Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Effect Of Serum Vitamin D Levels On Cardiovascular Mortality And Cardiovascular Disease Risk, Aaron S. Bennion, Karlen E. Luthy, Donna S. Freeborn, Renea L. Beckstrand

Student Works

Vitamin D deficiency is prevalent across all geographic areas, age groups, and seasons and is increasing in incidence. Vitamin D receptors have been found to be present in almost every body cell and tissue. Clinical research has alluded to a preventive effect of vitamin D supplementation on cardiovascular disorders such as myocardial infarction, hypertension, and dyslipidemia. Furthermore, a low serum vitamin D level has been associated with an increased risk for cardiovascular disease. This paper examines the association between serum vitamin D levels and cardiovascular disease mortality and risk.

Relationship Of Demographic Characteristics And Bmi With Health Literacy In Pacific Islander Care-Giving Adults, Sharla E. Morgan

Theses and Dissertations

Purpose: Health literacy and obesity are major global issues. Vulnerable populations, such as those with low health literacy, have the highest rates of obesity. Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander (NHOPI) nations have the highest prevalence of obesity in the world. This study describes the relationship between health literacy and demographic variables in a sample of NHOPI caregiving adults. Methods: We conducted a correlational study of 364 NHOPI adults. Each was a caregiver of at least one NHOPI child. Data were collected at grocery stores and a preschool in two Hawaiian Islands (n=209) and at NHOPI events in Utah (n=155). …

Assessing The Feasibility And Perceptions Of Health Services For Refugees Of Resettlement Organizations, Heidi Jean Worabo

Dissertations

Background: Since 1975 the U.S. has resettled 2.6 million refugees who had to flee from their home countries. Many refugee resettlement organizations have developed different models of innovation to promote a smooth transition between previous foreign refugee camps to U.S. communities so that refugees swiftly become economically and socially self-sufficient. Providing refugees with health benefits and resources has been foremost priority upon arrival as they try to overcome health care barriers. Yet there is a lack of literature examining the impact of these health services and how they are perceived by the program recipients. Purpose: This scholarly project aimed to …

Evaluating The Effectiveness Of A Workshop/Support Group For Parents Raising Children With Type 1 Diabetes, Christina Marie Yazzie

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a workshop/support group for parents raising children with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). Diagnosis of a chronic disease in a child generally arouses acute anxiety and stress in parents. Parental stress when raising a child with type 1 diabetes is often centered on worry about their child's health and parents' ability to maintain the care activities needed by these children. Parents are the primary caregivers of children with Type 1 diabetes, and the effect of stress on parents can impact the health of both children and parents. The present …

The Relationship Between Select Demographic Characteristics And Body Mass Index Among Native Hawaiian And Other Pacific Islander Caregiving Adults, Katrina Duncan

Theses and Dissertations

Purpose: Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islanders (NHOPIs) have the highest prevalence of overweight and obesity in the world. This study identified the proportion of our NHOPI sample in each body mass index (BMI) category and explored relationships between demographic characteristics and BMI. Design: This descriptive correlational study included 364 NHOPI caregiver adults in Utah (n=155) and Hawaii (n=209). We gathered demographic information with a questionnaire. Height and weight were measured for BMI calculations. Results: According to the CDC's BMI categories, 84.3% of our sample was overweight (BMI=25.0-29.9) or obese (BMI ≥30). Participants in Utah had significantly higher BMIs than …

Nursing Science Research Consulting: A Multidisciplinary Framework, Thomas N. Templin

Nursing Faculty Research Publications

Nursing science research is at the intersection of the social and medical sciences and statistical developments in many different disciplines are relevant. A framework for nursing science statistics which recognizes and builds upon the statistical contributions from biostatistics, quantitative psychology, epidemiology, econometrics, survey research, computer science and statistics is presented. A broad eclectic framework is necessary to take advantage of new developments in statistical and research design methodology addressing specific problems common to a given area. This framework recognizes that awareness of differences in established expectations (conventions, guidelines, regulations, etc.) with regard to statistical methodology across different research areas is …

Exploring Barriers To Organ Donation In The African American Communities Of California, D. R. Law, Susan Mcniesh

Faculty Publications

There are a disproportionate number of African-Americans on transplant waiting lists across the country. The outcomes of a transplant are greatly improved when the donor and the recipient are from the same ethnic group. Sadly, the demand for cadaver organs in the African-American community exceeds the supply. Researchers in the past have sought to identify barriers to organ and tissue donation. To date, the studies have been conducted in the eastern and southern regions of the United States. This study examines whether the previously identified barriers are applicable in the African-American communities of California. A revised version of the Bone …

Feasibility And Compliance With Daily Home Ecg Monitoring Of The Qt Interval In Heart Transplant Recipients, Erik V. Carter, Kathleen T. Hickey, David M. Pickham, Lynn V. Doering, Belinda Chen, Patricia Harris, Barbara J. Drew

Collected Faculty Scholarship

Background: Recent evidence suggests that acute allograft rejection after heart transplantation causes an increased QT interval on electrocardiogram (ECG). The aims of this pilot study were to (1) determine whether heart transplant recipients could achieve compliance in transmitting a 30-second ECG every day for 1 month using a simple ECG device and their home telephone, (2) evaluate the ease of device use and acceptability by transplant recipients, and (3) evaluate the quality of transmitted ECG tracings for QT-interval measurement.

Methods: A convenience sample of adult heart transplant recipients were recruited and trained to use the device (HeartOne, Aerotel Medical Systems, …

School Of Nursing Newsletter July 2012, Southern Adventist University School Of Nursing

Southern Nursing - School of Nursing Newsletter

The July 2012 issue of the newsletter features articles on the acquirement of new manikins, mission service in Haiti, graduate programs, the visit of Japanese nursing students, and a welcome to Callie McArthur as the new Simulation Coordinator.

The Flame, 2011-2012, Mennonite College Of Nursing

The Flame (1985-present)

The Flame is a newsletter of Illinois State University's Mennonite College of Nursing

Resourcefulness Training Intervention: Assessing Critical Parameters From Relocated Older Adults’ Perspectives, Abir K. Bekhet, Jaclene Zauszniewski, Denise M. Matel-Anderson

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

The population of American elders is increasing rapidly and relocation to retirement communities has been found to adversely affect their adjustment. This pilot study of 38 relocated elders evaluated, from elders’ perspectives, six critical parameters of a resourcefulness training (RT) intervention designed to help elders adjust to relocation. Within the context of Zauszniewski's theory of resourcefulness, a pre-/post-test design with random assignment to RT or to diversionary activities (DA) was used. Objective questionnaires measured demographic and relocation factors. An intervention evaluation questionnaire was designed and given to the relocated elders in order to assess the six critical parameters—necessity, acceptability, feasibility, …

Evaluation Of A Coping Kit Of Items To Support Children With Developmental Disorders In The Hospital Setting, Jennifer Drake, Norah L. Johnson, Alice V. Stoneck, Deb M. Martinez, Megan Massey

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

This study attempted to answer the question, "Do nurses perceive coping kits to be effective at meeting the needs of hospitalized children with developmental disabilities who are at increased risk for challenging behaviors?" A cross-sectional post-test survey study design was used, with a convenience sample of 24 registered nurses at a Midwestern free-standing children's hospital. A coping kit with simple communication cards, social script book, and distraction items (toys) was developed to enhance communication and distract children with developmental disabilities (including autism spectrum disorder) undergoing procedures in the hospital. A modified version of Hudson's (2006) intervention effectiveness survey was used …

Transformative Learning Through Study Abroad In Low-Income Countries, Cynthia Foronda, Ruth Ann Belknap

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

Study abroad in low-income countries is an emerging trend in nursing education, yet student outcomes vary from positive to negative. Study abroad in low-income countries can be transformative because it has the potential to increase student awareness of socioeconomic relations, structural oppression, and human connectedness. The authors discuss 10 strategies to facilitate transformative learning in students who study abroad.

The Socialization Of Bullying Through Community College Nursing Education: A Multiple Case Study, Margaret M. O'Conner Machon

Educational Leadership & Workforce Development Theses & Dissertations

Many recent studies propose that bullying in the workplace is prevalent and is a phenomenon which occurs in the nursing workplace as well as in nursing education. This qualitative study examined the effects of vertical bullying upon community college nursing students and graduates, and the effect of this behavior upon the socialization of those learning the nursing profession. The study is based on a theoretical framework based on the findings of Salin (2003) and Twale and De Luca (2008) adapting their theory of bullying in academia which incorporated enabling, motivating and precipitating factors leading to intensified bullying. The study investigated …

Emergency Nurses' Suggestions For Improving End-Of-Life Care Obstacles, Renea L. Beckstrand, R. Daniel Wood, Lynn C. Callister, Karlen E. (Beth) Luthy, Sondra Heaston

Faculty Publications

Introduction: More than 123 million ED visits are reported annually. Many patients who arrive for care to help extend their lives instead die while in the emergency department. Emergency departments were designed to save lives rather than to provide optimal end-of-life (EOL) care. Emergency nurses care for these dying patients and their families. The purpose of this study was to determine what suggestions emergency nurses have for improving EOL care.

Methods: Emergency nurses were asked which aspects of EOL care they would like to see changed to improve how patients die in emergency departments. Of the 1000 nurses surveyed, 230 …

How Nursing Impacts Nursing: Using Metaphor To Understand The Perinatal Nurse's Role, Kathleen Guinee Holman

Theses and Graduate Projects

In the United States, nearly all women choose to give birth in a hospital and a large majority of women intend to nourish their baby with breast milk. In the hospital setting, the perinatal nurse is vital in supporting, educating, and caring for new mothers as they learn to breastfeed their baby. Yet, everyday women give up on their goal to initiate or continue breastfeeding, often citing variables relating to inpatient nursing care as the reason. An exploration into current research and literature uncovers how the nurse's role impacts a new mother's breastfeeding experience and ability to achieve her goal …

Development Of An Educational Module For Novice Ed Charge Nurses, Tobi R. Sanetra

Theses and Graduate Projects

The role of the charge nurse is an integral leadership role that requires a nurse who can make critical decisions quickly and manage the chaotic emergency department (ED) while under the stress of caring for critically ill and injured patients and their families. Historically in many facilities, novice ED charge nurses are given a few orientation shifts with an experienced charge nurse before being expected to function independently in this role, but many ED charge nurses do not feel this orientation process prepares them for their new responsibilities. The purpose of this project is to develop an educational module which …

Food Security In The Pine Ridge Indian Reservation: A Nursing Educational Module, Beth E. Grund

Theses and Graduate Projects

Assurance of food security has been a continuing goal of world nations for more than 60 years. The educational module that is the focus of this project is designed to increase the awareness of baccalaureate and post-graduate nurses about the health disparity of low food security as a social justice issue. International policy to detail the development of the concept of food security as a human right is examined and then contrasted with current national policy. Additional topics discussed are connections between low food security on health as well as a deficit in nurse knowledge. The educational module focuses on …

Growing Our Own: A Proposal For The Development Of A Nurse Mentoring Program, Dawn M. Zeches

Theses and Graduate Projects

The process of mentoring is not a new concept in the world of business or in the world of health care. Mentoring has been implemented in many organizations and disciplines throughout the world and has been shown to yield many benefits including employee satisfaction, personal and professional growth, and organizational loyalty. This paper proposes a process to develop a nurse mentoring program for the Department of Nursing at Mayo Clinic. Highlights of the benefits that can be realized with the implementation of a nurse mentoring program, supporting literature and research, and challenges and barriers encountered when developing this proposal will …

The Product Issues Tracking System: An Educational Module For Staff Nurses, Jane Torzewski

Theses and Graduate Projects

An event reporting system that is intended for the documentation and reporting of near-miss events involving defective medical devices is an important component of a healthcare facilities' safety culture and enables the staff to exercise a stewardship role focused on reducing healthcare costs. The Mayo Clinic in Rochester Minnesota does have an internal near-miss documentation system in place to report near-miss events that arise from the discovery and removal of a medical device that is defective before potential harm can occur. This documentation and reporting is termed The Product Issue Tracking System (PITS). Education for staff nurses, which instructs on …

Meaningful Pattern Recognition And Leadership, Quinn Bissonette

Theses and Graduate Projects

Leadership is more impactful and inspiring when leaders authentically engage individuals. Insights from research support leadership authenticity, transformational leadership, and the importance of meaningful recognition. Nursing theory and caring science value the worth of recognition. A conceptual model combining nursing theory with leadership theory creates a stimulating practice model to generate successful transformational leadership and promote self actualization. The use of Newman's (2008) nursing theory of health as an expanding consciousness, in this conceptual model, validates the role of nursing in leadership and the unique contributions it can afford to leadership application.

Coaching For Nursing Success For The First Year Generation Y Nurse, Lindsey Worden

Theses and Graduate Projects

The nursing profession has experienced recent challenges that involve an increase in high acuity patients and expected practice requirements, which can lead to high stress and increased demands on hospital nurses. Learning how to juggle these challenges to provide the highest quality of nursing care takes practice and guidance. The purpose of this project is to design a coaching program and metaphor to provide support and enhance the practice of first year nurses belonging to Generation Y. Utilization of a coach would occur during the first year of practice on an inpatient medical unit. Key concepts of Margaret Newman's Theory …

Lateral Violence: An Education Module, Amos M. Schonrock

Theses and Graduate Projects

Nursing is a very diverse, fast-paced, and demanding profession. The aspects of perioperative nursing are further influenced by the multidisciplined professions that take part in the team-focused approach to patient care. One facet that grossly affects the team approach to patient care in the perioperative setting is lateral violence. The focus of this project is to develop an education module to address lateral violence in the perioperative setting, Travelbee's human-to-human relationship theory provides the framework for this project. Additional topics examined are basic concepts of lateral violence and the ramifications on the patient and nursing professionals. Information revealed in the …

Curriculum-Integrated Information Literacy (Ciil) In A Nursing School: A Practical Model, Carlos Arguelles

Publications and Research

No abstract provided.

Patient Care Provider Safety: Examining One Intervention To Reduce Hospital Violence, Paul Leslie Ford

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Abstract

In the summer of 2009, Tampa General care providers met with Hospital Administration to express concern that violence on care units was a growing problem and making it difficult to provide quality care. Nurses stated that such violence was one important reason many of their peers choose to retire. Administration took this situation seriously and formed a committee to gather information and submit suggestions to reduce the violence. The committee consisted of representatives from several nursing units, human resources, risk management, security, and administration. Duties assigned included investigation of the actual number of reports on all units and trends. …

Emergency Department Nurses' Suggestions For Improving End-Of-Life Care, Robert D. Wood

Theses and Dissertations

Introduction: Death is not an uncommon outcome for patients who seek immediate care in an emergency department. Although death is common in the emergency department there is little literature regarding end-of-life care in the emergency department. The purpose of this research study is to determine what changes emergency nurses would suggest to improve end-of-life care for dying patients and their families in emergency departments.

Background: A national, geographically dispersed, random sample of 1000 emergency nurses were sent a questionnaire entitled, "Emergency Nurses' Perceptions of End-of-Life Care." Inclusion criteria included nurses who were members of the Emergency Nurses Association, could read …

The Last Frontier: Rural Emergency Nurses’ Perceptions Of End-Of-Life Care Obstacles, Renea L. Beckstrand, Virginia C. Giles, Karlen E. (Beth) Luthy, Lynn C. Callister, Sondra Heaston

Faculty Publications

Introduction: Caring for dying patients is part of working in a rural emergency department. Rural emergency nurses are prepared to provide life-saving treatments but find there are barriers or obstacles to providing end-of-life (EOL) care. This study was completed to discover the size, frequency, and magnitude of obstacles in providing EOL care in rural emergency departments as perceived by rural emergency nurses.

Methods: A 57-item questionnaire was sent to 52 rural hospitals in Idaho, Wyoming, Utah, Nevada, and Alaska. Respondents were asked to rate items on size and frequency of perceived obstacles to providing EOL care in rural emergency departments. …

Exploring The Contribution Of General Self-Efficacy To The Use Of Self-Care Symptom Management Strategies By People Living With Hiv Infection, Inge B. Corless, Dean Wantland, Kenn M. Kirksey, Patrice K. Nicholas, Sarie Human, John Arudo, Maria Rosa, Yvette Cuca, Sue Willard, Mary Jane Hamilton, Carmen Portillo, Elizabeth Sefcik, Linda Robinson, Cathy Bain, Shanaz Moezzi, Mary Maryland, Emily Huang, William L. Holzemer

School of Nursing & Midwifery, East Africa

General self-efficacy (GSE), the expectation that one is able to perform a behavior successfully, may differentiate those who are able to successfully utilize self-care symptom management strategies (SCSMS). This subanalysis (n = 569) of an international 12 site longitudinal randomized controlled trial (RCT) (n = 775), investigated GSE as an important factor determining symptom burden, SCSMS, engagement with the provider, and medication adherence over time, and identified differences in those with high and low GSE ratings concerning these variables. Parametric and nonparametric repeated-measures tests were employed to assess GSE and the perceived effectiveness of SCSMS for anxiety, depression, diarrhea, fatigue, …

Postpartum Depression In Immigrant Hispanic Women: A Comparative Community Sample, Laura Mae Shellman

Theses and Dissertations

Purpose: This study was initiated to verify whether a remarkably high rate of postpartum depression (PPD), previously found in immigrant Hispanic women receiving health care at a community clinic, would also be found in a community sample with a similar demographic.

Data Sources: Sixty immigrant Hispanic women who had recently given birth were recruited from local community settings. The Beck Postpartum Depression Screening Scale-Spanish version (PPDS-S) and the General Acculturation Index (GAI) were used to screen for PPD symptoms and to collect demographic data. These data were then compared with previously published data from the community clinic sample.

Conclusions: Sixty …

Chhs June 2012 E-Newsletter, Dr. John Bonaguro, Dean, Vashon S. Wells, Editor, Wku College Of Health & Human Services

College of Health & Human Services Publications

No abstract provided.