Digital Commons Network^™

The Relationship Between The Health Behaviors Of Female University Freshmen And Their Academic Success, Courtney Taylor

MSN Research Projects

The purpose o f this study was to characterize the relationship between the health behaviors and academic achievement o f university women. To this end, female freshmen at Mississippi University for Women were given questionnaires measuring their healthrelated lifestyle habits that were then correlated with the students’ grade point averages. Lifestyle habits were assessed via the Wellness Worksheet questionnaire (WW), and academic success, first semester grade point averages (GPA). The analysis revealed a moderately weak and positive relationship between healthier lifestyle choices and first semester GPA, r = .34. Among the behaviors addressed by the WW, alcohol and other drug …

Role Of The Nurse Practitioner: Health Promotion And Education In Teenage Pregnancy Prevention, Alissa Anne Hood

MSN Research Projects

According to Martin, Kochanek, Strobino, Guyer, & MacDorman (2005), the lowest reported rate in the past six decades for teenage pregnancy in the United States occurred in the year 2003. Although this was found significant, the United States still holds the highest rate of teenage pregnancy in the industrialized world. It has been estimated that by the year 2010 there will be a 10% increase in the number of teenage girls between the ages of 15-19(Coren, 2005). Therefore, it was found imperative to increase the awareness and promotion of healthy sexual behaviors to reduce further teenage pregnancy. The purpose of …

The Current Level Of Nursing Knowledge Regarding The Management Of Cardiovascular Disease In Postmenopausal Women, Lynda Smith Hardin

MSN Research Projects

Cardiovascular disease (CYD) is the single leading cause o f death and a significant cause o f morbidity o f American women. Despite years of research and compelling data indicating that CYD is largely preventable, alarming trends in the prevalence and management o f risk factors in women continue to occur. In 2005, the estimated direct and indirect cost o f CYD was $393.5 billion (American Heart Association [AHA], 2005). Despite the fact that CYD kills more women per year than the next six causes of death combined; only 13% o f women consider CYD to be their greatest health …

Patient Satisfaction With Nurse Practitioner Care In Telemergency, Melissa Henry King

MSN Research Projects

Recent studies suggest that patient satisfaction has a direct correlation to patient outcome. In today’s healthcare system, satisfaction is the ultimate measure of services rendered from a provider to a consumer. From retail sales to the delivery of healthcare services, satisfaction surveys are highly regarded by the provider of services as a means to correct and improve products or services. A patient who is not satisfied with provided services will seek out providers with whom they gain the greatest amount of satisfaction. Telemergency is a fairly new concept that is growing rapidly in popularity with both hospital administrations and providers. …

Unlv Magazine, Carol C. Harter, Karen Sharp, Gian Galassi, Tony Allen, Jennifer Lawson, Shane Bevell, Lori Bachand, Regina Vaccari, Pete Codella, Cate Weeks, Erin O'Donnell, Diane Russell, Phil Hagen

UNLV Magazine

No abstract provided.

A Retrospective Evaluation Of The Planetree Patient Centered Model Of Care Program's Impact On Inpatient Quality Outcomes, Susan Stone Phd

Dissertations

This retrospective quasi experimental study evaluated the effectiveness of Planetree's patient-centered model of care. Donabedian's model linking structure and process to outcome was used to frame this study. The structure variable is the inpatient acute care hospital unit and the process variable consists of the Planetree patient-centered model of care. Outcomes are (1) patient satisfaction, (2) length of stay, (3) readmission, (4) cost per case, and (5) productive nursing hours per patient day. All data for patient satisfaction, length of stay, readmission, cost per case and productive nurse hours per patient day were retrospective, no participant recruitment was needed. Data …

Loma Linda Nurse - Vol. 15, No. 01, Loma Linda University School Of Nursing

Loma Linda Nurse

Contents

2 | A message from the dean

4 | Loma Linda NURSE news

10 | End of an Era: Helen Emori King retires after 24 years

16 | LLUSN development report

19 | Letter from the alumni president

20 | Alumni homecomeing

26 | Alumni feature story

29 | In memory

30 | Centennial book announcement

Rhythm Method As Cause Of Embryonic Death Based On Flawed Assumptions, Richard J. Fehring

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

Response to "The rhythm method and embryonic death" by L. Bovens in Journal of Medical Ethics, Vol. 32 (2006): 355-356.

Enhancing Nurses' Autonomous Caring Practices In Ukrainian Villages Affected By Chornobyl, Lisa Prytula

Theses and Graduate Projects

Twenty years after the Chornobyl nuclear disaster of 1986, the people living in villages affected by Chornobyl in northern Ukraine suffer from poor health status. Compounding the biophysical effects of latent exposure to ionizing radiation, socio-economic instability and psychological stress increase their suffering, The nurses that serve these villages depend on inaccessible physicians to guide them and lack basic medical supplies. The purpose of this transcultural nursing practice project is two-fold: (1)to strengthen nursing caring practices used by village nurses to serve a socially, economically, and environmentally disadvantaged population in Ukrainian villages surrounding Chornobyl; and (2) to enhance village nurses' …

Evidence-Based Nursing Practice: Making Progress And Making A Difference, Hila J. Spear

Faculty Publications and Presentations

No abstract provided.

Commencement Program 2006, Loma Linda University

Commencement Programs

CONTENTS

2 | 2006 Events of Commencement

3 | The Academic Procession

4 | Significance of Academic Regalia

5 | The Good Samaritan

6 | The Speakers

15 | The University Honorees

23 | The School Honorees

37 | The Program

• School of Medicine, 38
• School of Pharmacy, 47
• School of Dentistry, 52
• School of Science and Technology and Faculty of Religion, 63
• School of Nursing, 74
• School of Allied Health Professions - Physical Therapy, 80
• School of Allied Health Professions, 86
• School of Public Health, 95

An Added Dimension To The Faculty Role: The Accelerated Student, Lisa Rauch, Deborah Nelson

Master's Projects

Nursing faculty work hard at helping students achieve academic success by utilizing a variety of support services. The question guiding this study is: Do accelerated and traditional BSN students have different characteristics or different valued support services? The characteristics of accelerated and traditional BSN students were obtained from a larger longitudinal study (N=93). The Support Services Questionnaire collected data from a convenient sample of two groups of BSN students: accelerated (n=26), traditional (n=49). The results presented accelerated students as primarily female, financially supported, and holding a variety of college degrees. Traditional students were represented as female, younger, working and not …

The Relationship Between Perceived And Ideal Body Size And Body Mass Index Among 9th Grade Students In An Urban High School, Irma Orozco

Master's Projects

This study examined the perceptions of actual and ideal body size and how it related to body mass index in 82 ethnically and socioeconomically diverse 9th-graders from an urban high school. The height and weight were measured, and BMI was calculated for each of the 82 participants. Using the Childress Silhouette Scale (CSS), each student self-reported Perceived Actual Self Image (P ASI) and Perceived Ideal Self Image (PISI). The CSS was modified to offer 7 figure drawings that illustrated various examples of underweight, healthy weight, overweight, and obese. Results showed that 54% ofthe students had a healthy weight, 21% were …

Building Bridges To An Environment Of Transformational Nursing Leadership: Developing A Program To Enhance Professional Nursing Leadership Skills, Pauline J. Utsesch

Theses and Graduate Projects

The intent of this field project was to develop an educational model to enhance nursing leadership skills and promote professionalism of nurses at the bedside. The project consisted of analysis of the literature to support the need for further leadership development of nurses. The proposed model was based on concepts and application of transformational leadership in nursing, and Ernest Boyer's (1990) framework of scholarship as it relates to professionalism. This model also utilized Benner's (1984) From Novice to Expert model as a framework for the educational design where by skills are acquired through experiential learning with actual practice situations.

An …

Recruitment Of Men Into Nursing: Changing Attitudes, Nicklos M. Markey

School of Nursing Scholarly Works

No abstract provided.

Recommendations For Sexuality Education For Early Adolescents, Kristin Haglund

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

Objective: To determine community support and identify appropriate learning methodologies, parameters of delivery, and intervention content.

Design: Qualitative descriptive study in which participants were interviewed in a semistructured format. Data were analyzed thematically.

Setting: An urban pediatric primary care clinic from which youths and parents were recruited.

Participants: Ten youths, 10 parents, and 10 community members. Community members included professional and laypersons who had experience in working with early adolescents or in working with children of any age on sexuality issues. Overall, most participants were female (67%) and African American (67%).

Results: Descriptions of early adolescents ’ knowledge of sexuality, …

Matching A Graduate Curriculum In Public/Community Health Nursing To Practice Competencies: The Rush University Experience, Susan M. Swider, Pamela F. Levin, Sarah Ailey, Susan Breakwell, Julia M. Cowell, Diane Mcnaughton, Marilyn O'Rourke

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

An evidence‐based approach to Public/Community Health Nursing (P/CHN) requires that P/CHN educators prepare practitioners with the relevant skills, attitudes, and knowledge. Such education should be competency‐based and have measurable outcomes to demonstrate student preparation. In 2003, the Quad Council competencies were developed to be applied at two levels of public health nursing practice: the staff nurse/generalist role and the manager/specialist/consultant role. This paper describes a process for evaluation and revision of a graduate curriculum to prepare Advanced Practice Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNS) in P/CHN, to ensure that the educational program addresses and develops knowledge and proficiency in all relevant competencies. …

Evidenced Based Practice Considerations Regarding Rural Health And Access To Care, Amy S. Benjamin

MSN Research Projects

While the United States (U.S.) healthcare system has been extremely successful, concerns remain about access to care for a large segment of the population (Rivers, 2003). Availability o f health care to rural areas is limited, leaving a large portion of the American population with limited access to care. According to the data of the U.S. Census Bureau collected in 2001 27% of the United States population was considered rural. Rural, as defined by the Census Bureau, is a town of less than 2,500 residents’ (Schmidt, 2005). Nurse Practitioners (NPs) can offer increased accessibility to local care by addressing primary …

Addressing Student Nurses' Concerns In End Of Life Care, Tami Boroughf

Master's Projects

Recently, there has been a great deal of attention to the fact that there are few learning opportunities regarding end-of-life (EOL) care in nursing undergraduate education. One purpose of this research study was to provide an educational seminar for nursing students with information necessary to communicate with patients at the end of life and their families. The educational intervention consisted of an interdisciplinary panel discussion, a brief segment of a video, a case study with small group discussion, and an optional reflective activity. A quasi- ~; experimental, pretest and posttest design was used in a baccalaureate-nursing program in Northern California. …

Does Culture Influence The Needs Of Critical Care Families?, Naomi Alston

Master's Projects

Purpose: This study explores ICU patient's family member needs, particularly Vietnamese and Latino families. Design: Convenience sampling at 24 bed ICU in acute care community hospital serving ethnically diverse population. Methods: Non-experimental survey with pretest-posttest design using Demographic sheet, Critical Family Needs Inventory (CCFNI), and Needs Met Inventory (NMI). Information pamphlets were distributed. Data analysis was by ethnic groups using measures of central tendency and descriptive statistics. Findings: CCFNI results indicate family members of all ethnicities experience the same priority of needs; support and information are top two needs. English, Spanish and Vietnamese pamphlets met information needs of the majority …

Academic Motivation: A Comparative Study Of Entry Level Baccaslaureate Nursing Students, Sharon Helene Davis

Master's Projects

Purpose: To examine academic motivation of students enrolled in an accelerated and a traditional baccalaureate nursing programs. Design: A convenience sample of30 (100%) respondents in an accelerated group and 37 (54%) respondents in a traditional group (54%) provided the data. A demographic survey and the Academic Motivation Scale (AMS C-28) were administered to both groups. Methods: This was a quantitative, correlational study. Analysis quantified item frequencies within the AMS C-28, and at-test was employed to evaluate the differences in intrinsic and extrinsic motivation and amotivation between the groups. Findings: There was no statistical difference in any of the motivation results …

The Relationship Between Parental Physical Activity Levels And Their Child's Body Mass Index, Juracia Carbajal

Master's Projects

This study compared the relationships between parental physical activity levels and their child's body mass index (BMI) using a convenience sample of volunteer parents at a school-based health clinic. Anonymously, parents completed a seven-question survey utilizing the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). The data analysis indicated that parental physical activity did not have a significant influence on a child's BMI. Forty-two percent of the children were overweight or at risk for overweight, demonstrating the need for increased physical activity and improved nutritional guidance. The school nurse has a significant role in providing education about health, nutrition, and obesity prevention strategies …

Identifying Catholic School Teachers Attitudes And Perceptions About Death And Grief, Stephania Ann Higdon

Master's Projects

Death and grief are not frequently discussed with children as a normal part of life. Previous studies show that teachers are not comfortable discussing the subject in the classrooms. As a trusted source, school nurses are able to help school staff recognize potential signs and symptoms of death and grief with a student dealing with a loss, providing information, educational resources and support. The purpose of this study was to identify the attitudes and perceptions about death and grief of Catholic School teachers working among elementary school age children kindergarten through eighth grades. A convenience sample of 47 teachers from …

The Relationship Between Health Beliefs And Adherence To Treatment Of Russian Immigrants With Hypertension, Michael R. Kolesnikov

Master's Projects

Introduction: Hypertension (HTN) has been identified as a common health problem in every ethnic group in the USA. Due to the silent nature of the HTN, some cultures may not perceive this condition as being serious or potentially fatal. Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the health beliefs of Russian-speaking immigrants with hypertension and their adherence to the prescribed treatment. Design: The study was a non-experimental exploratory survey and interview. Convenience sampling was used. The Health Belief Model (HBM) provided the theoretical framework. Sample: A total of 62 subjects (27% male and 73% female, ages from 51 …

Evaluation Of A School Based Disaster Preparedness Program, Sandra Linebarger

Master's Projects

This study evaluated a school based intervention designed to better prepare teachers and staff members in an elementary school to improve their knowledge and confidence of disaster preparedness. Participants included 19 teachers and I 0 staff members of an elementary school in San Mateo County, CA. With hundreds of schools scattered in the communities and the recent disasters in our country there is a growing awareness of the need for disaster preparedness in schools. A pretest-posttest was administered to measure changes in knowledge and confidence following a school based intervention of disaster preparedness education. There was a significant improvement in …

Factors Affecting Nursing Students' Attitudes Towards Older Adults, Tracy Mccammon

Master's Projects

The purpose of this study was to measure nursing students' attitudes towards older adults and to determine, if possible, factors which affect nursing students' attitudes toward older adults. A convenience sample of 94 senior, pre-licensed, baccalaureate nursing students, at a metropolitan university school of nursing in community and acute settings participated in the study. This non-experimental, descriptive survey focused on nursing students' attitudes towards older adults using the Kogan's Attitude Towards Old People Scale (KOP). A researcher developed questionnaire was also used to collect demographic information, as well as academic and non-academic experiences of students. The findings of this study …

Self-Efficacy And Grade Point Average In Relationship To Academic Success In Baccalaureate Nursing Students, Cynthia Miller

Master's Projects

Academic success, defined as the completion of a nursing program and passing the National Council for Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN), is the goal of all nursing programs. The identification of specific variables related to academic success could identify students at risk of failing early. The purpose of this research study was to explore the relationship of two variables related to academic success, self-efficacy and grade point averages (GPA), in accelerated and regular BSN students. The results of this study suggest that a statistically significant, positive relationship exists between prerequisite GP A and self-efficacy of BSN students. In addition, …

A Survey Of Perceived Job Satisfaction Among School Nurses, Warren Nelson

Master's Projects

Many studies have examined job satisfaction of nurses in various clinical settings, but few have focused on school nurses. This project was a follow-up to the study by Foley, Wilson, Lee, Young Cureton, & Canham (2004), who used a written questionnaire and convenience sample rather than the electronic means and random sampling employed here. Both studies, based on Stamp's Index of Work Satisfaction, analyzed six parameters to determine the degree of job satisfaction among members of a state school nurses organization. The results of this study substantially agreed with the prior study. School nurses were not satisfied with their jobs. …

How Special Education Teachers Of High School-Aged Students Address Sex Education, Amelia Owen-Casillas

Master's Projects

In this qualitative pilot study, five special education teachers of high-school-age students responded to seven research questions regarding how they address sex education, a part of family living from the Health Framework for California Public Schools. The participating special education teachers taught either in special education programs for the emotionally-disturbed(ED) or severely handicapped (SH). An overall identified theme for both groups of teachers was family participation. Other themes were teachers needing to be expert at understanding students learning styles and the need to be an expert at modifying goals for students learning. School nurses can help support and provide accurate …

Multigenerational Nurses' Perceptions Of Their Work Environment, Rukhsana Syed

Master's Projects

Objective: To examine the differences in multi-generational nurses' perceptions regarding their work environment. Background: Today's nursing workforce is comprised of individuals of many generations. Individuals of different generations share some values and beliefs, but they also vary in their perceptions regarding their work environments. It is a challenge for managers to create environments in which all staff members feel welcome and appreciated, a situation. which ultimately leads to decreased turnover, increased productivity, and a high quality of patient care. Methods: Survey packets (n = 850) were distributed to all RNs employed at an acute care hospital. To assess RNs' perceptions …