Misconduct Among Nurses And Midwives: A Retrospective Descriptive Study Of Cases Handled At The Uganda Nurses And Midwives Council From 2017 To 2021, Barbara Okiror, Christine Nimwesiga, Patience Muwanguzi, Tom Ngabirano, Mercy Muwema

School of Nursing & Midwifery, East Africa

Background: Media reports on the misconduct of nurses and midwives, including cases of fake credentials, drug theft, and incompetence, are on the rise. However, there are no published studies currently addressing this issue in Uganda. Therefore, to inform effective regulation of the profession, we analysed the misconduct cases involving nurses and midwives reported to the Uganda Nurses and Midwives Council between 2017 and 2021.

Methods: The study retrospectively described misconduct cases received and handled at UNMC from 2017 to 2021 and their outcomes. Following total population sampling, data were extracted from case files and then input into a …

Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scoring Implementation In A Critical Access Hospital, Jasmine A. Hobbs

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

Mechanically ventilated patients who are boarding in rural emergency departments face an increased risk of inconsistent sedation management due to the lack of standardized protocols and the extended transfer times to higher levels of care. The variability in sedation practices can lead to both under- and over-sedation, which negatively affects patient comfort, safety, and clinical outcomes. Research suggests that sedation protocols incorporating the Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale (RASS) can shorten mechanical ventilation duration and improve clinical outcomes. The purpose of this project was to evaluate the effectiveness of a targeted educational intervention on improving nursing knowledge and comfort with the RASS …

Promoting Foot Care Health In Individuals Recovering From Addiction: A Collaborative And Community-Based Nursing Intervention, Erika Frahm, Kayla Goodrow, Zoe Hofmaister, Jaycie Inouye, Shuma Katori, Caleb James Maza, Fauzia Tomno

Nursing Leadership in Community Engagement Projects

As housing instability and homelessness increase in King County, many basic needs, including foot care, are often unmet. According to a study on foot health among vulnerable populations, individuals may be unable to perform proper foot care due to prioritization of basic daily needs over preventative care (Razmus, 2023). Research indicates that foot-related complications are highly prevalent among vulnerable populations and may worsen without timely intervention (Haughton et al., 2026). Barriers such as fear of stigmatization and untreated mental health conditions can also limit access to healthcare services (Kimball et al., 2023). These statistics inspired the purpose of this community …

Promoting Mobility And Emotional Well-Being Through Chair Yoga In Women Experiencing Homelessness, Brenna Kiyota, Fahmo Abdi, Naretzni Ponce, Zekiya Sage Mapilisan, Taylor Krueger, Anelcy Lopez

Nursing Leadership in Community Engagement Projects

Promoting Mobility and Emotional Well-Being Through Chair Yoga in Women Experiencing Homelessness

This paper summarizes a project completed by nursing students at a women’s day center and transitional housing program in Washington state that supports women experiencing homelessness as they work toward stability. The center provides daytime services to more than 200 women daily who experience chronic stress, trauma, limited access to healthcare, and environmental barriers. These challenges occur within a broader regional crisis, as the 2024 Point‑in‑Time Count states that 16,868 individuals are experiencing homelessness in King County, a 26% increase from 2022 (King County Regional Homelessness Authority, 2024). …

Parent-Focused Resource And Staff Crisis Tool For Addressing Teen Suicidal Ideation, Maya Ewing, Jasmine Crisan, Delaney Fewel, Brandon Fung, Kaylee Cornejo, Alyssa Arthur, Christine Elayda

Nursing Leadership in Community Engagement Projects

The team of seven Seattle Pacific University nursing students partnered with an agency that functions as a family resource center. The agency provides emergency shelter, mobile outreach, and basic needs to families in King County. The team created an evidence-based solution focused on education for suicide prevention. Additionally, the team identified a gap in available staff clinical resources during emergencies.

Implementation Of A Provider-Focused Multimodal Educational Initiative To Address Polypharmacy And High-Risk Medication Use In A Home And Community Medicare Advantage Setting, Jennifer Butler-Rickard, Kellie Olsen, Eileen Stuart-Shor, Craig Drew

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

BACKGROUND: Community-dwelling adults are at risk for adverse drug events such as falls, hospitalizations, cognitive decline, drug-to-drug interactions, and mortality related to high-risk medication use and polypharmacy, often defined as concurrent use of five or more different medications. Lack of provider knowledge of polypharmacy and high-risk medication use as well as suboptimal communication with primary care providers can lead to gaps in medication management in this vulnerable population.

LOCAL PROBLEM: Patients seen by the Comprehensive Annual Health Assessment Program advanced practice clinicians (APCs) at the project Medicare Advantage insurer organization often experience polypharmacy. Given the lack of provider knowledge of …

Improving Emergency Preparedness: Disaster Response Gap Executive Summary, Yunuen Pamatz Rangel, Angela Reine Palapos, Edward Vladimir Bondarenko, Sarah Marie Wilson, Semhar Misgina Mehari, Benjamin Lee Lucas

Nursing Leadership in Community Engagement Projects

Improving Emergency Preparedness: Disaster Response Gap Executive Summary

Universities in Washington State have a responsibility to maintain both educational continuity and campus safety, particularly because of the region’s vulnerability to major earthquakes. Although many institutions maintain emergency preparedness plans, the accessibility and strategic placement of emergency resources remain critical concerns. At a private university in Seattle, Washington, the project team identified gaps in earthquake preparedness related to the accessibility, visibility, and availability of emergency supplies.

This project aimed to develop a practical and achievable proposal for university leadership to strengthen disaster preparedness efforts. The project focused on improving access to …

Staff Education To Improve Icu Nurses’ Knowledge And Confidence In End-Of-Life Care Through A Structured Education Intervention, Alyssia Lee Wright

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Staff Education On Reducing Falls In Psychiatric Inpatient Care Through A Nurse-Led Multifactorial Education And Prevention Program, Marceline Nkwenti

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Staff Education To Improve Fall Prevention Knowledge In A Transitional Care Unit, David M. Ogato

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Experiences Of First-Generation Immigrant Parents In Caring For Children With Type 1 Diabetes, Nahel Kibreab

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Improving Antihypertensive Medication Adherence Through Patient-Centered Assessment In Rural Primary Care, Tiesha Keoni Mathis

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Probiotic Intake Related To Hemoglobin A1c Among U.S. Veterans With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, Maryann Martin

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Staff Education To Improve Treatment Adherence Among Young Adults With Mental Health And Substance Use Disorders In An Outpatient Behavioral Health Clinic, Nkechinyere Eririma Nwachukwu

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Staff Education To Reduce The Incidence Of Pressure Injury In Medical-Surgical Inpatients, Francis Omelu

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

An Emotional Intelligence Staff Education Program For Patient-Aligned Care Team (Pact) Members, Linda Rogers

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Improving Nursing Compliance With Pressure Injury Prevention In Postoperative Patients In The Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit, Chingyi Lam

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Project Abstract

Pressure injuries acquired in the hospital continue to be a major concern in patient safety among critically ill populations. The purpose of the quality improvement project was to improve nursing compliance with pressure injury prevention strategies among postoperative patients in a cardiovascular intensive care unit (CVICU). Patients who undergo cardiovascular surgery are at a high risk of developing pressure injuries due to immobility, sedation, vasopressors, and prolonged positioning on their backs. The quality improvement project was carried out in a 37-bed CVICU using the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) Model for Improvement and Plan–Do–Study–Act (PDSA) cycles. Data on nursing repositioning …

Evaluation Of Spontaneous Awakening And Breathing Trials Prior To Mechanical Ventilator Extubation To Enhance Intensive Care Unit Liberation, Shelby Taranto

Doctoral Projects

Spontaneous Awakening and Breathing Trials (SAT/SBT) might be central to early extubation by decreasing total ventilator time and reducing the intensive care unit (ICU) length of stay (LOS). Unfortunately, these trials often have not been conducted consistently in the ICU. The purpose of this research was to evaluate the frequency of SAT/SBT performed prior to mechanical ventilator extubation on total ventilator time in hours and LOS. Quality improvement aims were: (1) to ascertain if an extubation readiness tool could be easily followed and documented, and (2) to evaluate if an extubation readiness tool would add value in clinical practice. A …

Postpartum Depression: A National Crisis Calling For Federal Support, Sarah A. Stallsworth

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Manuscripts

Postpartum depression (PPD) is the leading cause of maternal mortality in the United States, yet it remains significantly underdiagnosed and undertreated. Despite decades of research illuminating its prevalence and detrimental consequences, federal intervention has been limited.  States retain responsibility to address the issue and possess inconsistent and limited legislation.  The purpose of this paper is to propose adding PPD screening as a National Performance Measure (NPM) within the Title V Maternal and Child (MCH) block grant. MCH is a longstanding and resourceful program that provides states funds to address maternal mental health needs. This proposal suggests leveraging a PPD NPM …

Exploring Clinical Ladder Program Participation Among Operating Room Nurses, Camille Sistoso-Lorenzana

Doctoral Projects

Continuous professional development among nurses is vital, yet not all nurses embark on this career journey. The Clinical Ladder Program (CLP) is a retention strategy among various health institutions to retain talent and improve nurses' satisfaction, but this plan is unappealing or indifferent to some nurses. While the CLP is a motivation tool for nurses to focus on clinical expertise in bedside care (Riley et al., 2009), and resources are available to increase a nurse's chances of successfully advancing the ladder, participation in and perspectives on the CLP remain unknown, especially among operating room nurses. This project is guided by …

Implementing Cbt-I Coach App Education During Initial Psychiatric Evaluations At The Va Pec: A Provider-Facing Quality Improvement Initiative, Sarah J. Kang

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Manuscripts

Objective: This evidence-based practice project aims to increase provider implementation of gold standard insomnia treatment, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I), by integrating CBT-I Coach app education into initial psychiatric evaluations within a VA psychiatric emergency clinic (PEC).

Background: Insomnia is highly prevalent among veterans and commonly co-occurs with PTSD, depression, and anxiety. National guidelines from the VA, DoD, and American Academy of Sleep Medicine endorse CBT-I as first-line treatment. Despite this, pharmacotherapy is the dominating intervention in psychiatric emergency settings. The CBT-I Coach app offers evidence-based CBT-I as a free, VA-developed digital tool, but it remains underutilized in acute …

Improving Nurse Competency In Vascular Occlusion Prevention And Management, Arielle Victoria Madayag

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Manuscripts

Background: Vascular occlusion is a rare, but serious complication of dermal filler injections that can lead to severe adverse outcomes, including tissue necrosis and vision loss. As the demand for minimally invasive cosmetic procedures increases, proper nurse education and preparedness in managing vascular complications remain essential to ensuring patient safety.

Purpose: To evaluate the effectiveness of a structured educational session combined with simulation-based training on nurses’ knowledge, confidence, and clinical competency in recognizing and managing vascular occlusion associated with dermal filler injections.

Methods: A pretest-posttest educational intervention design was used. Four registered nurses (N=4) employed at a medical spa participated …

Enhancing Primary Care Provider’S Knowledge And Use Of Long-Acting And Oral Naltrexone In The Management Of Opioid And Alcohol Use Disorder, Ariana Juarez-Moncada

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Manuscripts

Abstract

Objective: This evidence-based project aimed to enhance primary care provider knowledge and prescription rates of naltrexone and long-acting injectable (LAI) naltrexone in a community healthcare setting.

Background: Naltrexone and LAI naltrexone pharmacotherapy is shown to reduce use of alcohol and opioids and improve client retention in patients with alcohol use disorder (AUD) and opioid use disorder (OUD) (Bahji et al., 2020; Morley et al., 2024; Murphy et al., 2022).

Methods: A 30-minute in-service was provided to 14 family practice providers at the clinic. The prescription rate of naltrexone and LAI naltrexone was evaluated for the baseline period of February …

Empowering Recovery: Implementing Ace Screenings To Enhance Care For Patients With Substance Use Disorders, Joshua Wolf

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Manuscripts

Objective: This evidence-based practice project evaluated the impact of implementing adverse childhood experience (ACE) screenings for patients with substance use disorders (SUDs) in an outpatient community behavioral health clinic.

Background: ACEs are strongly associated with an increased risk of developing SUDs, chronic medical comorbidities, and negative treatment outcomes. Despite consistent evidence supporting the need for identification of ACEs and implementing trauma-informed care, standardized ACE screening is not routinely incorporated into outpatient SUD treatment, potentially limiting the identification of the need for education and referrals.

Methods: The ACE Questionnaire for Adults was implemented during routine psychiatric visits for patients diagnosed with …

Intimate Partner Violence Screening And Awareness Pilot Project, Eleasha P. Partner

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

Background: In the United States, one in four women experiences intimate partner violence (IPV), highlighting the critical need for improved screening and intervention within the healthcare system. Routine visits in healthcare settings present a significant opportunity for healthcare providers to identify and address IPV.

Local Problem: A primary care family practice clinic in San Leandro, California , currently lacks a standardized evidence-based screening toolkit for IPV.  The absence of such a toolkit creates a gap in practice, leaving patients at risk of undiagnosed IPV and its related consequences.  To address this gap, there is a pressing need for the development …

Staff Education To Emergency Department Professional Nurses, Florence Chukwuneke Chukwuneke

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Advancing School-Based Sexual Reproductive Health Education Through A Fifth-Grade Educator Toolkit, Emira Romero

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

Background: Although sexual and reproductive health (SRH) education is a critical component of early health literacy and health promotion, educators remain underprepared to deliver this education. Local Problem: A gap analysis conducted at School A, a public elementary school in the San Francisco Bay Area, revealed the absence of a SRH curriculum for their fifth graders. Methods: A Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) student-led quality improvement project to introduce a SRH educator toolkit to increase educator confidence and self-efficacy was conducted at School A among fifth grade teachers. Pre- and post-intervention data were collected on implementation day to evaluate the …

Standardizing Preoperative Screening: A Color-Coded Triage Tool Quality Improvement Project, Lyn Green

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

Abstract

Background: Ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) require effective preoperative screening to ensure appropriate patient selection and minimize day-of-surgery (DOS) cancellations, which affect patient safety, operational efficiency, and financial performance.

Local Problem: In a Northern California ASC serving a racially diverse, predominantly older-adult population with a high burden of chronic diseases, the DOS cancellation rate was 3.84%, exceeding the 2.3% institutional benchmark. Inconsistent preoperative screening contributed to avoidable cancellations.

Methods: A pre- and post-intervention quality improvement design evaluated the effect of a standardized screening tool and staff education on DOS cancellations.

Interventions: The Preoperative Stoplight Tool, a color-coded triage system classifying …

Staff Education On Timely Lab Result Notification And Documentation, Ekaete Eyara

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Staff Education To Standardize Suicide Risk Assessment Across All Patients, Ebiere Erukanure

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.