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Full-Text Articles in Medicine and Health Sciences
Respiratory Infection And Antimicrobial Prescribing: How Well Are The Guidelines Adhered To?, Veronica Seippel
Respiratory Infection And Antimicrobial Prescribing: How Well Are The Guidelines Adhered To?, Veronica Seippel
Master's Theses, Dissertations, Graduate Research and Major Papers Overview
Approximately two million people in the United States (US) are infected annually by organisms that have developed resistance to one or more of the antimicrobials designed to eradicate them. The highest-ranking category of illness for which antibiotics are most commonly overprescribed is respiratory infections (CDC, 2014a). The purpose of this project was to explore current antimicrobial prescribing trends for respiratory infections at an urgent care facility. The ACE Star Model of Knowledge Transformation (Stevens, 2004) was utilized to serve as a guide in conducting this research study. Utilizing the detailed guidelines and treatment criteria for respiratory infections developed by the …
Pressure Ulcer Assessment And Documentation, Cynthia Ruggiero
Pressure Ulcer Assessment And Documentation, Cynthia Ruggiero
Master's Theses, Dissertations, Graduate Research and Major Papers Overview
Accurate assessment and documentation of skin is an important nursing activity yet the task of identifying and documenting wounds can be difficult. New regulations from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid dictate that hospitals will not receive payment for the treatment of stage III or stage IV hospital-acquired pressure ulcers. Literature supports that accurate assessment and documentation of a pressure ulcer is important to the care of the patient, to provide legal documentation, and for reimbursement. The purpose of this project was to develop and implement a pressure ulcer assessment and documentation pocket guide. The development of the pocket guide …
Perceived Barriers To Health Promotion Behavior Of Women In Early Recovery From Alcohol Use Disorder, Renee Ann Graham
Perceived Barriers To Health Promotion Behavior Of Women In Early Recovery From Alcohol Use Disorder, Renee Ann Graham
Master's Theses, Dissertations, Graduate Research and Major Papers Overview
Women with Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) have a higher risk of chronic illness and a mortality rate that is 50 to 100% greater than men’s (National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, 2008). Lifestyle changes in the recovery from AUD include adopting behaviors that foster health and identifying women’s barriers to health promotion behavior is important to fostering a healthy lifestyle. The purpose of this study was to explore perceived barriers to health promotion behavior of women in early recovery from AUD. Participants were women (N = 50) who attended 12-step recovery meetings for alcoholism, of which: 86% were 26 …
Neuroscience Nurses' Perceptions Of The Barriers To Identifying And Treating Pain In Acutely Brain-Injured Adult Patients, Kimberly A. Iannotti
Neuroscience Nurses' Perceptions Of The Barriers To Identifying And Treating Pain In Acutely Brain-Injured Adult Patients, Kimberly A. Iannotti
Master's Theses, Dissertations, Graduate Research and Major Papers Overview
Pain management for the critically ill adult can be daunting. Numerous factors contribute to this challenging process including altered level of consciousness (LOC), inability to speak, life support measures, family input, level of sedation, paralyzing agents, restraints, cognitive impairment, and numerous other factors. The current practice related to pain management in the neurologically critically ill adult patient population is limited by inadequate pain scales, altered neurological status, and atypical pain-associated behaviors. Additionally, nurses are challenged by unclear practice guidelines. The critical care nurse is required to assess and manage pain, as well as implement specific interventions based on the patient’s …
Disparities Between Men And Women In The Time Of Initial Ekg Acquisition, Beverly Mcgillivray
Disparities Between Men And Women In The Time Of Initial Ekg Acquisition, Beverly Mcgillivray
Master's Theses, Dissertations, Graduate Research and Major Papers Overview
Cardiovascular disease is the most common cause of death around the world. Initial treatment is often time dependent. An EKG is the single most important initial clinical test to diagnose acute myocardial infarctions. Recognizing acute coronary symptoms in the initial presentation to an emergency department is critical in order to obtain the initial EKG. Of concern is the likelihood of delay in the initial EKG acquisition for females. The purpose of the research study was to distinguish if there is a disparity between genders to the best practice of door to EKG in 10 minutes from the arrival time in …
Managing Hospitalized Adults With Alcohol Dependence, Lisa Darling
Managing Hospitalized Adults With Alcohol Dependence, Lisa Darling
Master's Theses, Dissertations, Graduate Research and Major Papers Overview
Alcohol withdrawal is a common clinical condition with a variety of presentations, complications and morbidities. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), an estimated 17 million Americans, or one in every 12 adults, have an alcohol use disorder (AUD). An unanticipated hospital admission can precipitate alcohol withdrawal syndrome that can develop six hours after the cessation of alcohol. Early assessment of potential alcohol dependence, as well as symptoms of withdrawal and utilizing the CIWA tool, is important in identifying and managing this at risk population and reducing the potential incidence of complications. The purpose of this …
A Comparrison Of Two Emergency Departments, Erin C. Blais
A Comparrison Of Two Emergency Departments, Erin C. Blais
Master's Theses, Dissertations, Graduate Research and Major Papers Overview
Urosepsis accounts for approximately 25% of all cases of sepsis in the developed world. The mortality from urosepsis is high and the financial burden is exorbitant. Research has established that a patient’s survivability from sepsis is inversely proportional to time to antibiotic administration. The initial care of patients with urosepsis often occurs in the chaotic setting of the Emergency Department and obtaining a urine specimen is a key element of patient care. The purpose of the project was to compare two emergency departments door-to-urine time with a focus on urine procurement technique. Urine procurement may occur by straight catheterization, Quik …
Exploring Barriers To Code Status Discussions, Christina Marie Dickson
Exploring Barriers To Code Status Discussions, Christina Marie Dickson
Master's Theses, Dissertations, Graduate Research and Major Papers Overview
It is imperative that Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) have the skill set necessary to initiate code status discussions with people. The literature supports that healthcare providers tend to avoid the topic, for reasons that include feeling uncomfortable, not having enough time, and not wanting to take away hope. How do we break down these barriers to ensure that healthcare providers feel comfortable and prepared to have code status discussions? The purpose of this project was to explore perceived barriers encountered by the Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) student population. A survey was developed that included sections on comfort level …
Is There A Difference In Pain Management Of Patients With Upper Extremity Injuries In Relation To Age?, Cheryl Pappas
Is There A Difference In Pain Management Of Patients With Upper Extremity Injuries In Relation To Age?, Cheryl Pappas
Master's Theses, Dissertations, Graduate Research and Major Papers Overview
Timely and appropriate analgesia for the treatment of long bone fractures is a primary goal of Emergency Departments. Despite incentives from the Centers of Medicare and Medicaid and accreditation agencies studies have found the existence of pain management disparities. The purpose of this research study was to conduct a retrospective chart review to investigate if patients with an upper extremity long bone fracture received pain medication within 60 minutes of arrival to the ED and to identify if there was a difference in the pain management of patients, with identical injuries, by age. Katharine Kolcaba’s comfort theory was used to …
Reducing Hospital Acquired Pressure Ulcers, Jessica M. Leblanc
Reducing Hospital Acquired Pressure Ulcers, Jessica M. Leblanc
Master's Theses, Dissertations, Graduate Research and Major Papers Overview
Pressure ulcers have been a persistent issue in hospitals for many years and continue to remain a major cause of morbidity and mortality. Most hospital acquired pressure ulcers (HAPUs) are considered preventable and are identified by the National Quality Forum as a nurse-sensitive quality indicator. Intensive care patients in particular tend to be at a higher risk to develop PUs and prevention in the intensive care population continues to be a major challenge in many hospitals. Recently, some intensive care units have been utilizing a preventative silicone foam barrier dressing applied to patients admitted to the unit in order reduce …
Do Patients In The Intensive Care Unit Receive Recommended Total Daily Calories With Enteral Feedings Using A Rate Based Protocol?, Karen A. Schaefer
Do Patients In The Intensive Care Unit Receive Recommended Total Daily Calories With Enteral Feedings Using A Rate Based Protocol?, Karen A. Schaefer
Master's Theses, Dissertations, Graduate Research and Major Papers Overview
When a patient is unable to eat or eat enough nutrients due to an illness or surgery, nutrition from another source may be required. Supplemental nutrition may be given in the form of enteral nutrition. The current practice is delivering enteral feedings on a rate based protocol to deliver calculated required calories over a specific length of time. Patients who receive enteral nutrition may have feedings interrupted due to a variety of reasons such as a procedure or diagnostic exam. Interruptions reduce the total daily calories delivered. If a patient does not achieve their total daily calories, it can be …
The Relationship Between Osteoarthritis, Hip Arthroplasty, And Post-Operative Ambulation Distances, Melissa E. Ings
The Relationship Between Osteoarthritis, Hip Arthroplasty, And Post-Operative Ambulation Distances, Melissa E. Ings
Master's Theses, Dissertations, Graduate Research and Major Papers Overview
Osteoarthritis, total hip replacements, and post-operative ambulation distances are three interrelated concepts that lead patients from diagnosis, to intervention, and to the first indications of recovery post-operatively. The purpose of the project was to quantify the ambulation distances of patients with one of three surgical approaches for total hip replacements (THR). The timeframe for measurement was from the day of surgery (day 0) through the second post-operative day (POD 2) comparing different surgical approaches with length of ambulation distances. Pre-operative elective joint replacement educational classes, may play a role in post-operative recovery, which provided the rationale for including them in …
Aprns' Confidence To Prescribe, Holli J. Brousseau
Aprns' Confidence To Prescribe, Holli J. Brousseau
Master's Theses, Dissertations, Graduate Research and Major Papers Overview
Prescribing medications is an integral part of the Nurse Practitioner (NP) role. Review of the literature revealed a considerable amount of evidenced-based practice recommendations related to prescribing with accuracy. Petty (2012) suggested using evidence-based data to drive prescribing decisions; knowing the patient’s medications; involving the patient in the decision making process; being knowledgeable about drug interactions; remembering that every patient is unique and listening to their story; avoiding polypharmacy; and reviewing the need for continuing a medication and monitoring appropriate labs/diagnostics related to usage. The purpose of this study was to explore the confidence level of the NP related to …
Intravenous Acetaminophen Use In Postoperative Pain Management, Selvi K. Kumar
Intravenous Acetaminophen Use In Postoperative Pain Management, Selvi K. Kumar
Master's Theses, Dissertations, Graduate Research and Major Papers Overview
Surgery is a most common source of acute pain and effective postoperative pain management is crucial for wound healing and recovery. Opiods are the mainstay for acute pain management but have various adverse effects including death. The multimodal approach involves the use of multiple drugs with varying mechanism of action to achieve optimal pain relief with less adverse effects. Intravenous acetaminophen (IVAPAP) is a new addition to the multimodal approach that appears to afford effective pain relief with a low risk profile. The purpose of this research study was to examine the impact of IVAPAP use in multimodal pain management …