Digital Commons Network^™

Paths Initiative: Identifying Potential Sex Trafficking Victims In The Emergency Department Setting, Kayla Mabery

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The Physical signs, Appearance, Talk and communication, History and background, and Support and resources (PATHS) education initiative has proven to be a valuable tool in enhancing the identification and support of sex trafficking victims in healthcare settings, particularly in emergency departments. The training led to significant improvements in the participants' knowledge, confidence, and practical application of skills necessary to recognize potential victims. Despite the limitations of limited participant numbers and lack of face-to-face training, the initiative's positive impact underscores the need for continued efforts in this area. By incorporating the PATHS tool into regular professional development programs and standard operating …

Increasing Self-Efficacy Of Nurse Practitioner Preceptors In Primary Care By Using The One-Minute Preceptor Model, Amy J. Lancaster

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Nurse practitioners represent the fastest growing profession in the United States, with 385,000 practitioners currently licensed. Over 70% of these licensed practitioners are serving in primary care settings. As the growth of this workforce continues, so does the need for nurse practitioner preceptors. The preceptor plays an essential role in championing clinical competencies for nurse practitioner students. This project was implemented in a primary care setting with an aim to improve the self-efficacy of nurse practitioner preceptors by using the One-Minute Preceptor teaching method to improve the practicum experience for both the preceptor and the nurse practitioner student. The One-Minute …

Nursing Faculty Exposure To Student Incivility And Interventions In Place To Address: A Case Study, Kimberly Lowe

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore nursing faculty exposure to nursing student incivility at a nursing college in the Mid-Atlantic region. Bandura's social learning theory provided this study’s theoretical framework. The continuum of workplace aggression and conceptual model fostering incivility in nursing education also guided this study. This study answered the following central research question: How have nursing faculty been exposed to incivility by nursing students? Data were collected for this study through one-on-one interviews with nursing faculty exposed to nursing student incivility and a focus group with the same nursing faculty to discuss the current …

Improved Clinical Outcomes Due To Gfr-Based Clinical Interventions For The Prevention And Treatment Of Renal Disease As It Relates To The Veteran Population Managed By A Patient-Aligned Care Team, Sidneca Evangella Hazward

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study was to understand if the use of eGFR (CKD-EPI 2021) in the absence of race modification influenced early detection of renal disease for veterans managed by patient-aligned care teams. A retrospective cohort study design was used, analyzing patient data from the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC). The study included veterans with available serum creatinine, albumin, eGFR, CKD-EPI 2021, etc. measurements and demographic data. The study employed a systematic data review of electronic medical records from 2019 to 2024 and utilized electronic data collection through a computerized patient record system (CPRS) data collection system. …

Theory Informed Audit And Feedback To Decrease Medication Administration Errors, Victoria Martin

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Medication administration errors remain a serious and preventable cause of morbidity and mortality in health care. Technology at the point of care is often bypassed in the medication administration process despite the intention to prevent adverse drug events through the addition of a layer of cross-checks and alerts. The purpose of this project was to understand if human behavior could be influenced using effective audit and feedback, data transparency, and communication tactics to decrease administration-related errors, such as wrong patient, wrong medication, wrong dose, and adverse drug events, with the use of barcode medication administration (BCMA) in the emergency department. …

Effects Of Nursing Faculty Incivility On Nursing Student Attrition, Amber Solheim

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Incivility in nursing academia can occur with various people in the role of the perpetrator or victim, including students, faculty, and healthcare professionals in clinical settings. Nursing faculty incivility towards students may lead to nursing student attrition in practical nursing or associate degree programs. The purposes of this study, guided by Bandura’s social learning theory and Tajfel’s social identity theory, were to determine if there is a (a) difference in perceived faculty incivility in nursing students who withdraw from nursing school and nursing students who do not withdraw and (b) the difference in the levels of perceived faculty incivility between …

Manifest Health Theory: A Holistic Approach To Cis-Gender Men’S Health, Julian L. Gallegos

School of Nursing Faculty Publications

Men’s health has often been overlooked in health care, with traditional gender norms and societal expectations significantly shaping men’s health behaviors and attitudes. The MANifest Health Theory (MHT) offers a comprehensive framework to address cis-gender men’s unique health needs by considering the complex interplay of biological, psychological, and social factors. Rooted in four interconnected core concepts—Biopsychosocial Model, Health Optimization, Health Synchronicity, and Ethnocultural Expression—MHT provides a holistic understanding of men’s health. This article explores how MHT integrates inductive and deductive reasoning, describing, explaining, predicting, and controlling aspects of men’s health. Key components such as Gender-Sensitive Care, Health Empowerment, Supportive Environments, …

Clinical Practice Guideline On Evaluating The Effectiveness Of Venipuncture Arm Simulation, Drena D. Belland

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Venipuncture is an integral process in clinical care, and it has an indispensable role in diagnostics and determining therapeutic interventions. The process of phlebotomy has faced several challenges that have compromised patients’ safety. The risk of incorrect venipuncture, or preanalytical errors, leading to severe patient complications of hematoma and thrombosis calls for training using current, evidence-based practices. The goal of this project was to develop a clinical practice guideline (CPG) to determine the efficacy of venipuncture simulation training using an arm task trainer to enhance the phlebotomy skills of nurses. Based on the outcome, present, state, test model and Nightingale’s …

Health Literacy Among Chronic Kidney Disease Patients: Disparities In Information Seeking, Educational Needs, And The Role Of Healthcare Professionals, Fitri Mailani, Rahmi Muthia, Emil Huriani, Rika Sarfika

The Qualitative Report

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a complex disease that poses various challenges to patients. Health Literacy (HL) is considered essential for the effective management of CKD. This phenomenological study explored health literacy in 12 patients with chronic kidney disease undergoing hemodialysis in Padang, Indonesia. Semi-structured individual interviews were conducted, and the data were analysed and interpreted using the hermeneutical phenomenological approach of Diekelmann. We found six themes: sources of information and knowledge, differences in patient attitudes and behaviors as health information seekers, learning needs for successful treatment and care, effective learning and education methods, experiences with alternative treatments, and positive …

A Staff Education Program On Managing Covid-19 In A Correctional Setting, Mary Catherine Knight

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The medical departments of many correctional facilities were unprepared to manage the COVID-19 pandemic. The practice problem identified for this doctorate of nursing practice (DNP) project was the lack of knowledge of health staff on managing incarcerated individuals' care during a pandemic. The primary purpose of the project was to develop, implement, and evaluate a staff education program on evidence-based interventions for preventing and managing a pandemic in a correctional facility. This project was guided by David Kolb's experiential learning theory and the analysis, design, development, implementation, and evaluation (ADDIE) model. The practice setting was a local detention center in …

Educating Nurses On How To Mentor Newly Hired Licensed Practical Nurses, Tamika Tamara Johnson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The lack of mentorship for licensed practical nurses (LPN) in long-term care facilities can be stressful and challenging for a new hire nurse. Recognizing that mentoring is essential to achieve employee satisfaction, higher retention rates and the well-being of residents, the objective of this doctorate in nursing practice project was to create a staff education program and mentorship manual. Knowles’s adult learning theory; Benner’s novice to expert model; and the analysis, design, development, implementation, and evaluation model served as the framework for developing the DNP project. The project was guided by the following question: Does a mentorship-focused educational intervention increase …

From Brazil To Canada: Translation And Cross-Cultural Adaptation Of An App For Breastfeeding Premature Babies, Gabriela Ramos Ferreira Curan, Cindy-Lee Dennis, Flavia Casasanta Marini, Rosangela Aparecida Pimenta, Thaila Correa Castral, Gracielle Schwenk, Kimberley T. Jackson, Edilaine Giovanini Rossetto

Nursing Publications

Objective: Translating and culturally adapting the AmamentaCoach app, originally developed in Brazil, for use by mothers of premature babies in Canada, through international research collaboration. Method: This is applied research in the form of technological development, in which the World Health Organization’s recommendations for the translation and cultural adaptation of instruments were taken into account. Five Canadian researchers who are experts in breastfeeding promotion evaluated the appearance, language, and content of the new version of the app. An 18-item instrument was used with Likert scale response options indicating the degree of agreement for each statement, where 1=Strongly Disagree, 2=Disagree, 3=Neutral, …

A Comprehensive Community Awareness Website To Increase Screening Colonoscopy Rates Among Adults In Flower Mound, Tx, Alexandra Biltz

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Project Abstract

PURPOSE Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in both men and women. The purpose of this scholarly project was to implement a website and flyer to increase screening colonoscopy rates in adults ages 45 to 75.

BACKGROUND There are no formal models or guidelines for increasing screening colonoscopies in the United States. The literature search also revealed that many Americans do not have a good general knowledge of colorectal cancer and colonoscopies.

The project was implemented at an ambulatory gastrointestinal endoscopy center in Flower Mound, Texas.

METHODOLOGY The website was created using Wix and a flyer …

Evaluating The Communication And Accountability Of Nurses In The Clinic Setting, Emily Baarz

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Research has demonstrated the importance of effective communication and its relationship to positive patient, provider, and organizational outcomes. In the local organization, nursing staff verbalized concerns regarding lack of professional communication that may contribute to a hostile work environment and affect the quality of patient care delivered. To address this concern, the organization implemented a staff education program focused on effective communication practices and level of accountability. The purpose of this quality improvement project was to determine if the educational intervention focused on effective communication practices and level of accountability increased the participants’ perceptions of communication and accountability among nursing …

Interprofessional Collaboration As A Feminist Pedagogy: A Call For The Unsettling Of Care In Health Professions Education, Ivana Guarrasi, Rhonda Cornell, Sally Clemenson

Feminist Pedagogy

No abstract provided.

Addressing The Gap In Discharge Planning From A Skilled Nursing Facility, Yaqui Del Rio, Amy Lyons-Brown

Summer 2024 OTD Capstone Symposium

This project aims to improve health management in skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) by developing and implementing a comprehensive evaluation tool designed to assess patients' readiness for discharge. The tool addresses critical factors often overlooked during discharge planning, helping to identify areas where patients may feel unprepared or uncertain. By focusing on these areas, the project seeks to enhance patient outcomes and support effective health management.

Treating Mothers With Postpartum Depression While In The Nicu, Arrie Belnap, Mary Jan Greer, Aimee Doughty

Summer 2024 OTD Capstone Symposium

The presentation is about an educational program developed to educate mothers with or at risk for postpartum depression (PPD) while their baby is in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Mothers learned about the nature of PPD, occupations to implement to decrease symptoms of PPD, and occupations that they can participate in to care for their NICU babies. The evaluations, interventions, and outcomes of the program are discussed.

Reducing The Incidence Of Frequent Hospital Readmissions In Veterans Population, Dasari Reddy

Student Scholarly Projects

Practice Problem: Veterans hospital readmission problems are challenging, specifically in the heart failure department, which severely impacts the patient's health, mortality, family, and quality of life. Frequent readmissions increase the usage cost, hospital budget, and loss of time from providers to other veterans, and failure to meet the key guidelines of the Center for Medicare and Medicaid for improvement.

PICOT: The PICOT question that guided this project was, in veterans with heart failure and one or more frequent hospital readmissions discharged in the last 30 days(P), does the appointment of a dedicated discharge nurse practitioner as a coordinator(I), compared to …

Parkinson’S Disease: Traditional And Emerging Approaches To Therapy, Emily Vernon

The Kabod

Honors Petition submitted to NURS 306: Pharmacology.II.

Natural Remedy Use During Pregnancy, Labor, And Breastfeeding, Christine Lyford

The Kabod

Honors Petition submitted to NURS 306: Pharmacology.

To Heal A Mind: A Functional Approach To The Treatment Of Major Depressive Disorder, Gillian Chambers

The Kabod

Honors Petition submitted to NURS 306: Pharmacology II.

Companion Dogs And Depression, Anxiety, And Posttraumatic Stress Disorder In Adult Icu Survivors: A Scoping Review, Lindsey Nelson, Sue Lasiter, Amanda Emerson

People and Animals: The International Journal of Research and Practice

Intensive care unit (ICU) survivors are at risk for developing persistent psychological sequelae that have been linked to decreased quality of life and increased mortality after hospital discharge. Standardized evidence-based treatments are lacking, mainly focus on physical rather than psychological recovery, and often occur in formal settings. Benefits of human– companion dog relationships have not been explored in the ICU survivor population before. Thus, the purposes of our review were to summarize the literature focused on the influence of companion dogs on depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD); identify what is known about the potential role companion dogs play …

Addressing A Crisis In Nursing Practice: Exploring The Impact Of Multimedia Case-Based Learning On The Clinical Judgment Of Undergraduate Nursing Students, Macy Jenette Bennett

Theses and Dissertations

Clinical judgment is a priority nursing skill to ensure the delivery of safe and effective nursing care. New graduate nurses and nursing students lack the clinical judgment skills that are necessary for entry-level nursing practice. Nurse educators must therefore implement teaching strategies that facilitate clinical judgment. This study evaluated the clinical judgment of undergraduate nursing students after the implementation of multimedia case studies related to the concept of perfusion. Two research questions guided this study: (a) in what ways do undergraduate nursing students demonstrate clinical judgment after completing a series of perfusion-related multimedia case studies and (b) to what extent …

Preceptor Toolkit Effects On New Graduate Nurse Orientation Experience, Ashley Dunnier

MSN Capstone Projects

The role of the nurse preceptor is vital to the successful onboarding of new graduate nurses to the organization. By focusing on preceptor support methods in addition to the established nursing preceptor programs, organizations can improve the nurse preceptor’s confidence and competency levels. The opportunities for improvement, solution recommendation, timeline, and associated costs are provided in this summary.

Many organizations have seen an increase in new graduate nurses leaving their jobs within their first year of hire. The transition period of new graduate nurses is often a period of transition shock while they acclimate into professional practice from academia (Fink …

Improving Palliative Care Knowledge In The Acute Care Setting, Laura C. Brumett

MSN Capstone Projects

Aim: The aim of this paper is to present an education intervention for bedside nursing staff to improve their palliative care knowledge and the end-of-life care provided for terminally ill patients.

Background: When dying in the hospital, patients experience higher discomfort, lower quality of life, and prolonged family grieving. Suffering worsens when patient needs are unmet and can contribute to a traumatic death. Providing end-of-life education will increase a nurse’s knowledge of palliative care, address knowledge gaps, and promote better patient outcomes through improved clinical practice.

Design: The proposed intervention has three prongs which include: (1) virtual training using the …

Thinking Long-Term: Nursing Education On Long-Acting Injectable Antipsychotics, Arslan Rashid

DNP Qualifying Manuscripts

Schizophrenia cases and their associated healthcare costs have drastically increased over time in the U.S. Antipsychotic non-adherence is a primary contributor to the high rates of relapse and rehospitalization among the schizophrenic adult population. The development of long-acting injectable antipsychotics (LAIs) has positively impacted medication adherence, however, this treatment modality is still underemployed in practice due to barriers, such as physician and patient negative attitudes toward LAIs and lack of education. Nurses are in a great position to address these barriers as they serve as mediators between providers and patients. This literature review aims to discover evidence that LAI education …

Education For Nursing And Primary Care Providers On Nonpharmacological Management Of Chronic Pain, Ma Teresita Gonzales De Jesus

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Chronic pain is one of the leading causes of disability worldwide, with a significant financial burden on those individuals affected, the communities, the healthcare systems, and the government. Chronic pain also interferes with individuals’ daily activities and alters the quality of life. The treatment for chronic pain includes a variety of medications, including prescription opioids and nonprescription such as NSAIDS, acetaminophen, and muscle relaxants. Pharmacological treatments can result in untoward effects. The CDC has recommended nonpharmacological alternative treatment modalities that promote self-management but are not emphasized or utilized in the primary care setting. The staff education program was framed within …

Adiponectin, Interleukin-18 (Il-18), And Visceral Adipose Tissue In Filipino Americans: Biomarkers And Risk Of Type 2 Diabetes, Julian L. Gallegos, Ruth E. Taylor-Piliae, Thaddeus W.W. Pace, Matthew J. Gallek, Leslie Ritter

School of Nursing Faculty Publications

Introduction

Objectives

Methods

Equity-Informed Social Media Covid-19 Risk Communication Strategies: A Scoping Review, Nedra Peter, Lorie Donelle Phd, Rn, Fcan, Catherine George, Anita Kothari

Publications

OBJECTIVES: The COVID-19 pandemic has had devastating worldwide impact but most prominent was its effect on marginalised, underserved and equity-deserving populations. Social media arose as an important platform from which health organisations could rapidly disseminate information to equity-deserving populations about COVID-19 risks and events, provide instructions on how to mitigate those risks, motivate compliance with health directives, address false information, provide the opportunity for engagement and immediate feedback. The objective of this scoping review was to synthesise the academic and grey literature on equity-informed social media risk communication strategies developed during the pandemic. DESIGN: The review followed the Arksey and …

Evaluation Of An Advanced Practice Clinician Onboarding Program, Sophia Robinson

Student Scholarly Projects

Practice Problem: This project aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a mentorship-based onboarding program versus a standard program without mentorship.

PICOT: The PICOT question that guided this project was (P), In newly hired APCs did the inclusion of mentorship in the onboarding process (I) lead to higher levels of general self-efficacy compared to standard orientation practices lacking mentorship (C), within an 8-week timeframe (T)?

Evidence: Nine articles were reviewed, revealing that standardized mentorship, structured orientation, and tailored support for professional development are critical strategies to boost confidence and retention among healthcare professionals.

Intervention: A standardized onboarding program that incorporated …