Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Feeling Alone While With Others, Carol Ann Leverich Gouty

Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Considering Tomorrow: Parse's Theory-Guided Research, Sandra Schmidt Bunkers

Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Caring Behaviors In The Emergency Department: Perceptions Of Patients And Nurses, Marcia Moerman

Masters Theses

Caring is recognized as an essential element in the definition of nursing. The purpose of this research study was to identify and compare the perceptions of caring behaviors held by patients in the emergency department with Registered Nurses who practiced in the same department.; Two questionnaires were used to obtain data. The first was an instrument listing 30 caring behaviors. The responses were listed by mean for the patient group and the nurse group. The Mann-Whitney U test was used to test the magnitude of the difference between the two groups. The second was a demographic questionnaire describing characteristics of …

Contributing Factors In Medication Nonadherence In Schizophrenic Clients: A Descriptive Study, Sharron E. Howarth

Masters Theses

Medication nonadherence in schizophrenic clients is a major issue for psychiatric nurses. The purpose of this descriptive study was to explore factors identified by the schizophrenic client and the client's primary nurse that contribute to medication nonadherence. The Health Belief Model and Peplau's Model were the theoretical frameworks used. The sample included 20 schizophrenic clients with a history of medication nonadherence and 20 primary psychiatric registered nurses.; Face-to-face interviews using the Compliance Interview Questionnaire were conducted with the psychiatric client and the primary nurse. Results indicated a difference between nurses' and clients' perceptions of the reasons for medication nonadherence. Most …

Validation Of The Neonatal Infant Pain Scale, Annette L. Backus

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to validate the Neonatal Infant Pain Scale (NIPS). This was accomplished by determining inter-rater reliability, the ability to measure pain in infants of any gestational age, and the relationship between the NIPS behavioral scores and physiological parameters of heart rate, respiratory rate and oxygen saturation.; Inter-rater reliability on total scores obtained before, during and after the procedure yielded correlations ranging from 0.69 to 0.90, which were significant at p {dollar}<{dollar}.001. All groups showed significant increases in NIPS scores after a painful procedure was started. Total mean scores before, during and after a procedure were 0.44, 3.04 and 0.6 respectively. There were no significant correlations between NIPS scores and heart rate, respiratory rate or oxygen saturation.; The NIPS appears to be a reliable tool for evaluating pain in neonates of any gestational age. Physiological measures were not reliable indicators of pain in neonates.

Perceived Barriers And Perceived Motivators To Receiving Prenatal Care, Christine M. Davis

Masters Theses

The Health Belief Model served as the conceptual framework for this retrospective descriptive study that identified women's perceived barriers and perceived motivators to obtaining prenatal care. A 50 item questionnaire, including both forced-choice and open-ended questions, was administered to 29 women who had delivered a healthy infant within the previous 6 to 8 weeks. The sample was predominantly white (82.2%), {dollar}>{dollar}19 years of age (62.1%), single (62.1%), unemployed (51.7%), and receiving Medicaid insurance (69%). Univariate statistics were calculated for each item. Each item was then compared to the timing of the start of prenatal care. The most important motivators …

Intuition And The Decision Making Process Of Expert Critical Care Nurses, Kelley A. Hempsall

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to examine the role of intuition and the decision making process of expert critical care nurses in providing health care for hospitalized patients. A descriptive correlational design was employed using a non-probability convenience sample of 172 registered nurses working in critical care areas. Data were obtained by a questionnaire developed by the researcher. Ninety five nurses (55.2%) responded. Data analysis included a comparison of the relationship of expert nurses' (n = 49) total scores and the total scores of the non-expert nurses (n = 46). No statistically significant difference was found in either the …

Social Support And Adaptation To Disability, Deborah J. Russell

Masters Theses

Based on Roy's Model of Adaptation, this study examined the relationship between social support and functional independence following hip fracture. A descriptive correlational design was used with a convenience sample of 29 women age 65 and older. The Personal Resource Questionnaire was used to measure social support and the Functional Independence Measure was used to measure locomotion as an aspect of physical function.; Data indicated that women who had higher levels of functional independence one week following hip fracture had higher levels of social support. However, this difference was not statistically significant. The hypothesized relationship between social support and functional …

Knowledge, Sources Used And Factors Considered In The Surgical Treatment Decisions Of Women With Breast Cancer, Debra J. Bisel

Masters Theses

The purpose of this replication study was to examine how women with breast cancer reached their decision for surgical treatment (Ward, Heidrich and Wolberg 1989). Twenty-one women who met the surgical criteria, i.e. option for Breast Conserving surgery or Modified Radical Mastectomy, completed four surveys 1 to 7 days post operatively. The women were divided into two groups, 13 who had Breast Conserving surgery and 8 who had Modified Radical Mastectomy. The surveys assessed demographic characteristics of the groups, the level of knowledge regarding breast cancer, factors considered important in reaching the decision for surgery and the sources of information …

The Effect Of A Change In Patient Care Delivery On Nurse Satisfaction And Cost Of Care, Kathleen M. Allen

Masters Theses

This quasi-experimental study was designed to compare the satisfaction of nurses assigned to a medical-surgical unit on which care delivery was changed to a Dyad model (combining elements of team nursing and case management) to nurses on similar units utilizing total patient care delivery. A convenience sample o f nurses from the Dyad model unit was compared to a control group comprised of nurses from three similar medicalsurgical units. Nurse satisfaction was measured using an instrument developed by Wade and Degerhammar (1991). Cost per case and length of stay on selected diagnoses, and labor cost per patient were compared across …

Role Clarification And The Myocardial Infarction Patient's Primary Support Person, Susan L. Dunn

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of role clarification in reducing anxiety of the myocardial infarction patient's primary support person (PSP). A quasi-experimental design was utilized. A nonprobability convenience sampling method produced a sample of 31 experimental and 38 comparison subjects. During the patient's hospitalization a pretest was given and the experimental group attended a role clarification session. Posttesting was done three weeks later. Both groups had higher trait and state anxiety levels than the norm at pretest and posttest. It was hypothesized that the experimental group would have lower posttest state anxiety levels. This was …

Crisis Anticipation, Janet A. Tucker

Masters Theses

This study builds on two qualitative studies, one by Smith (1988) and one by Rew (1988a) which investigate the characteristics of crisis anticipation as defined by critical care nurses. A convenience sample of critical care nurses from three Midwestern hospitals was shown a random ordered list of thirty characteristics of crisis anticipation identified in the Smith (1988) and Rew (1988a) studies. The nurses scored each characteristic on importance to the concept of crisis anticipation. Nurses were divided into two groups by experience level, and group scores for each characteristic were developed using the Fehring (1986) technique. Group scores were compared …

The Relationship Between Social Skills And Social Support Among Caregivers Of Older Adults With Dementia, Sheila Johnson Carter

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

The Lived Experiences Of People Living With Hiv Infection, Nongluck Suwisith

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

This phenomenological study was undertaken to describe the meaning of living with HIV infection. Descriptive phenomenology was utilised to investigate the lived experiences of persons who had human immunodeficiency virus infection (HIV/ AIDS), describe common elements, themes or patterns of lived experiences of persons with HIV / AIDS, and analyse the meaning of lived experiences of persons with HIV/ AIDS. Twelve Australians, experiencing HIV infection and participating in the community support groups in Perth, volunteered as participants. Two participated in the pilot study. The other ten participants were interviewed individually for the main study. Intensive open-end questions pertaining to the …

A Reflective Analysis Of Burn Wound Care: The Australian Burns Nurse' Perspective, Jaynie E. Sands

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

The purpose of this historiographical nursing study was to explore Australian Burn Wound Care from a nursing perspective, at two periods of time. It was the intention of the author to explore practices at the inception of specialised burns units, from the 1950's, presenting an historical perspective, and at the present time, May 1995. Eleven burns units across Australia participated in the study. There were 22 participants in the research sample. Each burns unit identified the first Charge Nurse (n =11) and the current Clinical Nurse Specialist (n =11), to be involved in the data collection process. The conceptual framework …

A Phenomenological Study Of The Homebirth Experience : The Couples Perspective, Susanjane Morison

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

The purpose of this qualitative study was to describe the experience of parents who have had a homebirth in the past two years in Perth. Studies conducted to date have predominantly used quantitative research methods, investigating the safety of homebirth and comparing home to hospital birth without exploring a couples experiences. A phenomenological approach was used as it seeks to understand human experience in context. The research design consisted of a field study, in which ten parent couples were interviewed and three homebirth videos observed. Data analysis was conducted according to the procedure outlined by Colaizzi (cited in Knaack, 1984, …

Codependent Concerns Among Nurses, Virgina S. Besomo

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Codependency is a complex dysfunctional behaviour pattern characterised by a dependence upon external reference points for ways of being. An abundance of nursing literature claims that codependency is (a) a problem among nurses, (b) related to the demands of the profession, and that (c) codependent nurses eventually suffer disillusionment and burnout. The purpose of this descriptive study was to examine the severity of codependent concerns among Western Australian registered nurses in order to direct a response to these claims. A random sample of 1000 West Australian registered nurses were mailed surveys with an option for them to respond anonymously by …

Management Skills Of Middle-Level Nurse Managers In Malawi, Maureen L. Chirwa

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Much has been written about the problems facing nurse managers in different countries including Malawi, yet the literature is sparse in relation to information about their perception of required management skills. There is enough evidence that nurse managers face many problems. These problems stem from different sources including organizational, economic, social or political changes. All changes within and outside the health care system affect nursing and its management. Nurse managers require relevant management skills to make valuable decisions and promote quality care, and enable them to motivate staff. Further, management skills will enable nurse managers to actively participate in policy …

The Development Of Community Mental Health Nursing Services In Western Australia : A History (1950-1995) And Population Profile, Phillip M. Maude

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

This descriptive• study discusses the development of community mental health (CMH) in Western Australia (WA) and describes the current practising population of CMH nurses. The study explores literature pertaining to the emergence of the CMH movement and the deinstitutionalisation of the mentally ill. A conceptual framework was developed by adapting Lewin's change theory. CMH nurses practising in WA (n= 130), were invited to participate in the study and were asked to complete a survey questionnaire. This resulted in a 66% response rate (n = 86). Quantitative data was analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). Open ended …

Factors That Influence Low Utilisation Of Natural Family Planning Methods Among Child Bearing Women (Aged 15-49 Years) In Mongu Urban District Zambia, Cecilia S. Lubinda

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

The purpose of this study was to explore and analyse factors that influence the low utilisation of natural family planning methods. A theoretical framework adapted from Betty Neuman's Systems Model was used to guide the study. Using Betty Neuman's Systems Model the person or client's behaviour influenced by the continuous interaction with the environment. The factors investigated were the women's personal characteristics, age, occupation, marital status and education, cultural influences which included the relationship between the husband and wife and the religious belief of the women. The last factor investigated was the influence of the info1111ation practices and family planning …

Rn And Lpn Perceptions Of Front-Line Delegation, Martha E. Colwell

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Healthcare organizations face increasing demands to provide the most efficient and economical care possible. Emerging patient care delivery systems require that front-line RNs take on a broader scope of responsibility for patient care, particularly in the area of delegation. Research identifies that staff RNs experience much difficulty in delegating patient care (Conger, 1993; Hansten & Washburn, 1994). The purpose of this study was to explore RN and LPN perceptions of front-line delegation in their working relationships. In particular, the study sought to: (a) determine how changing roles of RNs and LPNs influenced front-line delegation; (b) answer how RNs viewed front-line …

Expertise In Clinical Nursing Educators: An Exploratory Study, Nancy Ann Kramer

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

A primary goal of professional education is to prepare practitioners who can provide quality care essential to the well-being of individuals and society. An essential component of professional education is a practiced-based experience. The purpose of this study was to identify and describe the qualities of clinical nursing educators who were recognized by peers as being expert clinical practitioners. This study was exploratory and non-experimental. A qualitative approach was used. Through observations and interviews, beginning descriptions and explication of dimensions of expertise of clinical nursing educators were achieved.

The population for this study was selected from nursing faculty of 10 …

Vocational Nurse Student Predictors Of Success, Mary A. Moore

Master's Theses

Digitized thesis

Ua66/14/3 Nursing Pinning Ceremony, Wku Nursing

WKU Administration Documents

Pinning ceremony program listing graduates of the WKU Nursing program.

The Effectiveness Of A Preoperative Patient Education Handbook In Decreasing Anxiety Of Veterans Undergoing Elective Surgery, Garletta White Steen

Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this experimental, pretest/posttest study was to examine the effectiveness of a preoperative patient education handbook developed by postanesthesia care unit (PACU) nurses in decreasing state anxiety of veterans undergoing minor elective surgery. State anxiety was measured by the State Anxiety Scale of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, developed by Spielberger, Gorsuch, Luschene, Vagg, and Jacobs (1983). The population for the study was composed of veterans undergoing elective surgery in a hospital which is part of the South Texas Veterans Healthcare System. The sample consisted of 38 patients admitted to the hospital for a variety of minor elective surgeries. …

Menno-Knight, December 1995, Mennonite College Of Nursing

Menno-Knight

Student newsletter of the Mennonite School/College of Nursing.

Loss Associated With Chronic Illness: Application Of The Roy Adaptation Model, Linda M. Dehaan

Masters Theses

The Roy Adaptation Model guided this pretest-posttest quasi-experimental study to test an intervention addressing loss associated with chronic illness. Differences in adaptation and well-being were evaluated between control (n = 20) and experimental groups (n = 20) 30 days after intervention. Adaptation was measured by PAIS-SR scores and analyzed using ANCOVA to adjust for pretest differences. T-test and Mann-Whitney U was used to evaluate well-being as measured by the Global Well-being Scale. Changes in adaptation were not significantly different between groups, but well-being improved 12.8% in the experimental group as compared with 1.4% in the control group. Inconsistency of results …

Stress And Stress Management: A Photonovel, M. Susan Jones, The Kentucky Partnership For Farm Family Health & Safety, Kay Carr, Deborah Williams

Nursing Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Physician And Nurses' Knowledge And Use Of Natural Family Planning, Richard J. Fehring

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

Perinatal health professionals are in key positions to either promote or dissuade the use of Natural Family Planning (NFP). The purpose of this article is to describe a survey conducted with perinatal physicians and nurses on their knowledge and professional use of NFP. Four hundred and fifty physicians and nurses (150 MDs and 300 RNs) were sent a questionnaire on the use of and knowledge of NFP. One hundred sixty-six (or 37%) returned the completed questionnaires. Fifty-two percent of the nurses who returned the questionnaires and 48% of the physicians indicated they were taught about NFP in basic (generic) medical …

Nurses Alumni Association Bulletin, Fall 1995, Alice C. Boehret, Eleanor Kowaleski Larson, Nancy Powell, Dorothy R. Long, Pamela G. Watson, Betty Piersol, Margaret Summers, Sara Entriken, Jane Ryan Dietrich, Paula J. Levine, Lorraine Mccall, Doris E. Bowman, Linda Meachum Scheetz, Mary Kulys, Ethel Gillette

Nursing Alumni Bulletins

1995-1996 Meeting Dates Calendar

1996 Annual Luncheon-Meeting Notice

Officers and Committee Chairs

Bulletin Publication Committee

1995-1996 Meeting Dates Calendar

The President's Message

Financial Report

What's New

Fiftieth Anniversary

Resume of Minutes of Alumni Association Meetings

Scholarship Funds at Work

CAHS Alumni Board/Diploma School

Alumni Office News

Jefferson Health System

Oldest Veteran Dies

1OOth Anniversary

Pearl Harbor Remembered

"Memories"

Janet Hindson Retires

Happy Birthday

Scholarship Fund donors for 1994

Committee Reports

By-Laws

Development

Bulletin

Relief Fund

Satellite

Social

Scholarship

In Memoriam, Names of Deceased Graduates

Class News

Luncheon Photos

Jefferson Alumni Identification Card

The Diploma School of Nursing Alumni Association-Mabel C. …