Digital Commons Network^™

Factors Influencing High Nurse Turnover In A Midwestern U.S.A. Community Hospital And A Proposal For Change, Deborah Mokeira Omagwa

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Nurse turnover has become a universal problem in recent years, causing nurses to bear the burden of higher patient loads, working overtime hours, and dealing with unfavorable working conditions. Nurses sometimes feel they have no voice to fight for them while they struggle at the bedside to improve patient outcomes. The purpose of this project was to be a voice for the nurses to inform the hospital administration on data driven results on how nurse turnover can be reduced, with the goal that the proposed nurse retention strategies will be implemented in this community hospital.

This was a qualitative project …

Experiences Of Latinx Nurses During Covid-19, Jennifer Sandoval

College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

Purpose: This study aimed to examine the experiences of Latinx nurses during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Design: A primary analysis of qualitative interview data was used for this study.

Methods: Data analysis included thematic network analysis to identify main themes experienced by 20 Latinx nurses. The previously collected interview data were interviews conducted during May to September 2020. Formal coding of the interview data was conducted utilizing Dedoose cloud-based software. Study participant characteristics were tabulated using SPSS 27.

Findings: Study participants shared descriptions of their experiences during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Five main themes …

Early Activity And Mobility Of Intensive Care Unit Patients To Reduce Hospital Length Of Stay And Improve Patient Outcomes: An Integrative Review, Scott D. Crofts

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Patient physical inactivity during hospital admission is a key contributor to increased length of stay and poor outcomes. Patient inactivity and immobility in the intensive care unit (ICU) setting promote the loss of physical function and increase the risk of complications such as pressure injuries, bone demineralization, lung infections, and ICU delirium. The cumulative effects of immobility are persistent through discharge, as patients are at risk for the long-term effects of posthospitalization muscle atrophy and weakness. The purpose of this integrative review was to examine current evidence to determine if early activity and mobility in the ICU setting reduce length …

The Lived Experiences Of Faculty Conducting Post-Simulation Debriefing In Nurse Practitioner Programs, Jodi Borden Duncan

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Simulation-based education is a teaching–learning pedagogy widely used in nursing programs today. While much research has been done on student perceptions of simulation and the fact most learning occurs in the post-simulation debriefing session, little research has been done on how learning takes place in debriefing. Nurse practitioner faculty also use simulation as a teaching methodology, but the implementation of debriefing methods and faculty experiences with debriefing sessions are not known. As simulation may not be counted as direct clinical hours in nurse practitioner programs, more research must be done before the substitution of hours can be considered. The substitution …

A Nurse-Led Telehealth Program For Diabetes Foot Care: Feasibility And Usability Study, Jeffery Alford, Constance Johnson

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: Diabetes mellitus can lead to severe and debilitating foot complications, such as infections, ulcerations, and amputations. Despite substantial progress in diabetes care, foot disease remains a major challenge in managing this chronic condition that causes serious health complications worldwide.

OBJECTIVE: The primary aim of this study was to examine the feasibility and usability of a telehealth program focused on preventive diabetes foot care. A secondary aim was to descriptively measure self-reported changes in diabetes knowledge, self-care, and foot care behaviors before and after participating in the program.

METHODS: The study used a single-arm, pre-post design in 2 large family …

Engaging Sleeplessness In Seattle At Clinical Site 1, Benjamin D. Masters, Luis Moreno Nunez, Ally Jo Veenhuizen, Kiana Rendorio

Nursing Leadership in Community Engagement Projects

Introduction

The National Library of Medicine notes an emerging area of research interest is the relationship between substance abuse and sleep (Mahfoud et al., 2009). According to the same 2007 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, “7.6 percent of Americans older than 12 years met the criteria for alcohol abuse or dependence” and goes on to highlight the mundanity of sleep disorder. Additionally, the 2008 National Sleep Foundation’s “Sleep in American” poll demonstrated “addicts in recovery are 5 to 10 times more likely to experience sleep disorders.” (Moufoud et al., 2009). Clinical Site 1 is an agency in Downtown …

Pressures To Comply Or Defy: How Social Values Influence Perceptions Of Healthcare Workers As Villains, James K. Beggan, Scott T. Allison

Heroism Science

During the Covid-19 pandemic, politicians, the media, and the public labeled frontline workers as heroes. The goal of this article is to examine how certain aspects of the Covid-19 pandemic—such as the nature of the Covid-19 virus, coupled with insufficient governmental and institutional responses—created a situation where it became possible for people to characterize healthcare workers as villains. This approach to medical professionals is rather novel in heroism studies and social sciences. A qualitative review of available data sources provided evidence that frontline healthcare workers were perceived negatively. Experiencing a lack of cooperation from patients and their families, healthcare personnel …

Student Preferences For Active Learning And Their Beliefs, Experiences, And Knowledge, Tammy Shilling, Jerome Thayer, Anneris Coria-Navia, Heather Ferguson

Teaching and Learning in Communication Sciences & Disorders

Active teaching methods are believed to facilitate higher-order thinking skills and prepare allied health students for independent clinical decision-making. This quantitative, correlational study aimed to explain the relationships between student preferences for active over traditional methods and their beliefs, the frequency and positiveness of their experiences, and the extent of knowledge they have received regarding active and traditional teaching methods. Two hundred and thirty students completed a 53-item online survey. Students were enrolled in a Doctor of Physical Therapy, Masters in Speech-language Pathology, or Bachelor of Science Nursing program in one of seventeen participating institutions across a ten-state Midwest region. …

Building Up Cal Poly Global Brigades Student Group: Reflections On Designing And Implementing One Undergraduate-Led Community Info Session, Caroline Nicole Smith, Jafra D. Thomas

Kinesiology and Public Health

Intro: Global Brigades, an international non-profit organization, trains college students and other pre-professionals in community-based health promotion by mobilizing community service trips around the world, which are taught and led by local community groups. Cal Poly’s Global Brigades student group was founded in 2018, and thus far, they have carried out three annual, medically-focused brigades to Honduras (two in-person, one virtual).

Purpose: The aim of this report is to present the findings of one experiential senior project to promote Cal Poly’s Global Brigades student group^[1] (conducted January to March 2023).

Methods: The student designed material for …

Spirituality Education For End Of Life Clinicians: A Quality Improvement Project, Mark S. Valigorsky

DNP Projects

Significance and Background: The focus of this project was to strength the knowledge, comfort, and training of end of life(EOL) clinicians working with patients in the palliative care and hospice environments. While spirituality is considered one of the essential domains of hospice care, it is an area that is often brushed aside by staff and patients and their families. Spirituality is inadequately addressed due to knowledge deficits, time issues, and lack of self-efficacy. Addressing spiritual care is particularly important for patients with chronic and end stage illnesses. Patients and their families view spirituality as a way of coping with suffering. …

“Ain't About The Money, Ain't About The Haircut”: Experiences Of Servant Leadership In Black-Owned Barbershops And Beauty Salons During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Hunter M. Boehme, Robin M. Dawson Phd, Rn, Cpnp-Pc, Tameka Williams, Lídia Gual-Gonzalez, Chloe Rodriguez-Ramos, Natalie Brown, Bryceson Hernandez, Lekendra Kidd, Melissa S. Nolan Ph.D., Mph

Publications

The COVID-19 pandemic had a disproportionate, negative effect on Black Americans. Black-owned barbershops/beauty salons are traditionally trusted, yet little is known regarding how these “virtue locales” were affected by the pandemic. This theory-guided, qualitative descriptive study explored owners' experiences in addressing their clients’ and community well-being during the first pandemic year, revealing four emergent themes: 1) “blessings” and cultural expectations informed a moral imperative to become servant leaders, 2) long-standing relationships resulted in opportunities to engage on topics of physical and mental health, 3) Barbershop/beauty salon-based COVID-19 information and resources led to individual and community empowerment, and 4) Barbershops and …

The Wear And Tear Of Racism: Self-Silencing From The Perspective Of Young Black Women, Jewel Scott Phd, Rn, Fnp-C, Kortney Floyd James, Dara D. Méndez, Ragan Johnson, Esa M. Davis

Faculty Publications

Context: Historically, Black women strategically employed silence to endure enslavement to the U.S., and other forms of racial violence. The current study aimed to understand contemporary perspectives on self-silencing. Objective: To explore young adult Black women's experiences of self-silencing and its potential impact on their physical and mental well-being. Methods: Data are from 16 semi-structured interviews with Black women ages 18 to 39 in southwest Pennsylvania conducted between October 2021 - May 2022. We analyzed the interviews using inductive thematic analysis. Results: We identified four themes: “Self-silencing is Inherited,” “Silencing Here and Now,” “Wear and Tear,” and “The Flip Side.” …

The Early Impact Of Covid-19 On Intensive Care Nurses’ Personal And Professional Well-Being: A Qualitative Study, Kelly Calkins, Jill L. Guttormson, Natalie S. Mcandrew, Holly Losurdo, Danielle Loonsfoot, Shania Schmitz, Jacklynn M. Fitzgerald

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

Objective

To describe the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on intensive care nurses personal and professional well-being.

Research Methodology/Design

A descriptive, qualitative design was used. Two nurse researchers conducted one-on-one interviews via Zoom or TEAMS using a semi-structured interview guide.

Setting

Thirteen nurses who were working in an intensive care unit in the United States participated in the study. A convenience sample of nurses who completed a survey in the larger parent study provided an email and were contacted by the research team to participate in interviews to discuss their experiences.

Main Outcome Measures

An inductive approach to content analysis …

Influence Of Depression And Interpersonal Support On Adherence To Antiretroviral Therapy Among People Living With Hiv, Jerry John Nutor, Akua O. Gyamerah, Robert Kaba Alhassan, Henry Ofori Duah, Rachel G.A. Thompson, Natalie Wilson, Orlando Harris, Jose Gutierrez, Thomas J. Hoffmann, Monica Getahun, Glenn-Milo Santos

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

Background

Poor adherence and under-utilization of antiretroviral therapy (ART) services have been major setbacks to achieving 95-95-95 policy goals in Sub-Saharan Africa. Social support and mental health challenges may serve as barriers to accessing and adhering to ART but are under-studied in low-income countries. The purpose of this study was to examine the association of interpersonal support and depression scores with adherence to ART among persons living with HIV (PLWH) in the Volta region of Ghana.

Methods

We conducted a cross-sectional survey among 181 PLWH 18 years or older who receive care at an ART clinic between November 2021 and …

The Lived Experience Of Using Opiates Among Young Adults, Catherine Mbewe

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

The purpose of this research study is to explore the lived experience of using opiates, as described by young adults aged 18 to 25 years. Over the last 2 decades, opioid use disorders (OUDs) and opiate overdose deaths have increased dramatically in the United States. What used to be a problem primarily contained to minority groups in poor inner-city areas is now increasingly common in all races, genders, ages, and classes. There has also been an alarming increase in opiate use—including fentanyl, both legal and illegal—among young adults. While much of the literature has been focused on the opiate use …

Social Identities And Campus Belonging As Predictors Of Flourishing Among College Students, Christine Gilchrist

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Annual data since 2012 shows college students’ flourishing (a measure of psychological well-being) in continuous decline, with 2022 showing the largest decrease. Since the knowledge base of the predictors of flourishing is limited, how college executives can best address this issue is unclear. Variations in flourishing have been observed in studies that examined the relationship between food insecurity (DeBate et al., 2021), race/ethnicity (Lipson et al., 2018, 2022; Nyunt et al., 2022; Parr, 2022), immigration status (Cadenas & Nienhusser, 2021), as well as gender identity and sexual orientation (Parr, 2022). The intersectional impact of demographic and social identities has not …

The Effects Of Music Therapy On Elderly Adults With Dementia, Jeante J. Jackson

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

As people age, the brain is more susceptible to changes that diminish cognitive function. In recent years neuroscience has found convergent evidence between music therapy and brain architecture, as it has shown the generation of new connections in the brain or a reorganization and possible strengthening of existing connections already in the brain. However, the literature regarding music training’s effects on executive control, selective attention, and speech processing is lacking particularly when it comes to older populations.

This study investigated Verbal Working Memory, Visuospatial Attention and Task Initiation, and Auditory Selective Attention in a 91-year-old adult (B.P.) diagnosed with dementia. …

Nurse-Led Post Stroke Depression Screening (Psd) For Patients With Acute Stroke Using Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (Phq9), Stefan Panov

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Manuscripts

Introduction: This Evidence-Based Practice Doctor of Nursing Practice project aimed to implement a nurse-led post-stroke depression (PSD) screening using Patient Health Queastionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) in a 12-bed progressive care neuro-stroke unit at a tertiary care hospital. The first goal of this project was to detect stroke patients at risk for depression who met specific inclusion criteria. The second goal was to provide depression education, initiate social work and medical referrals, and start pharmacological treatment to reduce the medical and socioeconomic burden associated with untreated PSD before discharge from the hospital.

Background: Globally, stroke is a prominent cause of death and disability. …

Group-Based Interventions Using A Low-Fat Diabetes Diet To Improve Self-Efficacy And Hba1c Levels In African American Type 2 Diabetics, Linda Baker-Bynum

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Background and Problem

Type two diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a chronic medical condition of impaired glucose metabolism that has significantly impacted the health of Americans. According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), T2DM is the seventh leading cause of death making up over 270,000 deaths in 2017 (CDC, 2020a). There are noted disparities among African Americans who are disproportionately affected by T2DM more than Caucasians. African Americans account for 13% of the population in the United States of which 11.7% are diagnosed with T2DM as compared to Caucasians who make up 76.3% of the population of which 7.5% …

Self Management Programs And Its Effects On Blood Pressure, Thao Vo

Master of Science in Nursing Family Nurse Practitioner

No abstract provided.

Resources To Promote Senior Independence, Amanda Anderson, Sheree Mae Cacal, Sophia Gallego, Madyson Grant, Lola Wallace

Nursing Leadership in Community Engagement Projects

Resources to Promote Senior Independence

Introduction

Our group of five students from Seattle Pacific University's Lydia Green nursing program assessed the community of an independent senior apartment complex that provides affordable housing for adults aged 65+ in the Seattle area run under Sustainable Housing for Ageless Generations (SHAG). This assignment is for our leadership project and occurred over an 8-week period. During this time, we applied the nursing process to assess, diagnose, plan, and implement an intervention specific to a population's needs. The community faced issues of resource access, exacerbated by the population's low income and age. Our focus was …

Supportive Resources For Unhoused Individuals & Families, Grace Felder, Jordyn Henson, Kial Neang, Nasha Phansangiam, Taylee Thain

Nursing Leadership in Community Engagement Projects

Introduction

Since 2016 King County’s unsheltered homeless individuals have increased by 24% and families experiencing homelessness have increased by 26% (National Alliance to End Homelessness, 2021). In the past 5 years, homelessness has risen by 10% in King County alone (NAEH, 2021). Our agency was an emergency family shelter located in King County that “ensures that no child sleeps outside by centering equity and opportunity for women and families” (Mary’s Place Seattle, n.d.-a). This facility has 5 other family center facilities that provide shelter and resources. Since 1999, our agency with its 6 facilities have aided thousands of women and …

Death Cafés As A Strategy To Foster Compassionate Communities: Contributions For Death And Grief Literacy

The International Journal of Ecopsychology (IJE)

The death-positive movement, the most recent manifestation of the death awareness movement, contends that modern society is suffering from a “death taboo” and that people should talk more openly about death. This movement is striving to shift the dialogue about (and place of) death and dying into community spaces. Death literacy is defined as a set of skills and knowledge enabling people to learn about, understand, and act on end-of-life and death-care options. People and groups with a high level of death literacy have a context-specific comprehension of the death system and can more easily adapt to it, becoming better …

Decreasing Weight Bias Among Aprns, Aprn Students, And Rn Nursing Students Through Educational Seminars, Apryl Cutler

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Manuscripts

Introduction: The purpose of this evidence-based practice Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project was to systematically review research-based evidence and best practice guidelines brought forth by other researchers, experts and organizations. The goal was to implement an enlightening and educational intervention via seminar to Pre-licensure RN students, APRN students and APRNs on the topics of the non-controllable causes of obesity, weight bias in healthcare and patient-centered approaches to ultimately improve the delivery and quality of care provided to patients living with obesity.

Background: The prevalence of overweight and obesity has been steadily increasing over the past three decades with up …

Exercise As A Prescription For Patients With Depressive Disorders: A Quality Improvement Project, Sydney Roscoe, Rachelle Pace

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Manuscripts

Purpose: The aim of this Doctor of Nursing Practice project was to increase exercise counseling rates in the treatment of depression by (1) implementing a focused educational training program and (2) understanding factors that impacted utilization of the practice change.

Background: Approximately 280 million individuals suffer globally from depressive disorders. Depression remains the fourth leading cause of disabilities, significantly contributing toward the global burden of disease by increasing morbidity and mortality risk. Psychopharmacology and psychotherapy are current gold standards of treatment; however, providers often overlook the significant role exercise serves in reducing depressive symptoms and severity, as it remains underutilized. …

Measuring The Effectiveness Of Antidepressant Treatment By Implementing Beck's Depression Inventory (Bdi), Azeem Anjum

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Manuscripts

Purpose: This evidence-based practice project integrates a structured periodic depression evaluation follow-up protocol for patients diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder who have been prescribed antidepressant(s) at an outpatient mental health clinic. The purpose of this DNP project is to standardize the method of treatment progression monitoring to improve the timeliness of change detection and subsequent treatment adjustments using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) Scale.

Background: According to the World Health Organization (WHO), MDD is one of the most common mental health conditions affecting approximately 280 million people globally and 17.5 million adults in the United States. (WHO, 2021). The economic …

Managing Menopausal Symptoms Through Exercise And Dietary Changes, Ae Rah Kang

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Manuscripts

Background: The most critical aging stage for women is the menopausal transition period, which causes various symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats, sleeping disturbance, and mood swings that lower women's quality of life. Menopausal symptoms that are not managed can exacerbate severe medical conditions such as cardiovascular disease, bone illnesses, neurological diseases, and psychosocial problems. As the first non-pharmacological treatment for menopausal syndrome, several studies have shown that regular exercise and diet control can potentially improve menopausal symptoms and the quality of life.

Purpose: This project aimed to examine the effect of improving the quality of life by reducing …

Implementation Of The Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale At An Outpatient Mental Health Practice To Increase Provider Confidence In Identifying Suicide Risk, Lauren Reed

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Manuscripts

Introduction: The purpose of this evidence-based Doctor of Nursing Practice project was to implement the Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS) as part of routine patient assessment at an outpatient mental health practice to increase the likelihood of identifying clients at risk for suicidal behavior and increase provider confidence in screening for suicidal behavior. The study site is a Southern California-based outpatient mental health practice that employs a variety of clinicians, including psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioners, to provide mental health care to clients across the lifespan.

Background: Approximately 57% of individuals who die by suicide had at least one contact with …

Implementation Of The Generalized Anxiety Disorder 2-Item Screening Tool For Adult Patients In An Underserved Outpatient Cardiology Clinic, Leila Joint

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Manuscripts

Background: 11.7% of adults aged 18 and over have regular feelings of worry, nervousness, or anxiety. Anxiety can often present with somatic symptoms. The rates of misdiagnoses are high with symptoms often attributed to physical etiologies. Early recognition and treatment of anxiety can improve quality of life, prevent complications and reduce health care costs.

Purpose of Project: Implementation of the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 2-item (GAD-2) screening tool in a fast-paced underserved outpatient cardiology clinic for adult patients presenting with chest pain and/or palpitations without documented history of anxiety. The purpose of this project is to improve the utilization …

Be Kind To Your Mind: The Use Of Mobile Based Applications To Reduce Stress And Improve Health Outcomes, Akira Hanson Finn

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Manuscripts

Now more than ever mental health is in the spotlight on a global scale. Professionals from a variety of different disciplines are being encouraged to evaluate several different coping techniques in order combat the magnitude of societal crisis being discovered post-pandemic. At the top the list is Mindfulness-based interventions. The concept of mindfulness practices is nothing new. Evidence suggests it has existed for thousands of years; however, it is getting more notoriety in the past decade due to increasing expansion of mobile-based applications. These types of technology driven applications offer an easily accessible, convenient, and trackable way for individuals to …