Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Nursing Education At Illinois Wesleyan University: 1923 To 1976, Lori Ann Musser '92

History

No abstract provided.

Feelings And Concerns Of New Fathers When Their Spouses Have Epidural Anesthesia During Childbirth, Susan M. Monger

Honors Projects

Over the past years, the use of epidural anesthesia as an intervention for pain relief has increased in the labor and delivery setting. Exploration of the literature has not identified what effects the addition of this technology has had on the normal childbirth process and those participating in childbirth, specifically the new father. The purpose of this study was to explore first-time fathers' perceptions of their feelings and concerns during the various phases of the labor and delivery experience in which epidural anesthesia is used. The study addresses the following research questions: (a) What are the perceptions of first-time fathers …

Derivation And Testing Of Tenets Of A Theory Of Social Organizations As Adaptive Systems, Louette R. Johnson Lutjens

Peer Reviewed Articles

Management and organizational theories are commonly used to design nursing administration studies. This article proposes a nursing theory as a viable alternative and demonstrates its utility in the conduct of nursing administration research. The purpose of the research was to determine the explanatory power of the environmental stimuli of medical condition, nursing condition, nursing intensity, and medical severity on length-of-stay (LOS). Twenty-three percent of the variance in LOS was accounted for by the environmental stimuli with nursing acuity contributing 14%. The focal stimulus, medical condition (diagnosis-related groups), uniquely explained only one percent of the variance. The theory of social organizations …

Nutrition, Less Than Body Requirement, Sharon Willadsen, Marilyn Frenn

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

No abstract provided.

Faculty And Student Perceptions Of Effective Clinical Teachers: A Replication, Kathleen L. Miller

Masters Theses

Clinical teaching in nursing has been found to be as problematic as it is in other practice-oriented professions. The purpose of this study is to identify student's and faculty's perceptions of effective characteristics of clinical teachers. An anonymous questionnaire was distributed to students and faculty at a university college of nursing in western Michigan to solicit their perceptions. The study data reveal both similarities and differences in their perceptions and raises awareness of how clinical teachers need to be atune with nursing student's learning needs and learning styles. Comparison of this study with the previous studies show a common direction …

Nurse Educators' Perceptions Regarding Faculty Participation In University Governance., Janet J. Gross

All ETDs from UAB

No abstract provided.

The Effect Of Tourniquet Application On Systemic Coagulation, Christa Choate Hudalla

Theses and Dissertations

Seven orthopedic surgery patients requiring the use of a tourniquet were studied. The hypothesis stated that tourniquet application does not affect coagulation. A total of 5 blood samples were drawn perioperatively (preoperative, 5 minutes after induction of anesthesia, 30 minutes after tourniquet inflation, 2 - 5 minutes after tourniquet deflation, and 30 minutes after tourniquet deflation. For each sample, TEG parameters (R, R + k, MA and α) were measured.

The value for each TEG parameter was compared by analysis of variance (ANOVA), then the samples were contrasted and examined by repeated measures ANOVA. None of the TEG parameters showed …

Nutrition, More Than Body Requirement, Marilyn Frenn

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

No abstract provided.

Nursing's Agenda For Health Care Reform Guides Nursing Center Research Agenda, Marilyn Frenn

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

No abstract provided.

Nutrition, More Than Body Requirement: Risk, Marilyn Frenn

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

No abstract provided.

Nutrition, Less Than Body Requirement: Risk, Marilyn Frenn, Sharon Willadsen

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

No abstract provided.

Health Maintenance, Altered, Marilyn Frenn, Helena Lee

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

No abstract provided.

Health Seeking Behaviors (Specify), Helena Lee, Marilyn Frenn

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

No abstract provided.

The Effects Of Prenatal Breast-Feeding Class On Breast-Feeding Success And Maternal Perception Of The Infant: A Replication, Eileen Grunstra, Susan Rowe

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of prenatal breast-feeding education on a mother's perceived success at breast-feeding. This study also looked at the relationship of prenatal breast-feeding education on a mother's perception of her infant. The conceptual framework utilized was the Roy Adaptation Model. Motherhood and breast-feeding involve a change in role, which is why this theory served as a foundation for the study. The method for study was a quasi-experimental design. Subjects in the experimental group attended a prenatal breast-feeding class, those in the control group did not. In addition to a general survey questionnaire, …

A Comparison Of Critical Thinking Ability And Clinical Judgement Skills In Associate And Baccalaureate Senior Nursing Students, Debra L. Sietsema

Masters Theses

The purpose of this descriptive, correlational study was to compare the critical thinking and clinical judgement skills of senior nursing students at two educational levels. A convenience sample of 34 students in the Midwest was obtained during the spring semester before graduation (n = 19 baccalaureate, n = 15 associate). The framework for the study was decision theory. Critical thinking ability was measured by the Watson Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal. Clinical judgement was determined by the ability to recognize cues, provide nursing diagnosis, interventions and corresponding rationale after viewing five video vignettes produced by Performance Management Services. Demographic data was …

Evaluation Of Coagulation Studies Drawn From Heparinized Arterial Lines, Lois J. Van Donselaar

Masters Theses

Drawing blood from indwelling heparinized arterial catheters is a common procedure in critical care units. The accuracy of coagulation studies drawn from heparinized arterial lines has been a source of controversy and divergent results of research studies. The discarding of blood to provide an uncontaminated specimen is a concern as a source of infection for health care workers. This study evaluates the accuracy of aPTT results drawn from the Lab-Site pressure tubing system which provides a closed system that eliminates blood discard. Blood was obtained from radial artery catheters connected to the Lab-Site system and compared to specimens obtained simultaneously, …

What Is The Relationship Between Perceived Job Stress, Job Satisfaction, And Psychological Symptoms Of Critical Care Nurses?, Barbara L. Hooper

Masters Theses

House's Stress Paradigm provided the theoretical framework for this study which examined the relationship between job satisfaction and job stress, and the correlation of job stress with the experience of psychological symptoms in a sample of 32 critical care nurses from an urban midwestern hospital. The Brief Symptom Inventory and Atwood and Hinshaw's Nursing Job Satisfaction and Job Stress Scales were used to measure the variables. A moderately strong correlation (r = {dollar}-{dollar}.63, p =.001) was found between job satisfaction and perceived job stress. No significant relationship was found between perceived job stress and psychological symptoms. These findings suggest that …

The Effect Of Anxiety On Student Nurses' Performance When Administering Intramuscular Or Subcutaneous Injections, Sandra L. Osborne

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to determine what the relationship was between levels of trait and state anxiety and performance when giving intramuscular or subcutaneous injections. It was a replication of a study by Megal, Wilken, and Volcek (1987).; In May, 1990, the STAI Form Y-2 was used to assess trait anxiety of 17 students at a community college in the Midwest. State anxiety was measured by using the STAI Form Y-1 immediately before: (1) laboratory performance examinations and (2) giving first injections to clients. Instructors completed Injection Skill Check Lists to measure performance.; Students reported high levels of …

Weaning The Long-Term Ventilator Patient: A Nursing Protocol, Karen J. Trudell

Masters Theses

This study evaluated the effects of implementing a standardized nursing protocol on decreasing the length of time it takes the patient to wean from long-term ventilation using an ex post facto comparison group design. The standard nursing protocol is a set of 10 nursing interventions used to standardize the weaning process. A retrospective chart review was performed on 24 patients who were in the intensive care unit of a community teaching medical center, and required long-term ventilation of six days or more. After nine months of implementation of a standard nursing protocol, allowing for the intensive care nurses to become …

The Relationship Between Locus Of Control, Powerlessness, And Job Satisfaction Among Registered Nurses, Evelyn C. Wirsing

Masters Theses

A cross-sectional descriptive correlational design was used to investigate the following research questions: (a) How much variation in nurses' satisfaction can be predicted from locus of control and powerlessness? and (b) are there statistically significant (p {dollar}<{dollar}.05) differences in job satisfaction among nurses based upon their primary area of practice, highest earned degree, length of employment in current position, and employment status? A random sample of 300 staff nurses from a large acute care teaching hospital was surveyed utilizing a four-part questionnaire. The response rate was 51% (N = 152). Powerlessness accounted for 29% of the variance in job satisfaction scores and locus of control accounted for none of the variation in job satisfaction. Secondly, a weekly significant difference (F(5, 146) = 2.29, p {dollar}<{dollar}.05) in job satisfaction scores existed among clinical specialty groups, however no significant differences in job satisfaction were found for the remaining professional characteristics.

Parental Coping With A Chronically Ill Child, Shari Jo Allore Bertolone

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to determine what coping mechanisms families of chronically ill children indicated they utilized to cope on a daily basis. This study utilized the Coping Health Inventory for Parents (CHIP) to collect data. The CHIP is designed to assess parents perceptions of behaviors they are currently using to manage family life. There are three main coping patterns focused on and it is hypothesized that a balance of these three patterns is essential for a positive outcome. This study found there are certain mothers and fathers who are at risk for not using a balance of …

Hardiness And Adaptation To Hypertension, Marcia L. Smit

Masters Theses

Hardiness, a personality characteristic that is purposed to mediate the stress response and reduce the likelihood of illness, was studied in the context of adaptation to chronic disease. A descriptive correlational design was used to determine whether a positive relationship exists between the presence of hardiness and psychosocial adaptation to hypertension. The sample consisted of 50 individuals 60 years old or older. Data was analyzed using the product moment correlation coefficient, Spearman's Rho, and multiple regression. A moderately weak correlation (r =.39, df = 48, p =.003) between hardiness and adaptation was found. Other significant relationships identified included those between …

Aids: Knowledge And Attitudes Among Nurses, Jeanette J. Lochan

Masters Theses

Reports have indicated that nurses have negative and preconceived attitudes concerning persons with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and that these biases may interfere with quality care. The purpose of this descriptive correlational study was to identify the relationship between nurses' knowledge about AIDS and their attitudes toward caring for patients who are diagnosed with AIDS and/or who test positive for HIV. Data was gathered by questionnaires from a convenient sample of nurses employed at an area hospital in West Michigan. Of the 500 nurses who received the questionnaire, 208 (41.6%) participated in the study. Knowledge about AIDS was correlated with …

Perceptions Of Patients, Nurses, And Physicians Regarding Nursing As A Profession, Ann R. Robach

Masters Theses

The United States is facing a critical shortage of nurses. A prevailing societal perception of nursing having a subservient role in health care prevents many recruits from choosing this career, despite efforts by nursing leaders to change this perception (Styles, 1988). The purpose of this study was to determine the current perceptions of patients, nurses, and physicians regarding nursing as a profession.; A 20 item modified version of Valiga's View of Nursing Questionnaire was implemented for this study. The subjects included 102 patients, 126 nurses, and 68 physicians who completed the questionnaire in the fall of 1991.; Statistical analysis revealed …

Predictors Of Success On The Nclex-Rn Examination, Kathleen S. Pangle

Masters Theses

This ex post facto study was designed to determine if the scores of advanced standing LPNs' NCLEX-RN scores were significantly different from those of generic students and to identify predictors of success of NCLEX-RN performance. Based on Bandura's theory of self efficacy it was hypothesized that LPNs would score higher on the NCLEX-RN than generic students. The independent variables were final grades in nursing theory courses (Medical-Surgical, Obstetrics, Pediatrics, and Psychiatric Nursing), and NLN Achievement Tests and the Comprehensive Nursing Achievement Test. The study group included 195 graduates from a small, rural Associate Degree in Nursing program between the years …

Positioning Of High Risk Infants: Effects On Oxygen Utilization, Umbilical Artery Catheter Integrity And Activity, Dawn Zuidgeest-Craft

Masters Theses

In a prospective experimental study, 24 high risk infants over 1,000 grams and under 5 days of age were observed and evaluated for the effects of positioning on the umbilical artery catheter, activity, and oxygen utilization. Infants were positioned right lateral, left lateral, supine and prone, for 2 hours in each position. The purpose of the study was to evaluate whether prone position opposed to other positions increased sleep state behaviors, reduced oxygen need, or created any complication for the umbilical artery catheter. Using a repeated measures design and repeated measures analysis of variance, it was found that positioning prone …

Evaluating Family Caregivers' Ability To Select Appropriate Care Techniques Following Discharge Instructions On Post Traumatic Brain Injury Symptoms, Connie J. Pardee

Masters Theses

Post traumatic brain injury symptoms can be very stressful to family caregivers. This study evaluated family caregivers' ability to select appropriate caregiver actions following discharge instructions on post traumatic brain injury symptoms. Subjects in the control group viewed videotaped discharge instructions on physical symptoms post traumatic brain injury. The experimental group viewed videotaped discharge instructions on physical symptoms, cognitive dysfunction and behavioral changes post traumatic brain injury. Both groups were given a written post test after viewing the videotape. Those who received information on physical symptoms, cognitive dysfunction, and behavioral changes had a higher mean score than those who received …

Comparison Of The Efficacy Of Heparinized And Non-Heparinized Normal Saline Solutions In Maintaining Patency Of Arterial Catheters, Juanita K. Bogart

Masters Theses

Although the need for heparin in flush solutions has not been established, the currently accepted standard of practice is to use heparinized solutions in arterial catheter flush devices. Exposure to heparin may place patients at risk for developing heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HITP) and subsequent embolic events. The purpose of the study was to test the null hypothesis that there is no significant difference in patency of arterial catheters maintained with heparinized or non-heparinized normal saline solutions. An experimental design using a convenience sample (N = 31) and random assignment into experimental and control groups was used. There was no statistically significant …

The Relationship Between Attributions And Adjustment Following Myocardial Infarction, Margaret Elizabeth Bowles

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to identify if spontaneous attributional search was part of the reaction to a myocardial infarction (MI) and if there were relationships among attributional search, perception of control over attributions, gender and adjustment following MI. Attribution theory provided the framework for this study. A descriptive correlational design was utilized. The convenience sample included twenty male and twenty female subjects hospitalized with a MI. The Multiple Affect Adjective Check List and an attribution questionnaire constructed specifically for this study were administered prior to discharge from the hospital. It was hypothesized that of those subjects that have …

The Health Belief Model And Needle Recapping: A Replication, Rosemary M. Rackow Ham

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to examine the knowledge of Universal Precautions, the attitudes and beliefs regarding the risk of AIDS among emergency room and critical care nurses and physicians, and the needle recapping behavior that places them at risk for acquiring HIV infection. The Health Belief Model was the conceptual model.; The sample (n = 80) consisted of nurses (n = 68) and physicians (n = 12) who practice in the emergency room (n = 19) or a critical care unit (n = 61) in a community hospital. They completed a 31 item questionnaire. In addition, needle disposal …