Digital Commons Network^™

Increasing Postpartum Appointment Attendance Rates, Tanya Lister

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

Background: Postpartum visits provide an opportunity to detect and address potential complications, monitor healing and recovery, and offer guidance and support during the transition into motherhood. Current research shows that appointment reminders increase healthcare appointment attendance rates, whether delivered via text messages or phone calls.

Purpose: The purpose of this academic project was to plan, implement, and evaluate a process change within a single health facility to increase postpartum visit attendance rates.

Methods: This evidence-based scholarly project used telephone calls to remind patients scheduled for postpartum visits of their appointment dates and times. Appointment reminder phone calls were completed the …

Environmental Exposure Risk Education To Enhance Chronic Kidney Disease Prevention And Screening For Nurse Practitioners, Kelsea J. Carrier

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) affects approximately 36 million adults in the United States, with nearly 90% of individuals unaware of their diagnosis until advanced stages. While diabetes and hypertension remain the primary causes, increasing evidence highlights environmental exposures as significant and underrecognized contributors to CKD onset and progression. Exposures such as heavy metals, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), air and water pollution, microplastics, and heat exposure have been linked to impaired renal function. Despite this growing body of evidence, environmental health content remains limited in nursing education, resulting in gaps in environmental health literacy (EHL) among nurse practitioners (NPs) and …

Bridging The Gap In Science Research: Preparing Students For College- Level Research In The Sciences, Victoria Helwig, Yaoguang Li

UConn Library Presentations

Many first-year students enter college unprepared to fully engage with scientific literature and academic library resources. Drawing on experiences from academic librarians working with STEM students, this session explores common gaps in science research skills, including navigating databases, identifying scholarly sources, and understanding the structure of scientific literature. Participants will be introduced to practical strategies and classroom-ready activities to better prepare students for college-level research. Discussion questions: What science research skills do students struggle with most when entering college? How can high school instruction better support these skills? Where can librarians and educators collaborate to support student success?

Limited Australian Clinical Guidelines For Pain Assessment In Hospitalized Older Adults With Cognitive Impairment: Implications For Safe And Quality Care, Rosemary Saunders, Kaoru Nosaka, Seng Giap Marcus Ang, Natasya Raja Azlan, Aaron Alejandro, Rohini Sharma Bhardwaj, Olivia Gallagher, Irene Ngune, Amineh Rashidi, Yan Hui Celestine Wee, Nilufeur Mckay

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Introduction – Pain assessment remains challenging in healthcare settings in patients who are unable to self-report their pain. More than 50% of individuals with dementia and other forms of cognitive impairment (CI) experience pain daily. However, pain is frequently overlooked and inadequately assessed by healthcare professionals due to their lack of knowledge and guidelines to inform pain assessment. Pain is also a leading cause of hospital presentation and inappropriate pain assessment can impact on pain management and compromise safe and quality care. Evidence-based guidelines that inform appropriate pain assessment and management are therefore essential. This scoping review aimed to explore …

Staff Education To Improve Nurse Competency In Phq-9 And Gad-7 Screening Using A Standardized Behavioral Assessment In An Outpatient Mental Health Setting, Ernest Ogbeide

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Evidence-based practice was the basis for this quality improvement project, which involved developing and implementing a staff education program to enhance nurses' competency in administering, scoring, and interpreting behavioral health screening tools (PHQ-9 and GAD-7) for outpatient mental health services. Variability in competency amongst clinical staff to use these standardized screening tools for evaluating anxiety and depression was identified as a problem, as there was no structured, evidence-based education and competency validation process for clinical staff to use, which has the potential to decrease early identification of anxiety and depression among patients and impact clinical assessment and decision-making. The practice …

The Fourth Trimester: Enhancing Postpartum Depression Detection In Primary Care Through Early Screening And Patient Education, Riley Goldschmidt

DNP Projects

Background:
Postpartum depression (PPD) is a common and often underrecognized complication, with many cases going undetected due to inconsistent screening practices in primary care. Delayed identification can negatively impact maternal well-being, infant bonding, and overall family health outcomes. This quality improvement project aimed to improve early detection of PPD by implementing routine screening and patient education during newborn visits in a primary care clinic.

Methods:
The intervention integrated the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) into the existing newborn visit workflow and introduced an evidence-based educational toolkit containing information on PPD symptoms, guidance for seeking care, and a QR code for …

Improving Outpatient Provider Preparedness Through Simulation-Based Training: A Quality Improvement Project, Kristina Weyer

DNP Projects

Introduction:
Simulation-based training is an effective educational strategy, particularly for high-acuity, low-frequency events such as patient decompensation in outpatient settings. However, there is a gap in both literature and practice regarding provider participation in simulation, as competing clinical demands often limit engagement. Local organizational leaders identified limited opportunities for outpatient providers to practice management of acute decompensating patients. The purpose of this project was to evaluate provider competence and confidence in managing a decompensating patient in the outpatient setting and to assess perceptions of the value of time spent in simulation.

Methods:
This quality improvement project evaluated providers who participated …

Targeted Nursing Bootcamps For Critical Access Hospital Nurses: A Program Evaluation., Nicholas Popp

DNP Projects

Background: Registered Nurses employed in critical access hospital settings are required to care for patients across the lifespan with varying levels of acuity. The registered nurse (RN) must be competent in providing medical, surgical, pediatric, obstetric, and intensive care-level services. However, the additional training they receive to care for their patients may be minimal or nonexistent, leading them to seek employment at other facilities due to safety concerns. Leadership within the organization believed that implementing targeted monthly nursing skills boot camps could increase nurses’ competence, confidence, and retention in critical access hospital settings.

Aims: This program evaluation project aimed to …

Bridging The Gap: Development And Implementation Of A Caregiver Educational Guide For Post-Lung Transplant Caregivers, Megan Aller

DNP Projects

Background: Caregivers of post-lung transplant recipients play a critical role in postoperative recovery, as patients require continuous support during the first three months after transplant. Despite this responsibility, caregivers frequently experience burden, stress, and challenges adapting to the complex demands of the caregiving role.

Aim: To evaluate the feasibility and preliminary outcomes of a tailored caregiver education and support guide for caregivers of lung transplant recipients.

Local Problem: Within the local transplant program, caregiver education primarily relied on verbal instruction with limited caregiver-specific take-home resources.

Methods: This quality improvement project used a two-group pretest–posttest design to evaluate the …

Nurse-Led Quality Improvement Asthma Self-Management In Primary Care, Jolene Steinert-Abderhalden

DNP Projects

Background:
Poorly controlled asthma contributes to preventable morbidity, yet many adults lack consistent self-management support. Local Problem: Baseline assessment at a rural Midwestern clinic revealed limited asthma knowledge, inconsistent action-plan use, and low confidence among adults with Asthma Control Test (ACT) scores below 20.

Methods:
This quality improvement project used a pre- and post-intervention design guided by Lean methodology and the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) framework. Interventions: Registered nurses delivered standardized asthma education, inhaler-technique review, and action plan reinforcement with monthly structured follow-up for 16 weeks.

Results:
Among four enrolled participants, three completed follow-up. Mean ACT scores improved from 17.5 at baseline …

Evaluating An Educational Intervention On Penicillin Allergy De-Labeling Among Graduate Nursing Students, Allison Desmond

DNP Projects

Background
Approximately 10% of patients report a penicillin allergy; however, up to 90% of these individuals are not truly allergic. Inaccurate penicillin allergy labels contribute to inappropriate antibiotic use, increased healthcare costs, and antimicrobial resistance. Education on penicillin allergy testing remains limited among future Family Nurse Practitioners (FNPs).

Methods
A quantitative quality improvement project using a pretest-posttest design was conducted among second- and third-year Doctor of Nursing Practice–Family Nurse Practitioner (DNP-FNP) students enrolled in Pharmacology II or Advanced Practice Nursing III at a Midwestern liberal arts college. Participants completed a 15-minute voiceover PowerPoint educational intervention on penicillin allergy testing and …

Improving Provider Knowledge And Confidence In Hormone Replacement Therapy Through A Quality Improvement Educational Intervention, Caitlin Schmidt

DNP Projects

Background
Menopause is associated with symptoms that can significantly diminish quality of life. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) remains the most effective intervention for moderate to severe menopausal symptoms. Despite evidence-based guidelines endorsing its use in appropriately selected patients, HRT utilization remains limited.

Local Problem
A gap in provider knowledge and confidence regarding HRT prescribing was identified in a rural primary care clinic in the Midwestern United States. The clinical needs assessment revealed an absence of standardized menopause-specific education and highlighted an opportunity to improve evidence-based menopause management.

Methods
This quality improvement project employed a pre-post educational design guided by the …

Registered Nurse Procedural Sedation In Operating Room: An Analysis Of Patient Safety And Nurse Confidence Efficacy Of 2 Years Post Implementation, Cassandra Fredrickson

DNP Projects

Background
A Midwest hospital implemented a registered nurse (RN) procedural sedation program to provide safe, cost-effective sedation for selected operating room procedures under physician supervision, improving patient access while optimizing anesthesia resources.

Methods
A retrospective descriptive program evaluation examined 1,117 patients who received RN-administered procedural sedation for vascular and neurovascular procedures during 2022 and 2024. Outcomes included anesthesia consultation, anesthesia takeover, reversal agent use, and adverse events. Patient demographics and procedure duration were analyzed. Six procedural sedation nurses completed a self-efficacy survey assessing confidence in sedation-related competencies. Descriptive statistics and qualitative review of adverse event narratives were performed.

Results
Among …

Enhancing Surgical Team Readiness: Simulation Training For Power Failure Response In Robotic Procedures, Heather Marie Sorton

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In this Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project, I used a quality improvement design to implement and evaluate a simulation-based education aimed at improving perioperative staff knowledge related to robotic power-loss events. A practice gap was identified in staff preparedness for robotic system failures due to limited education on emergency protocols, communication, team roles, and Association of PeriOperative Registered Nurses (AORN)-aligned response processes, impacting patient safety during robotic-assisted procedures. I examined whether implementation of a simulation-based educational intervention improved staff knowledge related to robotic power-loss management. The purpose of the project was to improve staff knowledge and standardize responses to …

Enhancing Nursing Self-Efficacy In Advance Care Planning Conversations Through Role-Play Education: A Quality Improvement Project, Rachel Williams

DNP Projects

Background:
Advance care planning (ACP) conversations are essential for ensuring that patient healthcare preferences are understood and respected; however, nurses often report limited confidence and self-efficacy when initiating these discussions. Educational interventions that emphasize communication skills may improve nurses' preparedness to engage in ACP conversations.

Methods:
A quality improvement project utilizing a pre-post intervention design was conducted on three adult inpatient medical units within a regional Midwestern hospital. Registered nurses participated in an educational intervention consisting of ACP education, role-playing case scenarios, guided discussion, and debriefing. A modified 22-item Advance Care Planning Self-Efficacy Questionnaire was administered before and after the …

Dnp Final Report: Improving Rehospitalization Rates And Caregiver Quality Of Life In Outpatient Hospice, Carrie M. Judd

DNP Final Reports

Background: Hospital readmissions among home hospice patients disrupt continuity of care, increase healthcare costs, and may compromise end-of-life preferences.

Purpose: This quality improvement project evaluated the feasibility of implementing a telehealth communication intervention in an outpatient hospice organization. Project aims were to reduce Type I live hospice discharges by at least 2.5% and improve caregiver quality of life (QOL).

Methods: Zoom for Healthcare® video visits and three-way telephone communication supplemented standard nurse practitioner hospice visits during a three-month implementation period. Type I live discharge rates were compared with the organization's baseline quality metrics. Caregiver QOL was measured pre- and post-intervention …

Enhancing Chronic Kidney Disease Awareness And Early Identification Through Community Health Worker Education In Rural Arkansas, Samantha L.M. Smith

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The doctoral project was focused on improving staff education and development to prevent chronic kidney disease (CKD) through community health worker (CHW) education. The practice problem was the delayed identification of CKD risk factors and late referral to nephrology services, particularly among rural and underserved populations. Because CKD often progresses without symptoms, early education and awareness are critical to improving outcomes and reducing disease progression. The purpose of the project was to develop and implement a structured CKD educational curriculum for CHWs to improve their confidence in kidney health, CKD risk factors, prevention strategies, early identification, and referral awareness. The …

Pengaruh Buerger Allen Exercise Terhadap Sirkulasi Ekstremitas Bawah Pada Pasien Luka Kaki Diabetik, Jannaim Jannaim, Ridha Dharmajaya, Asrizal Asrizal

Jurnal Keperawatan Indonesia

The Influence of Buerger Allen Exercise on Lower Extremity Circulation in Patients with Diabetic Foot Ulcer. Diabetic footulcer (DFU) is a complication of diabetes caused by impaired venous and arterial blood circulation. Buerger allen exercise is a modality therapy with active postural movement. This study aims to assess the effect of buerge rallen exercise on the circulation of lower extremities in DFU patients. The study design was pre experimental pretest and posttest without control. The sampling technique was consecutive sampling and the large sample of 43DFU patients, analysis data was using Wilcoxon test. Increased circulation is measured using the Ankle …

Dnp Final Report: Enhancing Self-Regulated Learning And Metacognition For First-Semester Undergraduate Nursing Students, Carla S. Biondillo

DNP Final Reports

Background. First-year undergraduate nursing students often struggle to adapt their learning strategies to the higher-order thinking and clinical reasoning demands of nursing education. Ineffective study habits, low academic self-efficacy, and limited self-regulated learning (SRL) skills are consistently identified as predictors of attrition, which ranges from 20–50% nationally and internationally.

Purpose. At an academic medical center in rural East Texas, first-semester students report academic overwhelm and inadequate study strategies, consistent with national trends. A structured, evidence-based faculty coaching intervention targeting SRL and metacognition was found to be feasible within the collaborative, student-centered organizational culture.

Methods. A quality improvement (QI) design …

Dnp Final Report: Community-Based Advance Care Planning Education For Older Adults: A Quality Improvement Project, Teresa Hill

DNP Final Reports

Background: Advance care planning (ACP) supports patient autonomy and promotes care aligned with individual values and preferences. Despite these benefits, fewer than half of adults aged 50–80 have completed formal ACP documentation, and community-dwelling older adults rarely engage in ACP before serious illness, representing a persistent gap in early engagement.

Purpose: This quality improvement (QI) project evaluated the effectiveness of a community-based ACP educational intervention in improving ACP knowledge, confidence, and engagement among older adults.

Methods: A nurse facilitator trained in the Five Wishes framework delivered a structured, 60-minute ACP workshop at a senior center in North Texas. A pre–post …

Enhancing Staff Knowledge Of Prenatal Depression Screening And Follow-Up Protocols, Gladys Ajohmbu Esunji

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This staff education project addressed inconsistent staff knowledge of prenatal depression screening and follow-up protocols in an outpatient behavioral health practice serving prenatal patients. Prenatal depression is a nursing practice concern because delayed identification and inconsistent follow-up may affect maternal well-being, infant outcomes, family functioning, and timely access to behavioral health support. The practice-focused question was: According to the evidence, among clinical staff in an outpatient maternal mental health setting, what is the impact of structured staff education on adherence to prenatal depression screening on follow-up protocol knowledge? The purpose was to improve clinical staff knowledge through a structured education …

Exploring Caregiving Choice In The Adult Cancer Population, Jennifer L. Huggins

MUSC Theses and Dissertations

ABSTRACT Purpose Although extensive research examines family caregivers (FCs) across populations, less attention has been paid to how lack of choice in assuming the role affects quality of life (QOL) among FCs of adults with cancer. Understanding choice could guide interventions protecting this invaluable, often invisible workforce. Aims (1) Synthesize what is known about perceived choice among informal caregivers of adults with serious illness; (2) assess relationships between caregiving choice and caregiver QOL, burden, sleep, depression, stress, and social determinants of health; (3) describe experiences of FCs of adults with cancer providing care with no, little, or some choice. Design …

Proposal For A Comprehensive Workplace Violence Program In An Acute Care Facility, Christin V. Timmons

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Workplace violence (WPV) in healthcare is a growing threat to caregiver safety, workforce stability, and patient outcomes. At a newly opened acute care facility, the absence of a comprehensive WPV prevention program posed a gap in practice, creating safety risks and regulatory vulnerability. A literature search was conducted using CINAHL, PubMed/ MEDLINE, ProQuest Nursing & Allied Health collection, and Google Scholar. A total of 50 articles were identified with 11 articles meeting all inclusion criteria. Collectively, findings supported comprehensive, multicomponent WPV prevention programs to integrate leadership engagement, structured governance, staff education, environmental controls, and continuous data monitoring to improve safety …

Pedagogy Challenged: A Phenomenological Examination Of Teaching Through A Prolonged Technological Disruption, Jerry Cervantes

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to examine the lived experiences of nursing faculty in a pre-licensure Bachelor of Science in Nursing program who taught during a prolonged technological disruption caused by a ransomware attack at a private college in Ohio. The theories guiding this study were transformative learning theory and resilience theory as they relate to how educators make meaning of disorienting events and sustain professional functioning when established systems fail. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, a focus group, and reflective journals from purposively selected nursing faculty participants and were analyzed according to the phenomenological procedures …

A Program Proposal For A Leadership-Driven, Evidence-Based, Intentional Rounding Playbook, Jacqueline Butler Brown

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Patient experience is a key indicator of healthcare quality. In an acute care hospital in Northeast Georgia, intentional rounding is an established practice. Inconsistent communication, variable leadership engagement, and limited accountability are practice gaps that have reduced its effectiveness in improving patient experience outcomes. A comprehensive literature review using PubMed, CINAHL, MEDLINE, and the Cochrane Library yielded 15 peer-reviewed studies that consistently support intentional rounding as an evidence-based strategy for improving patient satisfaction. As the team leader for this Executive Leadership System Improvement Project, I proposed the development of an Evidence-Based, Leader-Driven Intentional Rounding Program Playbook to standardize enhanced rounding …

Exploring Nursing Students' Experiences Of Simulation-Based Learning In Developing Critical Thinking, Clinical Reasoning And Clinical Judgment In The Management Of Mental Health Patients: A Qualitative Case Study, Irene Bellew

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this case study was to explore how simulation-based learning experiences shape the development of critical thinking, clinical reasoning, and clinical judgment for associate degree nursing students when caring for patients with mental health needs. It addressed the need to narrow the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application in clinical settings, enhancing the preparedness of novice nurses. By positioning nurse educators as facilitators of innovative strategies, this study advocates for the integration of simulation-based learning within nursing curricula. Roy’s adaptation model guided the study, and data were collected through observation of simulation sessions, semi-structured interviews, and reflective …

Uncovering The Path To Diagnosis Among Adults With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: A Constructivist Grounded Theory Mini-Study, Jeffrey D. Whitaker, Rick Zoucha, Melissa Kalarchian

Graduate Student Research Symposium

Abstract

Background: Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) often persists into adulthood, yet many adults are first diagnosed only after years of functional strain, compensation, and alternative explanations for their difficulties. Purpose: This study explored how adults first diagnosed with ADHD in adulthood described navigating the process of obtaining a formal diagnosis. Methods: A constructivist grounded theory mini-study was conducted with seven adults, ages 27 to 43, who reported receiving their first formal ADHD diagnosis at age 18 or later. Participants completed semi-structured Zoom interviews focused on early experiences, symptom interpretation, help-seeking, and formal assessment. Data were analyzed using initial, focused, and theoretical …

Exploring Academic–Practice Partnerships In Community Settings: A Narrative Review, Laura C. Sarver

College of Nursing Faculty Papers & Presentations

Purpose: This narrative review explored the literature on academic–practice partnerships in community settings within prelicensure nursing education. Methods: A search of three databases—MEDLINE, CINAHL, and Scopus—led to the review of 12 articles exploring academic–practice partnerships in community settings within prelicensure nursing education. Results: Emergent themes encompassed components for planning, implementing, and evaluating academic–practice partnerships. Planning themes included completing community assessments, considering financial resources, and identifying guiding frameworks or models. Implementation themes included diverse nursing education and community partners and settings, academic–practice partnership initiatives, and integration of partnerships in prelicensure nursing education curricula. Lastly, evaluation themes included the exploration of a …

Supportive Technology Promotes Research Engagement Among Nurses And Allied Health Professionals, Rachael Haskell, Zoe Samson, Justin Peterson, Kristiina Hyrkas

MaineHealth Maine Medical Center

No abstract provided.

Climate Anxiety And Nurses’ Awareness, Motivation, And Behaviors In Addressing Climate-Related Health Risks, Sarah Kaplan

Theses and Dissertations

Background: Climate anxiety, the emotional distress associated with awareness of climate change and its consequences, is an emerging mental health concern that may influence how nurses perceive and respond to climate-related health risks. Climate change is largely driven by emissions of greenhouse gases which radiate and absorb heat. Human-caused climate change is leading to higher average global temperatures and increasing risk to health through poor air quality, changes in vector borne diseases, extreme weather events, and exacerbation and development of physical and mental illnesses. This study contributes to nursing science by examining climate anxiety and climate related health practices among …