Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Using A Delayed Antibiotic-Prescribing Education Intervention To Prevent Antibiotic Overuse In The Treatment Of Respiratory Tract Infections, Catherine L. Muhia

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

Background: Antibiotics have been overprescribed to patients with respiratory infection in outpatient clinics in the United States. Antibiotic overuse has led to increased risk for antibiotic resistance and complications related to side effects. A review of the literature suggests that delayed antibiotic prescribing is an effective intervention that can be used to prevent antibiotic overuse. Delayed antibiotic prescribing is an evidence-based strategy where a patient is either issued with an antibiotic prescription and advised to delay filling it or to pick it up at an agreed location only if symptoms persist beyond the expected natural history of illness or deteriorate. …

Motivational Interviewing For Smoking Cessation In Primary Care, Kara E. Pool-Krok-Horton

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

Smoking is hazardous to human health and continues to be devastating to a patient’s physical health as well as to the entirety of the health care system. Smoking is both a public and personal health concern. The overall prevalence of tobacco dependence has decreased since smoking became a known health hazard, but it remains high in the general population as well as for the patients utilizing primary care in Rutland, Vermont. Nurse practitioners are holistic practitioners and are well suited to assist patients to change unhealthy behaviors. Behavior change, especially smoking cessation, is particularly difficult for patients. Motivational interviewing is …

Improving Adherence To Antihypertensive Medications Among Somali Patients In A Primary Care Clinic, Nimo S. Abdi

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

Purpose: To evaluate if the use of an evidenced-based educational program delivered to adult Somali hypertensive participants at a community-based clinic in Minneapolis can improve their adherence to antihypertensive medications and blood pressure control. Methods: A convenient sample of 10 participants who met the inclusion criterion consented to take part of the educational program. The Hill-Bone Compliance to High Blood Pressure Therapy Scale was utilized to measure outcomes of the program. In addition to that, each participant’s blood pressure was checked at pre and post intervention. Results: The statistical test of paired t-test was used to analyze data. The pre …

Educational Intervention For Identification Of Metabolic Syndrome (Icd-10 E88.81): Presentation Of A Toolkit For Providers And Staff In Two Primary Care Settings, Sadie Russell

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

Metabolic syndrome plays a vital role in present-day primary care. The ICD-10 diagnostic coding for this set of symptoms more comprehensively identifies patients with increased risk of cardiovascular events and comorbidities. Metabolic syndrome affects one-third of adults in the US and is defined as the presence of three of the following characteristics: abdominal obesity, hypertension, elevated triglycerides, low high-density lipoprotein, and elevated fasting plasma glucose. Proper screening for metabolic syndrome can identify complex patients before conditions like hypertension or type II diabetes develop. Management of metabolic syndrome emphasizes prevention and prioritizes lifestyle modifications as first-line treatment. Despite strong evidence supporting …

Improving The Detection And Management Of Hypertension In Adults In The Primary Care Setting: A Quality Improvement Project Based On The Chronic Care Model Using Blood Pressure Monitoring And Clinical Practice Guidelines, Michelle A. Cutler

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

Background: Hypertension (HTN) is a common, costly, and deadly disease that is often under recognized, under diagnosed, and undertreated in the primary care setting. Despite the presence of effective treatment strategies, uncontrolled HTN remains a persistent problem.

Purpose: The aim of this Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project was to improve the quality of HTN care delivered to adults in a primary care practice. Goals were targeted to decrease providers’ clinical inertia by improving their ability to make better diagnosis and treatment decisions after reviewing more comprehensive objective data.

Methods: Using the Chronic Care Model in an independent primary care …

Improving Hpv Vaccination Initiation And Completion Rates: A Qi Project, Princy M. Varughese

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a common sexually transmitted infection in the United States and is the cause of most cervical cancers in women, as well as anogenital cancers, oropharyngeal cancer, and genital warts in both men and women (Centers for Disease Control [CDC], 2014b). The HPV vaccine is recommended for preteen girls and boys to protect against HPV infections (CDC, 2011). In line with the goal of Healthy People 2020, the purpose of this evidence-based quality improvement (QI) project was to implement a text message reminder system, and calculate the completion rate of the 3-dose HPV vaccination series among adolescents …

Increasing Cultural Awareness And Competency In A Community Hospital In Northwest Minnesota, Gladys N. Nyabwari

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

Background: Cultural competency is an essential component in the delivery of healthcare services in all sectors of health. Therefore, educating healthcare professionals on cultural competency requires understanding evidence-based studies, having the ability to translate these research findings to practice, and providing the resources to implement best practice in the work place. The process requires individuals to have cultural awareness and humility to be able to attain any given level of cultural competency. Purpose: To improve cultural awareness in a community hospital in Minnesota by implementing an on-going process that allows employees to both acquire knowledge and maintain their skills …