Digital Commons Network^™

Nurse Family Member Perceptions Of Patient Death And Nursing Care After Withdrawal Of Life-Sustaining Treatment, Deena M. Drake

Dissertations

This pilot study explored nurse family member perceptions of nursing care and patient quality of death and dying during and after withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment within Intensive Care Units (ICU).

The Effects Of Nursing Program Simulation Experience Level And Type Of Advanced Organizer On Clinical Judgment Performance, Satisfaction, Self-Confidence, And Perceived Cognitive Load Of Pre-Licensure Nursing Students In Simulation Based Learning, Tina D. Barbour-Taylor

Dissertations

Nursing education programs face many challenges with training students to become professional nurses who will practice safely in an evolving and complex healthcare system. Nurse educators are obliged to prepare students to meet these challenges, with clinical experience being a key aspect of training. However, limited availability of clinical sites restricts adequate training. Simulation based learning (SBL) activities that mimic real world environments are now transforming the clinical experience, however, research is limited and additional research is needed.

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. …

Associate And Baccalaureate Degree Nursing Students' Knowledge Of The Attitudes Toward Medication Errors And Reporting Medication Errors: Implications For Curriculum Development, Tabatha D. Teal

Dissertations

This paper evaluates senior nursing students' knowledge and attitudes of medication errors and reporting errors. This study was conducted to evaluate a need for improvements to nursing education on these two concepts. This mixed method study was conducted using a modified version of the Medication Administration Error Reporting Survey by Wakefield, Uden-Holman, and Wakefield (2005) and focus group sessions at four nursing programs in the Southern United States. Medication errors continue to be a threat to patient safety and underreporting exists due to the stigma surrounding admitting a mistake. Evaluating nursing students' knowledge and attitudes on these concepts is a …

You’Ve Got Mail: A Sequential Mixed Methods Linguistic Investigation Of Faculty And Advisor Email, Kevin A. Manley

Dissertations

Email is one of the most prolific forms of communication in the world. As colleges and universities move more student experiences online, faculty members and advisors need to understand how to best communicate with students. In an attempt to understand how faculty and advisors write, and, more importantly, how students read, I developed this two-phase mixed methods investigation. In Phase I, I collected nine writing samples from 19 faculty and advisor participants and dissected the samples with Pennebaker Conglomerate’s 2015 Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count (LIWC) program. In a transition phase, I leveraged Phase I data to create an instrument …

Primary Care Access And Use Among Homeless Persons, Kirsten A. Dickins

Dissertations

On a single night in the United States, more than 550,000 persons are homeless, a number that has increased in recent years. Homeless persons are disproportionately afflicted by acute and chronic communicable and non-communicable diseases, mental health disorders, and substance use disorders. These health disparities contribute to premature mortality: a marked life expectancy gap, as the average lifespan of a homeless person is 42 to 52 years, compared to 78 years among the general population. Further contributing to this gap is historic barriers to healthcare system access and use, such as lack of health insurance and resulted fragmented care receipt. …

A Quality Improvement Project: Evaluation Of Teach-Back Training On Medication Adherence In Hypertensive Older Veterans, Chelsea Hall-Mcarthur

Dissertations

Hypertension remains one of the most common yet uncontrolled chronic diseases among older adults. Medication adherence is a vital part in managing uncontrolled hypertension. The purpose of this QI project was to evaluate the effectiveness of using the teach-back method on improving anti-hypertension medication adherence of hypertensive older adult patients age 65 to 75 with at least two uncontrolled blood pressure readings during their most recent clinic visit in the past 6 months. Medication adherence was assessed using the Hill-Bone Medication Adherence Scale (HB-MAS) before and after the intervention. Health literacy scores were also recorded prior to the intervention using …

A Quantitative Content Analysis On K-12 Public Education In The News Media: An Analysis Of Word Sentiment And Tone In Different Media From 2015 To 2020, Thomas Butler

Dissertations

The researcher used quantitative content analysis techniques and explored how the media used language, sentiment, and tone, when reporting on United States K-12 public education (USPE) in four different media types and over a five-year period. The researcher used positive and negative word frequencies on stories in four different news media: New York Times (print & online), Huffington Post (online), ABC/NBC broadcast (TV), and Time/ Newsweek magazine (magazine); across a five-year period. The researcher converted positive and negative word frequencies in each news story to an overall tone rating scale from 1 to 5 indicating an overall positive or negative …

Factors Influencing The Recruitment And Hiring Of Early Career Nurse Faculty, Katie Sladky

Dissertations

The nursing faculty and subsequent nursing shortages have plagued the profession for decades with little progress made in altering the trajectory of the problem (AACN, 2005; IOM, 2010; NLN, 2017). Primary influences on the faculty shortage include later entry into faculty roles, the aging of faculty, and early retirements, and a logical solution is to recruit nurses to faculty roles earlier in their careers. The purpose of this study was to examine factors relating to recruitment strategies and hiring practices used by administrators of undergraduate, prelicensure nursing programs for early career nursing faculty. This study contributes new knowledge about administrators' …

Music Listening: An Evidence-Based Approach To Help Manage Postoperative Pain, Tammie Ferguson

Dissertations

The current standard of practice to manage postoperative pain includes the use of opioids. The purpose of this evidence-based project was to evaluate the effectiveness of music listening as an adjuvant to traditional pain management strategies to relieve postoperative pain and to assess the dosage of opioids used to help manage postoperative pain. Kolcaba's Comfort Theory was used to guide this evidence-based project.

Managing Ambiguity: Nurses Caring For The Mother Of A Stillborn Baby, Natasha J. Nurse-Clarke

Dissertations

The aim of this study was to describe and conceptualize the experiences and processes involved when labor and delivery nurses provide care to women experiencing a stillbirth.

The Experiences Of Internationally Educated Nurses While Preparing For The Nclex-Rn, Jhordin James C. Montegrico

Dissertations

About 5.6% of the U.S. nursing workforce is composed of internationally educated nurses (IEN). Nurses from the Philippines comprise the majority of IEN applying for the National Council Licensure Examination Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) but more than half of them fail the NCLEX-RN the first time. There is paucity of research on IEN and the NCLEX-RN, in general, and there are no published studies on IEN experiences while preparing for the NCLEX-RN.

This research described the experiences of IEN while preparing for the NCLEX-RN. It explored the facilitating and hindering factors of IEN NCLEX-RN preparatory experiences. Strategies were identified to overcome …

Healthcare Providers' And Community Leaders' Knowledge And Perceptions Of Neurocysticercosis In Rural Bolivia, Amy J. Alberts

Dissertations

Neurocysticercosis (NCC) is a preventable infectious disease that is considered a major cause of epilepsy in developing nations. Bolivia is one of the least developed nations in Latin America and in rural Bolivia persons with epilepsy (PWE) go largely without treatment. Epilepsy is a devastating disease that has the capacity to significantly decrease the quality of life, not only for PWE, but for their families as well. The development and implementation of a self-sustainable program for the prevention and treatment of NCC and the consistent treatment of epilepsy is essential. However, research on epilepsy and NCC in Bolivia, whether in …

Development And Evaluation Of A Sepsis Simulation With Undergraduate Nursing Students, Kelly Martinez

Dissertations

This study evaluated if undergraduate nursing students in their final academic year can appropriately recognize and respond to a patient displaying signs of deterioration in a response to rescue simulation. Participants were senior level baccalaureate nursing students in a Northeast university. The student nurses' ability to recognize and respond to patient deterioration due to sepsis according to the Surviving Sepsis Campaign (SSC) definitions were examined. Participating students reviewed preparation materials and resource components followed by a simulation-based learning experience which followed the International Nursing Association for Clinical Simulation and Learning (INACSL) Standards of Best Practice: SimulationSM. The simulation experience was …

Evaluating The Impact Of Innovative Teaching Strategies To Improve Nursing Students' Perceptions Of Competence And Confidence In Providing Spiritual And Emotional Care, Palmira A. Good

Dissertations

Nurses are expected to respond to the spiritual and emotional needs of patients with compassionate care. Patients yearn for a connection with their nurse that assures them they are safe and will be provided with holistic care. A healing environment can be established for the patient by providing spiritual and emotional care. Many practicing nurses state they are uncomfortable addressing the spiritual and emotional needs of their patients. A gap exists between what is taught to nursing students and the expectations of nurses in the clinical setting. Students' perceptions of their confidence and competence in providing spiritual care to patients …

Preventing Healthcare Workplace Violence Through Legislation, Erika Cunningham-Regis

Dissertations

Workplace violence against nursing professionals is an unacknowledged crisis. The repercussions of workplace violence are harmful to the nursing profession, as well as the healthcare industry. Unfortunately, there has been a dearth of protective mechanisms and standardized prevention plans. Only through mandated legislation will sustainable change be achieved for nurses. The United States House of Representatives bill number 1309, under Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act was developed to provide a concise prevention plan to healthcare facilities across the nation. The bill died in Congress, but through continued advocacy efforts, it can be reintroduced for …

Exemplary Leadership During Turbulent Times: A Study Of Wartime Navy Submarine Commanders From 2001 To 2009, Rodney Lee Perryman

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe behaviors that exemplary Navy submarine commanders practice to lead their command through turbulent times using the leadership attributes of personal temperament, concern for the collective interest, resilience, and moral purpose.

Methodology: This phenomenological study explored the specific leadership behaviors of personal temperament, concern for the collective interest, resilience, and moral purpose that occur during turbulent times by analyzing in-depth interviews with exemplary United States Navy Submarine Commanding Officers. The study sample for this research is ten Groton, Connecticut area United States Navy submarine commanding officers who have at least fifteen …

Examining Nursing Faculty Credentials And Nclex-Rn Pass Rates In Pre-Licensure Nursing Programs, Tiffany N. Cole

Dissertations

The healthcare industry has registered nurses from various academic and clinical backgrounds. With nurses accounting for a significant number of healthcare professionals, there is a continued need for nursing students to be successful on the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX). One role of nursing faculty members is to promote student success on the NCLEX. Nursing faculty members may have varied educational backgrounds, with the most common being master's and doctoral degrees. There is a gap in nursing education literature regarding if specific faculty credentials are predictive of NCLEX-RN® pass rates in pre-licensure nursing programs. A cross-sectional correlational retrospective quantitative study …

Learning To Educate: A Basic Qualitative Study Of The Experiences Of Training From Professional Nurses, Shanda J. Clark

Dissertations

The basic qualitative research design allowed for the discovery of how professional nurse participants interpret their experiences about learning how to educate students in the clinical setting. The population studied were professional nurses who teach students in the clinical setting in a Southwestern state. Research findings indicated the experiences regarding their preparation to instruct students in the clinical learning environment were significantly lacking. Professional nurses may be considered experts in the application of patient care; however, they continue to lack formal training preparing them to educate nursing students. The experiences of professional nurses indicated little communication occurs between them and …

Clinical Judgment And Cue Recognition Of Patient Deterioration Among Novice Nurses, Patricia K. Schmehl

Dissertations

Experiential learning deficits in newly licensed registered nurses (RNs) may extend to deficits in clinical judgment, particularly in recognizing cues of patient deterioration. The purpose of this quantitative, pretest posttest quality improvement project was to determine if and to what degree the implementation of QSEN education with simulation for nurses impacts clinical judgment and frequency of documentation of deterioration parameters in an acute care hospital in southeastern Pennsylvania. Benner's novice to expert theory and Tanner's clinical judgment model supported the framework for this project. Thirty-three nurses in residency participated in a didactic session on the QSEN competencies and an unfolding …

Undergraduate Nurse Educator Perceptions Of Preparation To Teach Interprofessional Collaboration, Tamara Berghout

Dissertations

If nurse educators do not teach students to function in interprofessional teams, students may lack communication and teamwork skills, which can result in patient harm; however, nurse educators do not always understand the concept of interprofessional collaboration (IPC) and may, therefore, fail to teach it to students. The purpose of this multiple case study was to understand how undergraduate nurse educators prepared to teach IPC and how their preparation informed their teaching. The theory of transformative learning and the Interprofessional Education Collaborative core competencies of IPC framed this study. Data included semistructured interviews and associated documents from 9 nurse educators …

Preparation Of Clinical Nurse Educators Using Simulation: Developing Competencies In Providing Feedback, Julie S. Fitzwater

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of simulation learning in the development of clinical teaching competencies in clinical nurse educators transitioning from the role of nurse clinician to nurse educator. The study intervention was a simulation learning experience for clinical nurse educators to learn effective formative feedback techniques.

An Exploration Of Perceived Learning Activities And Assignments Preferred By Millennial Nursing Students In An Online Rn-Bsn Nursing Program, Holly R. Farley

Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative exploratory single case study was to explore millennial nursing student preferences of activities and assignments that may facilitate learning (preferred) as well as perceptions of those that may hinder learning (not preferred). This qualitative exploratory single case study sought to understand the perceived preferences of millennial online registered nurse to Bachelor of Science in nursing (RN-BSN) students for online activities and assignments. Three questions were posed: How do millennial nursing students develop preferences for learning activities and assignments in online RN-BSN programs? How and why do millennial nursing students believe certain learning activities and assignments …

Incorporating Social Determinants Of Health In Associate Degree Nursing Education, Lisa J. Bagdan

Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to integrate assessment of SDH using a Patient Centered Assessment Method (PCAM) during patient care transitions into associate degree nursing education. It will evaluate student learning, suitability, and application of the PCAM assessment tools use in associate degree nursing education.

A Mixed Methods Analysis Of The Relationship Between Independent Study Teachers’ Emotional Intelligence And At-Risk Students Academic Success, Stephanie Niemeyer

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this sequential explanatory mixed methods study was to determine the relationship between independent study charter schoolteachers’ emotional intelligence (EQ) scores, as measured by the Schutte Self-Report Emotional Intelligence Test (SSEIT), and the number of credits earned in a learning period by their students. An additional purpose was to describe how independent study high school teachers perceive their ability to model the EQ attributes of self-awareness, self-regulation, internal motivation, empathy, and social skill (Goleman, 2006) influences student credit completion.

Methodology: This study used a mixed methods approach to collect quantitative and qualitative data from highly qualified independent …

Reducing Acute Care Hospital Setting Inpatient Falls With Implementation Of Hourly Rounding: A Quality Improvement Project, Courtney Delaparte

Dissertations

Falls in the acute care setting can lead to serious patient injuries. Despite continued efforts to reduce falls, falls are still a common occurrence. One strategy that has been identified as promoting patient safety, including the prevention of falls, is that of hourly rounding. This quality improvement project implemented hourly rounding utilizing the AHRQ's 3B: Scheduled Rounding Protocol on a 48-bed telemetry unit to study the effects on fall reduction. Comparison of fall rates prior to the implementation of hourly rounding to that after hourly rounding was incorporated into practice, showed a reduction; however, the reduction of fall rates was …

Body Image Distress And Post Mastectomy Women, Ashley Ceithaml

Dissertations

Body image and breast cancer are closely associated in women who undergo unilateral or bilateral mastectomies. The literature has shown that even if women undergo reconstruction, they still experience adverse side effects with surgery or body image disturbances that may persist for years, affecting their quality of life. It is important for providers to recognize patients experiencing issues with body image distress and be able to provide appropriate care.

The purpose of this quality improvement project is to evaluate body image scores in women who have undergone breast cancer mastectomy within the past five years and educate those who admit …

Mothers' Perceptions Of Ability In Children With Intellectual Disability And Mother-Child Connectedness, Nikhita Moolayil

Dissertations

The mother-child relationship is important in the development of children, especially for children with intellectual disabilities who may have specific needs. Understanding the nuances, such as the closeness of the mother-child relationship for children with intellectual disabilities, is often overlooked even though more than 3 million children under 18 were reported to have an intellectual disability in 2019. Still, very few studies have focused on the relationship between mothers with children with an intellectual disability. With the rise in services provided due to developmental disabilities in children, there was a need to examine mothers’ perceptions of the ability level in …

Gender Differences In The Clinical Presentation Of Borderline Personality Disorder: A Review, Kimberly Glover

Dissertations

Borderline personality disorder is diagnosed in women three times more than men and represents a significant gender disparity amid considerable stigmatization compared to other psychological disorders. Empirical studies have investigated the gender prevalence for borderline personality disorder and further determined that findings may be due to differences in how borderline personality disorder clinically manifests in men and women. Common areas of investigation have included developmental features, diagnostic symptomology, psychiatric comorbidities, and the level of functional impairment for individuals with borderline personality disorder. An analysis of existing data was indicative of shortcomings in methods that include small samples of men, a …

Understanding A Familial Mentorship Model In Cultivation Of Leaders Who Serve, Herald Chip Johnson

Dissertations

This study was designed to explore a lineage of leadership enacted through mentoring from individuals with respected reputations for excellence in leadership. Using a narrative inquiry approach, I explored how I used knowledge gained from past mentors to inform future leadership actions and decisions based on the examples through their leadership. An exploration of leadership models uncovered the interconnectivity among the life of the mentor, the lessons passed on to the mentee, and the manner in which the story is told. Resonant leadership, transformative leadership, and servant leadership theory provided the theoretical framework used to analyze in-depth interviews in which …