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Moving Interprofessional Simulation Online: A Lactation Telehealth Virtual Simulation Pilot, Suzanne Hetzel Campbell, Thayanthini Tharmaratnam, Nicole Bernardes, Marianne Brophy, Melanie Willson

General Submissions: Presentations (Oral and Poster)

The pandemic hit the world by surprise, and a continued need for health care professionals meant university programs scrambled for innovative educational options. We will describe the transition to develop and implement a virtual telehealth simulation for interprofessional health care student team.

The Preparedness Assessment For The Transition Home After Stroke (Path-S) Instrument, Michelle Elizabeth Camicia

Dissertations

Care transitions for individuals with disabling conditions, such as stroke, are often ineffective and inefficient, resulting in unmet patient and caregiver needs, increased safety risks, readmissions, and increased healthcare costs. An assessment instrument designed to evaluate caregiver's preparation to assume the caregiving role is needed to facilitate the development of tailored care plans and interventions to mitigate the risks of poorly prepared caregivers, and associated health effects on caregiver and stroke survivor. The purpose of this dissertation was to develop and then evaluate selected psychometric properties of the proposed Preparedness Assessment for the Transition Home after Stroke (PATH-s), a 25-item …

The Lived Experience Of Becoming A Professional Nurse For Associate Degree Nursing Graduates: A Phenomenological Study, Jean L. Hershey

Dissertations

This qualitative study used a hermeneutic phenomenological design to investigate the lived experience of becoming a professional nurse for associate degree nursing graduates. The study looked specifically at the process of acquiring a professional identity for associate degree nursing graduates. The theoretical frameworks of structural functionalism and reference group theory provided the lens which guided the study. Structural functionalism is a sociological perspective describing how groups reproduce themselves by creating members whose behaviors and values correspond to the established group norms. A reference group is the social group which an individual uses to define attitudes, beliefs, and values which the …

Exploring The Experiences Of African American Nurses: An Emancipatory Inquiry, Laurie Pierce

Dissertations

This inquiry provided a critical and in-depth analysis of African American nurses' situations within the context of the work environment. Through this examination, multiple oppressions were illuminated. Participants identified both personal experiences of oppression and oppression related to administrative and interdisciplinary hierarchies. Additionally, the participants provided their insights on the concept of empowerment. Definitions of empowerment included being a voice for self and others and empowering others is empowering to self. Thus, the concept of relational empowerment was explicated. Furthermore, the participants envisioned an ideal environment where administration is supportive of nurses, nurses have time to care for the patients, …

The Female Overactive Bladder In Our Beverage-Centered Society: An Evolutionary Perspective, Sarah Becker Hortsch

Dissertations

Over recent decades, chronic disease has trended upwards, associated with the mismatch between our modern nutritional environment and our paleolithic genome. The beverage industry has exploded in sync with chronic conditions, including bladder symptomatology. This dissertation uses the logic and paradigm of evolutionary medicine to examine the modern beverage culture as a cause of the current high overactive bladder prevalence rates (17-31%, age dependent). A natural experiment exemplar concludes the dissertation with proof of concept that societal-wide influences to hyper-hydrate by drinking beyond thirst influences non-pathological changes to bladder state. The study is a secondary analysis with main outcome measure …

Senior Nursing Students' Perception Of Faculty Caring And The Caring Milieu In Two Associate Degree Nursing Programs, Martha A. Desmond

Dissertations

Caring, according to Jean Watson (1979), is the "core" and "essence" of nursing. The link between wisdom (knowledge) and caring can be achieved for the faculty member, according to Berkowitz (2011), if more attention is paid to the learning environment, role modeling, interactional practices, and professional development of the teaching staff. To do so, it will be critical for faculty to model caring as the core value and precept of nursing (Li et al., 2013) as well as create a caring environment (milieu) for students to replicate when they become professional nurses.

A gap was identified in the literature review …

Relationship Between Nurses' Perception Of Empowerment, Job Satisfaction, And Intent To Stay, Ma Leilani Hall

Dissertations

Retention of perioperative nurses who work in the operating room is critical to an organization's effectiveness and financial wellness. Factors that retain perioperative nurses are empowerment and job satisfaction. The purposes of this quantitative study, guided by Kanter's theory of structural empowerment, were to determine (a) the level of empowerment and job satisfaction among perioperative nurses and their intent to stay in the organization and (b) if age, gender, education, perioperative experience, and national nursing certification predict empowerment among perioperative nurses. Fifty-five perioperative nurses responded to the Conditions for Work Effectiveness Questionnaire- II, Nursing Workplace Satisfaction Questionnaire, and Intent to …

First-Generation Undergraduate Nursing Students' Perceptions Of Faculty Advising, Robin R. Kappler

Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore the perceptions of first-generation undergraduate baccalaureate nursing students regarding their experiences with BSN faculty advisors at two Midwestern colleges. Peplau's Interpersonal Relations Theory was used as the foundation for this study. A phenomenological research methodology was utilized for this study. This included interviews with six self-identified first-generation undergraduate baccalaureate nursing students. These participants shared their individual perceptions of their experiences with faculty advising. Participants perceived relationships, knowledge, and supportive behaviors to be most important in a successful faculty advisor-advisee dyad. Overall, participants reported that their experience with faculty advising was …

Alert Driven Rescue: Do In-Hospital Sepsis Interventions Following An Advanced Early Warning System Alert Differ Substantially Between Decedents And Survivors?, Daniel T. Linnen

Dissertations

Patients with worsening sepsis on general hospital wards are at high risk for clinical deterioration, unplanned admission to the intensive care unit, and death. Many hospitals have begun to employ early warning systems (EWSs) to alert nurses and providers that a patient is predicted to deteriorate. Multiple papers in the rapid response team (RRT) and sepsis literature describe typical problems leading to an EWS alert (e.g., systemic inflammatory response syndrome, low blood pressure) as well recommended interventions such as intravenous fluid bolus, antibiotics, and transfer to the intensive care unit (ICU). Despite the evidence base, it remains unclear which actions …

Exploring Higher Rates Of Breastfeeding Among Civilian Military Wives: A Mixed Methods Study, Nicole Ann Ringo

Dissertations

As compared to the U.S. general postpartum population, civilian military wives (CMWs) encounter unique challenges that can impede their ability to breastfeed, including geographic replacement and physical and emotional challenges. Yet despite these challenges, CMWs demonstrate higher rates of breastfeeding initiation and duration in the U.S. postpartum population as a whole.

The purpose of this study was to explore factors contributing to the high rate of breastfeeding initiation and duration among CMWs and to determine what might be learned from these factors for intervention design for the broader population of postpartum mothers.

Determining The Needs Of Fathers Of Premature Neonates, Linda Ann Merritt

Dissertations

In order to practice true family-centered care in the NICU setting, a nurse needs to understand the perceptions and concerns of both parents of the neonate. Although research is emerging on fathers' perceptions and experiences, researchers have not examined fathers' needs with respect to sociodemographic factors and gestational age of neonates. The purpose of this study was to determine the needs of NICU fathers and if these needs differed based on sociodemographic factors and gestational age of neonates.

How Do Faculty Foster The Development Of Nursing Student Empathy In The Clinical Learning Environment?, Caroline E. Rae

Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore how faculty foster the development of nursing student empathy in the clinical learning environment. While much of nursing education focuses on building technical knowledge and skills, the literature supports a growing need to focus on developing an empathetic practice. It is important to support the development of empathic skills to better prepare future nurses to provide high-quality patient-centered care.

Following The Yellow Brick Road: The Lived Journey Of Nurses Becoming Nurse Practitioners, Kathleen Theresa Ogle

Dissertations

In this phenomenological study, I explore the lived experiences of registered nurses who become nurse practitioners. Text for this study comes from narrative sources such as reflective writings, one-on-one conversations, and group conversations with seven new nurse practitioners.

The guiding question for this inquiry is: "What is the lived journey of nurses who become nurse practitioners?" Phenomenological philosophers such as Heidegger, Gadamer, and Casey guide this work. Other authors are drawn upon for grounding the study and to draw out the phenomenon for examination. The six research activities of van Manen (2003) provide the methodological framework for the research.

The Role Social Capital Plays In The Psychological Capital Of Registered Nurses Experiencing Second Victim Syndrome, Teresa-Lynn Hinkley

Dissertations

This study used an ex-post facto survey for data collection and structural equation modeling for data analysis to explore the combined relationship of psychological capital and social capital on the severity of second victim syndrome experienced by registered nurses. Specifically, this study sought to answer the following research question "To what extent does the relationship between psychological capital and social capital combine to predict the severity of SVS experienced by registered nurses following a precipitating event?" A second research question, aimed at explicating the relationships between the subconstructs of the three constructs of interest was "What are the relationships between …

Effectiveness Of An Educational Intervention At An Academic Medical Center To Reduce Stigma Of Accelerated Pre-Licensure Nursing Students Toward Patients Living With Hiv, James Strickland Miller

Dissertations

Some health care providers may be reluctant to care for patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). The inclusion of educational opportunities for students to advance knowledge of HIV transmission risks, while decreasing stigma, is important, and many health care providers have not participated in these types of activities, which could promote learning and the practice of unbiased care.

Hypoglycemia Management In The Tnpatient Setting: Protocol Education For The Registered Nurse, Sarah Firmin

Dissertations

Hypoglycemia in the hospital setting is associated with increased mortality, morbidity, and an increased length of stay. In the clinical setting for this quality improvement project, there is an emergency standing order for the presentation of hypoglycemia. The purpose of the order is to direct the registered nurse to utilize specific measures when patient presentations are emergent. The literature review for this project provided an overview of quality improvement projects which had a focus on the care of patients with hypoglycemia. This project had the following specific aims: nurse knowledge related to diabetes and the treatment of hypoglycemia will increase, …

Predictors Of Quality Of Life In Thai Adults With Early-Stage Chronic Kidney Disease, Warissara Sorat

Dissertations

The incidence and prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) are increasing worldwide. Persons with CKD constitute a large population with a high prevalence of morbidity and mortality in Thailand. Treatment of CKD generally involves a multidisciplinary team and requires a comprehensive assessment and aggressive treatment plan to improve the health status of persons with CKD to slow the disease progression. This study aimed to examine factors that influence quality of life among Thai adults with early-stage CKD and test the constructs of a complex model identifying individual and family factors, knowledge, depression, and self-efficacy related to self-management behavior and quality …

Impact Of End-Of-Life Education On Nurses' Moral Distress, Jenniffer L. Mullen

Dissertations

Moral distress is a state of concern or anxiety that occurs when there is a correct action to take but an individual's ability to take that action is constrained in some way. Nurses, especially those who work in intensive care units (ICUs), may struggle with moral distress due to feelings of futility when caring for end-of-life patients. The purpose of this 1-group pretest–posttest quasi-experimental study, guided by Lazarus's theory of stress, coping, and adaptation, was to determine whether End-of-Life Nursing Education Consortium (ELNEC) education reduces moral distress in ICU nurses caring for end-of-life patients. A revised Moral Distress Survey (MDS-R …

Reducing Unplanned Hospital Readmissions: A Qualitative Exploratory Multiple-Case Study, Kathleen Janet Weatherspoon

Dissertations

Healthcare quality measurement and care reimbursement have become a central focus for leaders and administrators of healthcare organizations. The provision of high-quality healthcare is contingent on the skills and abilities of leaders and clinical staff who support evidence-based clinical practice through implementation strategies. The problem defined in this qualitative exploratory multiple-case study was concerned with the frequency of unplanned hospital readmissions occurring in the state of Florida specifically, in healthcare facilities located in Broward, Miami-Dade, and Monroe Counties (tri-county area). Healthcare stakeholders working in organizations located in the tri-county area report hospital readmission rates of 23%, that resulted in higher …

Qualitative Exploration Of Perceptions Of Nursing Undergraduates Regarding Family Care At End-Of-Life, Penny A. Alt-Gehrman

Dissertations

Family care at end-of-life is delivered by nurses and includes communication and explanations, providing emotional support for the family, creating an environment in which death occurs with dignity, providing privacy, facilitating visitation, and honoring and meeting cultural and personal family values (Beckstrand et al., 2011; Bloomer et al., 2013; Cronin et al., 2015; Heidari & Norouzadeh, 2014).

There appears to be a gap in the empirical evidence and literature on this topic. Regarding the knowledge and comfort of student nurses, and subsequently nurses, in family care at the end-of-life, there is disparity. To determine what must be taught to nursing …

The Relationships Among Self-Regulation, Cognitive Load, Decision Support, And Decision Making Readiness In Surrogate Decision Makers For The Critically Ill, Grant Alan Pignatiello

Dissertations

Chronic critical illness is expected to impact 600,000 Americans annually by 2020. Often, the chronically critically ill (CCI) experience persistent cognitive impairment. Thus, family members serve as surrogate decision makers (SDMs) to make complex healthcare decisions for their loved one. Decision support interventions have been developed to meet the informational needs of SDMs during this distressing period. However, past decision support interventions have not been effective in meeting the informational needs of SDMs. Current decision support interventions have not evaluated unique behavioral and cognitive factors that may influence an SDM's readiness to engage in decision making. Therefore, this study applied …

A Basic Qualitative Exploration Into The Academic Persistence Of Minority Nursing Students In Minority Nursing Programs, Marta S. Coleman

Dissertations

The academic persistence of minority nursing students has become a healthcare concern due to health disparities in minority groups. Evidence suggests that receiving healthcare from healthcare providers of the same ethnic or cultural background as the population served reduces health disparities, increases positive health outcomes, and decreases overall healthcare costs. Unlike previous studies of minority nursing students' persistence, this study was conducted solely in minority nursing programs. The problem addressed in this basic qualitative study was that a significant number of minority nursing students were not persisting to graduation in minority nursing programs. The purpose of this study was to …

Electronic Health Record Instruction In First-Semester Nursing Students: A Comparative Study, Angela R. Ruckdeschel

Dissertations

The use of health information technology has been shown to have positive effects on patient outcomes and provider efficiency. New nurses make more than half of the 7 million lifethreatening medication errors that occur each year, and electronic health records (EHRs) have been shown to significantly reduce these errors. Nurses now are expected to enter practice with a solid foundation in health information technology and the use of the EHR. Unfortunately, the vast majority of nursing schools do not specifically train their students in effective EHR utilization. Academic EHRs (AEHRs) are software packages with learning features that can be incorporated …

The Impact Of Adverse Childhood Experiences And Forgiveness On Nurses' Capacity For Compassion Satisfaction, Anne D. Troy

Dissertations

The objective of this study was to examine the relationship between Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), forgiveness and compassion satisfaction in nurses. In addition, the study sought to determine the impact of forgiveness, as a moderator on the relationship of adverse childhood experiences and compassion satisfaction. Lastly, this study explored which demographic characteristics serve as predictors of forgiveness and compassion satisfaction in a select population of nurses.

Quality Remediation Programs Lead To Successful Learning, Katherine T. Ralph

Dissertations

The mission of nursing programs is to prepare as many students as possible to pass the first-time attempt on the National Council Licensure Examination- RN (NCLEX-RN®). If a school's first-time pass rate drops below 80%, the school is at risk of being closed by the State Board of Nursing. Furthermore, a student's ability to work as a registered nurse (RN) depends on passing the NCLEX-RN®, and the overall impact on our nation's health due to the current nursing shortage.

The purpose of this study was to examine the policies and strategies used in nursing programs to increase NCLEX-RN® first-time attempt …

The Lived Experience Of Traumatic Amputation For Haitian Adults, Margarett Alexandre

Dissertations

Amputation of a limb is a traumatic and disabling condition that impacts the lives of people worldwide. Trauma remains the leading cause of major limb amputation, second only to Diabetes Mellitus and dysvascular complications (Ziegler-Graham, MacKenzie, Ephraim, Travison, & Bookmeyer, 2008). Little is known about the experience of traumatic amputation for Haitian Adults, therefore this study was to understand the lived experience of traumatic amputation in Haiti. The purpose of this descriptive phenomenological study was to investigate the lived experience of traumatic amputations as talked about by adults who suffered an amputation because of the 2010 earthquake in Haiti.

Paid Time Off And Work-Life Balance In An Ambulatory Surgical Center, Elizabeth S. Harmon

Theses

To investigate what was considered important to the staff regarding the current paid time off method used in an ambulatory surgical center with the purpose of discovering what works well for an acceptable work-life balance. Considerable research has shown that an adequate work-life balance in the nursing profession is necessary for job satisfaction and retention. The method to request paid time off is often cumbersome and unreliable, resulting in frustration of the nursing staff. Alternatives for granting paid time off requests in an outpatient facility have not been investigated. A non-experimental, two-step study was conducted using qualitative and quantitative methods.

Preparing Nursing Students To Respond To Disasters: Faculty Perspectives, Melissa Jayne Freshwater

Dissertations

This mixed methods study explored emergency preparedness and disaster response in the concept-based learning curriculum adopted by the Alabama Community College System (ACCS) in 2016. The concept-based curriculum employs active learning in lieu of the traditional lecture-style teaching methods.

This study addressed the problem that educators may be unfamiliar with this content and are unsure how to present this material to students. The purpose of this study was to gain insight on teaching methodologies, to better prepare nursing students on this content.

Kolb's 1984 Experiential Learning Theory was the framework that parallels closely with this curriculum. Kolb emphasizes four stages …

Bedside Counseling For Medical Inpatients Who Misuse Alcohol, Lise Anne Cooper

Dissertations

This dissertation addresses the process and results of a program implemented to motivate patients that are admitted to a medical center with diagnoses of alcohol misuse to seek addiction recovery. The primary research question is: How does bedside addiction counseling reduce the patient's number of readmissions and length of stay? This is a comparative, interventional mixed methods study. This study also examines the methods used to identify the inpatients at the medical center that are admitted with alcohol misuse, and how that identification process initiates treatment.

A Qualitative Descriptive Study Of Novice And Advanced Beginner Nurse's Experiences Caring For Patients And Their Families At The End-Of-Life, Bethany A. Nasser

Dissertations

Nurses are the primary healthcare professionals that spend the most time caring for seriously ill patients. Nurses have a responsibility to care for patients at the end of their lives, to relieve pain, and promote dignity so that patients can experience a peaceful death. As our elderly population grows and chronic health problems increase, there is a need to teach nurses and nursing students End-of-Life Care (EOLC). New nurses must be properly prepared to provide sensitive, quality care to dying patients and their families. Nursing students do not have opportunities during clinical training to care for patients that are dying, …