Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Developing Ethical Competence: The Perspective Of Nurse Educators From Pre-Licensure Baccalaureate Nursing Programs Accredited By The Commission On Collegiate Nursing Education, Jennifer Lee Bartlett

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Nurses face ethically-charged situations every day, yet ethics education is not universally integrated into pre-licensure baccalaureate nursing programs. Like other forms of competence, ethical competence requires development. Nurse educators are poised to impact on the competence of their students, both defining the ethics content and designing students' exposure. The purpose of this study is to describe the concept of ethical competence from the perspective of baccalaureate nursing faculty and describe current methods of integration and evaluation of ethics education in pre-licensure baccalaureate nursing programs. This research will be conducted using a sequential (quantitative-qualitative) mixed method approach. The first phase of …

The Lived Experiences Of Acute-Care Bedside Registered Nurses Caring For Patients And Their Families With Limited English Proficiency, Jami-Sue Coleman

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Approximately 8.6% of the total U.S. population is considered limited English proficient (LEP), a term that has been used by official US federal policy and will be used throughout this study. In a landmark report, the Institute of Medicine found that minorities received lower-quality health care than Caucasians even when insurance status, income, and other factors were equivalent. These differences were tied to issues such as bias, stereotypes and communication barriers between patients and their caregivers. In the hospital setting, registered nurses provide the most direct contact with patients and their families. Effective communication between patients and health care professionals …

The Lived Experience Of The Novice Nursing Dean: Exploring The Meaning And Significance, Melissa Rae Bouws

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Deans of nursing hold a unique position for the future of the profession. Few others have the potential to bring about change within the academic setting, or hold such a strong influence on the future of nursing and on our students. Current statistics reveal multiple vacancies in nursing dean positions. Further understanding of how nursing deans begin their role, attain their identity as dean, and successfully execute this important position is needed to recruit and retain strong leaders who have the methods and skills to develop and support the advancement of the nursing profession. Understanding the process of becoming nursing …

Testing A Reflection Education Intervention On Baccalaureate Nursing Students' Level Of Reflection During Online Clinical Post Conference, Jaime Alicia Hannans

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Background

The majority of faculty-student interactions are at low cognitive levels during nursing clinical post conference (CPC), a time often utilized for reflective thinking. Strategies have been implemented to promote or even teach reflection, but the level of reflection or impact of the intervention in nursing, such as the relationship to student attributes or clinical reasoning, is often not evaluated.

Specific Aims

The specific aims of this study are to (a) test the effect of a reflection education intervention on the baccalaureate students' level of reflection during online CPC, (b) examine the relationship between student attributes and level of reflection, …

The Meaning Of Visual Thinking Strategies For Nursing Students, Margaret M. Moorman

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Nurse educators are called upon to provide creative, innovative experiences for students in order to prepare nurses to work in complex healthcare settings. As part of this preparation, teaching observational and communication skills is critical for nurses and can directly affect patient outcomes. Visual thinking strategies (VTS) are a teaching method that has been studied in primary education to develop communication and observational skills. VTS holds the possibility to improve these same skills in nursing students, but it has only been studied once with nursing students in a quantitative study. Therefore, this qualitative research study sought to explore how nursing …

Evaluation Of An Educational Intervention On Perceptions Of A Patient Safety Culture Among Staff In Acute Care Nursing Units, Cynthia Ann Parkman

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Patient safety has always been a central focus of nursing practice. Current research makes it increasingly clear that what occurs in the surrounding health care environment impacts patient safety. The protracted nursing shortage and nurse turnover may adversely affect patient outcomes and are exacerbated by an environment of disruptive behavior, conflict, and poor communication in the nursing workplace. The Joint Commission has identified these behaviors as key elements that jeopardize the "culture of safety" necessary to assure safe, quality patient outcomes. A culture of safety includes the attributes of teamwork, communication openness, collaboration, and a manager's positive focus on prevention …

Development And Implementation Of A Quality Improvement Initiative: Systematic Follow-Up Of Patients Who Have Spinal Cord Stimulator Implants, Irina Rajala

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Recent medical advances and the rising prevalence of chronic pain in the US population contribute to the use of spinal cord stimulator (SCS) implant as a treatment modality for chronic pain management. As the numbers of patients receiving SCS implants steadily increases, the challenge of managing this device grows and the need for SCS implants follow-up programs rises. Follow-up programs need to focus on implant longevity and efficacy to improve the quality of care outcomes.

This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) quality improvement initiative was developed to provide systematic follow-up for patient with SCS implant. The project includes the creation …

Firefighter Fitness-For-Duty Medical Screening: A Peer Review Quality Improvement Pilot, Julie Collings Rochefort

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Despite the overwhelming evidence that sudden cardiac death is the most frequent cause of firefighter fatalities, many fire departments do not have a program to measure or maintain basic firefighter fitness and health. This project evaluated and compared medical screening outcomes of four industrial fire brigades within a multinational oil and gas corporation and introduced a quality improvement plan. The goal of this project was to apply the evidence and measure outcomes to determine the most effective way to ensure that firefighters in a corporate setting are healthy. This was accomplished by utilizing established guidelines in developing an educational program …

Comparison Of Study/Article Characteristics And Methodological Quality Of International Nurse Workplace Violence Research Published Before And After The Joint Commission Sentinel Event Alert On Disruptive Behaviors, Terressa Margarette Stowell Love

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Purpose: The majority of new nurses experience workplace violence from other nurses. The purpose of this study was to compare study/research characteristics and methodological quality of international nurse workplace violence research published before and after the 2008 release of the U.S. The Joint Commission (TJC) sentinel event alert on disruptive behaviors.

Methods: Thirty-nine quantitative nurse workplace violence research articles published between 2001 and 2012 were assessed and divided into two groups: articles published (a) before the 2008 TJC sentinel event alert or the same year, i.e., 2001-2008 (BTJC) and (b) after the 2008 TJC sentinel event alert, i.e., 2009-2012 (ATJC). …

School Nurses' Recognition, Attitudes, And Educational Needs Regarding The Care Of Children With School Refusal Behavior, Heather Strasser

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

School refusal behavior can prevent a child from attending school or staying in class for a full day of instruction. School nurses are often one of the first professionals in the school with the opportunity to interact with these children, recognize school refusal behavior and its debilitating impact, and positively intervene to assist these children to stay in school. Few studies have examined school nurse recognition and attitudes regarding school refusal behavior. The purpose of this study was to assess school nurses' recognition of school refusal behavior, their attitudes regarding the nursing care of children with school refusal behavior, and …

Implementing A Bystander Awareness Program On A University Campus, Robert Joseph Vadovic

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Between 17% and 62% of college students experience some form of violence during their time at school. About 25% of female college students experience a sexual assault before graduating. One university had seen an increase in violence, including assaults and bias events. Administrators and nurses implemented a bystander awareness program to help alleviate this growing problem. Members of the college's residence life staff and its Greek organizations (fraternities and sororities) participated in the Step Up program, a prosocial training program to get people to intervene safely when witnessing acts of violence. Participants (N=236) completed surveys prior to the program, immediately …

Evaluating Shared Governance For Nursing Excellence, Evette Michelle Wilson

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The national challenges of nursing shortages, decreased staffing levels, and increased patient acuities have contributed to nurse's increased workload and job dissatisfaction. Nurses have become frustrated with the professional practice environment. The inability to make decisions about issues that affect their nursing practice and the care provided to their patients results in nurses leaving the work environment in search of higher job satisfaction. Employers are becoming more creative in their strategies to improve the work environment and retain nurses within their organizations. Healthcare leaders have implemented management strategies such as shared governance models. These models focus on providing a satisfying …

Predictors Of Resilience And Their Influence On Adaptation After Elective Abortion, Anna Marie Antonio

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The literature has inconsistent findings on the impact of an induced abortion on a woman's physical and psychological well-being. The purposes of this survey research design using correlation and multiple regression analyses were to determine the relationship between protective factors, risk factors, resilience, and outcomes (positive or negative). Additionally, this study investigated whether resilience, protective factors, and risk factors could be predictive of positive or negative outcomes following induced abortion. A convenience sample of 216 women was recruited nationally from hospitals, clinics, and various organizations. Inclusion criteria included women, 18 years of age or older, living in the United States, …

Perceptions Of Hospital Patient Safety Culture In Department Of Veterans Affairs Station 593 Southern Nevada, Kimberly Falco

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Opportunities for error exist, adverse events occur, and challenges endure. However, patients will continue to experience preventable adverse events unless steps are taken. Efforts to improve patient safety are critical to today's healthcare environment. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) believes that the identification of adverse events allows for creation of system improvements to increase patient safety.

Implementing safety culture requires a proper assessment of existing barriers and potential challenges. Patient safety culture assessments start by evaluating the current patient care environment. This assists the organization in identifying barriers to patient safety and in working toward creating a culture of …

A Comparison Of Nursing Service Demand In Title 1 Schools And Non-Title 1 Schools, Karen Ray Stratford

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Children from low-income families are known to struggle academically, but lack of health services may also impact their education. School nurses must identify and manage health problems in the school-age child to improve academic success. Unfortunately, the school nurse-to-student ratio may limit the amount of time nurses can give to the recognition of health problems and appropriate follow-up. The Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 provides Title 1 funding to schools whose enrollment includes at least 40% of low-income families. These federal funds are intended to be used to bridge the achievement gap between low-income students and other students. …

Sickle Cell Disease: A Quality Improvement Initiative For Emergency Department Providers, Pretrescia Marie Walker

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) is an incurable, chronic condition that results in a constellation of disorders, frequent emergency department (ED) visits, and repeated hospital admissions. Those affected often suffer from pain crisis, infection, acute chest syndrome, stroke, and multi-organ impairment and frequently do not receive adequate pain management during acute pain episodes because ED providers view them as drug seeking. The majority of patients with SCD are African-American and may be low income, uninsured, or on Medicaid. As a result, these demographics make ED under-treatment of pain in patients with SCD a health equity issue. This was a pre-experimental one …