Digital Commons Network^™

The Efficacy Of An Audio Program And Discussion Guide In Promoting Exclusive Breastfeeding In Cameroon, Africa, Kathryn R. Reinsma

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Background: In the Northwest Region of Cameroon, approximately 90% of women initiate breastfeeding; however, only 34% continue exclusive breastfeeding for the recommended six months (Kakute, et al., 2005; WHO, 2008). Entertainment-education is a mass-media communication strategy of placing educational information into media such as television programs, movies, and radio programs (Siegel & Lotenberg, 2007). This form of behavioral change communication has proven effective in addressing health-related issues in developing countries.

Purpose: The aim was to design an audio program and discussion guide to test the hypothesis that an audio program and discussion guide improves exclusive breastfeeding knowledge, beliefs, benefits, self-efficacy, …

A Qualitative Descriptive Study Of The Work Of Nurses In Interventional Radiology, Brenda Naef Boone Phd

Dissertations

This dissertation study explored the work of nurses in interventional radiology. Interventional radiology (IR) is an emerging field of practice in health care. More and more procedures that were historically done in the operating room are being performed in IR. This has led to higher acuity patients and an increased need for specialized nursing care. The work of nurses in this area of practice is not well described and as such can lead to a lack of understanding of nursing involved in high tech low touch areas. This qualitative descriptive research study was conducted to shed light on this under …

Pain Management In Triage And Reducing Percentage Of Left Without Being Seen In An Overcrowded Ed, Christina Ballejos-Campos Phd

Dissertations

Although in most emergency rooms, the patient is seen first by a highly trained triage nurse, the ED physician is trained to determine if the patient can safely leave the ED prior to in-depth exam, treatment and diagnosis. The goal is to keep the left without being seen by a physician percentage low, since a high number would indicate poor quality, additionally patients who present with pain, and then leave the ED prior to being seen can pose a greater risk. This study examined the association of nurse-initiated triage pain protocol on the LWOBS percentage rate of patients who present …

Acute Leukemia Care In A Community Hospital: We Did It And So Can You!, Barbara Labriola Msw, Ba, Rn, Cmsrn, Donna Wegner Rn

Patient Care Services / Nursing

No abstract provided.

Patient And Nurse Considerations In Home Health Routing With Remote Monitoring Devices, Jessica Spicer

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

We build on the current consistent vehicle routing problem literature by formulating a novel multi- objective mathematical model of the home health scheduling and routing problem that includes the option of assigning some patient visits to remote monitoring devices, with the objectives of mini- mizing total cost, achieving nurse consistency and creating balanced nurse workloads. A heuristic solution approach that approximates the efficient frontier of this multiobjective problem is pre- sented and validated, and the results of using this methodology to solve several realistic instances are included. We also analyze the assignment of patients to devices and present some managerial …

Identifying The Relationship Between Benzene Exposure And The Development Of Acute Myeloid Leukemia, Jacqueline G. Tally

Senior Honors Projects

My interest in epigenetic carcinogenesis-related research stems from both academic and personal experiences. I have come to recognize the significance of environmental chemical exposures in the development of cancer through my studies in nursing, and nutrition and food science. I am particularly interested in the epigenetics of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) because I am an AML survivor.

AML is a rare and highly malignant cancer. It is estimated 13,780 new cases of AML will be identified in theUnited Statesthis year with a 74% mortality rate (calculated 10,200 deaths/13,780 new cases). AML develops from alterations in the survival and proliferation of …

Cultural Competence In The Baccalaureate Degree Nursing Curriculum, Angela Elizabeth Silvestri

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Health care providers are members of a helping profession and need to provide quality care to all members of society. As a result of current and projected demographic changes within the United States (U.S.), health care professionals are faced with the challenges of providing culturally competent care and fulfilling the role as the "helping profession." In the past 10 years, minority populations have increased in the U.S. For example, the African American population experienced an approximate 12.3% increase, and the Hispanic population increased by 43%. Just as it is necessary for health care professionals to respond to the increase in …

Use Of Standardized Mastery Content Assessments Given During The First Year Of A Baccalaureate Nursing Program For Predicting Nclex-Rn Outcomes, Deanna Jan Emory

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between standardized content specific mastery assessments and NCLEX-RN outcomes. Three content-specific standardized assessments testing Fundamentals, Pharmacology and Mental Health concepts were used to explain the dichotomous NCLEX-RN outcome of pass or fail. The three assessments were developed by Assessment Technologies Institute, LLC (ATI). The assessments were administered to baccalaureate nursing students (N = 119) during the first year of a nursing program in one public university over a period of five consecutive semesters. Group comparisons between those passing and those failing NCLEX-RN on the first attempt and correlations were calculated …

Family Planning, Natural Family Planning, And Abortion Use Among U. S. Hispanic Women, Dana Rodriguez, Richard J. Fehring

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

Hispanics are the largest minority group in the U. S. and they contribute to over 50 percent of Catholics under the age of 25. The purpose of this study was to determine the patterns of contraceptive use (current and ever), natural family planning (NFP), and abortion among U. S. Hispanic women between the ages of 15 and 44 years and to compare their patterns of use to non-Hispanic women of the same age range. A particular interest was to determine the influence of faith on the choice of family-planning methods among the sexually active U. S. Catholic Hispanic women. Data …

Predictors Of New Graduate Nurses’ Organizational Commitment During A Nurse Residency Program, Marilyn Meyer Bratt, Holly M. Felzer

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

Retaining newly graduated nurses is critical for organizations because of the significant cost of turnover. Since commitment to an organization is associated with decreased turnover intent, understanding factors that influence new graduates’ organizational commitment is important. In a sample of nurse residency program participants, predictors of organizational commitment over time were explored. Perceptions of the work environment, particularly job satisfaction and job stress, were found to be most influential.

Nurse residency programs provide extended opportunities to model professional role behaviors for new nurses, enhance knowledge development and clinical application, and promote successful integration to the work environment (Bratt, 2009). Despite …

The Lived Experiences Of Mexican Heritage Mothers Caring For Overweight Preschool Children, Susan Mcdonald

Nursing Theses and Dissertations

Mexican heritage children are at greater risk to become overweight or obese than children of other ethnic or racial groups. The objective of this study was to gain insight into the lived experiences of Mexican-heritage mothers caring for overweight or obese preschool children. A qualitative, hermeneutic phenomenological design was selected for this study. Saturation was achieved with 12 mothers of Mexican heritage. Data collection and analysis was guided by the phenomenological approach of Max van Manen. Six themes and sixteen subthemes emerged from the data. Maternal caring practices were influenced by their Mexican heritage, emotional burdens, perceptions of child's weight …

Using Structural Equation Model To Study The Impact Of Organization Culture And Nursing Work Environment In Nursing And Patient Satisfaction, Taher Giaedi

MUSC Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

An Investigation Of Obstetrical Practice Patterns Through Secondary Data Analysis And Qualitative Inquiry, Barbara Shippey Mcalister

Nursing Theses and Dissertations

Mothers and their unborn are a vulnerable population. Despite overwhelming advances in health care and technology, the United States' indicators of maternal and infant mortality are dismal. To lay the foundation for a research trajectory ultimately aimed at improving the experiences and outcomes of pregnancy, two research projects were undertaken to investigate the impact of practice patterns for elective delivery on the current obstetrical paradigm. A qualitative clinical case study explored antepartum recommendations for cesarean section following the implied diagnoses of inevitable labor dystocia secondary to maternal physical stature in two healthy women. The women's perspectives on their experiences of …

Military Service Members’ Attitudes Towards Mental Illness And Access To Mental Health Services: A Matter Of Stigma., Virginia Delbusto-Cohen

Nursing Doctoral

It has been clinically observed and the literature concurs that military service members often fail to access mental health services in spite of availability of care. The reasons for failure to access care appear to be that military service members are fearful of accessing mental health services for fear of being stigmatized. Failure to receive care for mental health problems can result in deleterious results, some of which may culminate in inability to function or even loss of life. Additionally, failure to access mental health care can result in massive monetary costs in terms of loss and replacement of personnel …

A Two-Stage Cluster Sampling Method Using Gridded Population Data, A Gis, And Google Earth(Tm) Imagery In A Population-Based Mortality Survey In Iraq, Lp Galway, Nathaniel Bell, Al Shatari Sae, Amy Hagopian, Gilbert Burnham, Abraham Flaxman, Wiliam M. Weiss, Julie Rajaratnam, Tim K. Takaro

Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND:

Mortality estimates can measure and monitor the impacts of conflict on a population, guide humanitarian efforts, and help to better understand the public health impacts of conflict. Vital statistics registration and surveillance systems are rarely functional in conflict settings, posing a challenge of estimating mortality using retrospective population-based surveys.

RESULTS:

We present a two-stage cluster sampling method for application in population-based mortality surveys. The sampling method utilizes gridded population data and a geographic information system (GIS) to select clusters in the first sampling stage and Google Earth TM imagery and sampling grids to select households in the second sampling …

The Immigrant Hispanic Population: Perceptions About Cultural Competency In The Healthcare Setting, Cheryl Swanson

Nursing Theses and Dissertations

Cultural competence has been reported as a means of impacting health disparities in minority populations. The Hispanic population has grown exponentially in the United States accounting for over fifty million people on the latest census report. Continued immigration by persons of Hispanic origin occurs for many reasons offering a challenge to nurses and other healthcare workers to provide culturally competent care. The majority of research on cultural competence and the immigrant Hispanic patient has been conducted from the viewpoint of the healthcare provider. Additionally, most research that has taken into account the perspective of the immigrant Hispanic patient focuses on …

School Age Children: The Effects Of Hunger, Dacia Bessler

Honors Capstones

Capstone submitted as a graduation requirement for the BSU Honors Program.

The Lived Experiences Of Intended Parents During Surrogate Pregnancy And Transition To Parenthood In Relation To The United States Healthcare System., Kim L. Armour

Nursing Theses and Dissertations

Problem: A state of the science surrogate pregnancy manuscript revealed a dearth of research regarding intended parents of surrogate pregnancy. Not one U.S. study could be located. Intended parents are overlooked by the healthcare system during pregnancy due to the fact that that their surrogate is receiving obstetric care. Research was proposed and completed. Purpose: The aim of the research was to fill a gap by improving our understanding of intended parents lived experience during surrogate pregnancy and transition to parenthood with relation to the United States healthcare system Design: A study of phenomenology using van Manen's methodology Participants: Eleven …

A School-Based Intervention Of Adolescent Obesity Prevention In At-Risk Youth, Leah M. Potecha

Senior Honors Theses

Obesity has become an epidemic in the United States, affecting individuals of all ages. Adolescents are particularly susceptible to obesity due to their decrease in physical activity, as well as to the greater availability of foods void of nutritional value. Adolescents’ impressionable natures and changing bodies also contribute to their increased weights. To combat the problem of obesity, many schools have implemented obesity prevention programs. Most of these programs are based on physical education and nutrition education. However, some schools have started mentorship programs, or worked with organizations that employ mentorship programs, to prevent obesity. The Lynchburg Healthy Living program …

Evaluation Of Methods To Relieve Parental Perceptions Of Vaccine-Associated Pain And Anxiety In Children: A Pilot Study, Karlen E. (Beth) Luthy, Renea L. Beckstrand, Amy Pulsipher

Faculty Publications

Introduction: The pain and anxiety associated with vaccination is a significant reason why parents are reluctant to have their children vaccinated. Distraction methods and vapocoolant sprays may be use to modify the parent's perceptions of their child's pain and anxiety, thus encouraging parents to return for the child's next vaccination.

Methods: A convenience sample of 68 parents with children ranging in age from 2 to 12 years was selected. The parents and the child were randomly assigned to three groups: a control group, a DVD distraction group, or a vapocoolant spray group. After the child was vaccinated, parents evaluated the …

An Investigation Of The Effects Of Pitocin For Labor Induction And Augmentation On Breastfeeding Success, Megan J. Lewis

Scripps Senior Theses

Rates of labor induction and augmentation have been increasing in recent decades (Glantz, 2005). According to the Listening to Mothers II survey, half of all labors in the U.S. are induced or augmented with Pitocin or other synthetic form of the hormone oxytocin (Declercq et al., 2006). Oxytocin, a naturally occurring hormone released in the pituitary gland, is involved in the stimulation of uterine contractions during labor and in the milk ejection reflex during breastfeeding, and research suggests it also has various effects on the brain, such as eliciting maternal behavior. However, studies have shown that exogenous oxytocin can interfere …

Documentation: Delirium In The Hospitalized Older Adult, Jacqueline Fitzgerald Close Phd

Dissertations

Background: Delirium is a common, life threatening and preventable geriatric syndrome. Because this condition is frequently addressed by administering dangerous antipsychotic drugs, it is imperative that accurate systematic assessments are charted to determine the actual need for these medications. The purpose of the study was to describe medical record documentation of a systematic assessment of delirium in older adults who had been administered an antipsychotic medication. Methods: A descriptive correlational retrospective design was used for this medical record data based study. The setting was a 107 bed acute care community hospital located in southern California. Inclusion criteria were medical records …

Mild Traumatic Brain Injury: Educational Techniques, Katherine R. Racanelli

Honors Projects

The awareness of mild traumatic brain injury as a health concern has increased across a multitude of athletic settings due to a plethora of research and clinical findings that indicate the serious threat concussions pose, particularly to young athletes. The need to provide risk reduction and health promotion education to athletes and parents necessitates an innovative approach. This study explores the effectiveness of an educational intervention based on information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to promote awareness regarding the pathophysiology, symptoms, consequences, and prevention of sports-related mild traumatic brain injury. An interactive educational program was administered to …

The Effect Of Oral Care On Intracranial Pressure In Critically Ill Adults, Christina Szabo

Theses and Dissertations

A major goal in the care of patients with neurological problems is to prevent or minimize episodes of increased intracranial pressure (ICP). Elevations in ICP in response to nursing interventions have been acknowledged since the 1960’s when ICP monitoring was first introduced in the clinical setting. Until recently few studies have specifically examined the effect of oral care on ICP and oral care and other hygiene measures were combined or not specified, prohibiting a direct interpretation of the influence of oral care alone on ICP. The purpose of this study was to describe the relationship between routine oral care interventions …

Surgical Delay For Hip Fracture Clients And The Use Of Clopidogrel: An Integrative Review, Phoebe Genevieve Waller

Senior Honors Theses

Abstract

Hip fractures in elderly patients have very high postoperative mortality rates and the number of hip fractures in the United States is expected to increase exponentially before 2030. Early surgery is essential to improve outcomes, but patients on clopidogrel (Plavix) have a high risk for increased bleeding if surgery is performed within the usual 72 hour window. This paper presents literature and research addressing the dangers of delaying surgery versus undergoing surgery before the effects of the clopidogrel are gone. Based on articles published after 2006, most researchers advocated earlier surgical intervention than previously recommended and emphasized an individualized …

Bowling Green Warren County Medical Society Alliance, 1952-2011 (Mss 402), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

Manuscript Collection Finding Aids

Finding aid only for Manuscripts Collection 402. Organizational materials including constitution, by-laws, membership directories and scholarship files for the Bowling Green Warren County Medical Society Alliance of Bowling Green, Kentucky. The bulk of the collection relates to the two Western Kentucky University nursing scholarships granted by the group: the Newman & Lena Harris Scholarship and the Maydelle Johnson Funk Scholarship.

Redesign Of A Medical Crash Cart, Jozey Mitcham, Brittany Ireland, Tyler Towner, Scott Winston

College of Engineering Poster Presentations

For the 2011/2012 school year at Boise State University, the health science department has requested that a Mechanical Engineering senior design project be focused around the redesign of a medical crash cart. A crash cart, more commonly known as a code cart, is a set of trays, drawers, and shelves on wheels used in hospital emergency rooms for the transportation and dispensing of emergency supplies and equipment for use in cardiac emergencies. The current crash cart design is top heavy, unstable, inefficient, unorganized, and unsafe. In an attempt to increase functionality, efficiency, and safety, a new design is being developed …

Nature Versus Nurture: A Study Of Adopted And Biological Children And Their Behavioral Patterns, Courtney Janaye Grenke

Senior Honors Theses

Nurses encounter many different populations of people every day and they must know how to treat them. Adopted children are a population that nurses encounter and there are disagreements concerning whether they are at an increased risk for developing behavioral problems as compared to biological children. It is also debated whether genetics or environment plays a more prominent role in childhood development. Most studies conclude that adopted children are at an increased risk for more behavioral problems due to the unique struggles and challenges they must overcome with genetics playing a bigger role than environment. Nurses can use this information …

Community Healthcare Clinics: An Answer To Reducing Misuse Of Emergency Department, Kelly Cantlin, Lisabeth Searing, Faculty Advisor

John Wesley Powell Student Research Conference

No abstract provided.

Traumatic Brain Injury Awareness: Educational Techniques, Katherine Racanelli, Victoria Folse, Faculty Advisor

John Wesley Powell Student Research Conference

No abstract provided.