Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Soothability And Growth In Preterm Neonates, Holly Johanna Diesel

Dissertations

This proposal seeks to understand the relationship between soothability, weight gain and length of hospital stay in premature infants when the infants receive a simple, non-invasive treatment to help them cope with the noxious environment of the special care nursery. Thousands of premature infants are born every year in the United States, and the numbers are increasing. Prematurity is the leading cause of mortality in infants. Despite numerous technological and medical advances in treatment and care, premature infants still have difficulty adapting to life outside the uterus as a result of immature nervous systems and significant differences in the pre …

Rx For Change: Nurses' Response To A Smoking Cessation Intervention, Laura Louise Bisch Ochoa

Dissertations

Problem: An evaluation of a smoking cessation educational intervention for direct care RNs. Design: A randomized controlled trial. Methods: The study was conducted at a large Midwestern academic medical center. Direct care Registered nurses (dcRN’s) employed at least .7 FTE and spending 80% of their time in direct patient care on general medicine or general surgery units were recruited. Recruitment occurred between April and May, 2009. Outcome data was abstracted from charts of patients receiving care from the intervention group. Interventions: Participants were randomized to either ‘Rx for Change’ which was a training program regarding tobacco cessation or to a …

Effect Of The Interactive Computerized Information For Surrogates Icu Program In Increasing The Understanding Of Informed Consent And The Knowledge Of Genetic And Genomics Research, Ann Kathleen Shelton

Dissertations

Background: A significant and growing number of clinical research studies conducted in Intensive Care Units (ICUs) today have some genetic and genomics component. Surrogates approached to authorize participation in clinical research for a loved-one in the ICU may not be prepared to make informed decisions. A model of stewardship of genetic and genomics research was used as a framework for this study. Purpose: The purpose of this investigation was to examine the effect of an educational program, the Interactive Computerized Information for Surrogates (ICIS) ICU Education Program in assisting surrogates to (1) increase their understanding of the process of informed …

Can We Get Nurses To Stay? A Qualitative Study To Evaluate The Effectiveness Of A Formal Mentoring Program In An Acute Care Health System, Eileen M. Willits

Dissertations

This qualitative phenomenological case study was designed to investigate the affect that a formal mentoring program had on job satisfaction including a nurse's intent to stay with their current employer and their intent to stay in the nursing profession. The research was intended to determine whether mentoring programs could be used to help avoid the affect of the upcoming predicted nursing shortage in the acute care hospital.

The findings were based on the results of a sample of twelve nurses who had voluntarily signed up to take part in a formal mentoring program sponsored by the staff development department of …

Is Parenting Style Related To Overweight In Mexican Or Mexican-American Preschoolers?, Darlene Mcpherson-Ventura Phd

Dissertations

The prevalence of childhood overweight (OW) continues to rise and children from low-income, Mexican or Mexican-American families are disproportionately affected. The preschool years have been identified as a critical period for excessive weight gain and during this time children respond to parental cues as they form their early eating habits. Certain parenting styles have been associated with improved health outcomes in children. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship of parenting styles and feeding practices to the Mexican or Mexican-American preschool child's risk of overweight. Interdependence Theory was used to inform this study to understand the interaction …

A Pilot Study Of Organizational Performance, Performance Barriers And Faculty Engagement In The Nursing Education Unit, Yolanda Chapman Turner

Dissertations

This pilot study was driven by the problem of market disequilibrium and the subsequent overarching desire to identify and describe principles and processes taken by nursing education units to optimize market equilibrium for nursing service in response to cyclical market demands. Given the complexities of market responsiveness in conjunction with changes in healthcare delivery, health economics, population demographics, higher education and other contextual factors, it is essential for nursing education as a whole to be in a position to respond to demand. The purpose of this study was to investigate organizational performance, performance barriers and faculty engagement in the nursing …

Contextual Factors Influencing The Acute Care Registered Nurse's Response To Clinical Alarms, Kathleen Mary Stacy Phd

Dissertations

Nurses are faced with a multitude of clinical alarms on a daily basis. There is an inherent expectation that upon hearing an alarm the nurse will immediately respond to assess the situation and initiate appropriate action to correct the problem. Yet this does not always occur. Issues with alarm responsiveness can pose a serious threat to patient safety. The purpose of this qualitative study was to develop a broader understanding of the contextual factors that influenced the acute care nurse's response to clinical alarms. This study used an interpretive phenomenological methodology to study the lived experiences of the nurses who …

Nursing Faculty Experiences And Perceptions Of The Implementation Process To A Learner-Centered Teaching Philosophy: A Case Study, Sharon L. Colley

Dissertations

This study explores nursing faculty's experiences with and perceptions of, their school of nursing's change to a learner-centered teaching philosophy. The primary research goals are to determine faculty perceptions of what learner-centered approaches they are utilizing in their classes, what change conditions they perceive as significant to the implementation process, and how they perceive the overall faculty progress and unity toward the goal of adopting a learner-centered teaching philosophy. Using the theoretical frameworks of Carl Rogers and Donald Ely, a case study approach is used to examine the faculties' use of five key concepts associated with the learner-centered philosophy, as …

Psychometric Testing Of The Information-Motivation-Behavioral Skills Model Of Behavior Change Questionnaire In Mexican-Americans With Diabetes Type 2, Beverley Brownell Phd

Dissertations

Background: The most successful diabetes self-management (DSM) programs focus on changing previously established behavior patterns. To develop focused and culturally appropriate self-management programs, health care providers need valid and reliable assessment tools. Purpose: To test the reliability and content and construct validity of an instrument developed to assess diabetes knowledge, motivation, and adherence to medical regimes. The Information-Motivation-Behavioral (IMB) Skills Diabetes scale was tested with 83 Mexican-American adults with type 2 diabetes from a community in Orange County, CA. Methodology: A cross-sectional correlational study design was conducted with 64 female and 19 male Mexican-American adults diagnosed diabetes type 2 patients. …

The Relationship Of Level Of Traumatic Exposure, Perceived Stress, And Resilience With Salivary Cortisol And Salivary Alpha-Amylase Diurnal Rhythm In Palestinian Children 10-12 Years Exposed To Chronic War Violence, Mohammad R. Asia Phd, Rn

Dissertations

Political violence, war, and genocide exist across the world and often the innocent children and civilians become victims. War and long-term violence have potentially harmful psychological and physiological effects on children. There are limited studies on the effect of prolonged armed conflict on the child's physiologic and psychologic stress responses. The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationships between level of trauma, stress and resilience with salivary cortisol and salivary alpha-amylase (sAA) diurnal patterns in Palestinian children, ages 10-12, living in a long standing war zone. Salivary cortisol, a surrogate marker of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA) activity, and salivary …

Adult Student Satisfaction In An Accelerated Lpn-Rn Nursing Program, Kathy French Batton

Dissertations

This study was designed to examine the importance and degree of satisfaction placed by adult, nontraditional, accelerated LPN-RN students on student service item scales as measured by the results of the Noel-Levitz® Adult Student Priorities Survey™. In addition, the study examined the correlation between satisfaction with each of the scales and student success as measured by current nursing course grade point average (GPA). The student service scales of importance were: academic advising effectiveness, academic services, admissions and financial aid effectiveness, campus climate, instructional effectiveness, registration effectiveness, safety and security, and service excellence. The conceptual framework for the study was derived …

Exercise Motivation For Breast Cancer Risk Reduction, Maureen Elaine Wood

Dissertations

According to The International Agency for Cancer Research (IARC), 25% of worldwide breast cancer cases are due to having a sedentary lifestyle and being overweight or obese (2002). Unfortunately, less than 50% of women participate in physical activity as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the American College of Sports Medicine and more than 25% do not participate in any physical activity at all (CDC, 2005). Perceptions of increased personal risk and self-efficacy have been shown to promote exercise participation, and as such, are key elements of protection motivation theory, used as the theoretical framework to guide …

Gender Differences In Depression And Immune Response In Colorectal Cancer, Barbara Anne Rose Phd, Msn, Rn

Dissertations

The focus of this descriptive comparative study was to examine the relationship between gender and depression and immune system function in patients with colorectal cancer. The research questions were answered through secondary analysis, using data obtained from the answers of 117 men and women (71 men and 46 women) enrolled in a colorectal cancer study conducted between 1990 and 1991 in Pennsylvania. Descriptive statistics were used to characterize the sample, and general estimating equations were used to analyze depression and immune system function between men and women. Depression was measured by the Beck Depression Inventory, and immune system function was …

Development And Psychometric Evaluation Of The Provider Response To Emergency Pandemic (Prep) Tool, Linda Suzzanne Good Phd

Dissertations

Background: History and science would suggest that a worldwide influenza pandemic is near and its implications are on the minds of healthcare workers (HCWs). Previous studies revealed that HCW have loss-related fears and concerns associated with working during a disaster, especially one with a biologic component. Most healthcare organizations have well-crafted disaster plans in place; however, these plans often rely on the assumption that HCWs will report to work as usual, which may not be the case. Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine if HCWs' fears and concerns are a predictor of their willingness to report to …

Stories, Ethics And The Interpretation Of Meaning: Bearing Witness To Mothers' Stories Of Their Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Experience, Angela Chisum Blackburn

Dissertations

This study grounded in narrative perspectives was conducted to uncover mothers' experience of having a baby in the Neonatal intensive Care Unit (NICU). The purpose of this study was to describe and interpret mothers NICU experiences, and to sensitize health care professionals about the importance of mothers' personal experience stories.

The NICU experience began with mothers' birth experience or the incident that led up to her infant requiring care in the NICU and her experience extended beyond the NICU with future concerns about the health and wellbeing of her baby.

Stories of mothers' experience were gleaned from data generated from …

Factors Influencing Nurse Faculty's Job Satisfaction And Intent To Stay, Sally Pulver Ruel

Dissertations

This study of nurse faculty examined the relationship of role conflict, role ambiguity, and work role balance, and their influence on job satisfaction and intent to stay in AACN nursing schools offering baccalaureate and higher degree programs within the United States. In light of the current nursing and nursing faculty shortage, this research was undertaken in an attempt to identify statistically significant predictors of job satisfaction and intent to stay in nursing education.

An online survey was conducted over seven weeks during the fall of 2008 and early spring 2009. A stratified random sample of each of the four regions …

An Examination Of Alcohol Use In The Gastric Bypass Patient, Kathleen Winston Phd, Msn, Rn

Dissertations

Introduction: Obesity and morbid obesity, along with their co-morbidities, are impacting the national and international healthcare delivery systems and policy agendas. Bariatric surgery is a dynamic and fast-changing medical and surgical practice designed to mitigate the consequences of 60 million obese adults in the United States alone. Alcohol consumption after gastric bypass surgery presents potential physiological and psychological problems. Purpose: Examine the prevalence and incidence of increased alcohol consumption among a group of post-gastric bypass patients; identify the relationship of the alcohol use with time since surgery, psychosocial issues (depressive symptomatology, anxiety, coping) and demographic variables. Theoretical Framework: Coping serves …

Wellness Characteristics And Health Risk Behaviors Of Young Adult University Students, Nicole Mareno Phd

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine wellness and health risk behaviors of young adults at a university in the southwest. Nutrition, physical activity, alcohol use, and safe sexual practices are high priority health concerns on college campuses. Health promotion is integral to nursing. Early identification of risky health behaviors allows for the design of campus health interventions. Health behaviors continue to be formed during college and interventions may have a lasting impact on health promotion and disease prevention. This study added to the research on demographic factors impacting wellness. A correlation between BMI and wellness level was also …