Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Understanding Teen Pregnancy Through The Younger Sister's Voice: A Focused Ethnography, Bonnie J. Simmons

Nursing Dissertations (PhD)

Each year in the United States between 800,000 and 900,000 adolescents, aged 19 or younger, become pregnant. Over one-half of these pregnancies end in a live birth. Several studies have shown that the younger sisters of adolescent mothers have teenage childbearing rates two to six times higher than childbearing rates of women in the general population. The purpose of this focused ethnography was to gain a better understanding of the influences of a pregnant and parenting adolescent on her younger sister. Purposeful sampling was used to recruit younger sisters of parenting teens. Fifteen (15) African American females, ranging in age …

Illness Representations, Emotional Distress, Coping Strategies, And Coping Efficacy As Predictors Of Patient Outcomes For Type 2 Diabetes, Patricia Lynn Hart

Nursing Dissertations (PhD)

Diabetes mellitus affects 20.8 million Americans in the United States and is the fifth leading cause of death in the United States. Acute and chronic disease-related complications can have a devastating effect on the life of individuals with Type 2 diabetes. Reduction in acute and chronic complications can be best achieved by individuals’ adhering to appropriate lifestyle changes and maintaining tight glycemic control through a process of self-regulation. Self-regulation treatment decisions and lifestyle behavioral changes can be influenced by physiological and psychosocial factors. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between illness representations, emotional distress, coping strategies, …

Factors Influencing Surrogate End-Of-Life Healthcare Decision-Making For A Family Member With Alzheimer's Disease, Sharlene Toney

Nursing Dissertations (PhD)

Alzheimer’s disease (AD), a chronic terminal disease, progressively impairs cognitive function resulting in deterioration of intellect, memory, and personality. With disease progression, the surrogate decision-maker becomes more involved in intervention choices and end-of-life (EOL) care, which may or may not be based on patients’ wishes or best practice guidelines. Yet surrogate decision outcomes involve important issues of medical futility, quality of life and death. The purpose of this study was to examine factors that influence surrogate health care decision-making for a family member during the terminal stage of AD. A descriptive, predictive design was used to address the research questions: …

A Study Of The Caring Relationship Between Nurses And Culturally Diverse Clients, Carol Phillips

Theses and Graduate Projects

This is a qualitative study that examines the caring relationship between the nurse and the culturally diverse client. The purpose was to gain insight into the process of the delivery of culturally congruent care. A method of Hermeneutic Phenomenological analysis was used to discover the meaning within the stories told by the nurse participants.

Facing Down Death And Moving Beyond: Strategies Utilized By Female Survivors Of Childhood Maltreatment, Tonya Barri Broyles

Doctoral Dissertations

This study is a secondary analysis of a federally funded study of survivors of childhood maltreatment, who now consider themselves to be successful and effective in their current environments as adults. The purpose of this secondary analysis was to identify strategies that female survivors of childhood maltreatment have used as children and as adults to move beyond the effects of the abuse. An in-depth analysis of 27 women who have completed three interviews over the course of a year has revealed a generative theme of “Facing Down Death” and two interconnected themes of “Purposeful Cognitions/ Emotions,” and “Purposeful Actions.” Each …

Promises To Keep: A Phenomenological Study Of Icu Nurses’ Experiences Caring For Dying Patients, Phyllis Ann King

Doctoral Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to describe the experience of nurses caring for dying patients in the critical care unit. Using a phenomenological approach based on the works of Merleau-Ponty, the researcher completed 14 interviews in which ICU nurses were asked to describe experiences of caring for patients who died while in their care. The interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using a hermeneutical approach developed by Pollio and applied to nursing research by Thomas. Each interview was examined within the context of all the interviews to identify themes found throughout. The world of the ICU was grounded in …

Resilience And Depressive Symptoms In Midlife Women, Keverne L. Lehman

Masters Theses

Rates of depression are increasing throughout the world, with women experiencing depression twice as often as men. This study utilized the Neuman Systems Model to examine the relationship in midlife women between depressive symptoms and resilience. Women ages 35-55, selected from four health care settings, completed written surveys on demographic information, life events, depression, and resilience. Results supported depressive symptoms as a health concern for mid-life women: 32% reporting current or previous treatment for depression, and 24% screening positive for depression. Resilience, measured by the Polk Resilience Patterns Scale, was related to education, perceived health, conflict in the living situation, …

Patient Handling Safety For Nursing Staff, Don Nielsen

Dissertations

The effectiveness of video scoring and feedback about the scoring of the components of safe patient transfers was observed among eight nursing staff members in a skilled nursing department within an acute care hospital.

An ABCA (and sometimes ABCDA), multiple baseline across individuals design was utilized in the study. The dependent variable under investigation was the percentage of safe lifting components. Following baseline measures, nursing staff participated in an information phase during which they reviewed and discussed components of safe patient transfers. A video scoring phase was introduced, during which, participants viewed and scored a model video of a patienttransfer. …

African American Father-Child Reproductive Health Communication, Nnenna Ohalete Phd

Dissertations

African-American children have their sexual debut (first voluntary penile-vaginal penetration) earlier thus are at disproportionately greater risk for more sexual partners and sexually transmitted infections. Father-child reproductive health communication was found to influence the timing of sex in other children however, a dearth of studies in African-American fathers existed. In this qualitative study reproductive health communication was explored in tape-recorded interviews of 19 African-American fathers from the perspective of critical theory, with the use of critical ethnography as methodology. How the content and pattern of reproductive health communication influenced sexual debut, and how fathers' moral/ethical stances influenced reproductive health communication …

Depression, Anxiety, Hazardous Drinking, Subjective Burden, And Rewards In Family Caregivers Of Patients With Chronic Liver Disease, Lois Vennesta Bolden

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

This descriptive correlation study had three purposes. The study first described depressive and anxiety symptom levels, prevalence of hazardous drinking, rewards, and subjective burden reported by family caregivers of patients with chronic liver disease (CLD). Second, the investigator compared depressive and anxiety symptom levels, prevalence of hazardous drinking, rewards, and subjective burden reported by African Americans family caregivers with those reported by Caucasian family caregivers of patients with CLD. The third purpose was to determine the predictors of subjective burden and mental health status of family caregivers of persons with CLD.

A convenience sample of 73 caregivers of patients receiving …

Stress Reduction: A Neighborhood Introduction, Barbara D. Johnson

Master's Projects

Responding to reported health concerns a stress reduction program was developed for residents of an urban Latino neighborhood struggling with poverty, crime, and limited access to healthcare. The revised Health Promotion Model (HPM) was used as a framework (Pender, 1996). A qualitative study testing a 5-week Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction (MBSR) intervention was imbedded into the program 18 months after its implementation. Utilizing a pre/post test design participants were predicted to demonstrate significant reductions in post-intervention mean scores for 3 self-report measures, the Cohen Perceived Stress Scale, General Sleep Disturbance Scale, and a modified Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale. A 91% drop …

The Cost Of Negative Perceptions Of The Work Environment Among Intermediate Intensive Care Unit Nurses, Joselyn Peralta

Master's Projects

This descriptive study assessed the perceptions of the work environment and the retention plans among registered nurses (RNs) who worked in the Intermediate Intensive Care Unit at a tertiary university hospital. Results from the Moos Work Environment Scale found that nurses perceived high levels of work pressure and low levels of clarity, coworker cohesion, and supervisor support. Results indicated that the intent to leave the unit was dependent on the nurses having other options in nursing, desiring further education, an undesirable scheduling process and unsafe patient care. The direct and indirect costs to hospitals could be offset by developing strategies …

Minority Adolescents At Risk For Obesity: Health Behaviors And Perceptions, Linda D. Jones

Master's Projects

The purpose of this study was to examine behaviors related to nutrition and physical activity of inner-city minority adolescents, and their perception of normal weight and overweight. The research study used a descriptive, non-experimental design which had a convenience sample of thirty-seven 8th grade minority adolescents who attended a chartered urban K-8 grade school in Northern California. There were no statistically significant differences in the results, however, over 50% of the students reported not eating the recommended daily servings of fruits and vegetables. Another 68% reported participating more than 30 minutes in exercising or playing sports during physical education class. …

Youth Soccer Intervention For Childhood Overweight In Mississippi, Robert A. Leach D.C.

MSN Research Projects

The scourge of childhood obesity in Mississippi threatens to undermine progress made in other national health goals espoused by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Community-based youth sport activities, and specifically soccer, may lower Body Mass Index (BMI) and have the potential to provide the vigorous physical activity preventive and intervention indicated by studies to date, especially given the explosive growth o f the sport in the US recently among females. After gaining approval from the Starkville School Board, access to FitnessGram data of all 4^^ grade students at a public school was obtained and data revealed 57 female students …

Beholding The Beauty Of Self: The Psychological Integration Of The Afrocentric-Self Among African-American Females Socialized In A Eurocentric Aesthetic, Donna Lynn Cook Phd

Dissertations

Self-esteem and body image disturbances prominently figure into many physical and psychological health disorders such as depression, eating disorders, anxiety disorders, and chemical dependency. In Euro-American culture, media images of femininity and physical attractiveness reinforce generally held perceptions of the idealized female beauty as tall, white, slender, and often blond and blue eyed. The physical morphology of African-American women does not genetically "fit" this westernized standard of beauty with implications for their mental health. The socialization of African-American women in a culture that embraces a different ethnic standard of beauty influences their perceptions of how physically attractive they see themselves. …

What Are They Saying: Voices From The Inner City? Lived Experience Of Inner City African American Adolescents With Asthma, Othello Childress Phd

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate the lived experience of African-American adolescents with asthma who reside in an inner city community. The research in this area of interest is sparse, yet the morbidity and mortality rates related to asthma within the African-American population are greater than the general population. This study offers the experience of living with asthma from the perspective of the young African-American adolescent. Using phenomenological methodology, the nurse researcher selected 13 African-American adolescents; aged 12 to 15, who reside and attend middle school in the inner city. All of the participants had a confirmed medical …

Defining Health And Health-Related Behaviors Following A Near-Death Experience, Suzanne C. Robertson Phd

Dissertations

While broad categories of health and influences on definitions of health have been identified, the process through which adults define and re-define health has not been researched. The purpose of this study was to investigate the process of defining health and appropriate health-related behaviors following a near-death experience (NDE) as an adult and to articulate a grounded theory of decision-making. Five men and 15 women from the United States and United Kingdom were interviewed and the data were analyzed using the constant comparative method. The basic social process was I Still Had to Go Through the Process of Understanding. Understanding …

Investigation Of The Effects Of A Rapid Response Team On Nurse Satisfaction, Collaboration, And Communication, Jacob William Ainsworth

Masters Theses

The positive effects of Rapid Response Teams (RRTs) on clinical outcomes are well known; however little is known about the effects of the RRT on the registered nurses (RNs) who utilize it. The purpose of this study was to a) examine the overall perceptions of nurses on satisfaction, collaboration, and communication and b) explore the differences in perceptions of satisfaction, collaboration, and communication between RNs who have utilized the RRT versus those who have not using a descriptive design. Data were collected by questionnaires from a sample of 340 RNs who worked at a midwestem institution. The results indicated a …

The Relationship Between Coping, Anxiety, And Quality Of Life For Taiwanese Post-Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery Patients, Heng-Hsin Tung Phd

Dissertations

Coronary artery bypass grafting surgery (CABG) is a stressful event and requires coping strategies to achieve adaptation. In Taiwan, despite the fact that the incidence of CABG is increasing in both men and women, research on post-CABG adaptation is very limited and no research focuses on outcomes for women. This can lead to problems for health care providers who lack effective interventions to help these patients. The purpose of the study was to examine the relationship between coping, anxiety, and quality of life in Taiwanese post-CABG patients. A cross-sectional correlational design was used; the sample consisted of 50 female and …

Healthy Lifestyles Of Adults In A Work Setting, Kim Schafer Astroth

Dissertations

Nurses have a key role in promoting healthy lifestyles to reduce incidence of disease in adults. Since the 1980¿s, researchers have recognized readiness as a key component of adopting healthy lifestyle change. Prochaska¿s transtheoretical model, which contains readiness, or stage of change, served as the theoretical framework for the current study. The purpose of this study was to test an exercise behavior model, and in so doing: (a) compare the concurrence rates of exercise stage of change classifications obtained from the four selected exercise stage of change self-report measures; and (b) determine the relative strength of the predictive factors of …

The Role Of Advanced Nurse Practitioner In Health Promotion And Disease Prevention Of Obesity In Children, Pamela Johnson

MSN Research Projects

Obesity is one of the most serious health problems facing the youth of the United States. Evidence suggests that the problem is getting worse rapidly. Obesity is now the most prevalent physiological and psychological disease of children and adolescents. Many people; i.e., governmental authorities and national leaders in the health care system perceived that obesity will impact health care in the United States, as well as in the world, now and in the future; specifically, increased cost, increased individual and community health infractions, problems, and quality of life. Many people think it is a cosmetic problem only, but in reality, …

The Role Of The Nurse Practitioner In Providing Supportive Care To Patients With Migraine Headaches, Kala White Phillips

MSN Research Projects

Migraine is a debilitating disorder that is now recognized as a chronic illness, not simply a headache. The condition is associated with a great deal of pain and suffering as well as considerable economic consequences both to the patient and society in terms of healthcare costs and lost productivity. Migraines increase morbidity, limit daily activities, and affect the sufferer’s well-being. Migraine headaches affect approximately 30 million people in the United States, and 75% of migraine sufferers are women. Migraines may occur at any age, but they usually begin between the ages of 10 and 40 and diminish after age 50. …

An Evidence Based Practice Perspective In Effects Of Spirituality On Health Outcomes, Jessica Heard Walling

MSN Research Projects

Spirituality was a significant part of nursing from the beginning of the profession. The nursing profession was viewed by Florence Nightingale with a spiritual perspective in mind. She believed that one should receive a call from God to become a nurse (Tuck, Pullen, & Lynn, 1997). Then, with the emergence of modem medicine in the early 1900’s, there was a shift away from the need for spirituality. However, since the 1980’s, there has been an increasing interest in the practical use and obvious need for the spiritual being to be cared for as well as the physical (Narayanasamy, 2001). Brush …

Glaucoma And Quality Of Life And The Role Of The Nurse Practitioner, Jennifer Fitzgerald Stanton

MSN Research Projects

The purpose of this study is to further explore literature regarding the role of the nurse practitioner in health promotion and childhood obesity.

The Role Of The Nurse Practitioner In A Perioperative Setting, James Darnell Mcintyre

MSN Research Projects

This paper explored whether or not a nurse practitioner possessed the perception of utilizing intuition in a clinical setting. Further, the purpose is to determine if there is a correlation between intuition and years of experience as a registered nurse and if this correlation exists, does it impact advanced practice nurse intuition.

The Role Of The Nurse Practitioner In Health Promotion And Childhood Obesity, Jennifer Fitzgerald Stanton

MSN Research Projects

The purpose of this study is to further explore literature regarding the role of the nurse practitioner in health promotion and childhood obesity.

Evidence-Based Practice Perspective Of The Effects On Intuition On Clinical Practice As Perceived By The Nurse Practitioner, James Darnell Mcintyre

MSN Research Projects

This paper explored whether or not a nurse practitioner possessed the perception of utilizing intuition in a clinical setting. Further, the purpose is to determine if there is a correlation between intuition and years of experience as a registered nurse and if this correlation exists, does it impact advanced practice nurse intuition.

Effect Of Health Disparities On African American Clients, Sonia L. Mcclinton

MSN Research Projects

The concept of health disparities have moved to the forefront of the nation’s healthcare agenda in the 2T* century due to the overwhelming disproportionate numbers of health care problems noted in African American populations as opposed to their counter parts. Despite the advances that have been made in biotechnology, improvement in medical procedures, and the eradication o f certain infectious diseases, African Americans continue to have poorer health status than other Americans. The literature extensively described several contributing factors for disparities in health such as socioeconomic status, race, ethnicity, and geographical location. Many of the differences in health occur because …

An Evidence Based Practice Perspective Regarding The Role Of The Nurse Practitioner In Men's Health Promotion, Ronald Anthony Perkins

MSN Research Projects

A core concept in society is health. The concept of health can be defined by each individual with qualifiers such as good, bad, reasonable, or poor based on a variety of factors such as age, gender, current conditions, past conditions, or the demands of various roles in society. Health has been defined as, “a state of physical, mental, and social functioning that realizes a person’s potential” (Greiner, Fain, & Edelman, 2002, p. 6). The importance o f health promotion as a concept has been researched and defined throughout history. Early theories on health promotion or disease prevention began by Florence …

The Role Of The Nurse Practitioner In Support Of Families Experiencing Chronic Sorrow, Teresa Ann Wood

MSN Research Projects

Chronic sorrow is the periodic recurrence of permanent, pervasive sadness or other grief-related feelings associated with ongoing disparity resulting from a loss experience (Eakes, 2004). As a concept, chronic sorrow speaks to the emotional strain in the lived experiences of caregivers of the chronically ill and disabled. The term chronic sorrow was first used by Olshansky (1962) to describe the grief and sadness that parents felt when their child was first diagnosed as being mentally retarded. Research on chronic sorrow has proven its presence not only in parents, but in other family members, caregivers, and those with an illness or …