Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Exploring Nurses' Attitudes About The Value Of A Hospital Based Medical Futility Policy, Christie M. Bowser

Master's Theses, Dissertations, Graduate Research and Major Papers Overview

Nurses are responsible for providing care for patients and following through with a physician’s orders, however, it is not always easy to do. Certain cases are more difficult than others, especially those involving end-of-life care versus continuing with life-sustaining measures. It is not an easy decision for families or patients to make, but sometimes these life-sustaining interventions can do more harm than good, causing much distress among caregivers (Burns & Truog, 2007). Some cases have become hallmark cases like that of Terri Schiavo, a woman who was in a persistent vegetative state from 1990 to 2005 while her parents and …

A Policy Analysis Of The Provisions Of The Patient Protection And Affordable Care Act Related To Access To Primary Care For Older Adults, Tonya M. Fontaine

Master's Theses, Dissertations, Graduate Research and Major Papers Overview

This paper begins with a comprehensive literature review of health care around the globe, health care in America, and the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA). A problem has emerged from the ACA, in which it is unclear if the health care workforce is prepared to take care of all insured Americans, which now includes a large population of newly insured under the ACA. Primary care and the elderly population are a focus, as primary care is most affected by the ACA, and the aging population is growing and will continue to grow. The ACA policy is analyzed using …

Nurses' Attitudes Towards Drug-Seekers In The Emergency Room, Megan E. Gernt

Master's Theses, Dissertations, Graduate Research and Major Papers Overview

Emergency department patients often present with a chief complaint of pain. There is a unique population of patients who present with this chief complaint in an effort to obtain narcotics for non-medical use. This population is often referred to as drug-seekers and there is little information available to define what exactly nurses mean when they use this term. This study utilized a descriptive survey design to gain a better understanding of nurses’ use of the term drug-seeker. Respondents agreed on a variety of behaviors that lead them to identify patients as drug-seeking and expressed a frustration with this population of …

The Perceived Impact Of Diabetes Support Groups, Rebecca Garofalo

Master's Theses, Dissertations, Graduate Research and Major Papers Overview

A dearth o f research exists describing the perceived impact o f diabetes support groups from the perspective o f support group participants. This study examined the subjective experience of being a participant in a diabetes support group upon a person's physical and emotional well being. Participants were recruited from a diabetes support group and interviewed individually through a series of open ended interview questions. The participants reported various physical and emotional challenges related to their diabetes. The support group was a source of information, hope, shared experience and group problem solving as individuals strived to maintain lifestyle behaviors required …

What Impact Does A Coordinated School Health Program Have On Health Behaviors In Rhode Island High School Students?, Dawn Britto

Master's Theses, Dissertations, Graduate Research and Major Papers Overview

Society has become increasingly concerned with minimizing health-risk behaviors in young people grades K-12. These risky behaviors contribute to the leading causes of morbidity and mortality, which are often established during childhood and adolescence, extend into adttlthood, and are interrelated and preventable. School health programs can play a unique and important role in the lives of youth by helping improve their health- related knowledge, attitudes and skills through comprehensive coordinated school health education. A high-quality school health program is a coordinated and comprehensive set of courses, services, practices, and policies that meet the health and safety needs of students and …

Evaluation Of The Culturally Competent Nursing Modules, Ann P. Silva

Master's Theses, Dissertations, Graduate Research and Major Papers Overview

The dramatic aging of the U.S. population and the growing proportion of racial and ethnic minority groups are two factors that continue to increase the urgency of addressing health disparities (State of Aging and Health in America [SAHA], 2007). With 40% of the U.S. population currently consisting of either immigrants or first-generation Americans, it is imperative that healthcare facilities provide cultural competence training for their nurses to ensure that all patients receive quality care(Hascup,2010). Recognizing cultural diversity integrating cultural knowledge, and acting in a culturally appropriate manner enables nurses to be more effective in initiating nursing assessments and serving as …

The Impact Of Neonatal Icu Single Family Rooms On Select Developmental Outcomes, Lynda M. D'Alessio

Master's Theses, Dissertations, Graduate Research and Major Papers Overview

The purpose of this study was to determine if there is a weight gain benefit and earlier achievement to full feedings in the single family room NICU design compared to the multi-bed NICU design.

A retrospective chart review of infants less than 1000 grams born during a three month time frame in both the multi-bed unit and single family unit was conducted. The study compared average daily weight gain and achievement to full feedings in the multi-bed unit and single family room unit. Findings concluded there was a slight difference in the average daily weight gain and achievement to full …

A Policy Analysis Of The Nursing Shortage In Selected Sub-Saharan African Countries, Julia Twining

Master's Theses, Dissertations, Graduate Research and Major Papers Overview

This paper will begin with a comprehensive literature review of the nursing shortage in the sub-Saharan African region. The global nursing crisis is explored with a focus on the economics of nursing, challenges presented by the nursing shortage, interventions to increase nursing capacity, and partnerships that have been implemented to achieve this goal. The nursing shortage in selected sub-Saharan African countries is analyzed from a policy perspective using Fawcett and Russell’s Conceptual Model of Nursing and Health Policy (2005). Then, McLaughlin and McLaughlin's Policy Analysis Process (2008) is used to identify, analyze, evaluate, and make recommendations to create health policy. …

A Gender Specific Educational Pilot Program To Improve Women's Awareness About Heart Disease And Their Risk, Debra Lee Campo

Master's Theses, Dissertations, Graduate Research and Major Papers Overview

Cardiovascular disease is the number one killer of women in the U.S. While public health campaigns have made great progress improving women's awareness of heart disease as the leading cause of death, most women do not understand the magnitude of cardiovascular risks. Some women are not aware that heart disease is the greatest threat to their health and to the health of their loved ones (Thanavaro, Moore, Anthony, Narsavage, & Delicath, 2006). Women continue to have longer delays in seeking medical treatment and have a higher mortality/morbidity rate when compared to men. Disparities also continue to persist among racial/ethnic and …

Napping To Reduce Sleepiness, Fatigue And Improve Reasoning For Nursing Shift Workers, Cheryl Beth Bourdony

Master's Theses, Dissertations, Graduate Research and Major Papers Overview

Shift work outside the normal working hours of 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. is a requirement in acute and chronic care facilities that provide nursing care on a 24-hour basis. Slightly more than 30% of full-time health care workers are shift workers. Shift work sleep disorder, defined as a primary complaint of insomnia and excessive sleepiness, has been diagnosed in almost ten % of shift workers. The excessive sleepiness and fatigue nursing shift workers experience often lead to performance impairment and diminished attentiveness that may affect job productivity and patient safety. Napping is the most natural countermeasure against sleepiness. This …

Curriculum Development And Pilot Program Of Preconception Planning For Latinas, Esperanza Gutierrez

Master's Theses, Dissertations, Graduate Research and Major Papers Overview

Preconception planning is gaining popularity and is a promising method of improving pregnancy outcomes. The need to incorporate this kind of education in various settings is also identified in the literature. According to the March of Dimes, between 2004-2006 Hispanics had one of the highest preterm birth rate of 12.1% in the U.S. and 13.6o/o in RI (March of Dimes, 2009). In addition, during the same years RI statistics on low birth weight infants among Hispanics were 8.3% and 6.9% in the U.S. Healthy People 2010 suggested that this rate should be no more than 5% of live births. A …

Faith Community Nursing Program Development Project, Sharon Galloway

Master's Theses, Dissertations, Graduate Research and Major Papers Overview

Faith community nursing is a model of nursing care that focuses on health promotion and disease prevention and the intentional care of the spirit within the context of a faith community's values, beliefs, and practices. The purpose of this program development project was to develop and identify an implementation plan for a faith community nursing program at the Church of The Apostles in Coventry, Rhode Island. A needs assessment was completed in order to determine the health status and risk factors of the congregants, identify diversity in needs within the congregation and to identify perceived needs and perceived barriers in …