Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Medicine and Health Sciences Commons

Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Nursing

Grand Valley State University

1994

Articles 1 - 16 of 16

Full-Text Articles in Medicine and Health Sciences

Retention Of Registered Nurse Employees In Rural Community Hospitals Less Than 100 Beds, Joanne Urbanski Jan 1994

Retention Of Registered Nurse Employees In Rural Community Hospitals Less Than 100 Beds, Joanne Urbanski

Masters Theses

Maintaining a stable nursing staff is critical to the effective operation of hospitals, therefore chief nurse executives must not lose sight of the importance of retention efforts. The purpose of this study was to identify factors that maintain or increase job satisfaction among registered nurses working in small, rural hospitals, thereby, motivating them to remain in a rural hospital practice setting. Four hundred and twenty-seven job satisfaction surveys were mailed to 13 rural community hospitals that had less than 100 beds. Two hundred and twenty completed surveys were returned (52%).; Sociodemographic characteristics of short-term (less than one year) and long-term …


Spouse Adaptation After The Partner's Open Heart Surgery, Marietta J. Gardner Jan 1994

Spouse Adaptation After The Partner's Open Heart Surgery, Marietta J. Gardner

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to describe the adaptation of male and female spouses after their partners' open heart surgery using the theory of person as an adaptive system. A descriptive correlational design was used to examine adaptation of male and female spouses to their partners' open heart surgery (criterion variable); and partners' health prior to surgery, length of time partner diagnosed with heart disease, number of years married, and general state of marital relationship prior to surgery as perceived by the spouse were predictor variables. The sample consisted of 20 male and 25 female spouses, 31 to 88 …


Trauma Patients: Social Support Desired And Perceived Satisfaction According To Category Of Provider, Marsha D. Stevens Jan 1994

Trauma Patients: Social Support Desired And Perceived Satisfaction According To Category Of Provider, Marsha D. Stevens

Masters Theses

This study examined differences in social support received by trauma patients and their perceived satisfaction with the social support provided by various categories of providers including: family members, friends, RNs and other health professionals. Thirty hospitalized trauma patients were asked to rate the satisfaction they felt regarding seven forms of support. Types of support that most patients indicated their families and friends provided were spending time with them and making them feel important. Respectful treatment, providing information, encouragement and listening support from RNs and other health professionals was mentioned by a large percentage of the subjects. Qualitatively it was found …


What Is The Relationship Between Personality Hardiness And Burnout In Army Reserve Nurses?, Nancy M. Marchido Jan 1994

What Is The Relationship Between Personality Hardiness And Burnout In Army Reserve Nurses?, Nancy M. Marchido

Masters Theses

Kobasa's conceptualization of personality hardiness provided the theoretical framework examined. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between personality hardiness (control, commitment, and challenge) and burnout in Army Reserve nurses. Data was obtained through a survey of forty Army Reserve nurses in the midwest area using Kobasa's Hardiness Scale and Jones' Staff Burnout Scale for Health Professionals. The subjects were primarily female (75%) and Caucasian (90%), with a bachelor of science degree or higher. A moderately strong inverse correlation was found (r = {dollar}-{dollar}.52, df = 35, p {dollar}<{dollar}.001). The validity and reliability were supported, however, the dimension of challenge was not related to burnout. Control and commitment correlated with burnout (r = {dollar}-{dollar}.61, r = {dollar}-{dollar}.57 respectively). Findings suggest that personality hardiness provides a resistance source in the perception of adverse job stressors, thus preventing or reducing burnout in nurses.


Diploma Nursing Students' Attitudes Toward Poverty, Elizabeth Louise Phillips Jan 1994

Diploma Nursing Students' Attitudes Toward Poverty, Elizabeth Louise Phillips

Masters Theses

According to King, stereotyped perceptions may interfere with nurse-client transactions. Therefore, nurses' should possess attitudes which enable them to care for individuals who live in poverty. A descriptive correlational design was used to examine first year and second year diploma nursing students' attitudes toward individuals living in poverty. It was hypothesized that second year diploma nursing students would demonstrate a more positive attitude toward those living in poverty than first year diploma nursing students.; A convenience sample of diploma nursing students (N = 102) completed the "Attitudes about Poverty and Poor Peoples" scale utilized to assess students' attitudes (Atherton et …


Mothers' Information Needs And Perceptions Of Preparedness For Self-Care And Infant Care After A Short-Term Hospital Stay, Donna M. Paulsen Jan 1994

Mothers' Information Needs And Perceptions Of Preparedness For Self-Care And Infant Care After A Short-Term Hospital Stay, Donna M. Paulsen

Masters Theses

Based on Orem's Theory of Self-Care, this descriptive study compared the information needs and perceived preparation of self and infant care for 22 primiparous and 36 multiparous women. A convenience sample of women experiencing a short-term (24 Hour) hospital stay responded to a structured questionnaire. Preparation was measured using Degenhart-Leskosky's (1989) modification of Howard and Sater's (1985) tool. Content validity was established in the original study. The majority of the women perceived themselves to be well or very well prepared for self-care (87%) and infant care (78%). Multiparas perceived themselves to be significantly better prepared for self-care (U = 256.5, …


Mathematical Calculations Ability Of Registered Nurses, Denise M. Deitzen Jan 1994

Mathematical Calculations Ability Of Registered Nurses, Denise M. Deitzen

Masters Theses

Medication errors occur throughout health care settings. These errors can be caused by a multitude of factors, one of the most important being mathematical calculation. The purpose of this study was to replicate an earlier study by Bindler and Bayne (1991) examining the mathematical calculation ability of registered nurses. Utilizing a model of skill acquisition suggested by Dreyfus and Dreyfus (1980) and applied to nursing by Benner (1986), it was hypothesized that years of experience and frequency of calculation would have a significant interactive effect on the score of a medication calculation test.; A descriptive correlational design was utilized. A …


Clients' Perceptions Of Preparedness For Discharge Home Following Total Hip Or Knee Replacement Surgery, Cindy H. Nicholson Jan 1994

Clients' Perceptions Of Preparedness For Discharge Home Following Total Hip Or Knee Replacement Surgery, Cindy H. Nicholson

Masters Theses

This study used a descriptive design to evaluate discharge planning by examining the clients' perception of preparedness for discharge home following total hip or knee replacement surgery. The conceptual framework was based upon the Betty Neuman Systems Model.; This study used Lawton's (1991) "Discharge Preparation Questionairre" to ascertain the clients' perceptions of preparedness in 10 discharge categories. Perceived preparation was measured using a 5 point summated rating scale. The study site was a 42-bed orthopedic unit in a 119 bed acute care hospital in Southeast Michigan. The convenience sample, of 46 adult clients, were interviewed by phone 3 days following …


Professional Inter-Rater & Client Self Report Reliability Of The Environmental Section Of The Functional Assessment Of The Elderly, Stacie J. Bronkema, Amy M. Haan, Julie L. Johnston Jan 1994

Professional Inter-Rater & Client Self Report Reliability Of The Environmental Section Of The Functional Assessment Of The Elderly, Stacie J. Bronkema, Amy M. Haan, Julie L. Johnston

Masters Theses

Health care needs of the growing elderly population place a great demand on the health care system. Information regarding a client's function is essential in geriatric care. Therefore, continuing research to develop reliable functional evaluation tools is imperative. One functional evaluation tool available to health care professionals is Functional Assessment of the Elderly (FAE). The purpose of this study is to examine the professional inter-rater and client self report reliability of the environmental section of FAE.; A random sample of 18 subjects was obtained. Subjects were required to be age 60 and older, and clients of the West Michigan area …


The Health Belief Model And Drinking And Driving, Teresa Ellen Tucker Jan 1994

The Health Belief Model And Drinking And Driving, Teresa Ellen Tucker

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to identify differences in health beliefs of individuals convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI) with a history of an alcohol-related MVC and individuals convicted of DUI with no such MVC history. The Health Belief Model variables include seriousness, susceptibility, benefits, barriers and health motivation. It was hypothesized that health beliefs of individuals convicted of DUI and with a history of an alcohol-related MVC would be different from individuals convicted of DUI but with no such MVC history. A demographic assessment tool and Health Belief questionnaire designed for this study were used …


The Effect Of Teaching On Knowledge And Osteoporosis Health Beliefs Of Elderly Females, Yvonne M. Van Hoven Jan 1994

The Effect Of Teaching On Knowledge And Osteoporosis Health Beliefs Of Elderly Females, Yvonne M. Van Hoven

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of an educational intervention on knowledge, self-efficacy, and health beliefs (susceptibility, seriousness, benefits, barriers, health motivation) related to osteoporosis.; The study was conducted using a pre-test-post-test quasi-experimental design. The sample included forty elderly females of two senior centers in a midwestern metropolitan area. The experimental group was composed of twenty subjects from a senior center. The remaining twenty subjects from a second senior center were included in the control group. Osteoporosis knowledge, self-efficacy, and health beliefs were measured before and after factual information about osteoporosis was given to the experimental …


Nurses' Performance Of Breast Self-Examination, Anne M. Bauer Jan 1994

Nurses' Performance Of Breast Self-Examination, Anne M. Bauer

Masters Theses

A descriptive, correlational design was used to examine the relationship between the Health Belief Model (HBM) variables and breast self-examination (BSE) in a registered nurse population. Champion's HBM Scale (1987) was mailed to a random sample of RN's in one midwestern county (N = 107). Construct validity for the instrument was established by Champion and alpha reliability rating for subscales ranged from.73-.96 in this study. The primarily Caucasian, ADN and diploma educated sample varied in age from 20 to over 60 years (median age = 41-50).; Less than half (48%) of the subjects reported monthly BSE. A stepwise multiple regression …


Perceived Stressors Between Partnered And Unpartnered Women, Sandra Kay Newman Jan 1994

Perceived Stressors Between Partnered And Unpartnered Women, Sandra Kay Newman

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to compare the differences in stress perceived by healthy partnered and unpartnered women in the second trimester of pregnancy. Neuman's Theory of Stress was used as the conceptual framework to explain the potential for greater perceived stress in unpartnered women during pregnancy. A descriptive correlation study was conducted using Norbeck's (1989) Life Events Questionnaire and Underwood's (1993) Perceived Life Stress Scale II, for a convenience sample of N = 40.; T-tests were used to test the hypothesis that unpartnered women would perceive more stress than partnered women. Mann Whitney U tests were used to …


Perceptions Of Nurse Behaviors By Persons With Copd During Acute Shortness Of Breath, Joyce A. Kowatch Jan 1994

Perceptions Of Nurse Behaviors By Persons With Copd During Acute Shortness Of Breath, Joyce A. Kowatch

Masters Theses

This study employed a qualitative approach to explore the perceptions of clients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease recalling nursing behaviors as a part of a process of helping during dyspnea. Grounded theory was used to look at how a client's world was constructed in this particular situation. Examination of data led to the generation of a hypothesis to explain the process of helping. Subjects were asked what it was like when they were extremely short of breath and what nursing behaviors helped or didn't help them.; Identified changes were categorized as suffocation, pain, energy depletion, panic, and cognitive haze. Helpful …


Nurses' Knowledge And Attitude Related To Organ Donation, Maureen E. Bishop Jan 1994

Nurses' Knowledge And Attitude Related To Organ Donation, Maureen E. Bishop

Masters Theses

Nurses today are caring for a wide array of patients that may include potential organ donors or organ transplant recipients. The purpose of this descriptive correlational study was to explore the knowledge nurses possess and the attitude they hold regarding organ donation, using Jean Watson's theory of human caring as the conceptual framework.; A convenience sample of approximately 200 registered nurses in a 300-bed medical center, that does not have an organ transplant program was surveyed. The knowledge level had a mean score of 6.69 with a possible high of 11. This suggests that the knowledge level of the registered …


Symptoms And Self-Concept Alterations With And Without Cognitive Rehabilitation 2 - 5 Years After Mild Traumatic Brain Injury, Rebecca H. Veltman Jan 1994

Symptoms And Self-Concept Alterations With And Without Cognitive Rehabilitation 2 - 5 Years After Mild Traumatic Brain Injury, Rebecca H. Veltman

Masters Theses

This study examined adaptation in physical symptoms, role functioning, and self concept 2-5 years after mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI). The effects of outpatient cognitive rehabilitation were also analyzed. Roy's Adaptation Model provided a framework for this study. Subjects (n = 164) were surveyed about role function, physical post-concussion symptoms, and self concept. Sixty-six subjects returned the completed survey. Subjects reported problems with memory (33%), tiredness (29%), depression (27%), and concentration (26%). The number of new symptoms and the social score were inversely related (r = {dollar}-{dollar}.5854, p =.001). Self Concept as measured on the Tennessee Self Concept Scale (TSCS) …