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Relationships Among Perceived Burden, Depressive Cognitions, Resourcefulness, And Quality Of Life In Female Relatives Of Seriously Mentally Ill Adults, Jaclene A. Zauszniewski, Abir K. Bekhet, M. Jane Suresky

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

Providing care and support to a seriously mentally ill (SMI) family member can have deleterious effects on one's health and quality of life. This study explored relationships among perceived burden, depressive cognitions, resourcefulness, and quality of life in 60 African-American and Caucasian women family members of SMI adults. Caucasians reported greater burden than African-Americans; the groups were similar in depressive cognitions, resourcefulness, and quality of life. In Caucasians and African-Americans, burden correlated with depressive cognitions and both correlated with poorer mental health. In African-Americans, burden also correlated with lower personal resourcefulness and both correlated with poorer mental health. The findings …

The Catholic Physician And Natural Family Planning: Helping To Build A Culture Of Life, Richard J. Fehring

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

This paper is based on the author's answer to a question from Theresa Notare, director of the Natural Family Planning Program of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, about what Catholic scientists and physicians can do to promote NFP and what the Catholic Church in the United States can do to help physicians and health professionals promote NFP. The paper reviews the Church's historical call for health professionals to study and to teach NFP methods, briefly analyzes the current state of NFP in Catholic health care, and provides an answer to Dr. Notare from the perspectives of research, education, and …

Resilience And Speed Of Recovery After Critical Illness, Tiffany Huffman, R.N., B.S.N.

Electronic Theses & Dissertations

Length of stay in the critical care setting is a topic of concern for both patients and the health care system. However, the subject of psychological influences on recovery time after critical illness is a one that little to no research has been conducted. This extensive literature review aims to look specifically at the relationship between resilience and speed of recovery after critical illness and research that has been done on this subject matter. Within this review lies an extensive review of literature, in-depth definitions of resilience, factors affecting length of stay in the intensive care units, a theoretical framework …

How Do Residents Of The Minnesota Veterans Home In Minneapolis Perceive Communication By Care Givers For Whom English Is Not The First Language, Rukhmin Singh

Theses and Graduate Projects

The purpose of this research was to explore how the residents of the Minnesota veterans Home in Minneapolis perceive communication that takes place between them and care givers for whom English is not the first language. These care givers account for approximately 20% of the direct care qivers at the Minnesota Veterans Home in Minneapolis. A pilot project using qualitative research and the ethno-nursing method was utilized. Information was gathered through individual interviews. A total of four residents, three age from 65 to 80 years old participated in this pilot project. These participants reflected the male to female ratio in …

Exercise Motivation For Breast Cancer Risk Reduction, Maureen Elaine Wood

Dissertations

According to The International Agency for Cancer Research (IARC), 25% of worldwide breast cancer cases are due to having a sedentary lifestyle and being overweight or obese (2002). Unfortunately, less than 50% of women participate in physical activity as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the American College of Sports Medicine and more than 25% do not participate in any physical activity at all (CDC, 2005). Perceptions of increased personal risk and self-efficacy have been shown to promote exercise participation, and as such, are key elements of protection motivation theory, used as the theoretical framework to guide …

Gender Differences In Depression And Immune Response In Colorectal Cancer, Barbara Anne Rose Phd, Msn, Rn

Dissertations

The focus of this descriptive comparative study was to examine the relationship between gender and depression and immune system function in patients with colorectal cancer. The research questions were answered through secondary analysis, using data obtained from the answers of 117 men and women (71 men and 46 women) enrolled in a colorectal cancer study conducted between 1990 and 1991 in Pennsylvania. Descriptive statistics were used to characterize the sample, and general estimating equations were used to analyze depression and immune system function between men and women. Depression was measured by the Beck Depression Inventory, and immune system function was …

An Evaluation Of Interventions Designed To Impact Nurses : A Pilot Project, Pamela G. Bing Perry

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

This pilot project was designed from a systems approach as defined within the field of marriage and family (MFT). Systems theory has been used successfully in examining and working with organizational relationships as exemplified in the work of Edwin H. Friedman. His contribution includes several books specifically developed for use in organizations; one that was tailored for religious groups; and another for managers (Friedman, 2007). While other MFT modalities have also been used effectively with organizations, the complexity of the influences operating within an organization most closely matches the systems approach. For this reason, this is the conceptual framework applied …

Father-Daughter Attachment And Sexual Behavior In African-American Daughters, Karen Hill-Holliday

Theses and Dissertations

Although a relationship has been found in some studies between paternal attachment and female sexual behavior, knowledge of this relationship in African Americans has been limited. The purpose of this research was to determine if there was a relationship between father-daughter attachment, parent teen sexual risk communication and early sexual activity, condom use, history of sexually transmitted infection, global/sexual self-esteem and teen pregnancy in African-American females. An anonymous consent and survey was administered online to N=113 African American college women (age 18-21) attending a southeastern university. Measurements included the Parent Attachment Questionnaire (Father), Rosenberg’s Self-Esteem, Sexual Self-Esteem Inventory (short scale), …

Psychiatrists' And Psychiatric Aprns' Views Of The Adolescent Mental Health Nurse's Role In The Inpatient Setting, Dana Lehner

Honors Scholar Theses

Current perceptions about nurses’ roles and responsibilities are examined in this study, specifically relating to adolescent inpatient MHNs. Psychiatrists and psychiatric advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs), who work with MHNs and have also published scholarly psychiatric articles, were contacted to request their participation in an anonymous survey hosted by SurveyMonkey.com. This research was conducted to examine the stereotypes that exist against nurses within the health care profession itself, as compared to the pre-existing stereotypes displayed by the media’s view of nurses. Due to investigator time constraints, only six subjects participated in the study. Analysis of survey responses revealed four overarching …

Development And Psychometric Evaluation Of The Provider Response To Emergency Pandemic (Prep) Tool, Linda Suzzanne Good Phd

Dissertations

Background: History and science would suggest that a worldwide influenza pandemic is near and its implications are on the minds of healthcare workers (HCWs). Previous studies revealed that HCW have loss-related fears and concerns associated with working during a disaster, especially one with a biologic component. Most healthcare organizations have well-crafted disaster plans in place; however, these plans often rely on the assumption that HCWs will report to work as usual, which may not be the case. Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine if HCWs' fears and concerns are a predictor of their willingness to report to …

The Use Of Complementary And Alternative Medicine For Menopausal Symptoms Among Chinese-American Women, Rebecca Kwai-Ying Chung

Master's Projects

The objectives of this research were to study the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) for menopausal symptoms among Chinese-American women, and to examine the correlation between CAM use, acculturation, and CAM insurance coverage. The study revealed that Chinese-American women experience menopausal symptoms even when they still have regular menstrual cycles. Early education on women's health, especially about menopause, is recommended. A significant correlation was found between the women being asked by their health care providers regarding CAM use, and open discussion regarding the women's CAM use with their health care providers (p<0.05). The researchers suggest that health care providers ask their patients about their CAM use in order to encourage open discussion of CAM use with their patients.

Evaluation Of Strategies To Enhance Nclex-Rn Success, Joyce Barnby

Master's Projects

Successful performance on the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) is a measure of competence indicating that newly licensed nurses have attained standards to ensure safe nursing practice. Concerned about a declining pass rate, one urban state university implemented multiple strategies over a period of time in order to enhance the success rate of frrst-time test-takers. The purpose of this research project was to focus on the state university's NCLEX-RN pass rates for frrst-time candidates, examined and evaluated new implemented strategies, and determined how the interventions influenced these pass rates. Data were collected using retrospective existing records on …

Class Size And Nursing Students' Perception Of Empowerment, Cynthia T. Keane

Master's Projects

Due to increases in enrollment and budget cuts in many states, college class sizes are reaching unprecedented sizes (Carpenter, 2006). Nursing schools are facing the same challenges. Only limited research has been conducted on the effects of class size on nursing students' perception of empowerment Conger (1989) defines empowerment as the act of reinforcing one's belief in his or her perception of competence. Empowerment is important for nursing students' education (Chally, 1992). To achieve the optimal learning experience in face of increasing class size, it is important to explore how nursing students experience learning in both small and large class …

English Language Acculturation And Academic Achievement Among Junior Year Nursing Students, Leah Lukrich

Master's Projects

Efforts to alleviate the current nursing shortage have focused on recruitment and retention of diverse nursing students. Language acculturation has been identified in the literature as one predictor of academic achievement (Salamonson et al, 2008) PURPOSE: This study examined the relationship between pathophysiology and pharmacology grades and scores on the English Language Acculturation Scale (ELAS) survey for junior-level nursing students (N = 65). The relationship between years living in the United States (U.S.) and pathophysiology and pharmacology grades was examined also. RESULTS: ELAS scores ranged from 7-25, with a mean of22 (SD = 4.27). No statistically significant correlation was found …

Productivity Environmental Preference Survey (Peps) Of Undergraduate Nursing Students - A Generational Perspective, Susana Machado

Master's Projects

A change in the generational demographics of college students is occurring throughout the United States. By 2012, the number of Millennial students, those born from 1982 to 2003, will jump from 44 percent to 75 percent of the total college enrollment. It has been suggested that their methods of learning are different from those of previous generations. The purpose of this study was to identify and compare individual productivity and learning style preferences of undergraduate nursing students that fall into the Generation X and Millennial age cohort. Using the Dunn & Dunn Learning Style Model and the Productivity Environmental Preferences …

Factors Influencing Nurse Faculty's Job Satisfaction And Intent To Stay, Sally Pulver Ruel

Dissertations

This study of nurse faculty examined the relationship of role conflict, role ambiguity, and work role balance, and their influence on job satisfaction and intent to stay in AACN nursing schools offering baccalaureate and higher degree programs within the United States. In light of the current nursing and nursing faculty shortage, this research was undertaken in an attempt to identify statistically significant predictors of job satisfaction and intent to stay in nursing education.

An online survey was conducted over seven weeks during the fall of 2008 and early spring 2009. A stratified random sample of each of the four regions …

Determinants Of Physical Activity Behavior And Self-Efficacy For Exercise Among African American Women, Bridget K. Robinson

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

Background: Inadequate physical activity behavior persists among African American women despite the widely documented benefits of physical activity. Literature notes a positive correlation between self-efficacy for exercise and physical activity behavior. In addition to socioeconomic factors, culturally influenced factors mediate self-efficacy for task such as physical activity. Past studies indicate differing perceptions related to religiosity and body image among African American populations. Additionally, reports indicate Southern and Midwestern states have the highest prevalence of obesity. These states are located in a geographical area known as the Bible belt. Moreover, 73.5% of the African American population in the U. S. resides …

Student Perceptions Of Their Learning Experience In The Clinical Setting: A Pilot Study, Peggy Gnehm

Master's Projects

Clinical experience during nursing education is a valuable learning opportunity, supporting the integration of theory and practice. Positive or negative perceptions of the learning environment potentially affect student retention and recruitment as well as motivation and by extension, possibly learning. The purpose of this pilot study was to explore possible strategies of assessing student perceptions of their overall clinical learning experiences and provide insight into student feelings about specific portions of their experience with goals of nurturing the positive as well as identifying potential areas for improvement within the program. Though students were satisfied overall with their clinical experiences, they …

Views About Health Of Russian-Americans Living In Central California, Mark Fiterman

Master's Projects

This quantitative research explored the health views of Russian-Americans to discover information about the health needs of this population. Data were collected via a demographic form and a tool, SF-36 Health Survey. 46 respondents participated and returned completed packets. Results were scored in eight scales representing two different groups of health measurement, physical health and mental health. The scores for each scale and group were compared to the nonn-based scoring for general U.S. population. The mean for the physical component summary (PCS) was 33.31, and the mean for the mental health summary (MCS) was 48.53 indicating that the physical health …

Depression Among The Elderly: Screening Practices And Attitudes Among Nurse Practitioners, Grace Le

Master's Projects

Purpose: To examine California's nurse practitioners' (NPs) screening practices and attitudes towards depression among the elderly using the Depression Attitude Questionnaire (DAQ) (Botega, Mann, Blizard, & Wilkinson, 1992). Data sources: One hundred and fifty NPs, selected randomly from the membership of the California Association of Nurse Practitioners (CANP), were surveyed with electronic mailed questionnaires. Seventy-five (50%) self-reported surveys were completed and analyzed. Results: The majority of NPs routinely screened for depression among the elderly. Most thought that life events were not important in the development of depression, held a positive view with pharmacological and psychological treatments of depression, and felt …

Characteristics And Outcomes Of Individuals Self-Selecting Yoga Versus Physical Therapy For The Treatment Of Chronic Low Back Pain, Dian Dowling Evans

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

Chronic low back pain (cLBP) is a significant public health problem that is difficult and costly to treat. Determining whether a patient with cLBP will benefit from a particular treatment approach is challenging, since little is understood about the patient characteristics that predict improved treatment outcomes. Understanding these characteristics could reduce treatment failures and costs of care.

This study was designed to explore the demographic, clinical and treatment- related characteristics of individuals self-selecting yoga versus physical therapy (PT) for treatment of cLBP. A growing body of research demonstrates that yoga reduces pain and improves function in persons with cLBP. However, …

The Effects Of Glucose Tolerance, Hypertension, And Race On Heart Rate Variability, Qt Interval Duration, And Left Ventricular Hypertrophy In Overweight-Obese Adolescents, Shirleatha T. Lee

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

The prevalence of childhood obesity has increased remarkably within the past ten years with black youth disproportionately affected. Childhood obesity is linked to cardiovascular risk. Purposes of this study were to explore relationships between cardiac autonomic risk factors of heart rate variability (HRV), QT corrected (QTc) Interval duration, and Cornell voltage measures for left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) to body mass index (BMI), relative body mass index (RBMI), and blood pressure (BP) measures, and to examine the effects of impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), hypertension, and race on these cardiac autonomic risk factors in overweight-obese adolescents.

Methods: Overweight and obese adolescents (N …

Symbiotic Caregivers: A Qualitative Case Study Of African American Custodial Grandparents And Their Grandchildren, Stella Enyichi Nwokeji

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

Data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2005-2007 American Community Survey show that there are 11,436 grandparents in Shelby County, Tennessee, who are responsible for grandchildren. In Memphis only, there are 9,213 grandparents who are responsible for their grandchildren (U.S. Census Bureau, 2000). The Child Welfare League of America (CWLA) 2003 report (2003) showed that 42% of Tennessee grandparents who were responsible for grandchildren who are living with them live in households where the children’s parents are not present. Casper and Bryson (1998) noted that grandparent-headed households are more prevalent in African American communities and are at high risk for poverty. …

Advance Practice Nurses Readiness To Change Assessment Methods In Parents Of Obese Children, Carolyn Leach

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The worldwide epidemic of child and adolescent overweight and obesity continues to increase at disturbing rates. Unhealthy dietary practice is one of multiple causative behaviors leading to child and adolescent overweight and obesity. This behavior can contribute to short and long-term health consequences. Parents are modulators in the development of children's dietary behavior practices. It is recommended clinical practice that pediatric nurse practitioners (PNPs) assess readiness to change behavior in parents of overweight or obese children. The components of the Prochaska and DiClemente's Transtheoretical Model (TTM) in correlation with the counseling style of Rollnick, Miller and Butler's methods of Motivational …

Asthma Severity In School-Children And The Quality Of Life Of Their Parents, Noelle S. Cerdan

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Background . The everyday management of a child with asthma can affect the parent's quality of life. Past studies which examined the effects of asthma characteristics of the child on parental quality of life have not reached a consensus over findings. Few studies examine parent characteristics such as mental health and sociodemographics on the quality of life of parents of asthmatic children.

Purpose . To examine the effect of asthma severity of school-children and sociodemographic characteristics onthe caregiver's quality of life. It also investigates whether agreement exists between the caregiver's perception of asthma severity and physician-diagnosed asthma severity.

Methodology . …

Stories, Ethics And The Interpretation Of Meaning: Bearing Witness To Mothers' Stories Of Their Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Experience, Angela Chisum Blackburn

Dissertations

This study grounded in narrative perspectives was conducted to uncover mothers' experience of having a baby in the Neonatal intensive Care Unit (NICU). The purpose of this study was to describe and interpret mothers NICU experiences, and to sensitize health care professionals about the importance of mothers' personal experience stories.

The NICU experience began with mothers' birth experience or the incident that led up to her infant requiring care in the NICU and her experience extended beyond the NICU with future concerns about the health and wellbeing of her baby.

Stories of mothers' experience were gleaned from data generated from …

Volume 02, Joseph A. Mann, Kathryn J. Greenly, Scott E. Jenkins, Andrew E. Puckette, Daniel M. Honey, Jeffery P. Ravenhorst, Jamie Elizabeth Mesrobian, Thomas Scott, Jay Crowell, Sarah Spangenberg, Amy S. Eason, Kenny Wolfe, Liz Hale, Rachel Bouchard, Will Semonco, Carley York, Ryan Higgenbothom, Adrienne Heinbaugh, Melissa Dorton, Madeline Hunter, June Ashmore, Clark Barkley, Jay Haley

Incite: The Journal of Undergraduate Scholarship

Introduction from Dean Dr. Charles Ross

Mike's Nite: New Jazz for an Old Instrument by Joseph A. Mann

Investigation of the use of Cucumis Sativus for Remediation Of Chromium from Contaminated Environmental Matrices: An Interdisciplinary Instrumental Analysis Project by Kathryn J. Greenly, Scott E. Jenkins, and Andrew E. Puckette

Development of GC-MS and Chemometric Methods for the Analysis of Accelerants in Arson Cases by Scott Jenkins

Building and Measuring Scalable Computing Systems by Daniel M. Honey and Jeffery P. Ravenhorst

Nomini Hall: A Case Study in the Use of Archival Resources as Guides for Excavation at An Archaeological Site by …

An Examination Of Alcohol Use In The Gastric Bypass Patient, Kathleen Winston Phd, Msn, Rn

Dissertations

Introduction: Obesity and morbid obesity, along with their co-morbidities, are impacting the national and international healthcare delivery systems and policy agendas. Bariatric surgery is a dynamic and fast-changing medical and surgical practice designed to mitigate the consequences of 60 million obese adults in the United States alone. Alcohol consumption after gastric bypass surgery presents potential physiological and psychological problems. Purpose: Examine the prevalence and incidence of increased alcohol consumption among a group of post-gastric bypass patients; identify the relationship of the alcohol use with time since surgery, psychosocial issues (depressive symptomatology, anxiety, coping) and demographic variables. Theoretical Framework: Coping serves …

Utilizing Community Based Participatory Research To Address Health Literacy Issues: An Example In Southeastern Mn, Jennifer A. Weis

Theses and Graduate Projects

Low health literacy interferes with an individual's ability to reduce and treat preventable diseases. Given the spectrum of disease burden throughout the US, there are a number of important health topics deserving of our immediate attention in order to improve the public's health literacy. Overweight and obesity have surfaced as societal topics and any quest to improve health literacy must address these growing problems as they are likely to contribute to disease prevention and improved disease management. Unfortunately, the growing problem of overweight and obesity is not restricted to adults. America's youth are also experiencing epidemic rates of overweight and …

Teaching Effective Pain Management Of Acute Thoracic Postoperative Pain In Chronic Pain Patients, Sheila L. Hoehn

Theses and Graduate Projects

This thesis will address the growing demand for the development of best practice initiatives when nurses care for patients experiencing acute postoperative pain while already coping with long-term chronic pain. The growing use of preoperative opioids has contributed to the incidence of escalated and unrelieved pain following a Thoracic surgical procedure. This occurrence continues to increase as the preoperative usage of opioids for medical and non-medical reasons is rising. The focus of addressing the challenges for providing adequate and individualized analgesia will be reviewed. Specific emphasis and analysis will be provided regarding current pain theories and recent nursing research that …