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Efficacy Of Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner Evidence Collection: A Northern Michigan Study, Camille J. Griswold

Masters Theses

King’s Theory of Goal Attainment provided the basis for this descriptive, two group comparison study design to determine if sexual assault evidence kits prepared by sexual assault nurse examiners (SANE) would be more complete than evidence kits prepared by non-sexual assault nurse examiners. A convenience sample of 100 evidence kits (41 SANE and 59 non-SANE) were analyzed using the Evidence Kit Audit Tool consisting of 18 questions that reflect the standards for submission of evidence.

The kits submitted by SANEs were significantly (t=5.6, df=71, p<.001) more complete (mean=93%) than those completed by non-SANEs (mean=77%). Corrected Chi-square comparisons of the two groups on whether or not individual items of evidence were complete indicated significant differences in 11 out of 18 items. A higher percentage of SANEs completed each item. Therefore, the hypothesis of sexual assault evidence kits prepared by a SANE will be more complete than sexual assault kits prepared by a non-SANE was supported.

Impact Of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (Adhd) On Parents And Children: What Are The Lived Experiences Of A Parent With A Child With Adhd?, Deborah K. Taylor

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to seek a fuller understanding of and to identify and describe the underlying themes of the lived experiences of a parent with a child with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The Husserelian phenomenological and Giorgi methods of research were utilized in this study. Four meanings emerged: 1) discovery, 2) searching for control, 3) struggling for normalization/overcoming obstacles, and 4) hope. The synthesized structural description of the experience that emerged was described as an emotional experience that progressed in stages that were cyclic and ongoing in nature. The data suggests that chronic sorrow, as it …

Does The Method Of Treating Bacterial Vaginosis In Early Pregnancy Affect The Re-Occurrence Rate Near Term?, Karen Taylor

Masters Theses

There is no significant difference in the relationship between oral or vaginal metronidazole and oral clindamycin in the treatment of bacterial vaginosis (BV) in early pregnancy and the re-occurrence rate of BV at 35 to 37 weeks gestation. Treatment of BV in pregnancy has been shown to decrease the preterm delivery rate saving millions of dollars and improving the health of infants. This was a descriptive, correlational study using a retrospective chart review. A constructed checklist was used for collecting data from 186 charts.

Age, parity, and insurance were comparable in each of the three drug groups. The re-occurrence rate …

Concurrence Of Decreases In Barometric Pressure And Spontaneous Rupture Of Membranes In Term Gravid Women, Linda M. Owen

Masters Theses

A retrospective design was used to examine the relationship between spontaneous rupture of membranes in term gestation gravid women and decreased barometric pressure of ten millibars or greater in the twenty-four hours proceeding the rupture of membranes. Delivery logbooks and charts of all women who were admitted to a Midwestern Hospital in 1997-1998 with spontaneous rupture of membranes (N-533) were examined and data from the Midwest Climate Center was utilized to determine the changes in barometric pressure within the twenty-four hours proceeding the documented rupture of membranes.

No correlation was elucidated between the timing of spontaneous rupture of the amniotic …

Quality Of Life In The Hospice Patient, Sidney S. Brush

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to determine if terminally ill patients experience a change in perceived quality of life between admission to a hospice program and after having been in the hospice program for three weeks.

A repeated measures design with a convenience sample was used The sample consisted of 56 subjects who completed the Missoula-Vitas Quality of Life Index (MVQOLI). Twenty completed the second MVQOLL Data were obtained from the scores of this self-assessment tool. Data analysis included a comparison of the relationship of the first and repeated scores. No significant differences were found between the MVQOLI scores …

Early Nursing Interventions And Their Effect On Fatigue In Patients Receiving Chemotherapy, Karla J. Baker

Masters Theses

Fatigue is the number one side effect that patients experience when they receive chemotherapy. They do not always expect it or know what to do when it effects their entire life. This study described the affect of early nursing interventions on fatigue caused by chemotherapy. This descriptive, two group comparative study used a convenience sample of patients, receiving chemotherapy for the first time, to determine the degree of fatigue they experienced. A tool by Barbara Piper RN (1997) was used to describe the effect of early intervention on fatigue experienced by cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Internal consistency of this tool …

The Experience Of Nurse Practitioners With Peer Support: A Phenomenological Study, Carol J. Prinzo

Masters Theses

As nurse practitioners move into non traditional roles they sometimes lack a social and professional support. Lack of peer support can cause a feeling of isolation and frustration for advanced practice nurses.

The purpose of this phenomenological qualitative study was to discover the lived experience of nurse practitioners with peer support. Four nurse practitioners described their experiences. These descriptions were analyzed for meaning using the Girogi method.

Four common themes emerged: support throughout the educational process, professional support, support from family and friends and frustration. The description of peer support was unique according to level of experience, practice setting and …

Fetal Infant Mortality In Kalamazoo, Lisa A. Wullschleger

Masters Theses

The purpose of this retrospective study was to examine the incidence rates of five pre-selected perinatal variables that existed within the white and non-white groups of fetal, infant deaths that occurred in Kalamazoo County between January 1, 1995 and December 31, 1997. The variables were prenatal care, birth weight, estimated weeks of gestation, and maternal, fetal, infant medical complications. The question posed was as follows: Is there a difference in incidence rates of the variables between the white and non-white perinatal deaths in Kalamazoo County?

A sample size of 50 cases was studied. Kotelchuck's instrument tool (1994), the Adequacy of …

Needs Of Families Of Severe Traumatic Brain Injured Individuals During The Critical Care Experience, Victoria L. Meyers

Masters Theses

Traumatic brain injury occurs without warning, disrupts the life of the individual and family, causing stress. The purpose of this descriptive study was three part: to identify the needs of families of severe traumatic brain injured (TBI) individuals during the critical care experience, to identify who met those needs, and to obtain qualitative data regarding nursing care. Family Systems Theory provided the theoretical framework to support this study.

A convenience sample from a large Midwestern teaching institution consisted of 28 family members of severe TBI individuals. The sample received by mail a demographic profile, a questionnaire (Critical Care Family Needs …

The Relationship Of Selected Health Beliefs And Exercise Adherence 8 To 12 Months After A Cardiac Event, Jill Stone

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to examine differences between health beliefs and cardiac exercise adherence at 6-12 weeks after a cardiac event as compared to 8-12 months post event. Twenty five subjects participated at time one and time two by answering mailed questionnaires designed to measure perceived benefits, perceived barriers, self-efficacy, exercise adherence, and demographic data.

Data analysis did not reveal a significant difference in exercise adherence or perceived benefits, but results did support a statistically significant difference in perceived barriers (p=.02) and self-efficacy (p=.03) from time one to time two. Subjects perceived higher levels of barriers related to …

Reporting Misconduct : A Descriptive Study Of Whistleblowing In Nursing, Sally Mcdonald

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

This research examined the effects of whistleblowing and non-whistleblowing on nurses in Western Australia. A descriptive survey design was used to explore the physical, emotional and professional effects experienced by nurses who blew the whistle and nurses who did not blow the whistle on misconduct. This study also examined the effective and ineffective coping behaviours reported by participants. A questionnaire was developed based on Lazarus and Folkman's Stress/Coping model and mailed to 500 nurses in Western Australia. Of these, 100 returned the completed questionnaire, indicating a response rate of 20%. Ninety-five respondents wereincluded in the study; 70 were self-identified as …

The Effect Of Nursing Interventions On Thermoregulation And Neuromotor Function In Very Low Birthweight Infants, Leanne Monterosso

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

The prone position is used routinely in neonatal intensive care units worldwide in the nursing of preterm infants because of reported beneficial psychological effects This position can, however, lead to development of flattened posture very low birthweight (VLBW) infants and contributes to both short and longer term implications for functional motor development of upper and lower extremities. To date limited research has been undertaken to investigate methods of reducing flattened posture and its related negative outcomes temperature instability is also a problem for VLBW infants and no nappy exists that meets postural size and thermoregulation requirements. The purpose of this …

Factors That Malawian Adolescents From Co-Educational Secondary Schools Of Lilongwe And Mchinji Identity As Affecting Their Ability To Discuss Sexual Issues, Susan K. Geloo

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

The purpose of this study was to explore the factors Malawian adolescents from co-educational secondary schools identified as affecting their ability to discuss sexual issues. A sample of 149 adolescent students from the coeducational secondary schools of Lilongwe and Mchinji districts was surveyed. Their ages ranged from 14-18 years of age. The schools and participants were chosen using cluster-sampling and data were obtained via a questionnaire. The questionnaire comprised of demographic variables, sources of sexual information, participant's sexual life, the sexual issues participants consider important and their ability to communicate sexual issues comfortably with different community members. Data were analysed …

Parental Grief Responses To Perinatal Loss, Lisa M. Peacock

Masters Theses

An exploratory, descriptive design was used to examine parental grief and coping responses to perinatal loss. Florence Selder's Life Transition Theory (1989) was used as the conceptual fiamework. A survey approach was used for data collection. This included basic demographic questions, the Perinatal Bereavement Scale and the Jalowiec Coping Scale. A convenience sample was obtained, consisting of 24 women and 6 men in northern Michigan communities who had experienced a perinatal loss at some time in the past. Data were collected by an anonymous mailed survey. The results of the study revealed that all parents in this sample did exhibit …

Entry-Level Competencies Needed By Bsns In Acute Healthcare Agencies In Tennessee In The Next Ten Years, Marjorie S. King

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The research focused on the identification of entry-level competencies needed by Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) graduates who will begin employment in acute healthcare agencies in the next 10 years in Tennessee. The purpose of the study was to gain increased awareness of the competencies needed by graduates of BSN programs in Tennessee in order to meet the demands of the acute healthcare agencies, in light of present and anticipated changes in the healthcare delivery system. The opinions of nurse educators, nurse administrators, recently graduated BSNs, and experienced BSN graduates were solicited to assess congruency of perceptions. In addition, …

Culturally Congruent Care: Predictors Of Patient Satisfaction Among Adult Mexican Americans, Shannon Marie Dowdall, Alma Rosa Flores, Karyn Elizabeth Taplay

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

Predictors of patient satisfaction among hospitalized adult Mexican Americans were examined in this pilot study. Acculturation as determined by the Acculturation Rating Scale for Mexican Americans-II (ARSMA-II), ethnicity of the nurse, age, gender, socioeconomic status, level of education and marital status were examined as predictors of patient satisfaction. Patient satisfaction was measured by the Patient Satisfaction Inventory (PSI). The pilot study was conducted in an acute care setting in the lower Rio Grande Valley, where 81 participants provided the data. The questionnaires were offered in both English and Spanish. Two qualitative questions were asked regarding the patients' perception of culturally …

Religiosity And Sexual Activity Among Older Adolescents, Richard J. Fehring, Kerry H. Cheever, Karyn German, Connie Philpot

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

This study investigates religiosity, sexual activity, and sexual permissiveness among older adolescents. Eighty-two college students completed a survey that measured religiosity, sexual permissiveness, self-esteem, frequency of recent sexual encounters, and motivators for sexual activity or abstinence. Guilt, prayer, organized religious activity, and religious well-being predicted fewer sexual encounters. Orthodox beliefs, participation in organized religious activities, and highly-rated importance of faith predicted less permissive sexual attitudes. We conclude that guilt and religious activity can be good motivators for decreasing sexual encounters. We recommend that health practitioners encourage participation in religious activity among adolescents.

Acts Of Resistance: Nurses' Personal Narratives, Maryanne Garon Dnsc

Dissertations

Acts of resistance can be expressions of creativity, protest or non-cooperation by oppressed groups. Resistance is seen as always present in the face of domination. Acts of resistance can help us to understand how the powerless mediate power relations, and they can actually give hope to the powerless. This study looked at the issues of power and resistance through critical and feminist perspective. A central concept of feminist theory is that women, and thus nurses as a women's profession, are oppressed. This study looked at female nurses' acts of resistance, which were defined as speaking up or taking action about …

The Differences In Health Beliefs And The Frequency Of Mammograms Among Older Women, Angela E. Hall

Master's Projects

Increasing age is the primary risk factor for breast cancer, yet older women underutilize mammography for early detection. The purpose of this study was to explore any differences in perceived benefits, perceived barriers, and physician recommendation rate between older women who do and those who do not follow current mammogram screening guidelines. A convenience sample of women over 65 years old (N = 70), completed the Health Belief Model questionnaire on mammography. The findings indicate a statistical difference in the perceived benefits to mammograms between the two groups (t = 2.72, p = .008). There was no statistical difference in …

Conceptual Metaphor In The Health Care Culture, Cheryl D. Glennon Dnsc, Ms, Rn

Dissertations

The conceptual metaphor has meaning only when understood within the cultural framework which gives rise to the conceptualization. The purpose of this study was to investigate the interaction of cognition (conceptual metaphor) and culture as manifest during intercultural communication in teaching-learning sessions between health care providers and patients. An ethnography of communication (Hymes, 1974; Saville-Troike, 1989) was the method employed to investigate the use of metaphor by patients, nurses and other health care professionals. Patients were viewed as a sojourner group in the health care culture; nurses and their health care partners were seen as a host group. Data were …

The Effects Of Personalized Dietary Education On Glycosylated Hemoglobin Levels In Adult Diabetic Patients, Lacey Gentry

MSN Research Projects

Diabetes mellitus is a complex and multifactorial disease process with numerous debilitating outcomes if improperly managed. This chronic illness requires continuing medical care and education to prevent acute exacerbations and to reduce the risk of long-term complications. The primary manifestation, hyperglycemia, can be the result of various elements. One major cause of hyperglycemia is inappropriate dietary intake which results in detrimental short- and long­ term effects. A glycosylated hemoglobin measurement can be utilized as a marker in monitoring long-term glycémie control. This quasi-experimental study examined the effect of personalized dietary education on glycosylated hemoglobin levels in adult diabetic patients. The …

Coping Mechanisms Of Older Adults With Diabetic Foot Ulcers, Mary M. Snuggs

MSN Research Projects

Diabetic foot problems are a significant cause of foot and limb amputation (Dorgan, Birke, Moretto, Patout, & Rehm, 1995). Because o f the devastating physical and psychological effects of amputation, aggressive treatment o f diabetic foot problems is warranted to prevent loss o f limb. Promotion o f effective coping is one successful method o f therapeutic treatment. According to nursing theorist Betty Neuman (1995), effective coping with external stressors is imperative for an individual’s health, harmony, and personal integrity. This study was conducted to describe the coping mechanisms o f older adults with diabetic foot ulcers. The research question …

Physical Fitness Perceptions And Exercise Participation Of Older Adults, Kristi J. Spruell

MSN Research Projects

The purpose of this descriptive exploratory study was twofold: to determine if older adults are exercising and to examine their perceptions of physical fitness. Nola J. Pender's Health Promotion Model provided the theoretical framework for this study. The following research questions guided the study: (1) Are older adults participating in adequate exercise?; (2) Do older adults perceive themselves as physically fit?; (3) Do older adults perceive motivators to exercise?; and (4) Do older adults perceive barriers to exercise? A convenience sample of 40 adults, ages fifty and above, was obtained from a primary care clinic in a suburban area in …

Congestive Heart Failure Clients' Knowledge Level About Self-Care Measures, Phyllis Savage

MSN Research Projects

Almost 5 million Americans are living with congestive heart failure (CHF) today with over 400,000 new cases diagnosed annually (American Heart Association, 1997; National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, 1996; Konstam et al., 1994). Despite medical advances, mortality rates remain high for CHF. Lack of knowledge was cited as a frequent cause of clients' noncompliance with prescribed self-care regimen. Client education has been indicated as beneficial in promoting a better self-understanding of CHF. In order to successfully provide education to CHF clients, health care providers must first be able to assess clients' prior knowledge about the condition. The purpose of …

Grief Experiences Of Widowed Women Based On Length Of Bereavement, Brenda Shelton

MSN Research Projects

Death of a spouse is a stressful life event that carries the increased threat of illness developing as a consequence. Spousal loss is a situation that primarily affects women because women usually live longer than men and most wives are younger than their husbands. As widowhood affects more women then men, there is a need for understanding patterns of grief reactions in women. The focus of this descriptive study was to compare the differences in grief experiences of widowed women based on length of bereavement. The purpose of this study was to examine the differences in grief experiences by women …

The Effect Of An Educational Intervention On Adolescents' Knowledge And Attitudes About Violence, Jean E. Szorady

MSN Research Projects

Violent injury is among the leading causes of death in adolescents. Adolescents' immaturity and underdeveloped impulse control put them at risk of acting rashly, thus at higher risk for violent injury. This significant public health problem is a preventive objective of Healthy People 2000. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of an educational intervention on adolescents' knowledge and attitudes about violence. The nurse practitioner in a school or family clinic is in a unique position to intervene with adolescent clients using an educational intervention. Orem's Self-Care Deficit Theory served as the theoretical framework for the research. …

Outcomes Of An Educational Program On The Knowledge Level Of Shaken Baby Syndrome Among Adolescent Babysitters, Mickey White Parks

MSN Research Projects

Shaken baby syndrome is a form of child abuse that exhibits no external sign of injury. A recent study by Starling, Holden, and Jenny (1995) indicated that approximately 3 0% of the perpetrators were nonparental child caregivers. The purpose of this study was to determine if there were differences in the knowledge level of shaken baby syndrome among adolescent babysitters before and after an educational intervention. The nursing theory. Modeling and Role-Modeling, was used to guide this study. Data were collected from a convenience and network sample consisting of 21 adolescents aged 12 to 17 years who reside in suburban …

Screening For Domestic Violence By Nurse Practitioners In The Primary Care Setting, Patricia A. Plant

MSN Research Projects

Domestic violence produces major health care problems for women. The prevalence and serious nature of this problem mandates recognition and intervention. Research has demonstrated that health care providers either overlook or fail to recognize or address potential domestic violence issues and situations during health care encounters. This descriptive study was designed to examine the screening practices of nurse practitioners for domestic violence certified and practicing in Louisiana. The theoretical framework for the research was based on the Health Promotion Model (Pender, 1987), which focuses on the integration of health-promoting behavior into lifestyles. The research question for this study was as …

The Effect Of An Educational Intervention On Adolescents' Knowledge And Attitudes About Violence, Jean E. Szorady

MSN Research Projects

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of an educational intervention on adolescents' knowledge and attitudes about violence.

Nurse Practitioners' Developmental Screening And Referral Practices For Children With Developmental Delays, Terri Chisolm Smith

MSN Research Projects

This descriptive study explored developmental screening and referral practices of pediatric and family nurse practitioners for children with developmental delays.