NCC unit exceeded national benchmarks due to inconsistent adherence, delayed consultations, and variable documentation. Addressing this issue supports the organization's goals for safety and quality, aligning with CMS and Joint Commission standards.

Aim of the Project: This 12-week quality improvement project aimed to reduce HAPI incidence in the NCC unit by implementing the AHRQ Preventing Pressure Ulcers Data Tool. The …