Digital Commons Network^™

The Effectiveness Of Nurse-Led Diabetes Self-Management Education Among Adults With Uncontrolled Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, Consolata G. Oronsaye

Dissertations

Ample evidence has supported the efficacy of diabetes self-management education (DSME) in diabetes care. However, specific evidence that supports the effects of nurse-led DSME on glycemic control and prevention of diabetes complications remains limited. The purpose of this quantitative, quasi-experimental project was to determine if any, and to what extent a relationship existed between a nurse-led DSME intervention and the lowering of FBS levels to 100mg/dl or below, and the reports of improved self-efficacy among patients with poorly controlled T2DM at a primary care clinic located in an underserved community in Northwest, Texas. Theoretical support for the project was drawn …

Perceptions Of Pediatric Obesity In The Rural Community Setting, Kathyrn Smith

Group: Samford University Moffett & Sanders School of Nursing

In the United States, pediatric obesity remains an unresolved epidemic. Locally, children in the rural Mississippi community of Houston suffer from pediatric obesity or being overweight. The Mississippi Kids Count (2019), reports that 13.1% of children ages 10-17 are overweight and 26.1% of children ages 10-17 are obese.

The purpose of this project is to apply Callista Roy's Adaptation Model to improve the overall health and wellness of the pediatric population in the rural church setting over the course of four weeks. The target group will consist of children from the ages of 7-12 in the rural church setting.

Improving The Implementation Of The Cdc Guidelines Of The Hpv Immunization, Destiny Ibrom

Group: Samford University Moffett & Sanders School of Nursing

The purpose of this planned quality improvement project is to improve the implementation of the CDC guidelines of standard of care regarding the HPV immunization. This will increase the immunization rate of the HPV vaccination in the pediatric population in a rural health clinic. The use of a toolkit will be utilized to increase the immunization rate for this planned project.

How Nurse-Led Clinics Improve Health Care Access, Rose Marie Alessandra C. Conos

Theses

The project will seek to address how nurse-led clinics enhance access to health care services, lead to patient satisfaction, and offer inexpensive and quality health care services. To evaluate these variables, the project will research nurse-led clinics in different geographical locations, some urban areas, and some are rural areas. When one lives in an urban area, it does not necessarily mean that there are readily available resources for the individual. Rural areas are addressed because there are few hospitals, and some of the areas are not accessible to transportation. These patients may have chronic diseases, behavioral or psychiatric conditions, comorbidities, …

Minority Nurse Representation In Upper Level Management, Keisha Chaffee

Dissertations

The advancement of minority nurses to executive and leadership positions, due to their firsthand knowledge to cultural health and lifestyle practices, could assist in ensuring a higher quality of care for an increasing minority population. The purpose of this study was to examine the perceived barriers to minority nurse representation in upper level management. Thematic areas were developed in the research questions to aid in understanding the perceived barriers. Research questions followed concepts derived from the conceptual framework established for this research. To adequately understand these barriers, a qualitative methodology with a purposive and snowball sampling approach was used to …

Perinatal Experiences Of Childbearing Women With Physical Disabilities, Serah M. Nthenge

Dissertations

Purpose: The aim of this secondary qualitative analysis was two-fold: to explore perinatal experiences of 22 women with physical disabilities guided by the perinatal health framework of women with physical disabilities and; construct two perinatal life stories of childbearing women with physical disabilities.

Method: The study participants were 22 women with physical disabilities who, at the time of pregnancy, used a mobility device, and had given birth within the last 10 years. The principal investigator of the primary study interviewed all the participants.

Findings: Nine themes were identified in our study. All the participants reported both a lack of disability-specific …

Contributing Factors To Diaper Dermatitis In The Nicu, Media S. Esser

Dissertations

Purpose: Describe the prevalence of diaper dermatitis (DD) and clinical characteristics of the infants in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) that develop DD. Explore the relationships between clinical characteristics and the development of DD.

Design: Retrospective, exploratory, descriptive study

Setting: Level IV NICU in an urban community in Southeast Wisconsin.

Participants: A convenience sample of 611 infants who were born and admitted to the NICU within 12 hours of life and discharged from the same NICU. A final total of 537 infants remained after exclusion criteria were met.

Methods: Data were collected from the participant's electronic health records from …

Guided Reflective Writing And Student Clinical Judgment Development: A Descriptive Study Of Nursing Student And Faculty Perspectives, Tanya L. Smith

Dissertations

Literature supports guided reflection and clinical judgment development as key components to enhancing students' knowledge and preparation for complex nursing care. Faculty are challenged to prepare new nurses to enter the complex health care arena and often note problems in helping students transition classroom learning to clinical application. The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) recognizes and supports teaching clinical judgment in nursing curricula to better prepare nursing students for professional practice (2018).

Assessment Technologies Institute Test Results And Blended Experiences For Senior Community Health Nursing Students, Linda Lacomb-Williams

Dissertations

The purpose of the study was to examine the relationship between senior community health nursing students' ATI test scores and their clinical community health nursing experiences, either in-country or out-of-country. The ATI test results are a reliable predictor of whether the student will pass their nursing board exams (NCLEX-RN). The study also examined whether the two groups of students reported any similarities and differences in their sense of confidence or transcultural self-efficacy and conceptual knowledge and their clinical experiences.

ATI test scores were reviewed for the two groups. Focus groups were held to discuss any similarities or differences in the …

Cultural Practices, Knowledge, And Beliefs Of Newborn Care And Health-Seeking In Rural Zambia, Julie M. Buser

Dissertations

Decreasing newborn morbidity and mortality remains a serious global health challenge. For this reason, interventions like maternity waiting homes (MWHs) and the Saving Mothers, Giving Life (SMGL) initiative may improve maternal-newborn newborn health and delivery outcomes. The overarching goal of this dissertation was to explore and describe the cultural practices, knowledge, and beliefs of essential newborn care and health-seeking in the context of MWHs and the SMGL initiative in rural Zambia. Guided by the Ecological Systems Theory, this goal was met through three studies with the following aims: (1) Describe knowledge and beliefs of newborn care and illness from the …

The Association Of Patients' Analgesic Treatment Beliefs And Trade-Offs With Analgesic Adherence Behaviors Among Outpatients With Cancer Pain, William E. Rosa

Dissertations

Pain is one of the most burdensome symptoms for patients with cancer. Per cancer pain guidelines, opioids remain one of the primary modalities for managing moderate to severe cancer pain. Analgesic nonadherence is common among cancer patients despite unmanaged pain symptoms. We investigated how patients prioritized analgesic treatment beliefs for cancer pain and whether those beliefs predicted objective analgesic adherence behaviors.

Increasing Breast Cancer Screenings Of African American Black Women, Marlene A. Griggs-Warner

Dissertations

Research shows that African American Black women have a high breast cancer mortality rate due to lack of breast cancer screenings. This quality improvement (QI) project evaluated if culturally-appropriate materials/education increased breast cancer screening rates of African American Black women living in a community in the southern portion of NJ. Kurt Lewin's theory of change encouraged African American Black women to change to healthier lifestyles by encouraging breast cancer screenings. Research also shows that the use of culturally-appropriate tools in clinical settings can improve patient outcomes for this population. Leininger's theory of culture care promoted clinical awareness of the African …

Lived Experience Of Being An Obese Registered Nurse: A Phenomenological Inquiry, Trina Rodgers

Dissertations

Research has shown obesity is a significant problem affecting the general-public and is increasing in prevalence among health care providers. The purpose of this descriptive phenomenological study was to understand the lived experience of being obese as a registered nurse. One-on-one interviews with 15 registered nurses, who had a personal experience with being obese as a registered nurse, were conducted. Data were collected through in-depth interviews, which were taped and transcribed verbatim. The data analysis was conducted manually to gain the true essence of the participant's lived experiences. The responses were analyzed, coded, and themed using Colaizzi's method of data …

Nurse Perception Of Technology Integration, Adrian D. Hordon

Dissertations

With the increase in technological advancements integrated into hospitals, physician offices, and nursing programs, there is concern regarding the imposition on the clinical foundation of nursing as a human improvement profession during the implementation of technology advancements. Technology can potentially serve as a distraction and even a false feedback loop for improved care, causing an impact on the fundamental quality of patient care. Mobile technology advancement such as Electronic Health Record (EHR) charting and smartphone use in the clinical nurse setting provides both prospects and challenges that have not been widely researched. This dissertation proposal examines registered nurse survey results, …

The Effect Of Treatment Modalities On Chronic Low Back Pain And Self-Transcendence, Grace Augustine

Dissertations

Chronic Low Back Pain (CLBP) is a common health problem that most people experience at some point in their lives. For the relief of pain, numerous studies have shown that pain medication causes several side effects and leads to mortality. This study focused on how an individual's choice of CLBP treatment modalities impacts utilization of the strategies of self-transcendence. Chronic low back pain prevalence shows a steady increase in the studies reviewed. Patients may improve in self-transcendence and well-being while they experience CLBP. Self-transcendence is a vital resource of well-being as people seek to manage CLBP.

Nursing Students' Perceptions Of Spiritual Well-Being, Academic Persistence And Academic Success, Mindy Barna

Dissertations

This qualitative phenomenological research study explores the perceptions and beliefs of undergraduate senior-level nursing students about spiritual well-being in relation to academic persistence and ultimately academic success as measured by timely graduation at a private women's university in the Midwest. By adding to the body of research and knowledge, nurse educators may better assist students to achieve academic success, which could potentially alleviate the national nursing shortage and decrease financial losses of academic institutions. Nine Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) students at a private university in the Midwest participated in semi-structured, one-on-one interviews. Participants were in their senior year …

Psychometric Evaluation Of The Moral Comfort Questionnaire Among Hospital-Based Direct-Care Registered Nurses, Natalie Bermudez

Dissertations

Moral comfort, an emerging concept in nursing, is defined as an individual's feelings of ease with decisions and actions related to a moral dilemma. Moral comfort for nurses is the positive outcome of a moral situation or dilemma, while moral distress, a widely explored issue in nursing, is the negative outcome. However, nursing literature on the concept of moral comfort is limited. While several instruments to measure moral distress exist, an instrument to measure moral comfort was not found. The Moral Comfort Questionnaire (MCQ) was theoretically developed. The purpose of this study was psychometric evaluation of this new 35-item instrument.

Identifying Motivation Toward Healthy Behavior In Overweight And Obese Pregnant Women, Heather Lynn Watson

Dissertations

Excessive weight gain in overweight and obese pregnant women may result in long-term maternal and child health implications. Current interventions reflect minimal effectiveness toward achievement of appropriate weight gain in this population. Although not specific to examination of motivation towards dietary and exercise behaviors in pregnant overweight and obese women, the literature supports that motivation represents a factor impacting diet and exercise health behavior modification. This study examined the predictive value of basic psychological needs (autonomy, competence, relatedness), healthcare climate, attitude toward weight gain, and BMI on motivation towards healthy dietary and exercise behaviors and the mediation effect of healthcare …

Exercise To Reduce Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Nephropathy: A Pilot Rct, Grace A. Kanzawa-Lee

Dissertations

Oxaliplatin-induced peripheral neuropathy (OIPN) occurs in 85-95% of patients receiving FOLFOX or FOLFIRINOX, oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy for invasive gastrointestinal (GI) cancers. Persistent OIPN can impair long-term quality of life (QOL). No OIPN cures are known. Aerobic physical activity (PA) may reduce OIPN by enhancing circulation and re-distributing neurotoxic oxaliplatin away from vulnerable neurons. However, no trials have evaluated solely aerobic exercise for OIPN. This dissertation reports the results of a 1) literature review on exercise for chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy, and 2) pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) of brisk walking for OIPN in FOLFOX/FOLFIRINOX-receiving GI cancer survivors. The "MI-Walk Intervention" - an …

Effects Of Evidence-Based Relaxation Techniques On Nurse-Patient Communication, Deborah Samuel

Dissertations

Occupational stress in nursing leads to poor patient and staff satisfaction making it essential to address stress among nursing staff and improving patient satisfaction. The purpose of this quantitative quasi-experimental quality improvement (QI) project was to determine to what degree evidence-based relaxation techniques, including music, deep-breathing, progressive muscle relaxation and guided imagery, using the transactional model would reduce stress levels among nursing staff and improve nurse-patient communication on a medical-surgical unit in a community hospital. Lazarus and Folkman's theory of stress and coping best explains stress levels and the need for alternate solutions. Data to evaluate stress levels was collected …

Nurses' Attitudes And Perceptions Regarding Their Role In Incorporating Prayer In Practice, Sonia H. Wisdom

Dissertations

The nurses' role in praying is not clearly defined. Scientific evidence to guide nurses praying in practice is lacking resulting in inconsistencies as nurses develop individualized strategies from personal frameworks in meeting the patient's spiritual needs. This descriptive study was conducted with a self-selected sample of 2,688 registered nurses licensed with the Florida Board of Nursing to explore nurses' attitudes and perceptions to their role in praying in practice. The four reliable subscales extracted by factor analysis were attitudes to prayer, role perception, relevant activities, and challenges in praying. All subscales showed that nurses hold positive perspectives and support their …

Baccalaureate Nursing Students' Attitudes Toward End Of Life Care: The Impact Of Simulation-Based Learning, Kristin M. Sagedy

Dissertations

All nurses may be obliged to care for patients at the end of life. Baccalaureate nursing education should prepare nurses to provide this care, but best practice for end of life care education has not been established. Nurses are not adequately prepared to care for dying patients and grieving families. This research study explored the effectiveness of low-fidelity simulation-based learning (SBL) activities on improving baccalaureate nursing students' attitudes toward end of life care. Junior-level baccalaureate nursing students participated in this quasi-experimental study. A standardized tool assessed students' attitudes toward end of life care before and after the SBL activities. While …

Pain In African Americans: Optimizing Pain Management In The African American Patient Population Using A Health Policy Development Study Method, Shjuan Crockett, Deon Scott, Emily Worthy

Group: Samford University Moffett & Sanders School of Nursing

The purpose of this quality improvement project was to optimize pain management in the African American patient population using a health policy development study method.

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 …

Preferred Instructional Methods Of Millennial Nursing Students: A Qualitative Study, Brooke Mcatee

Dissertations

The continuing nursing shortage requires nurse educators to understand the best ways students learn to maximize student success and retention. Millennial generation students are currently the majority in the associate degree nursing classroom; therefore, identifying the instructional methods that enhance this generation's learning can influence student success, retention, and preparation for the workforce. The literature reviewed offered conflicting findings, identifying differing instructional methods that enhanced millennial students' learning processes. The purpose of this basic qualitative research study was to determine what instructional methods millennial students identified as aiding in their learning within an associate degree nursing program. An additional research …

Identifying Transfer Of Care Gaps: Electronic Health Record Capture Of Perioperative Handoff Communications, Sharon Giarrizzo-Wilson

Dissertations

Transitions in patient care are held together by interdisciplinary handoff communications intended to coordinate the patient's ongoing care requirements. Patients with complexity in care encumber the transfer of care process requiring a higher level of care coordination between the interdisciplinary team (Coleman, 2003; Naylor et al., 2004). While the literature is abundant on the characteristics and quality of handoff communications, it is limited on the requirements of what data is necessary for ongoing care following transfer communications (Galatzan & Carrington, 2018).

Preliminary Efficacy Of A Nurse Led Brief Intervention Quasi-Experimental Pilot Study For Individuals Presenting To The Emergency Department With Risk For Alcohol Use Disorder, Felipe Gutierrez

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to assess preliminary efficacy of screening for alcohol use and brief interventions (BIs) on patients who present to the emergency department (ED) at-risk for alcohol use disorder (AUD) utilizing established nurse navigators. This is the first study to assess the initial efficacy of a BI to reduce alcohol use in at-risk patients utilizing nurse navigators in the ED who were not bedside nurses.

Utilization Of A Clinical Decision Support System To Increase Chlamydia Screening Rates In Sexually Active Young Women: A Quality Improvement Project, Raine Martin

Dissertations

The objective of this Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) scholarly project was to implement an evidence-based intervention, the clinical decision support system (CDSS), and include education to promote increased routine chlamydia screening practices in an outpatient clinic. An additional objective was to assess CDSS usability using the System Usability Scale (SUS) to evaluate for project sustainability. The project design was a quasi-experimental study with post-implementation data collection with a comparison of norms of baseline chlamydia screening from the prior year. The project was completed over eight weeks. The project was implemented at a family health clinic located in a southcentral …

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 …

Compassion Satisfaction, Burnout, And Intent To Stay Among Nurse Leaders, Lisa D. Surby

Dissertations

Nurses in leadership roles have a substantial influence on the quality of the work environment and on safety, quality, and patient outcomes. However, compassion satisfaction (CS) and burnout (BO) have historically been understudied, and evidence is lacking regarding the existence of a relationship between CS, BO, and intent to stay among nurse leaders. The purpose of this cross-sectional descriptive study, guided by Stamm's theory of CS and compassion fatigue (CF), was to determine if there was a relationship between CS and BO and intent to stay among nurse leaders. An anonymous online survey was conducted using the Professional Quality of …