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A Comparison Between Emergency Nursing Stress And Completion Of The Emergency Nursing Pediatric Course, Sheryl L. Veurink-Balicki

Masters Theses

A descriptive, retrospective, correlational study design was used to determine emergency nurses’ perceptions of stress before and after completion of the Emergency Nursing Pediatric Course (ENPC). A sample of 93 randomly chosen emergency nurses completed the Modified Clinical Stress Questionnaire.

Using the paired t-test, differences were found between the before and after mean scores on stress, threat, and challenge (p < .01). Scores were lower after ENPC for stress and threat, but higher for challenge. The t-test was used to compare the mean scores of nurses with and without certification in emergency nursing. The only significant difference between the two groups was on the threat score after ENPC, with the certified group reporting lower perception of threat (t = -2.40, p = .02). Overall, lower perception of stress was reported in all groups following ENPC.

Psychiatric Nurses' Perceptions Of Their Social Support, Elizabeth V.L. Howell

Masters Theses

This study investigated psychiatric nurses’ perceptions of their social support while working in a public psychiatric hospital. A descriptive correlational research design using a mailed self-administered questionnaire was employed for this study. Data collection and measurement of the phenomenon of perceived social support was done using the Norbeck Social Support Questionnaire (Norbeck, Lindsey, & Carrieri, 1995). The sample consisted of 57 registered nurses who had been employed for at least six months.

Data analyses consisted of reporting means, standard deviations, percentages, and range of scores for perceived social support. Results indicated emotional support (affect and affirmation) rated the highest among …

Rural Women's Participation In Breast Self-Examination, Joni L. Erlewein

Masters Theses

A descriptive, correlation design was used to examine the relationship between the Health Belief Model (HBM) variables and breast self-examination (BSE) in a population of rural women. Champion's HBM Scale (1993) was given at a cancer screening clinic (n=127). The construct validity for this instrument was established by Champion and alpha reliability for subscales ranged from .74 to .91 in this study.

Logistical regression was performed using the HBM variables of perceived susceptibility, seriousness, benefits, barriers, health motivation, and confidence. Barriers and confidence made a significant difference in BSE performance among the subjects in this study.

Women with friend or …

Parental Factors Affecting Child Restraint Device Use In Children Ages 3-5 Years, Peggy Sue Meulenberg

Masters Theses

Motor vehicle accidents are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in children. Although Michigan law requires all children to be restrained, many children remain unrestrained or improperly restrained. The purpose of this study was to determine how preschool children are restrained and to examine where parents obtain information on restraining techniques. A descriptive study utilizing a newly developed questionnaire was performed. The Health Belief Model served as the conceptual framework. A significant relationship was found between parents who wore their seat belts all the time and the child being restrained. Most parents restrained their child by a lap and …

The Effect Of Discharge Intervention Provided By An Advanced Practice Nurse On The Post-Discharge Self-Care Agency Of Clients Admitted With Congestive Heart Failure, Theresa Dawson

Masters Theses

This study used a quasi-experimental design using a two-group comparison to evaluate the effects of advanced practice nurse interventions on client compliance to self-care regimens (diet, meds, and established appointments). The conceptual framework was based upon Dorothea Orem's Self-Care Model.

This study used the premise of Ashby's (1988) "Self-Care Outcome Measurement" tool to ascertain the frequency of the clients'performance of self-care activities. The frequency was measured using a 4-point summated rating scale. The study site was a 400 bed acute care hospital in Southcentral Michigan. The convenience sample of 10 adult clients with congestive heart failure were interviewed by phone …

The Effect Of An Environment Modification On Fear Of Falling In Institutionalized Older Persons, Joann L. Munski

Masters Theses

The purpose of this investigation was to examine the effect of an environmental modification on fear of falling in institutionalized older persons. A pretest-post-test experimental design was used to analyze data collected on 40 residents of a long term care facility. The subjects were randomly assigned to either experimental or control groups. Fear of falling was measured by Dayhoflf Baird, Bennett, & Backer’s Falling Questionnaire (1994). The experimental group received an environmental modification. The Pull, in their living area for six weeks while the control group did not receive any intervention. T-test and analysis of covariance were used to test …

Correlation Of Emergency Department Nurses' Beliefs About Wife Abuse And The Use Of Carative Factors In Transpersonal Interactions With Abused Wives, Judith A. Baker

Masters Theses

Emergency department nurses from seven general hospitals were surveyed to elicit information on their beliefs about wife abuse (using the Inventory of Beliefs about Wife-Beating) and their self-reported behaviors with clients who may be physically abused. They were asked about beliefs about institutional and peer attitudes toward caring for abused wives. Information on the nurses’ education about and experience with wife abuse was gathered. Data were summarized to provide descriptive statistics regarding beliefs and behaviors. High levels of caring behaviors were reported. Analysis of correlation between beliefs and behaviors was conducted. Significant findings were correlations between caring behaviors and the …

Rural Palliative Care Nursing: A Modified Grounded Theory Study, Ruth Mcconigley

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

This paper presents the findings of a study of rural palliative care nurses in Western Australia. The numbers of rural centres in Western Australia offering palliative care services are increasing; however at present there is little empirical data available about the roles of the nurses involved. This study was undertaken to begin to correct this deficit. The study examines basic social processes associated with the role of rural palliative care nurses and identities issues that affect the nurses’ professional practice. A modified grounded theory approach was used to form a conceptual framework that describes rural palliative care nursing. Theoretical sampling …

A Comparative Study Of Nursing And Non-Nursing Majors Knowledge And Attitudes Toward Hiv And Aids At The Sophomore And Senior Level, Diana R. Lubandi

Electronic Dissertations and Theses

The primary purpose of this study was to examine the impact of a baccalaureate nursing program on the knowledge and attitudes of United States nursing students towards HIV/AIDS. Mathematics and engineering majors were used as a comparison group and to control the threats to internal validity of history and maturation. Data for this study was obtained using an AIDS Knowledge Scale and an AIDS Attitude Scale in the form of questionnaires. A convenience sample of 103 students comprised of 30 sophomore nursing students, 34 senior nursing students, 16 sophomore Non nursing students and 23 senior non-nursing students was utilized. The …

Maternal Age: Influence On Length Of Gestation And Birth Weight, Charlotte Bratcher

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The findings indicated no significant differences among the age groups in relation to infant birth weight nor in relation to the risk factors of smoking, maternal weight gain, trimester of first entry into prenatal care, or marital status They did indicate a significant difference [F(2,85) = 4.1364, p < .05] between the oldest and the youngest group (CD = 3.37, a = .05) in relation to gestational length. These findings are significant for healthcare providers in rural areas, since much of the previous research had been done in highly urbanized or inner city settings.

Characteristics And Resource Utilization Of Patients Of A Proprietary Home Health Agency In Rural South Central Kentucky, Linda Sewell

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The home health industry's introduction to managed care raises the prospect of reduced access to health care and poor outcomes for a vulnerable segment of our population—the rural elderly. Before effective intervention strategies can be accurately evaluated, a clearer picture of the sociodemographic features and home care service consumption is needed for this understudied group. The study was intended to provide a basis for future research into the evaluation of alternative methods of delivering effective care in terms of outcome and decreased cost for this population. A retrospective descriptive analysis was made of the patient record for the first six …

Personality Types Of Registered Nurses Employed In A Rural Community Hospital, Tina Snodgrass

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The purpose of this study was to identify the personality types of registered nurses in a rural community. An extensive literature review revealed that no studies, utilizing the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) to identify personality types, had been conducted with rural nurses. Jung's Psychological Type Theory was the theoretical framework for the study. The MBTI operationalizes Jung's theory and was utilized to determine the most frequently occurring personality types of the nurses. A descriptive study was conducted at a 68 bed acute care hospital. The sample consisted of 40 experienced registered nurses working in staff positions within the hospital. Sensing, …

The Relationship Between Health Locus Of Control And Health Behaviors Of Women Who Have Undergone Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting, Heather Ferrillo

Nursing Master’s Theses and Projects

Due to the increasing number of women who are diagnosed with heart disease and who are undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting, it is important to explore the psychosocial aspects involved in the recovery process of these women. This study examined the relationship between locus of control and health behaviors of women who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting.

Patient Satisfaction With A Nurse Managed Lipid Clinic, Memuna Ali

Master's Projects

The purpose of this study was to determine patient satisfaction with a nurse managed lipid clinic. This study investigated the effect of gender, age, level of education, and physical health on patient satisfaction. Measuring patient satisfaction has been regarded as the method of choice for obtaining patient views about their care. Fifty patients completed a survey rating various aspects of the lipid clinic. The results provided evidence that high level of satisfaction existed with the nurse managed clinic and there was no significant variation with gender, age, level of education or physical health of patients. Nurse Practitioners have been successfully …

An Evaluation Of The Efficacy Of Selected Nonpharmacologic Pain Interventions In Infants, Cindy Smith Greenberg Dnsc, Ms, Rn, Cpnp

Dissertations

Infants subjected to painful stimuli respond with deleterious physiologic and metabolic effects, behavioral changes, and potentially long term effects on painful stimuli processing and response. There are few studies that address effective pain interventions for infants, particularly those interventions that staff nurses can implement independently. Interventions must be identified and their effectiveness must be validated for this vulnerable population. Pharmacologic management of pain may cause deleterious side effects and needs to be ordered by physicians or nurse practitioners. Nonpharmacologic methods to manage pain can usually be implemented by staff nurses independently. This study evaluated the efficacy of two nonpharmacologic pain …

Nurses Alumni Association Bulletin, Fall 1997, Betty Piersol, Elizabeth K. Prisnock, Marian E. Smith, Margaret Summers, Sue Henrie-Strup, Maureen Mcvail

Nursing Alumni Bulletins

1997-1998 Meeting Dates Calendar

1998 Annual Luncheon-Meeting Notice

Officers and Committee Chairs

Bulletin Publication Committee

1997-1998 Meeting Dates Calendar

The President's Message

Treasurer's Report

Trivia and News About Our Graduates

Highlights of 1997

Keeping Kids Healthy After Hours

Scholarship Funds At Work

Tribute to Tanya

Medical Mission Outreach 1996

History Of The Jefferson Pin

Facts Not Fiction

Rib Ticklers

Mama Will Protect Me

Happy Birthday

Fiftieth Anniversary

Resume of Minutes of Alumni Association Meetings

Alumni Office News

Committee Reports

• Bulletin
• By-Laws
• Development
• Diploma School of Nursing Alumni Association-Mabel C. Prevost Scholarship Fund
• Nominating
• Relief Fund
• Satellite
• Social
• Scholarship

Luncheon Photos …

Hiv Transmission Risk Behaviors Of Hiv-Positive Adolescents In Mississippi, Kristi A. Henderson

MSN Research Projects

Risk behaviors for transmission of the human immunodeficiency virus are prevalent among adolescents. One outcome of continued participation in risk behaviors is increased prevalence of HIV. Based on Fishbein and Ajzen's Theory of Reasoned Action (1975), a descriptive design was utilized to examine, the following research question: What are the HIV transmission risk behaviors of HIV-positive adolescents? The Henderson Risk Behavior Participation Survey was utilized to examine HIV transmission risk behaviors among adolescents already infected with HIV. The sample for this study was comprised of 24 adolescents age 11 to 21 years who were drawn from two infectious disease clinics …

Nurse Practitioners' Attitudes Toward Substance Abuse, Anabel P. Pereda

MSN Research Projects

Substance abuse is a major health problem in the United States today. The prevalence of the problem in primary health care settings mandates examination of the nurse practitioner's attitudes toward substance abuse. Research has demonstrated that the attitude of the health care provider toward the substance abuser can affect the level and quality of care rendered. This descriptive study was designed to examine the attitudes of nurse practitioners certified and practicing in Mississippi. Pender's revised Health Promotion Model was utilized as the theoretical framework for the study. The research question asked in this study was : What are the attitudes …

A Phenomenological Inquiry Of Nurse Transition To Family-Centered Perinatal Nursing, Paula Kaye Lilja Dnsc, Msn, Rn

Dissertations

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to obtain a better understanding of how nurses caring for perinatal patients and their families view their clinical practice role after experiencing the transition from traditional maternity care to family-centered perinatal nursing. The volunteer participants in the study were 13 female registered nurses employed on a family-centered perinatal unit in one of four hospital settings. The researcher conducted unstructured interviews with the participants and analyzed the qualitative data. The history of the transition and the context in which the family-centered perinatal nursing model was being practiced are presented. Two major features of the …

Risk Factors Associated With Coronary Artery Disease In Individuals After Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery, Deborah Benderman King

MSN Research Projects

Since the early 1960s coronary artery disease (CAD) has been the nation's leading killer of middle-aged men. Even with development of coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery, the recurrence rate remains high. The research question addressed in this descriptive study was what risk factors associated with CAD can be identified in individuals after CABG surgery? Using Becker's Health Belief Model as a theoretical framework, a convenience sample of 69 postoperative CABG clients from a rural Mississippi cardiac rehabilitation program completed researcher-developed surveys. Descriptive analysis identified the following risk factors in the sample : Forty-three (63%) of subjects reported eating fried …

Coping Mechanisms Utilized By Women Survivors Of Breast Cancer, Elizabeth Polk Thomas

MSN Research Projects

The suspected and confirmed diagnosis of breast cancer evokes feelings of fear, anxiety, guilt, frustration, and vulnerability in an individual. A woman diagnosed with breast cancer may utilize a variety of coping mechanisms. This descriptive study sought to identify the most common and most effective coping mechanisms utilized by women survivors of breast cancer answering the following research question: Which coping mechanisms are most effective and most frequently utilized by women survivors of breast cancer? This study used the theory of Lazarus and Folkman (1984) as a framework for understanding coping. The final sample (N = 20) consisted of women …

Relationship Between Selected Demographic Variables And Self-Esteem In Female Adolescents In The Rural South, Denise Tennison

MSN Research Projects

Self-esteem is recognized as a basic personality- characteristic of positive and productive behavior. The view the adolescent female has of herself is of utmost importance and may have an impact on behavior, achievement, social functioning, and physical and emotional health. The purpose of this study was to determine whether there was a relationship between sociodemographic variables and self-esteem in adolescent females. Roy's Adaptation Model was used to guide this descriptive correlation investigation. Data were collected from a sample of 3 0 adolescent females from a small rural high school in East Central Mississippi. Participants were surveyed using the Rosenberg Self-Esteem …

Health Beliefs And Practices Among African American Men Concernign Prostate Cancer Screening, Beverly A. Howard

MSN Research Projects

African American men have the highest incidence of prostate cancer in the United States and the world (American Cancer Society [ACS], 1996). Nevertheless, studies have indicated that African American men are the least likely to participate in prostate cancer screening programs (Myers, Wolfe, Balshem, Ross, & Chodak 1994; Underwood, 1991). Many researchers have hypothesized that health beliefs influence health practices. Therefore, this study examines the health beliefs and practices among African American men concerning prostate cancer screening. Becker's Health Belief Model was used as the conceptual framework for this study. The research questions examined the health beliefs and practices among …

The Effect Of An Osteoporosis Health Promotion Education Program For Perimenopausal And Postmenopausal Women, Donna G. Cobb

MSN Research Projects

Development of osteoporosis has been a major concern for women who are menopausal since this bone disorder is a major cause of fractures in the spine, hip, wrist, and other bones. A relationship has been suggested between osteoporosis prevention and health-promoting behaviors, yet little is known about the attitudinal variables that may predict osteoporosis preventive behaviors among menopausal women. The purpose of this research was to evaluate the effect of an educational program on behaviors related to osteoporosis prevention. A pre-experimental design was used to test the null hypothesis; There will be no difference in health promotion behaviors of women …

Coping Strategies Of Mothers With Developmentally Delayed Children Who Attend A Support Group And Who Do Not Attend A Support Group, Donna Salvo Foster

MSN Research Projects

When faced with stress, behavioral and psychological reactions occur to decrease the person's perception of the stress. Rearing a child with developmental delay is one such stressful event. The purpose of this investigation was to explore coping strategies of mothers who are rearing a child with developmental delay. Two hypotheses were generated; There will be no statistically significant differences in perceived coping strategy scores used by mothers with developmentally delayed children in a support group and those not in a support group, and there will be no statistically significant differences in perceived effectiveness of coping strategy scores used by mothers …

Incidence Of Documented Exercise Prescription In Nurse Practitioner Client With A Diagnosis Of Cardiovascular Disease, Shannon Phillips

MSN Research Projects

The purpose of this ex post facto descriptive study was to determine the incidence of documented exercise prescription in nurse practitioner clients with a diagnosis of cardiovascular disease. Pender's Health Promotion Model provided the theoretical framework for this study. Nurse practitioners providing primary care in the State of Mississippi was the target population, with four nurse practitioners providing care in clinics representing the four geographical regions of Mississippi (Northeast, Southwest, Southeast, and Northwest) selected as a nonrandom sample of convenience. At each clinic, from the total population of records in which clients were aged 25 to 65 years with a …

Coping Strategies Of Mothers With Developmentally Delayed Children Who Attend A Support Group And Who Do Not Attend A Support Group, Donna Salvo Foster

MSN Research Projects

The purpose of this investigation was to explore coping strategies of mothers who are rearing a child with developmental delay.

Alternative Health Care Practices Of Patients Who Attend Nurse Practitioner Clinics In North Mississippi, Wesley Barrett

MSN Research Projects

As many as one out of three Americans uses alternative health therapies. The purpose of this study was to describe the type and frequency of alternative health care practices and sociodemographics of patients in nurse practitioner clinics in North Mississippi in order to determine implications for nurse practitioners. Leininger's Theory of Cultural Care Diversity and Universality served as the conceptual framework for this study. The researcher, using a descriptive study design, sought to answer the following questions: 1) What are the characteristics of patients who use alternative health care practices? 2) What types of alternative health care practices are being …

Nurse Practitioners' Spiritual Perspectives And Attitudes Toward Providing Spiritual Care, Dennis R. Long

MSN Research Projects

Spirituality is viewed by many nursing theorists as an integral subset of personhood. However, current literature suggests that spirituality may be overlooked by health care providers when rendering holistic care. The purpose of this study was to assess the spiritual perspectives of nurse practitioners and ascertain attitudes toward providing spiritual care. A descriptive study was conducted to answer the following research questions : What are the spiritual perspectives of nurse practitioners and what are nurse practitioners' attitudes toward providing spiritual care? The theoretical framework was based on Ellison's (1983) Conceptualization of Spiritual Well- Being. The sample (N = 80) of …

Self-Esteem Levels Of Pregnant Adolescents From Different Races, Stephanie M. Gale

MSN Research Projects

Effective pregnancy prevention in adolescence remains elusive to researchers and health care providers. Several studies have been conducted on the relationship between self-esteem and race and between self-esteem and pregnancy in adolescent populations. The purpose of this study was to determine if a difference exists between self-esteem levels and race in pregnant adolescents. Leininger's Cultural Care Theory was the theoretical framework used in this study. The null hypothesis was there is no difference between self-esteem levels and race in pregnant adolescents. The setting for this descriptive comparison study was a prenatal clinic for underserved populations in the Southeastern United States. …