Digital Commons Network^™

Dnp Final Report: Improving Rehospitalization Rates And Caregiver Quality Of Life In Outpatient Hospice, Carrie M. Judd

DNP Final Reports

Background: Hospital readmissions among home hospice patients disrupt continuity of care, increase healthcare costs, and may compromise end-of-life preferences.

Purpose: This quality improvement project evaluated the feasibility of implementing a telehealth communication intervention in an outpatient hospice organization. Project aims were to reduce Type I live hospice discharges by at least 2.5% and improve caregiver quality of life (QOL).

Methods: Zoom for Healthcare® video visits and three-way telephone communication supplemented standard nurse practitioner hospice visits during a three-month implementation period. Type I live discharge rates were compared with the organization's baseline quality metrics. Caregiver QOL was measured pre- and post-intervention …

Exploring Academic–Practice Partnerships In Community Settings: A Narrative Review, Laura C. Sarver

College of Nursing Faculty Papers & Presentations

Purpose: This narrative review explored the literature on academic–practice partnerships in community settings within prelicensure nursing education. Methods: A search of three databases—MEDLINE, CINAHL, and Scopus—led to the review of 12 articles exploring academic–practice partnerships in community settings within prelicensure nursing education. Results: Emergent themes encompassed components for planning, implementing, and evaluating academic–practice partnerships. Planning themes included completing community assessments, considering financial resources, and identifying guiding frameworks or models. Implementation themes included diverse nursing education and community partners and settings, academic–practice partnership initiatives, and integration of partnerships in prelicensure nursing education curricula. Lastly, evaluation themes included the exploration of a …

Quality Domains In Home-Based Pediatric Hospice And Palliative Care: Adolescent And Young Adult Perspectives, Daniel H Grossoehme, Claire A Crawford, Jhansi Chandra Ellakula, Toluwalase Ajayi, Justin N Baker, Sarah Friebert, Lisa Humphrey, Jillann Jarrell, Rachel Thienprayoon, Pamela S Hinds

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Current United States palliative care practice guidelines are intended to cover care across all age groups. Previous research with pediatric providers and caregivers concluded that pediatric hospice and palliative care have unique attributes. Not known is how adolescent hospice and palliative care patients understand quality palliative care. The purpose of this study was to characterize and define quality of care domains as described by adolescent and young adult patients receiving home-based hospice and palliative care.

Methods: Semi-structured interviews with 10-26 year-olds who received home-based hospice and/or palliative care visits in the prior three years at six diverse sites in …

2026 June, Morehead State University. Office Of Communications & Marketing.

Morehead State Press Release Archive, 1961 to the Present

Press releases for June of 2026.

Reducing Burnout And Compassion Fatigue: Chaplain-Led Peer Support Group Among Clinical Staff At Choices Healthcare, Matthew Lehman

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this Doctor of Ministry action research project was to help reduce burnout and compassion fatigue among the clinical staff at Choices Healthcare. Burnout and compassion fatigue are becoming a healthcare crisis, and hospice agencies are no different. The study was open to any member of the clinical staff, which included chaplains, social workers, nurses, home health aides, and the team leaders of each team in the organization. The study aimed to reduce burnout and compassion fatigue through a series of chaplain-facilitated group education and processing sessions. Humans are relational beings, and getting together to share experiences in …

Advancing The Understanding Of Palliative Care In Singapore: Knowledge, Attitudes, Receptiveness, And The Moderating Role Of Media Information-Seeking Preferences, Su Lin Yeo, Angel Lee, Raymond Han Lip Ng, May O. Lwin, Yumin Lin

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

Introduction: Despite the growing demand for palliative care, this specialized medical care remains severely underutilized, with almost 50% of countries worldwide lacking access. Given that misperceptions and stigma continue to hinder progress in healthcare policy, this study aims to examine the relationships between palliative care knowledge, attitudes, and receptiveness to better understand how public health communication can enhance awareness and understanding of the topic in Singapore. Applying the adapted knowledge-attitude-practice (KAP) model, it further extends theory by examining the moderating role of media information-seeking between knowledge and receptiveness.Methods: Mixed-mode surveys involving 1,226 participants (926 online and 300 in-person respondents), representing …

What Bereaved People Have Found Helpful Following Death Of A Loved One In A Hospital: A Survey Study, Jon Swanson Phd, Mindy Flanagan Phd, Rachel Pfafman Mph, Mba

Other Specialties

Given the individual and public health impact of bereavement, discovering what people perceive as helpful after loss can improve interventions. In contrast to national projects, this project focused on two hospitals in a Midwestern hospital system.

A survey was developed to assess the work of chaplains with next of kin following a death, to assess the awareness and helpfulness of persons and organizations in the community, and to ask what people had done, said, or given that was helpful, or what respondents wished people had done. From a list of 283 people invited to respond, 52 completed the survey.

Survey …

Potential Mechanisms Of Influence Between Spiritual Practices And Cognitive Health: A Systematic Review And Conceptual Model, Katherine Carroll Britt, Hayoung Oh, Augustine Cassis Obeng Boateng, Sherry Morgan, Sato Ashida, Corey Nagel, Roland J Thorpe, Harold G Koenig

Staff and Researcher Publications

Background/Objectives: This systematic review summarizes the evidence regarding potential mechanisms underlying the relationship between spiritual practices and cognitive health in adults. The review was performed based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) checklist.

Methods: An extensive search of six electronic databases (i.e., PubMed, PsycINFO, Embase, Sociological Abstracts, ATLA, CINAHL) was conducted using keywords related to spiritual practices, religious activities, and cognitive health from 1 January 2000 to December 2025. The quality of the included studies was assessed using the Mixed Methods Appraisal tool aligned with the study design.

Results: A total of …

Family Caregivers' Perspectives On Challenges And Support Needs In Hospital-Based Palliative Care For Persons Living With Dementia, Jung Kwak, Anita Chary, Sarah Stayer, Kwaku Duah Oppong, Sumin Yoon, Snehal Patel, Elizabeth A Kvale

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Palliative care needs of hospitalized persons living with dementia (PLWD) and their family caregivers remain poorly understood. This mixed-methods study explored caregivers' perspectives on challenges and support needs when hospitalized PLWD received specialist palliative care consultations. Thirty-two caregivers were recruited from two hospitals; 18 completed interviews and surveys, and 14 completed surveys only. Participants were racially and ethnically diverse (19% Black or African American, 34% Latino or Hispanic). Most identified as women (65%) and adult children (56%). Commonly reported challenges included managing health issues (59%), emotional distress (56%), and decision-making (47%). Thematic analysis of interviews revealed three themes: the value …

College Of Nursing Apr 2024 Self-Study Report, Unm Academic Program Review

UNM Academic Program Review

College of Nursing complete an annual academic program review and included in the self-study report for AY2024

Exploring Patients' Perceptions Of An Advance Care Planning Intervention In The Emergency Department: A Qualitative Study, Youkie Shiozawa, Saaya Morton, Nanako Shirai, Hannah Oelschlager, Lucy Kiernat, Anita N Chary, Anna C Revette, Adrian Haimovich, Smit Desai, Kai-Wei Chang, Shan W Liu, Maura Kennedy, Mara A Schonberg, Kei Ouchi

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Objectives: Emergency department (ED) visits offer opportunities for seriously ill patients to formulate future medical care goals, yet ED clinicians lack practical strategies for these conversations. ED GOAL, a behavioral intervention, engages seriously ill yet clinically stable older adults in the ED to address advance care planning (ACP) with their outpatient clinicians. In a randomized trial, goals-of-care documentation was significantly higher in the intervention group compared to controls after three (24.3% vs. 9.9%, p = 0.03) and 6 months (31.4% vs. 12.7%, p < 0.01). This study is a sub-analysis to learn about intervention arm participants' perceived benefits and obstacles of the intervention.

Methods: We conducted semi-structured interviews between October 2022 and August 2024 (N = 52) with intervention-arm patients …

Navigating Early Career As An Oncologist: Thriving In Diverse Paths., Gita Suneja, Marjorie C Green, Janaki Parameswaran, Joseph Mccollom Do

PCI Publications and Projects

Early-career oncologists navigate a complex landscape of professional development, clinical responsibilities, and research endeavors. This manuscript explores key challenges and strategies for success in the early years of an oncology career, focusing on the first job after fellowship, career transitions, and practical tips for intentionality. Effective mentorship is pivotal, providing guidance in clinical decision making, research pursuits, and professional networking. Career development strategies include securing funding, building collaborative networks, and identifying opportunities for leadership. Additionally, balancing clinical duties with research and personal well-being requires time management and institutional support. This article emphasizes the importance of fostering inclusive mentorship, advocating for …

Navigating Challenges In Palliative Care: A Survey On Asco Guideline Adherence Among Health Care Providers In Low- And Middle-Income Countries., Cristiane Decat Bergerot, Enrique Soto-Perez-De-Celis, Chadane Thompson, Rushil Patel, Jafar Al-Mondhiry, Tingting Zhang, Nathasha Dhawan, Darcy Burbage, Joseph Mccollom Do, Mazie Tsang, Ramy Sedhom, William E Rosa

PCI Publications and Projects

PURPOSE: Integrating palliative care into oncology is essential, yet disparities in access and quality persist, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The ASCO guidelines advocate for early, routine, interdisciplinary palliative care for patients with advanced cancer. Barriers to implementing these recommendations include resource limitations, inadequate training, and cultural perceptions. Recognizing these challenges is essential for improving equitable access to palliative care worldwide.

METHODS: This prospective survey assessed adherence to ASCO recommendations for palliative care integration among LMIC health care providers (HCPs). Participants were recruited via e-mail, social media, and a list of members involved in the ASCO Palliative Care …

Empowering Kansas City Veterans Administration Chaplains: A Spiritual Leadership Toolkit For Nursing Staff Support, Leonard Gicheru

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This doctoral research project addresses the critical issue of burnout among nursing staff at the Kansas City Veterans Administration (KCVA). Burnout is often worsened by a lack of spiritual support, thereby negatively impacting both the well-being of nurses and the quality of patient care. This project study aims to mitigate these challenges by implementing a spiritual leadership resource toolkit, tailored to equip KCVA chaplains with creative strategies to provide spiritual care for nurses.

Based on Spiritual Leadership Theory and guided by biblical principles, this project explores how structured spiritual direction can improve the resilience and emotional well-being of nursing staff. …

Assessing The Use Of Motivational Interviewing And Appreciative Inquiry For Hypertension Control In Vulnerable Populations, Anjali Mahapatra, Orlando J. Penaloza Md, Facp, Shanestka Menendez, Jorge Martinez

USF-LVHN SELECT

No abstract provided.

Implementation Of Electronic Triggers To Identify Diagnostic Errors In Emergency Departments, Viralkumar Vaghani, Ashish Gupta, Usman Mir, Li Wei, Daniel R Murphy, Umair Mushtaq, Dean F Sittig, Andrew J Zimolzak, Hardeep Singh

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Importance: Missed diagnosis can lead to preventable patient harm.

Objective: To develop and implement a portfolio of electronic triggers (e-triggers) and examine their performance for identifying missed opportunities in diagnosis (MODs) in emergency departments (EDs).

Design, setting, and participants: In this retrospective medical record review study of ED visits at 1321 Veterans Affairs health care sites, rules-based e-triggers were developed and implemented using a national electronic health record repository. These e-triggers targeted 6 high-risk presentations for MODs in treat-and-release ED visits. A high-risk stroke e-trigger was applied to treat-and-release ED visits from January 1, 2016, to December 31, 2020. A …

Deep And Continuous Palliative Sedation Without Artificial Nutrition And Hydration: An International Review, Richard Liu, Thaddeus Pope, April Xiaoyi Xu

Faculty Scholarship

Deep and continuous palliative sedation combined with withholding or withdrawal of artificial nutrition and hydration (collectively termed “PSs̄ANH”) is a medical process regularly used in end-of-life care as a means of alleviating suffering. But PSs̄ANH is often not governed by a clear legal framework. To shed light on different approaches to regulating PSs̄ANH, this Article conducts a comparative analysis of the PSs̄ANH legality across twelve jurisdictions.

To facilitate understanding of this broad issue, we subdivided PSs̄ANH into three categories:

(1) PSs̄ANH will not hasten death (“Type 1 PSs̄ANH”),
(2) PSs̄ANH might, but is not certain to, hasten death (“Type 2 …

The Perspectives Of Provisionally Registered Psychologists On Voluntary Assisted Dying In Australia: An In-Depth Qualitative Investigation, Ker-Ni Vivienne Heng, Eyal Gringart

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

In Australia, voluntary assisted dying (VAD) is now widely legalised, and VAD uptake is on the rise. Thus, the demand for psychological support in the context of VAD is expected to grow. Despite their relevant expertise, psychologists remain underrepresented in end-of-life (EOL) literature and practice. The current in-depth qualitative study examined the perspectives of 20 provisionally registered psychologists in Australia on VAD, using reflexive thematic analysis grounded in social constructionism. Four main themes (‘Values’, ‘Fit-for-Role’, ‘Exposure’, and ‘Contributions’) and 14 sub-themes were generated from the data. Participants supported availing VAD for terminally ill patients and expressed the potential for its …

"You Sure Feel Like You're Alone, Kind Of Flailing Away Out There": Family Caregiver Perspectives Of Caring For An Individual With Glioblastoma Multiforme, Christy Muasher-Kerwin, Abby Baumbach, Yujun Liu, M. Courtney Hughes

Faculty Articles, Papers, and Other Scholarship

Objectives

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common and aggressive form of brain cancer. Family caregivers of individuals with GBM must navigate a wide range of their care recipients’ physical, cognitive, and psychosocial deficits to provide effective care, which is both mentally and physically demanding. This study aimed to investigate the perspectives of family caregivers of GBM patients about the barriers and challenges they encounter when providing care to their care recipients. Methods

Nineteen current and former family caregivers for individuals with GBM participated in semi-structured interviews from October 2023 through January 2024. We conducted interviews virtually and used applied …

Culturally Competent Care At The End Of Life- A Hindu Perspective, Sujatha Shanmugasundaram, Margaret O'Connor, Ken Sellick

General Submissions: Clinical Settings Materials

Knowledge of particular cultural requirements is especially important in times of transition such as at the end of life, where issues of death and dying require great sensitivity to cultural and religious differences. Healthcare professionals need to understand different cultures and deliver care accordingly. This article explores the cultural aspects of end of life care among Hindus who live in places other than India and is based on a study of Hindus in Australia. The purpose of this study was to investigate the experience of families of terminally ill Indian patients. This article will explore aspects of the Hindu faith …

Undergraduate Nursing Students’ Simulation Experiences With End-Of-Life Care In A Rural Setting: A Scoping Review, Christopher Norman Msn, Aprn, Gnp-Bc, Jodi Sutherland Phd, Rn, Acrn, Cne, Lori Marie Sprague Phd, Rn, Chse, Deborah Palmer Ms, Rn, Alma Rood Msn, Rn, Laura Lipke Ms, Mlis, Ahip

Nursing Faculty Scholarship

Objective: The purpose of this scoping review is to provide nurse educators and nurse leaders in practice with the findings on the state of the science surrounding undergraduate nursing education simulation-based experiences focused on end-of-life (EOL) care in rural settings. This scoping review aims to identify undergraduate nursing student experiences with EOL care in the rural setting and identify key simulation-based educational strategies utilized in undergraduate nursing programs to inform educational programs about simulation practices. The outcome of this review is intended to advance nursing education to better prepare future nurses for practice and to develop competence in providing EOL …

The Pause: Impacting Moral Distress In Our Caregivers, An Integrative Review, Bethany Corinne Furman

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Moral distress is endemic to healthcare in the emerging post-covid era. Moral distress is defined as the knowledge of the correct or ethical action but the repeated inability to act in that manner. First studied in nursing, it has been found in nearly every facet of healthcare and is strongly associated with clinician burnout, intent to leave position, and behaviors that can in turn compromise patient safety. Intensive care unit (ICU) nurses experience moral distress at higher rates than other subspecialties. Prevention of and recovery from moral distress is complex, but various forms of debriefing have long been suggested to …

Undergraduate Baccalaureate Nursing Student Knowledge And Attitudes Towards Neonatal And Pediatric Pain Management Practices, Jordan Lee Slowik

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Research has indicated that pain management practices amongst registered nurses is inadequate across all age groups; however, it is frequently noted that children receive less analgesia in comparable situations than adult clients leading to harmful and costly consequences. There is a distinct gap in nursing educational research understanding nursing student knowledge and attitudes towards neonatal and pediatric pain management practices. Using a convenience sample from a private, Christian-based university in the southeastern United States, this study used a quasi-experimental, one-group pretest/posttest design to understand the impact of elective nursing courses on undergraduate baccalaureate nursing student knowledge and attitudes towards neonatal …

Spiritual Care And The Art Of Holistic Healing At Swedish Hospital In Chicago, Mary Pamela Eke

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Despite the importance of spiritual care as an act of holistic healing process, there has continued to be a problem of imbalance between the physical care, and the spiritual and emotional care with cardiac care patients. The purpose of this DMIN action research project is to develop and implement a model of holistic healing for integrating spiritual and emotional care alongside physical treatment. This project’s main goal is to promote a sense of connectivity across the various aspects of physical, social, emotional, and spiritual care for cardiac care patients at Swedish Hospital in Chicago. Utilizing qualitative research methods for data …

Minding The Maid Gap: Issues In Expansion Of Medical Aid In Dying To Sole Underlying Conditions Of Mental Illness In U.S. States, Alexandra Rubino

Student Works

No abstract provided.

Palliative Care And Quality Of Life Improvement: A Benchmark Study, Rebecca Daniels

MSN Capstone Projects

This project provides an overview of the standard and regular implementation of palliative care versus early implementation of palliative care in patients with chronic or terminal illnesses. Palliative care is an essential component of healthcare that focuses on improving the quality of life and providing support to patients through holistic elements to patients and their families facing chronic and terminal illnesses. With evidence-based research, many articles have been published with implementation of early palliative care showing improvement in patient and even caregiver quality of life. This project includes evidence gathered from mixed methods of systematic review of existing literature, randomized …

Impact Of The Built Environment On The End-Of-Life Journey, Kelechi Akwazie

Masters in Architecture Program: Theses

Several research studies and personal anecdotes show that home-based hospice care patients report better quality of life than their inpatient care counterparts – suggesting that the location of care/built environment is a critical component of hospice care. As a result, other research studies have attempted to provide evidence-based design recommendations for inpatient hospice facilities; however, several of these recommendations either conflict with each other or are vaguely prescribed – which may dull any attempts to implement them.

This literature review takes a unique approach to the provision of evidence-based design recommendations for inpatient hospice facilities by holistically assessing hospice care, …

Nurses’ Perceptions Of Using Volunteer Support In Health Care Settings: A Systematic Scoping Review, Kate Crookes, Rosemary Saunders, Vivien Kemp, Olivia Gallagher, Manonita Ghosh, Caroline Bulsara, Karen Gullick, Bev O'Connell

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Aims: To understand nurses’ perceptions of volunteer support in health care settings. Background: Increasingly, volunteers provide specialised support to health care service users, requiring volunteers and nurses to work closely together. However, little is known about nurses’ perceptions of volunteer support. Methods: A scoping review was conducted following the PRISMA-ScR checklist. A mixed-methods convergent integrative approach was taken guided by the JBI framework. Quantitative data were transformed into qualitative data for synthesis and descriptive thematic analysis. Six databases were searched (CINHAL+, EMBASE, PubMed, Scopus, PsycInfo, ProQuest Health and Medical Collection) on 24 January 2022 using terms related to nurses, perceptions, …

Public Sentiments And The Influence Of Information-Seeking Preferences On Knowledge, Attitudes, Death Conversation And Receptiveness Towards Palliative Care: Results From A Nationwide Survey In Singapore, Su Lin Yeo, Raymond Han Lip Ng, Tan Ying Peh, May O. Lwin, Poh Heng Chong, Patricia Soek Hui Neo, Jamie Xuelian Zhou, Angel Lee

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

Background: Low awareness about palliative care among the global public and healthcare communities has been frequently cited as a persistent barrier to palliative care acceptance. Given that knowledge shapes attitudes and encourages receptiveness, it is critical to examine factors that influence the motivation to increase knowledge. Health information-seeking from individuals and media has been identified as a key factor, as the process of accessing and interpreting information to enhance knowledge has been shown to positively impact health behaviours. Objective: Our study aimed to uncover public sentiments toward palliative care in Singapore. A conceptual framework was additionally developed to investigate the …

Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs And Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment For Pain Management In Patients With Osteoarthritis: A Literature Review, Veenah K. J. Francis, Jennifer M. Jost, Allyson Jack, Timothy Johnson, Sarah Klein, Jake Darbhanga, Adam Hurwitz, Rohit S. Mehra, Holly B. Waters

HPD Articles

The pathophysiology of osteoarthritis (OA) involves the destruction of articular cartilage and the overgrowth of bone with lipping and spur formation. Nerve endings in the joint capsule and adjacent tissues play a major role in the pain mechanisms of osteoarthritis. This often requires patients to seek pain control measures beyond over-the-counter drugs, such as local anesthetics. Osteopathic manipulation treatment (OMT) is a conservative, non-pharmacological treatment that can be used to help treat chronic pain associated with OA. Other non-pharmacologic therapies include weight loss, exercise, physical therapy (PT), and assistive devices. However, pharmacologic management may be added synergistically to control flares …