Digital Commons Network^™

Exploring A Diabetic Registry For Cardiovascular Risk Factors, Mary C. Anziano Phd

Dissertations

Background: Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. There were over 18 million people diagnosed with diabetes in 2002. These disease processes together combine for significant health burden on society (American Diabetes Association, 2008). The purpose of the study was to describe the relationship between select demographics, and clinical characteristics to determine risk factors for cardiovascular disease in a diabetic population. Methods: A retrospective descriptive study was conducted using a diabetic registry database containing patients diagnosed with diabetes from January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2012. Study variables included age, gender, socio-economic status, glycosylated hemoglobin …

The Utilization Of Independent Lung Ventilation Via High Frequency Percussive Ventilation (Hfpv) During Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (Ecmo), Kenneth Miller Med, Msrt, Rrt-Accs, Nps, Ae-C, Faarc, Rita Pechulis Md, Fccp, James K. Wu, Chad Traub Rrt-Accs, Dorothea T. Watson Do

Patient Care Services / Nursing

No abstract provided.

“Keep A Grasp On Patient Safety” A Fall Prevention Pilot Project To Increase Gait Belt Use, Laura Walker Rn, Bsn, Ccrn, Mary Ellen O'Connell Rn, Bsn, Msn, Mba, Amy Giesler Rn, Bsn

Patient Care Services / Nursing

No abstract provided.

Challenges Facing The Elderly Care Industry In Hong Kong: The Shortage Of Frontline Workers, Sin Tung, Stella Kwok, Wai Ning Kris Wong, Shun Lai Yang

Practical Social and Industrial Research Symposium

No abstract provided.

A Descriptive Mixed-Methods Study Examining Resilience And Transitioning To Adulthood Among Emerging Adults With Disabilities, Jennifer E. Mannino

Theses & Dissertations

Transitioning to adulthood is not without challenges. The move away from family influence towards independence and self-determination is filled with uncertainty. As emerging adults (18-29) transition to adulthood they will encounter various challenges related to their new adult roles (Arnett & Tanner, 2005; Jensen & Arnett, 2012). Increased challenges and vulnerabilities in transitioning are evident among emerging adults with disabilities because they face additional challenges related to their disability over and above what all others of this developmental stage experience (Betz & Redcay, 2002; Blomquist, 2007; Faux & Nehring, 2010; King, Baldwin, Currie & Evans, 2005; Murray, 2003; National Research …

The Design, Development, And Analysis Of An Extraction Device For Retracted Catheter Needles For Multiple Reuses On Simulation Manikins, Travis Fisher

Morehead State Theses and Dissertations

A Thesis Presented to the Faculty of the College of Science and Technology, Morehead State University in Partial Fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree Master of Science by Travis Fisher on December 3, 2014.

Improving Patient Outcomes Through Bedside Neurological Examinations, Patrick Keane Rn

Patient Care Services / Nursing

No abstract provided.

To Filter Or Not To Filter?, Rachel Moser Rn, Julia Becker Bsn,Rn

Patient Care Services / Nursing

No abstract provided.

The Case Of Reintegration Of Women Post Incarceration, Deana Raley Noble Phd

Dissertations

Women released from prison or jail face particular obstacles and challenges on reentry to the community, many of which are related to their childhood and to gender roles as women and mothers. This study relates the lived experience of one woman's successful transition to economic and mainstream societal reintegration and family reconnection after release from prison and the insights gained by the researcher. Case study methodology congruent with Miller's Relational-Cultural Theory philosophical framework was utilized in this in-depth, single case design and represents a unique case. The overall purpose of this descriptive and explanatory research was to explore precursors to …

Advanced Practice Nurses In Transitional Care: A Source To The Solution, Holly Bottoms

Graduate Research Projects

No abstract provided.

The Human Microbiome: The Brain-Gut Axis And Its Role In Immunity, Vanessa Moser

Graduate Research Projects

No abstract provided.

Chhs December 2014 E-Newsletter, Dr. John Bonaguro, Dean, Vashon S. Wells, Editor, Wku College Of Health & Human Services

College of Health & Human Services Publications

No abstract provided.

A Snapshot Of Synthetic Substances: Nursing Implications For Patients Suspected Of Psychoactive Drug Use, Tracy L. Brewer, Margie Collins

Nursing Faculty Publications

Learning Objectives:

• Define what are synthetic substances and their mechanism of action.
• Specifically focusing on synthetic cannabinoids
• Interpret psychological and physiological clinical presentation of patients after use of synthetic substances.

A Partnership To Enhance Community Health Education For Rn To Bsn Students., Cathy Abell, Lori Alexander, Tonya Bragg-Underwood

Nursing Faculty Publications

This article shares a unique model of collaboration between a school of nursing and a community business to offer an on-site occupational health clinical experience for RN to BSN students. This activity could be easily replicated by others to provide a learning opportunity for nursing students. Hospitals remain the primary site of employment for nurses. However, with health care reform nurses are exploring many new opportunities including many settings in the community (Black, 2014). Incorporating community health into nursing curriculum is a necessity; however, providing meaningful clinical experiences can be a challenge for faculty. To meet students' learning needs, faculty …

A Comparison Of A Social Support Physical Activity Intervention In Weight Management Among Post-Partum Latinas, Colleen Keller, Barbara Ainsworth, Kathryn Records, Michael Todd, Michael Belyea, Sonia Vega-López, Paska Permana, Dean Coonrod, Allison Nagle-Williams

Nursing Faculty Works

Background Weight gain during the childbearing years and failure to lose pregnancy weight after birth contribute to the development of obesity in postpartum Latinas. Methods Madres para la Salud [Mothers for Health] was a 12-month, randomized controlled trial exploring a social support intervention with moderate-intensity physical activity (PA) seeking to effect changes in body fat, fat tissue inflammation, and depression symptoms in sedentary postpartum Latinas. This report describes the efficacy of the Madres intervention. Results The results show that while social support increased during the active intervention delivery, it declined to pre-intervention levels by the end of the intervention. There …

La Cesárea Y El Parto Natural: Las Opiniones De Profesionales De La Salud En La Provincia De Buenos Aires / Cesarean Section And Natural Birth: The Opinions Of Health Provinces In The Province Of Buenos Aires, Jacqueline Chipkin

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Introduction: The ways in which women of society give birth have the power to influence maternal-infant health and shape the economy of the healthcare system. Today, the rates of cesarean sections are increasing throughout the world. In Argentina, on average, more than 35% of pregnant women received cesarean sections in 2008, with large differences observed in the rates between the public and private health sectors. The World Health Organization (WHO) has established that healthcare systems should only employ a cesarean section if labor cannot progress safely. According to this standard, the organization estimates that cesarean sections should only be utilized …

Heads Up: The Importance Of Brain Rest After A Concussion A Paper Presented To Meet Partial Requirements, Kacie Wilkes

Graduate Research Projects

No abstract provided.

Ua1c11/57 Fall Graduation Photos, Wku Nursing

WKU Administration Documents

Unidentified photos from the December 2014 nursing graduation.

Increasing Hpv Vaccination Rates Using Social Marketing Strategies, Sharon Wilson Catledge

Doctoral Projects

The human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually-transmitted infection (STI). Approximately 20 million Americans between the ages of 15 and 49 years currently have HPV with > 6.2 million new HPV infections estimated to occur each year. Yet, HPV vaccination rates remain relatively low. More than 40 strains of HPV are transmitted through genital contact during vaginal, anal, or oral sex and can infect males and females. In addition to causing genital warts, HPV is associated with cervical, vulvar, vaginal, anus, penile, and oropharyngeal cancers. In women, the most prominent type of cancer is cervical with > 12,000 diagnoses each year …

Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Workforce Development In Behavioral Healthcare Settings In Rural Mississippi, Arlen Davis Cooper

Doctoral Projects

Description and Significance of the Problem: The United States is facing a significant rural mental healthcare workforce shortage and an uneven distribution of mental healthcare professionals. The psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP) may increase access to mental healthcare in rural underserved regions (NRHA, 2012). However, little is known regarding their distribution. The lack of uniform and consistent data collection methods regarding the number and the geographic distribution of PMHNPs in rural areas, specifically in rural Mississippi, exists. The importance of better data collection and improving infrastructure through collaboration with state licensing boards and state nursing workforce centers is …

An Evaluation Of Fall Prevention Interventions Among Older Adults In A Long Term Care Facility, Courtney Anita Bennett

Doctoral Projects

Falls are serious unwanted events that are a common occurrence among older adults in long term care facilities (LTC). Fall prevention in LTC facilities requires the efforts of an interprofessional team that promotes safety within an organization. The purpose of this capstone project is to implement and evaluate evidence-based fall prevention interventions at a LTC facility. Specific objectives of the project include: (a) providing education to healthcare professionals on evidence-based practices to recognize, assess, and prevent falls among older adults in a long term care facility and (b) replacing the existing fall prevention policy and program with a falls and …

Evaluating The Perceptions Of Quality Of Life In Informal Caregivers Caring For Hospice Patients, Rashandra Fisher Laws

Doctoral Projects

Maintaining or improving quality of life for informal caregivers is important as they endure the burden of providing care to terminally ill loved ones on a daily basis. Caregivers are at a greater risk for depression, deteriorating physical health, financial difficulties, and premature death than demographically similar non-caregivers (Demiris et al., 2010). The goal of this capstone project was to determine the effectiveness of the creativity, optimism, planning, and expert information (COPE) intervention, which address specific needs of the family and caregiver.

Twenty informal caregivers completed the Quality of Life (QoL) Index tool, which measured their perceptions of five different …

Food Choices And Practices During Pregnancy Of Immigrant Women With High-Risk Pregnancies In Canada: A Pilot Study, Gina M A. Higginbottom, Helen Vallianatos, Joan Forgeron, Donna Gibbons, Fabiana Mamede, Rubina Barolia

School of Nursing & Midwifery

Background: Immigrant women may be regarded as a vulnerable population with respect to access and navigation of maternity care services. They may encounter difficulties when accessing culturally safe and appropriate maternity care, which may be further exacerbated by language difficulties and discriminatory practices or attitudes. The project aimed to understand ethnocultural food and health practices and how these intersect in a particular social context of cultural adaptation and adjustment in order to improve the care-giving capacities of health practitioners working in multicultural perinatal clinics.
Methods: This four-phase study employed a case study design allowing for multiple means of data collection …

Integrating A System Approach To Identify And Manage Aggressive Behaviors In Adult Males With Severe Mental Illness In A Psychiatric Hospital, Mitzie Alford-Jenkins

Doctoral Projects

Aggressive behaviors exhibited by patients with a serious mental illness (SMI) hospitalized in inpatient psychiatric hospitals are a challenging safety problem. Early identification of aggressive behaviors is vital to helping nursing staff develop proactive interventions that focus on prevention. Structured risk assessments identify the level of risk and allow for early interventions.

The purpose of the doctoral capstone project was to: (a) provide education to nursing staff on implementing a structured risk assessment tool in order to identify risk for imminent aggression, manage risk for imminent aggression, and record aggressive behaviors among adult males with severe mental illness (SMI); (b) …

Chronic Conditions In Elders In Assisted Living Facilities: Associations With Daily Functioning, Self-Assessed Health, And Depressive Symptoms, Abir K. Bekhet, Jaclene A. Zauszniewski

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

Background

The increasing life expectancy of older adults has prompted an increase in chronic conditions that may interfere with their daily living and impact physical and mental health.

Objectives

This study examined associations between commonly reported chronic conditions, daily functioning, self-assessed health, and depressive symptoms of elders.

Methods/Design

A secondary analysis of existing data from 314 elderly residents of 29 facilities was conducted.

Results

The most frequently reported conditions were arthritis (64%), hypertension (47%), and heart problems (35%). Elders who reported having all three of these most frequently reported conditions differed significantly from those who reported none or one of …

A Qualitative Study Evaluating Bedside Reporting And The Impact On Nurse Satisfaction And Communication Barriers With Washington Regional Medical Center, Win Szeto, Sarah Wren, Molly Milborn

The Eleanor Mann School of Nursing Undergraduate Honors Theses

Nursing care occurs on a continuum that involves transferring the responsibility of a patient’s care from one nurse to another during shift change. Hand-off reports are a vital part of the communication cycle to ensure safe and effective care. Studies have shown bedside reporting increases patient and nurse satisfaction as well as the nurse-patient relationship (Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, 2013b). The aim of this study was to educate nurses on the importance of bedside reporting and to implement a standardized hand-off. This study was evaluated through two measures. The first measure involved a survey/interview on nurses' perception before …

Motivational Interviewing To Enhance Weight Loss And Eating Self-Efficacy In Overweight And Obese Adults, Theresa K. Buchanan Dr.

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Translational and Clinical Research Projects

Greater than six in ten adults in the United States are overweight or obese which can lead to cardiovascular disease, Type II Diabetes, joint injury and some forms of cancer, costing billions of healthcare dollars each year. Weight loss is difficult, as is maintaining weight loss. The purpose of this project is to investigate if use of the evidenced based (EB) intervention, motivational interviewing (MI), will enhance weight loss and eating self-efficacy (ESE) in overweight and obese adults seeking weight loss at a weight loss clinic over the course of eight weeks. Participants who received MI in addition to current …

Relationship Between Age And Pre-End Stage Renal Disease Care In Elderly Hemodialysis Patients, Rubette Harford Phd, Msn, Rn

Dissertations

Purpose: The primary purpose of this dissertation was to examine the relationship between age and receipt of three components of pre-end stage renal disease care prior to first initiation of hemodialysis, and to explore the implications of differences in interpretation of funding policies for dialysis services in Puerto Rico and the U.S. mainland. Background: The growing burden of chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a national public health concern, particularly within the aged population. It is estimated that more than 25 million Americans are living with some level of kidney disease, with an increasing prevalence noted with increasing age (Coresh et …

Investigating Infection Control Behaviors In Nurses, Elizabeth L. Beam

Theses & Dissertations

Nurses are trained in the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) and have access to policies and procedures to use in their daily work, but errors in technique during patient care are common. The purpose of this study was to better understand the infection control behaviors that nurses demonstrate in practice. The project described nursing behaviors related to basic airborne and contact precautions using personal protective equipment (PPE) in a simulated care environment. The specific aims were to 1) identify infection control behaviors by nurses which may or may not adhere to clinical standards for isolation practice while performing clinical …

Use Of Complementary Therapies By Individuals With Or At Risk For Cardiovascular Disease And Diabetes: Results Of The 2007 National Health Interview Survey, Katrina Michelle Embrey

Dissertations, Theses and Capstone Projects (Full IR Collection)

Costly, debilitating and largely preventable, cardiovascular disease (CVD) and diabetes mellitus (DM) place a heavy disease burden of high morbidity, mortality, and rising health care costs on people of the United States. With mortality reports from the two diseases of over 600,000 per year and costs in excess of $176 billion, identifying alternatives to traditional models of care must be considered. Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therefore becomes a viable option for prevention and treatment. Using secondary data analysis of the 2007 National Health Interview Survey, the aim of the current study was to determine whether CAM use was associated …