Digital Commons Network^™

The Effect Of Using The Adaptive Crawler™ On The Development Of Infants With Spina Bifida, Age 6-12 Months, Margaret E. Williams

Dissertations

During the timeframe of crawling, age 6--12 months, infants typically interact independently with their environment and their parents in order to perform certain developmental tasks. However, many infants with spina bifida are unable to crawl, as would typically developing infants. The inability to crawl may place these infants at a distinct disadvantage during this developmental timeframe. As a result of the developmental disadvantage, the parent-infant relationship may be negatively affected. For this study, the Adaptive Crawler™ assistive technology infant mobility device was designed, and a prototype created, to promote independent mobility and exploration of their environment by infants with spina …

Advancing The Footprint Of Forensic Nursing Practice, Diana Faugno, Valerie Sievers, Stacey Mitchell

General Webinars

As the specialty of forensic nursing grows and evolves, research, literature, and practice guidelines will support specialty and role expansion. Education on forensic nursing topics and concepts is essential as it forms the basis for certification. The webinar will provide an introduction to the fastest growing nursing specialty today. The past, present, and future of forensic nursing will be discussed, highlighting the continued need for trauma-informed, patient-centered practice.

Exploring Mentoring Relationships Among Novice Nurse Faculty: A Grounded Theory, Katie Ruth Busby

Dissertations

The growing and aging population has created an increased demand for health care, resulting in a need for hundreds of thousands more nurses across the United States. As a result, additional nurse faculty are needed to teach the next generation of nurses. However, nurses who enter the faculty role in academia often come from various professional backgrounds with different educational preparation that may not equate to success with the tripartite faculty role of teaching, scholarship, and service. As a way to retain and develop novice faculty, mentoring relationships and programs are promoted as an intervention for career and psychosocial development …

The Changing Of Ambulatory Care: Provision And Utilizations As Influenced By The Patient Protection And Affordable Care Act, Heather Marie Brom

Dissertations

Nurse practitioners (NPs) represent a growing healthcare provider workforce, which is poised to assist with the shortages of physicians and growing demand for healthcare services driven by the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Restrictions to NP scope of practice may present a barrier to meeting this need. This research sought to determine if NP scope of practice laws were altered in response to passage of the ACA and to examine changes in the number of NPs, to test for differences in the delivery of ambulatory care in the United States, and to characterize ambulatory practice by state-level NP scope of practice …

Rural Older Female Family Caregivers Lived Experiences In The Context Of Caregiving For Those With Ad/Adrd During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Candace Harrington, Cheryl Witt

Sigma Foundation for Nursing Research Grant Reports

This qualitative study aimed to understand how COVID-19 affects older female caregivers' lived experience, ongoing capacity, and willingness to provide care for their loved one(s) with AD/ADRD.

The Lived Experience Of Aging: Listening To The Oldest-Old, Julia A. Pusztai

Dissertations

Although embraced as desirable by most, living into very old age is largely unexplored as a distinct season of life, with increased, varied, and cumulative changes during a unique time of vulnerability and frailty. The purpose of this study was to listen to the oldest-old, and to explore their lived experience of growing old. This hermeneutic phenomenology study examines the experience of finding meaning and living with losses and gains in advanced old age.

This study design included three separate interviews one month apart with participants over 85 years of age. Purposive sampling resulted in 13 participants, 5 being male …

Effect Of A Tailored Technology-Enhanced Home-Based Exercise Program On Dna Methylation Change Among Cancer Survivors With Multiple Chronic Conditions, Jongmin Park, Nada Lukkahatai

Sigma Foundation for Nursing Research Grant Reports

This study aims to (1) examine the pre-and-post tailored home-based exercise (iHBE) program epigenetic changes (2) examine the associations of changes in DNA methylation age with symptoms (pain, fatigue, cognitive function) and resilience at completion (12-week) compared to baseline data collected from cancer survivors living with multiple chronic conditions.

The Meaning For Elders Of Receiving Family Care, Janice D. Crist

Dissertations

This dissertation reports findings from an interpretive phenomenological study which addressed the question, ";How central, for elders, in their everyday concerns and practices, is the experience of receiving family care?"; The investigator collected data using interviews, observations and questionnaires with a purposive sample of nine elders in their. homes. Data were collected from each elder two to five times.

Findings were that eight of nine elders (1) incorporated both their illness and help from family members comfortably into their lives while still viewing themselves as autonomous; (2) had positive relationships with their family carers; (3) viewed the acceptability of receiving …

Exploration Of Patients' Spiritual/Religious Beliefs And Resuscitation Decisions, Elizabeth A. Freitas

Dissertations

The resuscitation decision, which has the potential to reverse a premature death or prolong the dying process, is complex and can be associated with spiritual/religious beliefs, values, and quality of life. The consequences of the resuscitation decision make it imperative that healthcare providers have an understanding of patients' spiritual/religious beliefs and how those beliefs are associated with their resuscitation decisions. The objective of this study was to determine the associations between hospitalized patients' spiritual/religious beliefs and their resuscitation decisions.

A Cross-Sectional Study To Determine Barriers In The Educational Advancement Of The Licensed Practical Nurse To The Registered Nurse In The State Of North Carolina, Douglas M. Turner

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to identify barriers that prevent practical nurses in the state of North Carolina from pursuing registered nurse education. A cross-sectional sample of 128 practical nurses completed a modified version of the ";Learning Interests and Experiences of Adult Americans"; (Cross,1981; Powell 1989). A convenience sample of experts in the field of nursing, nursing administration, and nursing education were interviewed to triangulate the data. Logistic regression was used for data analysis.

Two barriers were identified that prevent practical nurses from advancing to registered nurse education in the state of North Carolina: Strict attendance requirements and required …

The Experience Of Nursing Care For Female Medicaid Recipients, Sara K. Kaylor

Dissertations

This phenomenological study is guided by a feminist-informed critical theory for the purpose of exploring the experiences of nursing care for female Medicaid recipients. The goals of this research were to understand how nurses' attitudes and behaviors towards female Medicaid recipients influence the ways in which these patients receive and act upon their health care, and to consider what those understandings suggest for nursing education. Semi-structured interviews with female Medicaid recipients were conducted to understand their experiences of nursing care, and a focus group interview with nurse educators was conducted to consider what those understandings suggest for nursing education.

Current …

The Effect Of An Unfolding Case Study On Critical Thinking, Knowledge Acquisition, And Handoff Communication In Baccalaureate Nursing Students, Antionella M. Upshaw

Dissertations

Miscommunication during handoffs at time of transition for the older adult patient often results in hospital readmissions, penalties and nursing malpractice. Handoff communication (HOC) is a necessary and critical factor in patient safety; therefore, it is imperative that nurses be educated and trained in how to communicate essential geriatric patient data, minimize errors and ensure continuity of care. Nursing researchers report that HOC is a critical responsibility and varies in educational methods creating a latent patient safety risk. The unfolding case study (UCS) is increasingly being used to promote critical thinking and improve communication but lack of evidence to guide …

A Model Of Factors Contributing To Perceived Abilities For Health-Promoting Self-Care Of Community-Dwelling Thai Older Adults, Porntip P. Malathum

Dissertations

The purpose of this descriptive correlational study was to examine factors contributing to perceived abilities for health-promoting self-care of community-dwelling Thai older adults. An integration of selected concepts from Orem's (1995) self-care theory and Bandura's (1997) self-efficacy theory is established to generate a conceptual model for this study. The study variables included age, education, perceived family support, perceived friend support, chronic health problems, functional ability, perceived health status, and perceived abilities for health-promoting self-care.

An Examination Of Faith Community Nursing Interventions In The Promotion Of Successful Aging, Lina B. Hixson

Dissertations

Faith Community Nursing is a specialty nursing practice providing ongoing supportive health care to community dwellers of all ages. Practicing within the context of a community of faith, these nurses focus on health promotion and disease prevention using their expertise to combine spiritual and physical dimensions of care. As the population of Americans continues to age at a rapid rate, the number of older adults is expected to more than double by the year 2060. Many older individuals live with one or more chronic diseases, however living with a chronic disease does not always require inpatient or home care services. …

Family Nurse Practitioners' Use Of Mhealth Apps For Health Promotion With Patients, Rebecca Coyle Mueller

Dissertations

Due to the significant prevalence of chronic illnesses in the United States, engaging patients in health promotion activities is imperative. mHealth apps have the ability to complement the family nurse practitioner's (FNP) prescribed care plan, and offer a user friendly, convenient method to promote healthy behaviors and lessen the prevalence of chronic disease. The purpose of this descriptive, quantitative study was to describe FNPs' intent to use and use of mHealth apps for health promotion with their patients using the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT), and to determine the types and frequencies of apps recommended by …

The Lived Experience Of Nurse Practitioners In Independent Practice, Annmarie Waite

Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore the lived experience of Nurse Practitioners in independent practice. The aim was to give NPs a voice to express their individual experience, provide an inductive description of the lived experience, and gain understanding of the essence of being an independent practitioner. Philosophical Underpinning: This qualitative study was guided by the hermeneutic phenomenological approach of Max van Manen (1990).

Senior Nursing Students' Knowledge, Attitudes, And Perceived Competency About Older Adults, Deborah Denise Brabham

Dissertations

Nurses entering the workforce may have limited education in gerontological nursing. Therefore, many nurses are unprepared to provide quality care to older adults. An unprepared nursing workforce could negatively influence older adults' health outcomes and care experience.

To determine differences in senior nursing students' knowledge, attitudes, and perceived competency about older adults based on enrollment in a bachelor of science in nursing degree (BSN), associate's degree nursing (ADN), and practical nursing (PN) program that offers geriatric content in curricula.

An Ethnographic Study Of Pre-Graduate Precepted Nursing Student Clinical Placements In Long-Term Care Homes, Fran M. Meloche

Theses

Long-Term Care (LTC) home recruitment challenges and nursing student disinterest in such clinical placements and careers, underscore this study's urgent need. This qualitative focused ethnography explored preceptor, faculty advisor, and pre-graduate student beliefs, values, and practices contributing to positive LTC home clinical placements.

Exploring The Homeless Persons Perception Of Living In A Long-Term Care Facility, Janice X. Woods

Dissertations

Objective: The purpose of this study was to explore the lived experiences of homeless persons admitted to a nursing home facility. Originally, the study was to explore their understanding of and their experience with advance health care planning; coincidently, the participants were more open to their experience of living in a long-term care facility.

Method: A convenience sample of 13 participants (12 male, 1 female) at four long-term care facilities in Southern California were interviewed about their perception of advanced health care planning, including the physician's orders for life sustaining treatment (POLST); a consent form required in all nursing homes. …

Simultaneous Experiences Of Type 2 Diabetes And Symptoms Of Depression And/Or Anxiety Among Latina Women 60 And Older, Adrienne S. Martinez-Hollingsworth

Dissertations

Latina older adult women disproportionately suffer from type 2 diabetes (diabetes) and symptoms of depression and/or anxiety. These disease states are associated with serious declines in health outcomes and a three-fold reduction in treatment compliance. Few studies have examined this phenomenon exclusively among Latina older adult women or have captured the impact of intersectional identity on their experiences, values or problem-solving methods related to self-management.

The purpose of this study was to examine how Latina women, 60 and over, emotionally experience both diabetes and interactions with care providers during help-seeking and care engagement.

The Impact Of Readmission On Family Caregivers Of Children Following Ventricular Peritoneal Shunt Surgery, Mary Uwhuba

Theses

Family caregivers work tirelessly to ensure their loved ones don't need to return to the hospital after discharge. This study will examine the impact of readmission on family caregivers of children who have had ventricular peritoneal shunt (VPS) surgery and been readmitted by looking at the economic, social, familial, and personal strains of caregiving. This study is a descriptive study. The Impact on Family Scale survey (Stein & Jessop, 1985) was used to judge if family caregivers were affected by child's readmission.

The_Instaprep_Project: A Social Marketing Intervention On Instagram To Increase Oral Hiv Prophylaxis In Black Men Who Have Sex With Men, James Q. Simmons

Dissertations

Incidence of HIV diagnoses is higher in Black men who have sex with men (BMSM) than any other socio-demographic population in the United States. BMSM account for 26% of all new HIV diagnoses in the U.S. yet make up an estimated 1% of the U.S population. In 2017, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) predicted 50% of BMSM would be diagnosed with HIV in their lifetime. Oral HIV pre-exposure prophylactic (PrEP) medications developed to prevent sexual transmission of HIV are 95-99% effective. However, Blacks represent only 10% of PrEP prescriptions. Targeted Social Marketing initiatives on Instagram need to be …

Effectiveness Of The Nurse-Practitioner-Driven Enteral Nutrition Protocol, Jho Mary Tangcora

Dissertations

The delay in initiating enteral feeding (EF) in the critical care unit is known to cause malnutrition which may lead to poor patient outcomes. The purpose of this quasi-experimental quantitative project was to determine if the nurse practitioner (NP)-driven enteral nutrition protocol recommended by the Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM) and the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (ASPEN) will psychologically empower the NP toward reducing the delay on initiating EF and lowering the length of stay (LOS) of adult patients an intensive care unit in urban California over four weeks. This project utilized the theoretical foundation of …

Identification Of Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Clinical Procedural Skills Used In Practice: Examination Of Frequency Of Use, Importance Of Skill, And Training For Skill, David R. Want

Dissertations

With primary care NPs functioning in varied settings and roles requiring additional CPS knowledge and skills, NPs have expressed lack of preparedness regarding CPS. Although some evidence identified those CPS considered important to and frequently performed by NPs, the literature provides insufficient evidence to identify the CPS performed most frequently and rated as most important by primary care NPs in practice, and existing curricular standards lack clarity regarding which CPS to include in program curricula. This project aimed to conduct a practice analysis of the most frequently performed and most important CPS to primary care NPs in one region of …

A Clinical Practice Guideline: Hospice Care In The Emergency Room, Samer Saad

Dissertations

Hospice patients use the emergency department (ED) for the management of symptoms, making it necessary for ED nurses to be equipped with the knowledge and skills to care for hospice patients. EDs should have staff specially trained to address end-of-life needs due to ED staff's minimal knowledge of treating and managing hospice patients. When healthcare organizations fail to provide clinical practice guidelines (CPG) and collaborate with significant stakeholders adequately, gaps in care delivery can occur, and hospice care is often not delivered safely. Standardized guidelines on end-of-life care in the ED should provide adequate guidance for ED nurses in bridging …

Nursing And Midwifery Links [June 2021 Issue], Secretariat At Johns Hopkins University School Of Nursing Global Network Of Who Collaborating Centers For Nursing And Midwifery

Nursing and Midwifery Links (LINKS)

In this June edition, all regions of the Collaborating Centers are represented with insight into the global health experience as Nurses, Midwives, Students, and Educators over the past six months. Progressive programs for better supporting the dedicated Nurse are explored. Our international colleagues are celebrated and honored; as well as mourned. In honor of those who lost their lives during the Covid Pandemic, and those who continue to forge on in the face of loss, we offer a heartfelt representation of solidarity in the form of voices from Collaborating Centers across the globe, from our community to yours.

Resistiveness In Dementia: Nurse Communication In Acute Care, Clarissa Shaw

Sigma Foundation for Nursing Research Grant Reports

Persons living with dementia (PLWD) are twice as likely to be hospitalized compared to cognitively intact older adults and while hospitalized PWD often exhibit behavioral symptoms of dementia such as aggression. Challenging behaviors that disrupt nursing care are termed resistiveness to care (RTC) and leave patients at risk for neglect and nurses at risk for strain. Effective communication by nursing staff is critically important in preventing RTC. The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to identify and characterize elderspeak communication by hospital nursing staff to PLWD and determine the association between elderspeak communication and RTC by PLWD. Nursing staff were …

A Culturally Responsive Community Care Model For Latinos With Cancer, Marianne Congema, Sarah Jane Hoffman, Kim L. Larson, H. F. Mathews, J. P. Moye

Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE)

Latinos in the United States have less access to palliative care resources due to numerous sociocultural factors. We explored the meaning of cancer and death among Latino leaders who completed a palliative care training program to serve Latinos with cancer.

Creating A Strong And Healthy Work Environment During A Pandemic Through Shared Governance, Jackie L. Hoskins, Cathy D. Catrambone

Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE)

Importance of shared governance presence with rounding to ensure a healthy work environment during a pandemic. The President of the shared governance counsel implemented weekly rounding in an effort to engage with the nurses at the bedside during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Implementation Of Emergency Department Nurse Triage Sepsis Screening Protocol, Lynne E. Ward, Jennifer M. Heusinkvelt, Lacey J. Huber, Breann N. Miller, Azusa Ronhovde, Susan A. Barnason, Katie A. Kranau

General Submissions: Presentations (Oral and Poster)

Sepsis is a life-threatening condition associated with high morbidity and mortality rates resulting in the death of 270,000 Americans annually (CDC, 2018). Most patients diagnosed with sepsis are admitted through the ED. Unlike many other emergency conditions, the signs and symptoms of sepsis along with variances in patient presentations are often vague and subtle, making early identification and treatment a challenge. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the implementation of an ED nurse-led triage sepsis protocol.