Digital Commons Network^™

Civic Leadership Learning Series, Landau

UNH Cooperative Extension

No abstract provided.

Increasing Perioperative Nurse Knowledge Of Preoperative Urine Pregnancy Testing: A Quality Improvement Project, Brooke K. Hall

Master's Theses and Capstones

Background: Nurses in the perioperative environment are responsible for assessing patients prior to undergoing surgery. Preoperative urine pregnancy testing is utilized to determine the pregnancy status of patients. Various risks of anesthesia and surgery exist for pregnant patients and the fetus. The perioperative nurse must be knowledgeable about these risks and ensure preoperative urine pregnancy tests are obtained when appropriate.

Local Problem: Within this microsystem, a gap in knowledge of perioperative nurses related to the nature and significance and institutional policy for preoperative urine pregnancy testing was identified.

Aim: The aim of this project was to increase knowledge of preoperative …

Improving Disinfectant Cap Use On Central Lines In The Icu To Reduce Patient Risk For Clabsi: A Quality Improvement Project, Tali Cherim

Master's Theses and Capstones

BACKGROUND: Central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI) are the most common type of preventable healthcare-associated bloodstream infection, and may increase length of stay (LOS), facility treatment costs, and patient mortality rates. Intensive Care Unit (ICU) patients are especially vulnerable to CLABSI due to their critical health conditions and other comorbid factors. A literature review provided evidence supporting the use of alcohol-impregnated disinfectant caps, such as SwabCap®, on central line (CL) ports to significantly reduce patients’ risk for CLABSI. This quality improvement project took place within an adult ICU of a Level II trauma facility in New England, where the Infection Prevention …

Addressing Job Satisfaction In Nursing Staff Through Mindfulness: A Quality Improvement Project, Abigail Isenberg

Master's Theses and Capstones

Background: As the single largest group of healthcare professionals, comprising a workforce of over 4 million in the United States, keeping nurses satisfied in their positions is a vital component of providing quality patient care (Perry et al., 2018). It is estimated that 68% of nurses will experience significant job dissatisfaction at a point in their career (Ayalew et al., 2018). Mindfulness practice, specifically Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) is a recognized tool to lower work-related stress and increase job satisfaction of nursing staff (Henry, 2014).

Local Problem: The state of the specific microsystem had been high levels of dissatisfaction among …

Optimizing Cardiovascular Patient Education At Discharge, Olivia Marciano

Master's Theses and Capstones

Background: Without a clear understanding of proper discharge instructions or a lack of educational material, patients may leave the hospital feeling conflicted as to what to do. In 2021 a research study noted that patients who do not have enough information prior to discharge have decreased compliance, decreased patient safety, increased risk of hospital readmission, and poor overall satisfaction (DeSai, Janowiak, Secheli, et. al., 2021). This quality improvement project sought to increase patient knowledge related to exercise and nutrition following a cardiovascular event that led to a hospital admission.

Methods: For the purpose of this quality improvement project, the PDSA …

Reducing Patient Handoff Inadequacies Using An Electronic Medical Record Based Standardized Handoff Tool In The Critical Care Unit, Mariah E. Needham

Master's Theses and Capstones

INTRODUCTION: Inadequate handoff communication is a contributing factor in sentinel events and adverse patient outcomes. Research has shown that the use of a standardized handoff tool can improve quality of handoff communication. This quality improvement (QI) project sought to standardize handoff and reduce the risk of adverse patient outcomes by utilizing the I-PASS handoff tool available in the electronic medical record (EMR).

AIM: The aim of this quality improvement project was to improve the accuracy of nurse-to-nurse patient handoffs.

METHODS: The outcomes measured by the post-intervention survey were the number of reported handoffs received with omissions, the percentage of staff …

Reduction Of Order-To-Scan Times To Increase Patient Throughput And Improve Patient Outcomes: A Quality Improvement Project, Jason Harrington

Master's Theses and Capstones

Background: Throughput is a key metric for both the emergency department and the hospital system. Diagnostic tests, such as CT scans, can lead to a large delay in patient throughput which can negatively impact patient satisfaction and patient outcomes. Finding ways to reduce delays in CT scan acquisition can positively impact patient satisfaction and patient outcomes.

Aim: The specific aim of this quality improvement project was to decrease the amount of time it takes to complete abdominal CT scans with IV contrast once ordered from 61 minutes to below 35 minutes by July 1^st, 2022

Methods: Plan was …

Implementing A Patient-Centered Education Intervention To Reduce Incidence Of Chemotherapy-Induced Oral Mucositis (Om) Among Inpatient Chemotherapy Patients: A Quality Improvement Project, Annika K. Hamilton

Master's Theses and Capstones

Oral mucositis (OM) is a common and costly complication of chemotherapy cancer treatment resulting in high costs and poor outcomes and experiences for chemotherapy patients. At the site of this quality improvement (QI) project, the quality and content of the oral care patient education for chemotherapy patients is inconsistent. The aim of this project was to improve oral care completion and knowledge by 20% among inpatient chemotherapy patients and in turn reduce incidence of chemotherapy-induced OM. A pre-intervention survey was distributed to eight eligible patients to assess baseline oral care completion and knowledge. Patients were provided with an oral care …

Promoting Inpatient Sleep Quality Through The Distribution Of A Sleep-Kit Upon Admission: A Quality Improvement Initiative, Monicka Puchlopek

Master's Theses and Capstones

Background: Hospitals are expected to provide a quiet and calm environment for the promotion of rest, healing, and well-being for their patients. Excess hospital noise levels and disturbances severely interfere with patient sleep and overall patient satisfaction.

Local Problem: Patients have discussed inability to sleep, need for sleeping medications, and lack of appetite due to hindered sleep following admission. An increase in patient withdrawal and decrease in level of participation in the plan of care has recently been observed.

Method: This project followed the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) framework to facilitate a rapid intervention implementation and change cycle. In addition, the Richards …

Enhancing Patient Safety By Promoting The Use Of The Electronic Medication Administration Record During The Preparation Of Injectable Medications: A Quality Improvement Project, Michael Ferrone

Master's Theses and Capstones

Background: Patient safety is a top priority for registered nurses (RNs) while caring for individuals in the healthcare setting. Of the various responsibilities of an inpatient RN, administering injectable medications pose significant risks to patients if done incorrectly. Given these known risks, the RNs of an inpatient medical-surgical microsystem were studied during the process of preparing these medications.

Local Problem: Through observations (N = 20), it was noticed that 13 (65%) of the preparations were done at a location referred to as the nurse server counter. This is problematic since this location does not provide the RN with access …

Increasing Patient Satisfaction With Noise Reduction On Medical Surgical Units: A Quality Improvement Project, Chennah Sharpe

Master's Theses and Capstones

Background: Noise has been linked to negative impacts on patient’s rest, length of stay (LOS), the immune system’s ability to fight infections, pain and anxiety levels, and readmission rates. Quality improvement projects in non-intensive care units are needed to determine major causes of noise and factors which impact patients’ rest, perception of noise, and satisfaction with medical-surgical unit care.

Aim: The global aim of this quality improvement project was to increase medical-surgical patients’ satisfaction by reducing the impact of noise in their inpatient stay. The specific aim was to increase the percent of patients, who responded Always to the Hospital …

Ophthalmic Nursing Education: The Key To Unlocking Patient Access To Retina Services, Jacob P. Mcginnis

Master's Theses and Capstones

Background: Ophthalmology, the medical field dedicated to the human eye and visual system infrequently uses nurses due to a lack of nursing knowledge about ophthalmology.

Local Problem: An ophthalmic microsystem in the Northeastern United States is experiencing increased demand for services and decreased access to their retina section. The microsystem does not utilize nurses in the clinic because of education and training barriers. The specific aim of this quality improvement (QI) project is to increase nursing knowledge about ophthalmology from baseline to an overall passing score of 80%.

Methods: This QI project sought to see if registered nurses could …

Standardizing Nursing Hand-Off Report Using I-Pass On A Behavioral Health Unit: A Quality Improvement Project, Sarah Pennisten

Master's Theses and Capstones

Background: Deficient or ineffective communication in clinical hand-off has been established by prominent international health organizations as a significant cause of adverse clinical events, compromising clinical safety, an ongoing common problem for healthcare professionals and institutions. Existing literature unanimously called for improvement in hand-off communication to improve patient outcomes and recommended beginning such efforts by building various types of structure into hand-off (McCloughen et al., 2008).

Aim: The aim of this quality improvement project was to improve clinical communication among nurses transferring care of patients in acute psychiatric care.

Methods: Utilizing the Plan, Do, Study, Act framework over a total …

Improving Breastfeeding Establishment By Reducing The Use Of Bottles And Artificial Nipples With Medically Needed Supplementation In Full-Term Breastfed Infants: A Quality Improvement Project, Sara Fazzi Garcia

Master's Theses and Capstones

Background: Breastfeeding has long been strongly recommended by national and international organizations as a prevention of many common and chronic diseases. Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) was developed to motivate hospitals to protect, promote, and support breastfeeding. This Quality Improvement (QI) project aims at supporting the continuation of the Baby-Friendly designation at the organization is being implemented, by focusing on reducing the use of bottles and artificial nipples for medically necessary supplementation for full-term breastfed newborns.

Methods: The Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) framework was utilized to guide this quality improvement project.

Intervention: Educational posters on the interference of the use …

Let’S Get Moving To Reduce Falls: Nurses Increase Patient Mobilization After Brief Training, Thomas Langley

Master's Theses and Capstones

BACKGROUND: Patients in hospitals are at a high risk for falls. There are many reasons for this, but one common reason is that patients in hospitals spend a lot of time being inactive. The less time patients spend being mobile, the less capable they are of maintaining mobility and the more likely they are to fall. During the first two years of the COVID-19 pandemic, Wildcat Hospital experience their fall rates increase two- to three-fold on inpatient units.

METHODS: This quality improvement project was guided by the Plan, Do, Study, Act (PDSA) framework to improve nurse knowledge of mobility and …

Decreasing Delays Within The Perioperative Unit Caused By Cases Of Hypoglycemia Through Nursing Continuing Education: A Quality Improvement Project, Jesse Bardis

Master's Theses and Capstones

No abstract provided.

Improving Patient Engagement And Adherence Utilizing Home Blood Pressure Monitoring Equipment: A Quality Improvement Project, Katelyn Fournier

Master's Theses and Capstones

To combat uncontrolled hypertension, a quality improvement project was designed that aimed to increase patient recorded self-care measures such as maintenance, management, and monitoring. By increasing both education and supplying volunteers with a free electronic home blood pressure monitor (HBPM) it was predicted that positive changed behaviors surrounding self-care would occur and subsequently, a reduction in average blood pressure. To examine this, results from Dickson’s Self-Care of High Blood Pressure Inventory (SC-HI V3) and blood pressure measurements were recorded and analyzed for average trends. Results from the improvement proved effective as self-care values well surpassed the 10% goal that was …

Quality Improvement Initiative Through Staff Development: Using Education To Increase Preoperative Handoff Communication, Victoria L. Mcgovern

Master's Theses and Capstones

Abstract

Background: Handoff communication is essential for patient safety, especially in the perioperative setting as a critical care environment. Preoperative communication between operating room nurses and preoperative room nurses was suboptimal in a local microsystem as evidenced by pre-intervention data collection where 82% of cases did not participate in handoff, 11% with partial adherence of policy and only 7% in full adherence. The global aim of this project was to improve the handoff communication between the preoperative nurse and operating room nurse in the surgical day center (SDC) within the chosen microsystem to promote patient safety and positive patient outcomes. …

Combating Burnout And Building Resilience Within Icu Nurses: A Quality Improvement Project Based On Mindfulness And Self Care, Emily Evans

Master's Theses and Capstones

No abstract provided.

Associations Of Short And Medium Chain Saturated Fatty Acids And Dairy With Cognitive Functioning In The Boston Puerto Rican Health Study, Sophie M. Kenny

Master's Theses and Capstones

Cognitive decline is a major public health concern. Evidence suggests that Hispanic/Latino adults, specifically Puerto Rican adults, in the US are at a higher risk of developing dementia or cognitive decline due to the high prevalence of risk factors, including cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Emerging evidence suggests that specific dietary fatty acids, short and medium-chain-length saturated fatty acids, that are found in dairy may be beneficial for cognitive function. However, there are limited observational studies examining the effects of SMCSFA and dairy on cognitive function in Hispanic/Latino adults. We examined the cross-sectional and prospective associations between SMCSFA and dairy consumption …

2021 Unh Extension Statewide Highlights Sheet, Amy Loader

UNH Cooperative Extension

No abstract provided.

2021 Unh Extension Coös County Highlights Sheet, Amy Loader

UNH Cooperative Extension

No abstract provided.

2021 Unh Extension Carroll County Highlights Sheet, Amy Loader

UNH Cooperative Extension

No abstract provided.

2021 Unh Extension Cheshire County Highlights Sheet, Amy Loader

UNH Cooperative Extension

No abstract provided.

2021 Unh Extension Sullivan County Highlights Sheet, Amy Loader

UNH Cooperative Extension

No abstract provided.

2021 Unh Extension Rockingham County Highlights Sheet, Amy Loader

UNH Cooperative Extension

No abstract provided.

2021 Unh Extension Merrimack County Highlights Sheet, Amy Loader

UNH Cooperative Extension

No abstract provided.

2021 Unh Extension Hillsborough County Highlights Sheet, Amy Loader

UNH Cooperative Extension

No abstract provided.

M.C. 4-H - County 4-H Presents Food Show Guide, Hannah Majewski

UNH Cooperative Extension

M.C. 4-H - County 4-H Presents Food Show Guide

Rabbit Exhibitor Self-Certification Of Animal Health Form, Cooperative Extension

UNH Cooperative Extension

No abstract provided.