Digital Commons Network^™

Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment For Diabetic Foot Wounds, Holly Nestlerode

MSN Student Capstones

No abstract provided.

Adoption Of Ventilator-Associated Event Bundle In Adult Critical Care Population, Renee Christine Hayes

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

Problem: The utilization of mechanical ventilatory support is a periodic necessity within critical care. One significant aspect of mechanical ventilatory health management focuses on preventing the sequela of ventilator-associated events (VAE). The societal impact of VAE occurrences weighs heavily on the already burdened registered nurse (RN), health care providers including physicians and advanced practice providers, healthcare system, and overall patient and family wellbeing. Purpose: This project examined if the addition of a ventilator associated event bundle (VB) reduces the occurrence of VAE within the adult patient population requiring mechanical ventilation for longer than 48 hours. Methods: Metric review of VAE …

Prenatal And Postnatal Disparities In Very-Preterm Infants In A Study Of Infections Between 2018–2023 In Southeastern Us, Robin B. Dail Phd, Rn, Faan, Kayla C. Everhart Phd, Rn, Victor N. Iskersky, Weili Chang, Kimberley Fisher, Karen Warren Phd, Rn, Heidi J. Steflik, James W. Hardin Ph.D.

Publications

Background: The birthrate of Black preterm (BPT) infants is 65% higher than White preterm (WPT) infants with a BPT mortality that is 2.3 times higher. The incidence of culture-positive late-onset sepsis is as high as 41% in very-preterm infants. The main purpose of this study was to examine thermal gradients and the heart rate in relation to the onset of infection. This report presents disparities in very-preterm infection incidence, bacteria, and mortality data amongst BPT and WPT infants. Methods: 367 preterms born at < 32 weeks gestational age (GA) between 2019–2023 in five neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) were enrolled to study the onset of infections and dispositions; REDCap data were analyzed for descriptive statistics. Results: The 362 infants for analyses included 227 BPTs (63.7%) and 107 WPTs (29.6%), with 28 infants of other races/ethnicities (Hispanic, Asian, and other), 50.6% female, mean GA of 27.66 weeks, and 985.24 g birthweight. BPT infants averaged 968.56 g at birth (SD 257.50), and 27.68 (SD 2.07) weeks GA, compared to WPT infants with a mean birthweight of 1006.25 g (SD 257.77, p = 0.2313) and 27.67 (SD 2.00, p = 0.982) weeks GA. Of the 426 episodes of suspected infections evaluated across all the enrolled infants, the incidence of early-onset sepsis (EOS) was 1.9%, with BPT infants having 2.50 times higher odds of EOS than WPT infants (p = 0.4130, OR (odds ratio) = 2.50, p_or = 0.408). The overall incidence of late-onset sepsis (LOS) was 10.8%, with LOS in 11.9% of BPT infants versus 9.3% (p = 0.489, OR = 1.21, p_or = 0.637) of WPT infants. BPT infants made up 69.2% of the 39 infants with Gram-positive infections vs. 25.6% for WPT infants; 16 infants had Gram-negative culture-positive infections, with 81.2% being BPT infants versus 18.8% being WPT infants. Of the 27 urinary tract infections, 78% were in BPTs. The necrotizing enterocolitis incidence was 6.9%; the incidence in BPT infants was 7.5% vs. 6.5% in WPT infants. The overall mortality was 8.3%, with BPTs at 8.4% vs. WPT infants at 9.3%, (p = 0.6715). Conclusions: BPTs had a higher rate of positive cultures, double the Gram-negative infections, a much higher rate of urinary tract infections, and a higher rate of mortality than their WPT counterparts. This study emphasizes the higher risk of morbidity and mortality for BPTs.

The Correlational Effects Of Academic And Demographic Factors On Nursing Students’ Attrition, Progression, And Completion At A University College Of Nursing, Adebusola A. Obafemi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

High United States nursing student attrition rates have attracted political, organizational, and social interest for numerous reasons. This attrition places financial burdens on the students, results in revenue loss for the college, and exacerbates the existing nursing shortage. Students' success in a nursing program is crucial for nurses to practice nursing. The purpose of this retrospective study was to explore the effects of academic performance and demographic/categorical factors on nursing students' progression and completion at a University College of Nursing in the Southern United States. The target population consisted of students enrolled at the University College of Nursing from January …

Exploring Barriers To Effective Covid-19 Risk Mitigation, Recovery, And Chronic Disease Self-Management: A Qualitative Multilevel Perspective, Gayenell S. Magwood Phd, Rn, Faha, Faan, Charles Ellis Jr, Chanita Hughes Halbert, Ebony Allen Toussaint, Jewel Scott, Lynne S. Nemeth

Publications

Introduction: Many research activities have focused on SARS-CoV-2 infection and subsequent COVID-19 respiratory illness during the pandemic. However, significant racial inequities emerged months after the COVID-19 pandemic began. The similarity between racial/ ethnic disparities in COVID-19 and those for other diseases raised awareness about the context for risk exposure and healthcare access. The purpose of this study is to examine social and structural determinants of health among COVID-19 survivors, carepartners, and the perspectives of healthcare stakeholders who experienced disruption during the early pandemic.
Material and methods: A purposive sample of interviews (n=9) and focus groups (n=10) were used to collect …

Perceived Moral Distress Among Patient-Facing Healthcare Professionals During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Sarah Sumner, Karen Colorafi, Teresa Rangel

Providence Nursing Research Conference 2023 – Present

Background:

The most common framework for ethical decision-making in healthcare is principalism which is founded on three ethical traditions: utilitarianism, achieving the most good for the most people; deontology, upholding moral obligations to individuals; and virtue ethics, doing what is virtuous regardless of the consequences. Principalism is further guided by four principles: 1) respect for autonomy; 2) beneficence, the duty to do good; 3) nonmaleficence, the duty to do no harm; and 3) justice, the duty to treat similar cases similarly. Patient-facing healthcare professionals (HCPs) commonly expect all moral values will be considered when decisions are made that impact patients …

Management Of Sepsis With The Quick Sequential Organ Failure Assessment, Jeanna Adams

Providence Nursing Research Conference 2023 – Present

Abstract

Background:

Sepsis can be a source of morbidity and mortality particularly when there are delays in treatment. Early identification may improve time to antimicrobial administration. The quick Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (qSOFA) is an evidence-based practice screening tool that, when in used in conjunction with the Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (SIRS) criteria can enhance recognition and treatment of sepsis. On a suburban Southern California hospital Neurological/Telemetry Unit the qSOFA is automatically calculated in the electronic medical record (EMR) but the bedside nurses were unaware of its availability and value. In addition, sepsis was not being identified in a timely …

Assessing Psychometric Predictors Of Academic And Life Success For High School Students In A Stem-Based Program In Rural Alabama, Robin Bartlett, Alan Mckendall, Sherron Mckendall, Paige Johnson, Ann Chester

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

The Health Sciences and Technology Academy of Alabama (HSTA-AL) is an academic program focused on health sciences enrichment offered through the College of Nursing at the University of Alabama to address the state’s nursing and biomedical professionals shortage (i.e., a 10:1,000 nursing to population ratio). This paper examines outcomes addressing social, academic, and life success from the participants’ perspective. The one-sample-pretest-posttest designed study evaluated whether there was a difference between baseline and year 1 levels of community engagement and academic intentions for the 23 students for which paired data were obtained. Analyses show promising outcomes from baseline to year one …

Reducing Unsecured Medications In Anesthetizing Area, Christine Bergesch, Kate Manuel

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Student Projects

Background and Review of Literature: Anesthetic medications should be secured consistently to prevent adverse outcomes such as medication errors, drug diversion, and financial loss. Standardized practice for medication stewardship is not established by Washington University Department of Anesthesiology (WUDA). Anesthesia providers’ imprudent medication stewardship practices are a continuous challenge due to the controlled and time-sensitive drugs they provide. Purpose: The purpose of this quality improvement (QI) project was to decrease the number of medications left behind unsecured in anesthetizing areas, describe the most frequently encountered barriers and category of medications left behind unsecured, and improve knowledge and utilization of the …

Improving Anesthesia Clinicians’ Knowledge And Confidence When Selecting Prophylactic Antimicrobials For Patients On Concomitant Antimicrobial Therapy, Garry Gregson, Emily Shands

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Student Projects

Anesthesia clinicians at Barnes-Jewish Hospital (BJH) in Saint Louis, Missouri experienced uncertainty and discomfort when they selected preoperative antibiotics for patients who were already receiving concomitant therapeutic antimicrobials (CTA) unrelated to surgical prophylaxis. Various evidence-based interventions were proposed to address this issue. The first intervention was the addition of pathogens of concern to the surgical antimicrobial prophylaxis (SAP) protocol at BJH. The second intervention was the creation of a reference table that supplemented the revised protocol and allowed clinicians to efficiently determine the pathogens of concern for each surgery. This also included the CTAs efficacy for preventing surgical site infections …

The Lived Experiences Of Urhobo Women From The Niger Delta Region Of Nigeria During The Menopausal Transition, Omemiyere Sheila Uwayzor

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This qualitative phenomenological study offered an in-depth exploration of the menopausal experiences of seven Urhobo women, ages 45–65 years old, representing diverse occupational backgrounds and communities from the Niger Delta region of Nigeria, who shed light on the multifaceted dimensions of menopausal experiences. Grounded in the Meleis transitions theory, the research presented thematic insights from semi-structured interviews, capturing the participants’ physiological, emotional, cultural, and healthcare-related experiences. Interviews were conducted with seven Urhobo women aged between 45 and 65 years old. These menopausal women responded to the research question regarding their lived experiences of Urhobo women during the menopausal transition. Using …

Pharmacognosy And Trichomoniasis: A Scoping Review Protocol, Claire Hartwell, Melanie Arslanian, Brad Haubrich

Annual Research Symposium

Trichomoniasis, also called “trich”, is the most common non-viral sexually transmitted infection (STI). Its etiological agent is the protozoan parasite Trichomonas vaginalis, against which first-line antiparasitics usually work. However, resistance is on the rise. Trich has traditionally been considered a nuisance infection, with many (particularly AMAB patients) being asymptomatic. But research in recent years has begun to unravel correlations of trichomonal infections with a myriad of comorbitidies, including infertility, cancers, the pathogenesis of AIDS, and pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). Between the rise of drug resistance and the incidence of these comorbidities, new treatments are needed. In this work, we are …

Effectiveness Of Antibiotic Stewardship For Healthcare Providers At Urgent Care Clinics, Helen T. Adewole

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Antibiotics have revolutionized modern medicine; however, the overuse in urgent care and primary care significantly contributes to the global burden of infections resistant to available antimicrobial medicines. Approximately 30% of the antimicrobials prescribed in acute care settings are unnecessary. Patient demand for antibiotics has seemingly skyrocketed following the recent COVID-19 pandemic. Practitioners must be knowledgeable about antibiotic stewardship initiatives, such as the wait-and-see approach, to reduce antibiotic overuse and improve the trajectory of antibiotic resistance and patient health outcomes. The gap in practice was the limited awareness of scientific evidence-based tools to partner with patients and improve antibiotic prescription patterns. …

Improving Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Education In Undergraduate Nursing Programs, Robin E. Roberts

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Ongoing competency validation of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) skills is not a routine practice in nursing school. Basic Life Support training and certification is obtained before or during nursing school with little opportunity for practice. Poor quality cardiopulmonary resuscitation skills can affect the confidence level of the performer and the patient outcome. The aim of this study was to explore the effect of training nursing faculty on the adoption of cardiopulmonary resuscitation technology into nursing school curriculum to provide improved cardiopulmonary resuscitation skills to nursing students. Using a pretest-posttest, this study followed the Kirkpatrick model of evaluation of continuing education, which …

A Study To Assess The Effect Of Back Massage On Amount Of Breast Milk Among Mothers Of Neonates Admitted In Nicu At A Selected Hospital, Calicut., Aswathi A, Soya K

Manipal Journal of Nursing and Health Sciences

Abstract

Breastfeeding is one of the most natural act and intimate human interaction. Separation of mother and baby after birth creates an interruption in maintaining lactation. The main objective of this study was to identify the effect of back massage on amount of breast milk among mothers of neonates admitted in NICU. An experimental pretest-posttest control group design was adopted. The tools used were baseline proforma, calibrated breastmilk measuring cup and breast milk volume diary. Subjects were selected using consecutive sampling and allocated as 30 in each group. As first step baseline data were collected. Then the amount of expressed …

Relationship Of Weekly Rest To Bsn Appraisal Of Stress And Hardiness, Everly Batuik

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Factors Associated With Hiv Testing Among Pregnant Women In Rwanda: A Nationwide Cross-Sectional Survey, Lilian Nuwabaine, Joseph Kawuki, Angella Namulema, John Baptist Asiimwe, Quraish Sserwanja, Ghislaine Gatasi, Elorm Donkor

School of Nursing & Midwifery, East Africa

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing during pregnancy is crucial for the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV, through aiding prompt treatment, care, and support. However, few studies have explored HIV testing among pregnant women in Rwanda. This study, therefore, aimed to determine the prevalence and associated factors of HIV testing among pregnant women in Rwanda. We used secondary data from the 2020 Rwanda Demographic and Health Survey (RDHS), comprising 870 pregnant women. Multistage stratified sampling was used by the RDHS team to select participants. We conducted bivariable and multivariable logistic regression to explore factors associated with HIV testing using SPSS …

Innovative Virtual Wellness Interventions At An Academic Medical Center: A Pilot Feasibility Study, Ritika Baweja, Michael Hayes, Aditya Joshi, Raman Baweja

Journal of Wellness

Introduction: There is generally a concerning likelihood of burnout in healthcare workers. Given the impact of COVID-19 on healthcare workers, our institution identified the need for wellness interventions to foster adaptive functioning and mitigate burnout. The purpose of this pilot project was to assess the feasibility of virtual holistic interventions like meditation, art, laughter therapy and dance and their impact on overall well-being of physicians and advanced practice providers (APPs).

Methods: A series of 12 virtual sessions (art therapy, dance therapy, mindfulness-based practices/meditation and laughter therapy) were offered to providers over a 6-month period. Participants completed an online survey reporting …

The Association Between Early Exposure To Antibiotics And Childhood Asthma Incidence, Victoria Fischer

Soaring: A Journal of Undergraduate Research

This review examines the association between early exposure to antibiotics and the incidence of asthma in childhood, highlighting significant public health concerns related to antibiotic overuse. The misuse of antibiotics not only contributes to antibiotic resistance but may also impact long-term health outcomes, particularly respiratory diseases like asthma. Emerging evidence suggests that early antibiotic exposure may disrupt gut microbiota, altering immune responses and increasing the risk of asthma development. A systematic review of twenty-seven studies identified a significant correlation between antibiotic use in infancy and subsequent asthma diagnoses. However, there remains a need for further research to delineate the extent …

Pediatric Vaccination Adherence: Enhancing Compliance Among First-Generation Asian American Parents, Katelyn Leong

Nursing | Senior Theses

Background: Vaccine adherence in the pediatric population refers to receiving vaccines as per the recommended schedule, which significantly reduces vaccine-preventable diseases and enhances community immunity. Vaccine hesitancy, driven by concerns such as safety, misinformation, or cultural beliefs can affect adherence. National coverage of state-mandated vaccines among kindergarteners declined from 95% to around 93% between 2019 and 2022, varying across different vaccines. Objective: This research proposal’s focus is to determine if an educational intervention targeting first-generation Asian Americans, who have adopted their immigrant parents' misinformation about vaccines, will effectively increase vaccination rates among their children. The study aims to assess the …

Nursing Research In Arab Countries: Current Status, Trends, Challenges, And Opportunities, Hiba Wehbe-Alamah, Myrna A.A. Doumit, Joshua Bernstein, Basil H. Aboul-Enein

Health Professions Education Faculty Publications

Introduction: Twenty-two Arab countries comprise the League of Arab States. While united in Arab identity, diversities among these countries exist at many levels. Conducting and publishing research in the Arabic speaking countries is an essential pillar for improving the status of the nursing profession. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to assess the current status, trends, challenges, and opportunities of nursing research in Arab countries. Methodology: An integrative review was conducted using (1) Index Medicus for the Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office Database Journals Directory (IMEMR), (2) the Iraqi Academic Scientific Journals Database (IASJD), (3) Ulrichsweb (UW), (4) The Geneva …

Resilience And Compassion Fatigue Among Medical Nurses In Acute Care, Angela M. Vallier

Nursing Dissertations - Archive

Compassion fatigue impacts nurses of all backgrounds and specialties. This non-experimental, descriptive, correlational study design involved three research questions that examined medical registered nurses’ association between resilience and compassion fatigue. This study examined organizational factors, work-system factors, and individual factors that are influential to compassion fatigue and resilience among nurses working in general medicine units.

The Compassion Fatigue Short Scale® and Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale® were used to measure compassion fatigue and resilience among the participants in this study. The study included 98 registered nurses who worked in general medicine units in Southeast Texas. The results indicated a negative significant correlation …

Molecular Study Of The Agr Gene In Multidrug-Resistant (Mdr) And Extensively Drug-Resistant (Xdr) In The S. Aureus, Mays Ali Salim, Estabraq Ali Maklef, Montaha Abdul-Karim Al-Saffar

Al-Esraa University College Journal for Medical Sciences

Staphylococcus aureus a gram-positive coccus and one of the most important opportunistic bacteria that can lead to nosocomial infections. The purpose of this study is to explore the distribution and prevalence of the Agr gene in multidrug-resistance (MDR) and extensively drug-resistant (XDR) S. aureus. 62 isolates performed antibiotic sensitivity test. The isolates showed 66.12% resistance to clindamycin with MIC at range≥4, erythromycin 77.41% with MIC at range≥8, ciprofloxacin 19.35% with MIC at range≥4, oxacillin 75.80% with MIC at range≥4, cefoxitin 45.16% with MIC at range≥8, gentamycin 29.03% with MIC at range≥16, nitrofurantoin 14.51% and MIC at range≥128, and tetracycline …

Guardians Of The Catheters, Interprofessional Collaboration Reduced Cauti Rates At Phfh, Dawn Doud, Angela Shemwell, Stephanie Brown, Tobi Bryan, Georgia Gauron, Tasha Anisimov, Peter Weitzman, Emma Peterson, Tiffanie Rampley

Articles, Abstracts, and Reports

Abstract Title: A Quality Improvement Project to Reduce CAUTIs on Inpatient Units

Objectives:

1. Participants will be able to understand how interprofessional collaboration contributed to CAUTI reduction on inpatient acute care units.
2. Participants will be able to understand education nurses completed to reduce CAUTI rates on inpatient acute care units.

Purpose/Aims:

To reduce CAUTI rates for adult inpatients admitted to the acute care units: Progressive Care Unit (PCU), Surgical/Orthopedics, Medical/Oncology, and the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

Background

An increase in CAUTI rates for adults admitted to inpatient units was identified in January of 2024. The CAUTI rate at that time was …

Case Report: A Nurses Experience With A Surgical Site Infection (Ssi); Lessons From The Frontlines, Anna Tabor, Rachel Tommeraasen, Joshua E Drumm

Articles, Abstracts, and Reports

Case Report: A Nurses Experience with a Surgical Site Infection (SSI); Lessons from the Frontlines

Objectives:

1. After reviewing this presentation participants will be able to understand the impacts an SSI can have on the life of an experienced nurse.

2. After reviewing this content participants will understand how interprofessional collaboration is key to supporting patients, reducing SSI’s, and raising awareness of this important topic.

Purpose/Aims: Postoperative wound infection is a common complication of orthopedic surgery & accounts for the highest proportion of all hospital-acquired infections, with an incidence rate of about 2.6%–7.83% (Zhu & Luo, 2023). These infections affect …

Guideline For Sbhc Provider Education To Start The Hpv Vaccine At Nine Years Old, Jasmine K. Serrano

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Scholarly Projects - Archive

It is estimated that 80% of people worldwide, regardless of gender, will contract human papillomavirus (HPV) at some point in their lives. The HPV vaccine series prevents high-risk strains that are known to cause cancer and genital warts (Osaghae et al., 2022). School-based health clinics (SBHC) can increase access to and completion of the HPV vaccine series, which remains low throughout the United States (Javaid et al., 2017; Rane et al., 2021; Shah et al., 2020). This guideline was created to increase SBH provider education to start the HPV vaccine at nine years old. The project lead conducted a systematic …

Implementation Of A Daily Protocol To Reduce Central Line Days On A Medical-Surgical Unit, Katherine Wickstrom

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Practice Innovation Projects

Background: Central line associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) are preventable healthcare associated infections (HAI) in the United States. CLABSIs are associated with increased length of hospital stays, mortality, and financial implications for both patients and hospital systems. Extensive research has shown implementing CLABSI prevention bundles can reduce infections and costs. These bundles are often misused, highlighting the importance of bundle compliance and education.
Local Problem: A medical surgical unit in the upper Midwest continues to have delayed central line removal despite a CLABSI prevention bundle. Efforts to decrease central line days were identified as a priority.
Methods: Staff completed education on …

2024-2025 Family Nurse Practitioner Practicum Handbook, Morehead State University. Nursing Department.

Nursing Department Publications Archive

2024-2025 Family Nurse Practitioner Practicum Handbook of the Department of Nursing at Morehead State University.

2024-2025 Nursing Undergraduate Student Handbook, Morehead State University. Nursing Department.

Nursing Department Publications Archive

2024-2025 Undergraduate Student Handbook of the Department of Nursing at Morehead State University.

Bridging The Gap In Health Literacy: A Quality Improvement Project, Sunny Rana

DNP Projects

Background: Health literacy is an important factor for healthcare outcomes. Measuring healthcare outcomes continues to be traditionally performed after implementation of interventions, however, the aspect of healthcare literacy pertaining to these outcomes is not always measured or evaluated. Understanding the patient’s health literacy can assist the provider to create and include individualized education at the patient’s knowledge level to increase comprehension, compliance, medication adherence and ultimately increase positive health outcomes.

Project Goals

1. Assess baseline literacy for the patients who appear in the practice for a visit over a three-month period.

2. Implementing the measurable METER tool which can provide …