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Medication Management For Older Adults: Bridging Learning From Us And Uk Perspectives, Blaise B. Nieve

General Submissions: Presentations (Oral and Poster)

The aging population globally necessitates an effective approach to medication management, particularly among older adults who are at a higher risk for adverse drug events (ADEs). This presentation explores the intricacies of medication management for older adults by comparing and contrasting practices and guidelines from the United States and the United Kingdom.

Evaluation Of Reported Level Of Clinical Confidence In Student Nurses Using Deliberate Practice, Leslie Kirkwood

Dissertations

Critical thinking and clinical reasoning, which support confidence in clinical decision-making of nurses, are still being developed during pre-licensure education. Nursing faculty in higher education are tasked with the challenge to increase the level of practice undergraduate nursing students experience during their program. The research question guiding this project was what effect does the use of deliberate practice with medication administration have on medical-surgical nursing II students regarding clinical confidence? The purpose of this quantitative, quasi-experimental study was to determine if the use of deliberate practice with nursing students by implementing weekly medication administration simulations would increase the level of …

Health-Promoting Behavior As A Predictor Of Bachelor Of Science In Nursing Faculty Intent To Remain In Academe, Felisa Haywood Smith

Dissertations

The purpose of this predictive study was to identify whether health-promoting behavior, as identified in the Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile II (HPLP II), is a significant predictor for intent to remain in academe teaching in Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) programs among nursing faculty at four-year institutions in the Southern region of the United States. Health-promoting behavior dimensions measured by the HPLP II are physical activity, health responsibility, nutrition, interpersonal relations, spiritual growth, and stress management.

The Investigation Of Collaboration Among First-Year Bachelor Of Science Nursing Students, Christie Marie Cavallo

Dissertations

Despite the benefits of collaboration, first-year nursing students prefer not to work together. It was important to find out why nursing students do not want to collaborate. The purpose of this study was to discover first-year nursing students' and faculty's perceptions of how instructor-created opportunities for collaboration contributed to first year nursing students' collaboration. Using Wenger's communities of practice (CoPs) model as a lens, the data were explored using a qualitative explanatory case study approach. This study consisted of individual interviews of 12 first-year nursing students and nursing faculty. Inclusion criteria included students enrolled in or faculty teaching first year …

Development And Evaluation Of A Nurse Practitioner-Directed Mindfulness Initiative Among Patients Diagnosed With Generalized Anxiety Disorder In An Outpatient Psychiatric Practice, Keilah B. Ford

Dissertations

This quality improvement project presents the impact of mindfulness intervention, such as guided meditation on anxiety levels in adult patients in a psychiatric outpatient practice.

Identifying Delirium In Hospitalized Patients Using Nursing Delirium Screening Scale, Christina S. Arockiam

Dissertations

Delirium is a sudden brain dysfunction that can affect the mental status of hospitalized adult patients. At the project site, there was no consistent screening tool for delirium, so an evidence-based solution was sought. The purpose of this quality improvement project was to determine if the translation of Heinrich et al.'s research regarding Gaudreau et al.'s Nursing Delirium Screening Scale (Nu-DESC) would impact the identification of delirium and subsequent provider notification within 30 minutes among adult patients in an acute care hospital in urban California over eight weeks. Virginia Henderson's need theory and the Iowa Model Revised: Evidence-based practice to …

Describing Nursing Care Of Severely Obese Patients In Critical Access Hospitals Using Total Quality Management Theory: A Qualitative Study, Amy M. Blankenship

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to explore nurses' perceptions and experiences regarding caring for severely obese patients and factors that affect quality care of these patients in Critical Access Hospitals (CAHS).

Improving Hypertension For Veterans Utilizing Measure Properly, Assessment Of Pharmacology, Alternative Therapy Interest, Routine Outreach, Partner With The Veteran Protocol (Maarp): A Pilot Study, Alyssa S. Dudley

Dissertations

The purpose of this quality improvement (QI) project was to create a hypertension control protocol for the patient aligned care teams (PACT) to follow when a Veteran presents to the primary care clinic (PCC) with uncontrolled hypertension. Despite past interventions, uncontrolled hypertension was still problematic in the Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) Healthcare System. Past and present research suggested that the Veteran population was at higher risk of developing hypertension than those of the civilian population. In hopes to reduce uncontrolled hypertension in the VA's PCCs, the Measure Properly, Assessment of Pharmacology, Alternative Medication Interests, Routine Outreach, and Partner with …

Early Identification Of Postpartum Depression Symptoms During The Antenatal Period Using The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, Cherie Didier

DNP and Student Works

This quantitative quality improvement project aimed to assess the effectiveness of implementing the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) during the prenatal period in an obstetrical clinic in Memphis, TN. The primary research question was to investigate whether prenatal screening for postpartum depression (PPD) using the EPDS is effective in identifying at-risk individuals and improving maternal mental health outcomes.

Symptom Burden, Identity Balance, And Emotional Distress In Cancer Survivors, Lynne Bentley

Dissertations

Emotional distress suffuses the experience of cancer survivors and is associated with adverse outcomes. Emotional distress is a response to a circumstance, which threatens the stability of identity. Of the antecedents to emotional distress in cancer patients, symptom burden accounts for the greatest amount of variance. Qualitative studies in populations of cancer survivors have shown that identity affects the experience of emotional distress related to symptom burden. The purpose of this dissertation research was to measure the relationships among symptom burden, identity balance, and emotional distress by testing whether identity balance mediates the relationship between symptom burden and emotional distress …

Influence Of Social Capital On Community-Based Health Care Programs In Rural Paupa New Guinea: An Ethnographic Study, Carol J. Bett

Dissertations

This descriptive, ethnographic study explored the influence of cultural health beliefs and social capital on the adoption of community-based health care interventions by rural villages in Papua New Guinea. The development of local level resources that lead to improved health indices requires an awareness of both the cultural context and the relational components of social capital that link people within the community. Social capital has been defined as resources that are an inherent part of a social group and the elements of social organization such as trust, networks, and norms of reciprocity that facilitate mutual cooperation (Billings, 2000; Carpiano, 2006). …

Use Of Flipped Classroom Learning Activities In Nursing: A Basic Qualitative Study, Tamara J. Steele

Dissertations

This study aimed to explore the experiences of nurse educators using flipped classroom methods with learning activities proven to be successful in students' achievement of learning outcomes. Specifically, it aimed to identify the learning activities that nurse educators have found to be most successful in terms of student achievement of learning outcomes. An additional focus of the study was to identify the flipped classroom and learning activity evaluation methods used by nurse educators and examine how those evaluation results were used to further enhance future nursing courses. An important gap in the extant literature related to a lack of in-depth …

Development And Testing Of A Videogame Intervention For Improving The Health-Related Quality Of Life (Hrqol) Of Children With Cancer At A Tertiary Care Hospital In Pakistan: A Mixed Method Design, Sehrish Sajjad

Sigma Foundation for Nursing Research Grant Reports

The study aims to develop a videogame intervention for children (age 8-18 years) with cancer and test the clinical efficacy of the intervention with regards to cancer symptom management and HrQOL.

A Novel Use Of Social Network Analysis And Routinely Collected Data To Uncover Care Coordination Processes For Patients With Heart Failure, Sijia Wei

Dissertations

Effective patient care transitions require consideration of the patient's social and clinical contexts, yet how these factors relate to the processes in care coordination remains poorly described. This dissertation aimed to describe provider networks and clinical care and social contexts involved during longitudinal care transitions across settings. The overall purpose of this dissertation is to uncover the longitudinal patterns of utilization and relational processes needed for effective care coordination in transitional care, so we can redesign interventions that focus on informational and relationship networks to improve interaction patterns and system performance for people living with heart failure (HF) as they …

Unveiling The Path To Lgbtq+ Inclusive And Culturally Competent Healthcare: A Multi-Dimensional Examination Of Trainings, Policies, And Perspectives, Hyunmin Yu

Dissertations

LGBTQ+ individuals encounter enduring discrimination and adverse healthcare encounters within the healthcare system, with profound implications for their health and wellbeing. Policymakers have advocated for the adoption of LGBTQ+ inclusive and culturally competent healthcare, including training for health professionals, to promote health equity among LGBTQ+ populations. However, implementation of these policies within healthcare systems varies, posing structural and individual-level barriers. In this dissertation, I employ an ecological model of LGBTQ+ health disparities and a conceptual model of determinants of health disparities in vulnerable populations within the healthcare system to examine the impact of structural inequities on the implementation of LGBTQ+ …

The Effect Of A Contextualized Dosage Calculation Learning Intervention On Pre-Nursing Students' Math Self-Efficacy And Ability To Pass High Stakes Dosage Calculation Examination On First Attempt, Eileen V. Weatherby

Dissertations

Many students in pre-licensure nursing programs struggle with calculating accurate medication dosages even though they meet the numeracy requirements for application to the nursing programs. Most pre-licensure programs require that nursing students pass dosage calculation exams at a specified level of accuracy before progressing to the next term. Students typically have three tries to pass at the specified level and should they not succeed, they must withdraw. If they wish to continue in the program, they must complete the requirements for reentry which may include space availability restrictions. Factors influencing dosage calculation performance include fear of mathematics, low math self-efficacy, …

Emotional Intelligence And Critical Thinking In Practical Nursing Students: A Quantitative Study, Jennifer L. Knaack

Dissertations

The aim of this study was to understand if emotional intelligence was predictive of critical thinking in practical nursing students enrolled in a practical nursing program. The literature shows that nursing students' emotional intelligence and critical thinking directly affect student success; however, there is limited research focused on emotional intelligence and its predictability of critical thinking in practical nursing students enrolled in a practical nursing program. This quantitative, predictive study was designed to fill the gap in the literature on the relationship between emotional intelligence and critical thinking in nursing students enrolled in practical nursing programs.

Nursing Student Perceptions Of Presence In A Virtual Learning Environment: A Qualitative Description Study, Jason R. Thrift

Dissertations

Multifaceted approaches to learning are used for educating student nurses. One common teaching modality in nursing education, simulation, provides hands-on experiences in a safe environment to prepare student nurses for professional roles. High quality simulation standards recommend an engaging immersive experience, with physical, emotional, and conceptual fidelity to clinical practice. Presence is the perception of being there in a simulation as if it were real. Studies have reported improved learning outcomes with increased sense of presence. A simulation modality seldom used in nursing education is virtual reality simulation (VRSim) a three dimensional, immersive experience. VR-Sim with head mounted visual and …

Maximizing The Impact: The Vital Role Of Medical Surplus Recovery Organizations, Sarah Meffert, Chanelle Pearson, Sharrissa Beckford, Chioma Ezeji, Amy Simons

Global Advocacy

Medical Surplus Recovery Organizations (MSROs) play a vital role in closing the gap in global healthcare disparities. These organizations collect unused medical supplies, devices, and medicines, turning potential waste into hope for those in need. In this presentation we advocate for the use of MSROs, identify stakeholders, and provide a plan to determine effectiveness of the awareness campaign.

Increasing Access To Non-Dairy Beverages And Commercial Thickeners, Kathleen Carr

General Submissions: Presentations (Oral and Poster)

The primary aim of the project was to identify whether financial assistance in the form of product vouchers for non-dairy (later expanded to include dairy) or commercially available thickeners impacts the time from initial recommendation to identification of a tolerated product. A secondary aim included identifying whether financial assistance in the form of product vouchers for non-dairy (later expanded to include dairy) beverages or commercially available thickeners impacts insurance coverage.

Sunlight Solutions: Optimizing 25(Oh)D Concentrations In Global Maternal Health Strategies To Improve Maternal Outcomes And Preserve Healthcare Resources, Beth Sanford

Global Advocacy

In 2020, the World Health Organization identified the Global maternal mortality rate was a staggering 223 per 100,000. As a result, the United Nations created Sustainable Development Goal 3.1, with the hope of "reducing the global MMR to less than 70 per 100 000 births, with no country having a maternal mortality rate of more than twice the global average" by 2030.

Optimizing 25(OH)D serum concentrations to a minimum of 40 ng/mL (100 nmol/L) has been proven to be a safe, affordable, and effective way to improve perinatal outcomes such as decreasing maternal mortality as well as morbidities such as …

Climate Challenge For Sigma Chapters, Kathy Burlingame, Michelle Dephillips, Michelle Gilbert, Kelly Kuhns, Daria Waszak

Global Advocacy

There are a plethora of health effects connected to climate change's impacts on weather, food, water, air, heat, vectors, allergens, and more. As a trusted voice, nurses are in an opportune position to advocate for climate action and its related impacts on health. Whilst, the topic of climate change should be integrated more consistently through curricula for nurses. With that in mind, The Nurses Climate Challenge, a campaign of the ANHE and Healthcare Without Harm, was launched in 2018. Its initial aim of engaging 50,000 nurses was met, and the initiative is being transferred to ANHE this month.

Factors Influencing Outcomes Of Undergraduate Nursing Student's Education, Patricia Jenkins Barnard

Dissertations

In 2021, approximately 509,000 undergraduate nursing students graduated from baccalaureate nursing educational programs. These new registered nurses (RNs) faced the same adversities as prior generations, including feeling unprepared to practice nursing, personal expectations did not match the reality of the situation, and working in an unwelcoming environment exacerbated by COVID-19 changes. During the time of COVID-19 changes in classroom delivery and settings brought these issues to the forefront (Dewart, 2020; IOM, 2010; NLN, 2015). There is a lack of information about nursing education modalities and their efficacy. Preliminary review documented that there was no clear evidence of which teaching modalities …

Open Doors: Improving Access To Medical Care For Underserved And/Or Unhoused Asylum Seekers, Amy Staley, Victoria Averill

Global Advocacy

Since 2023, the number of migrant deaths directly related to unsafe living conditions in New York City has doubled. Over the past two years alone, the number of individuals seeking asylum within New York City alone has skyrocketed. Many underserved and/or unhoused asylum seekers fail to pursue medical care, even in dire circumstances, due to fear of retaliation and/or harm from unauthorized and destructive organizations. "Open Doors" is an action plan introduced by nursing leaders Victoria Averill and Amy Staley in an effort to open more doors to safe medical care for both underserved and/or unhoused asylum seekers throughout the …

Empowering Nurses As Change Agents For Climate Action: A Global Advocacy Action Plan, Ongelique Conflenti

Global Advocacy

Background: The World Health Organization has identified climate change as the single biggest threat to human health. Healthcare systems will inevitably struggle to meet the increasing demand of a sicker population as climate hazards increase in frequency and intensity (e.g. extreme heat, air pollution, extreme weather events). The healthcare sector itself, however, is a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions, exacerbating the burden of disease on the patients and communities it serves. Radical transformation of the healthcare sector and its workforce is urgently needed to create climate-resilient health systems that align with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). As …

Evaluation Of A Clincally-Integrated Community Health Worker Program To Support Adults With Cardiovascular Conditions: Guided By The Prism Framework, Cynthia Orofo

Dissertations

Chronically ill individuals with cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) have been extensively challenged by the complexities of disease management. Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death in the U.S. Although clinically integrated community health worker (cCHW) support interventions have been increasingly implemented to help manage CVDs, a comprehensive analysis of interventions implemented in real-world settings is lacking. The purpose of this study was to observe and evaluate a cCHW support intervention in a real clinical setting serving adults with CVD using an implementation science perspective, guided by the PRISM Framework.

Understanding Adaptive Tasks In Cardiac Rehabilitation Among Patients With Acute Myocardial Infarction: A Qualitative Study, Xiyi Wang, Li Xu

General Submissions: Presentations (Oral and Poster)

This study aimed to explore the patient experience in CR programmes following Acute Myocardial Infarction (AMI) and describe their adaptive processing.

Implementation Of Tai Chi Fall Prevention Program In A Community-Based Setting, Shabnampreet Kaur

Dissertations

The increasing rate of falls among older adults is a health concern that may lead to injuries and reduced quality of life. At the project site there was no systematic process to impact fall rates, so an evidence-based solution was sought. The purpose of this quality improvement project was to determine if the translation of Li et al.'s research regarding the Tai Chi fall prevention program would impact the rate of falls among adults 65 years and older. The project was piloted over 12 weeks in a community-based setting in urban New York. Imogene King's goal attainment theory and Kurt …

Making A Difference: Culturally And Ethnically Appropriate Guides For Those Working With People With Dementia, Meredith Troutman-Jordan, Boyd Davis, Margaret Maclagan

Sigma Foundation for Nursing Research Grant Reports

The purpose of this study was to determine the usefulness, feasibility, and acceptability of language, culture-and ethnicity-specific caregiver resource guides to help immigrant nurses and unlicensed assistive personnel or nursing assistants working with persons with dementia.

High Risk Medication Regimens And Medication Related Predictors Of Hospital Readmission In Elderly Home Care Patients, Mary T. Dierich

Dissertations

Adverse drug events are a primary cause of hospitalization in the elderly. Nearly 70% of the $177.4 billion dollars spent on drug related morbidity and mortality in the U.S. is due to hospitalizations. Polypharmacy, inappropriate medications or medication regimen complexity have all been implicated as precursors to adverse drug events and as indicators of high risk medication regimens. Understanding the relationship between medication regimens and readmission is important when evaluating potential errors in administration, risk-benefit ratios, and readmission risk. However, due to definitional and measurement issues, the high risk medication regimen remains an elusive concept. This study characterizes medication regimens, …