Bedside Shift Reporting: A Benchmark Project, Clydea C. Hale

MSN Capstone Projects

Patient care is forever changing to improve satisfaction, safety, and overall treatment. Over the past few years, patients and their families are more invested in their overall care in the hospital and expect to be informed every step of the way. A common complaint from patients or their families is that one nurse or staff did not know the individuals care or treatment plan, there were no shift goals to work toward discharge, and the nurse did not update the patient/family with changes in care. All of these complaints along with the patient satisfaction scores and communication between the treatment …

Medicated-Assisted Treatment And 12-Step Programs: Evaluating The Referral Process, Candace S. Brown, Chudney Williams, Ryan E. Stephens, Jacqueline Sharp, Bobby Bellflower, Martinus T. Zeeman

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Purpose/Background Overdose deaths in the U.S. from opioids have dramatically increased since the COVID-19 pandemic. Although medicated-assisted treatment (MAT) programs are widely available for sufferers of opiate addiction, many drop out of treatment prematurely. Twelve-step programs are considered a valuable part of treatment, but few studies have examined the effect of combining these approaches. We aimed to compare abstinence rates among patients receiving MAT who were referred to 12-step programs to those only receiving MAT.

Methods In this prospective study, a cohort of participants from a MAT clinic agreeing to attend a 12-step program was compared to 15 controls selected …

Loneliness, Social Isolation, And Their Connection To Overall Health Across The Lifespan, Paige Miller

Senior Honors Theses

Due to recent circumstances, the incidence of loneliness and social isolation has skyrocketed. Fortunately, there have already been countless studies examining the longer-term implications of these two factors on health. Loneliness and social isolation have been found to impact cardiovascular health, stress response, immune function, resilience, mental health, attachment, spiritual health, and many other determinants of health. A variety of research was examined outlining the psychological implications of loneliness and social isolation. These factors also influence physiological processes and can exacerbate a variety of diseases. After presentation of this evidence, a collection of possible interventions will be discussed, and their …

Adverse Childhood Experiences And Urinary Incontinence In Elementary School Aged Children, Amanda Jill Travis Msn, Fnp-C, Margaret C. Harvey Phd, Aprn, Acnp-Bc, Chfn, Michelle Rickard Dnp, Apnp-C

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Purpose/Background: Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) have an impact on health throughout the lifespan (Filletti et al., 1999; Hughes et al., 2017). These experiences range from physical and mental abuse, substance abuse in the home, parental separation or loss, financial instability, acute illness or injury, witnessing violence in the home or community, and incarceration of family members (Hughes et al., 2017). Understanding and screening for ACEs in children with urinary incontinence can help practitioners identify psychological stress as a potentially modifiable risk factor.

Methods: A 5-month chart review was performed identifying English speaking patients ages 6-11 years presenting to the outpatient …

Shu Altop News Issue #4, Fall, Dr. Susan L. Davis, Rn & Richard J. Henley College Of Nursing

News, Magazines and Reports

Updates from the Davis & Henley College of Nursing Sacred Heart University Alternatives to Opioids for Pain Grant.

Alternatives to Opioids for Pain (ALTOP) is a HRSA funded project to help combat the opioid epidemic in Connecticut.

In this issue: • New Roles in Our Team • ANEW HRSA 2021-2022 Awardees • Southwest Community Health Center Chiropractic Care Services • Student Quality Improvement Project • Sacred Heart University Alumni Working at New Solutions Pain Management Clinic.

Shu Altop News Issue #3, Summer, Dr. Susan L. Davis, Rn & Richard J. Henley College Of Nursing

News, Magazines and Reports

Updates from the Davis & Henley College of Nursing Sacred Heart University Alternatives to Opioids for Pain Grant.

Alternatives to Opioids for Pain (ALTOP) is a HRSA funded project to help combat the opioid epidemic in Connecticut.

The Benefits Of Dogs For Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Emma Raugh

Senior Honors Theses

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a condition that primarily affects neurological development, causing decreased social aptness, diminished executive function, and abnormal sensory processing, among many other characteristic symptoms. Additional problems that often accompany ASD include anxiety disorders, depression, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Canine assisted animal therapy is one non-pharmacologic therapy option that has been researched for children with ASD to improve their social, psychological, mental, and other difficulties. Studies thus far have shown positive results in children with ASD who have dogs as pets or access to therapy dogs, including improved social functioning, decreased anxiety, overall improved behavior, …

Effectiveness Of Ehr-Depression Screening Among Adult Diabetics In An Urban Primary Care Clinic, Filipina C. Schnabel Md, Mph, Msn, Fnp-Bc, Danielle Aldridge Msn, Fnp-C, Laura Reed Dnp, Fnp-Bc

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Background Diabetes mellitus (DM) and depression are important comorbid conditions that can lead to more serious health outcomes. The American Diabetes Association (ADA) supports routine screening for depression as part of standard diabetes management. The PHQ2 and PHQ9 questionnaires are good diagnostic screening tools used for major depressive disorders in Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2). This quality improvement study aims to compare the rate of depression screening, treatment, and referral to behavioral health in adult patients with DM2 pre and post-integration of depression screening tools into the electronic health record (EHR).

Methods We conducted a retrospective chart review on patients …

Implementing Best Practices To Improve Veteran’S Primary Care: A Pilot Project For Suicide Screening, Assessment & Referral, Nathaniel Held

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Problem Description: Suicide is an increasing problem within the United States, but an even greater problem among the veteran population. Veterans are twice as likely to commit suicide than individuals within the civilian population. El Paso County, Colorado has the highest veteran population in the state and the highest number of suicides. Despite numerous military mental health programs available. Studies have found that many veterans will visit a civilian primary care clinic (for various reasons) within a month of taking their own lives but rarely are mental health concerns noted. This can be due to a lack of awareness and …

Implementing Telemental Health To Improve Access To Mental Healthcare In Rural Vermont, Julia Mcdougal Ronconi

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

BACKGROUND: Mental health access in rural areas is a national problem. Of strategies to increase access, telemental health has the highest level of evidence.

PURPOSE: This project aimed to implement a telemental health program in rural Vermont to: (a) increase the number of rural-dwelling patients who enter treatment for anxiety and depression, (b) evaluate the effectiveness of telemental health for depression, anxiety, and overall functioning, and (c) evaluate patient satisfaction with the accessibility, quality, and affordability of the service.

METHODS: Adult psychiatric diagnostic evaluation, medication management and psychotherapeutic interventions were delivered via telemental health. The service was marketed to Health …

Efficacy Of Integrating Cbt For Mental Health Care Into Substance Abuse Treatment In Patients With Comorbid Disorders Of Substance Abuse And Mental Illness, Laura U. Madu, Jacqueline Sharp, Bobby Bellflower

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Abstract: Multiple studies have found that psychiatric disorders, like mood disorders and substance use disorders, are highly comorbid among adults with either disorder. Integrated treatment refers to the treatment of two or more conditions and the use of multiple therapies such as the combination of psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy. Integrated therapy for comorbidity per numerous studies has consistently been superior to the treatment of individual disorders separately. The purpose of this QI project was to identify the effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) instead of current treatment as usual for treating Substance Use Disorder (SUD) or mental health diagnosis independently. It …

Implementation Of A Postdischarge Virtual Visit And Nurse Follow-Up Protocol To Decrease 30-Day Readmission Rates For Patients With Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension, Kimberly Thompson

The Eleanor Mann School of Nursing Student Works

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a rare, chronic disease with no cure. Patients with this disease have high mortality and morbidity, experience frequent hospitalizations, readmissions, and psychosocial burdens, and require a high degree of self-care management skills (Doyle-Cox et al., 2016; Lattimer et al., 2016; McDevitt & Walter, 2019). More than half of PAH patients are hospitalized within the first year following diagnosis, and about 20% are readmitted to the hospital within thirty days of discharge (Bhattacharya et al., 2019: Tonelli, 2020). These patients also have a high symptom burden, and these symptoms significantly affect their physical and mental quality …

Depression Symptoms And Covid-19, Kaylee Armendariz

The Eleanor Mann School of Nursing Student Works

The COVID-19 pandemic presents new challenges in behavioral healthcare. Americans may face anxiety surrounding the virus, economic strain, isolation, and grief, putting them at increased risk for depression symptoms. This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) quality improvement project aimed to increase depression screening rates and utilized data from a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) to identify population groups at higher risk for depression symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic. Using the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ) depression screening tool, a statistical analysis determined if being tested for COVID-19 or testing positive for COVID-19 had an impact on depression symptoms. Additionally, this project …

Resilience 101: A Resilience Education Intervention For College Freshmen, Angie Childre

Graduate Research Showcase

This evidence-based project sought to evaluate resilience in freshmen college students enrolled in a Bridge scholar program (BSP) in a liberal arts university in the southeastern United States. The American College Health Association (ACHA) found that stress and anxiety were the top two indicators for impacting academics in 2019 and had been at the top since 2009 at the university of study (ACHA, 2019). The study used a pretest and posttest design method with the implementation of a five-week resilience education intervention. The research questions (Q1-5) were: Q1: What effect did the intervention have on BSP student's resilience? Q2: What …

Improving The Quality Of Care For Pediatric Psychiatric Patients In The Emergency Department, Joseph L. Greene

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Pediatric patients (17 years and younger) in mental health crisis are arriving in the emergency department in increasing numbers because there is a lack of mental health crisis care in the community setting. The emergency department is crowded, lacks a dedicated area for psychiatric patients that is quiet and safe, and staff are inadequately trained in psychiatric competencies. A quality improvement project was approved by Boise State IRB to train RNs in psychiatric competencies. Telepsychiatry provided timely evaluation by a qualified psychiatric provider. Patients’ perceived meaning of the ED visit was evaluated using the Patient Evaluation of Emotional Comfort Experienced …

Assisting Nursing Students In Their Development Of Empathy: A Guide To Fostering Requisite Skills For The Art Of Empathetic Communication, Susan Mee

Open Educational Resources

This 7-week lesson plan is designed for use in clinical nursing courses. It is designed specifically for use by Nursing faculty teaching in the absence of state required patient facing clinical opportunity due to COVID restrictions. The lesson plan describes pedagogical techniques and provides video and education OER resources designed to help support the development of empathetic communication skills over 7 weeks. Refection and video debriefing techniques will be employed. Role play will culminate in the group presentation project of a brief video modeling effective therapeutic empathetic communication.

The Effects Of Administrative Support On Registered Nurse Well-Being During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Cassandra Fox

The Eleanor Mann School of Nursing Student Works

Attention to the well-being of nurses is necessary to ensure the healthcare system can operate effectively, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. The workplace environment and support from nursing leadership strongly contribute to nurses’ well-being. Currently, there is little evidence on the effect nursing leadership has on nurses’ well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic. This DNP clinical inquiry project sought to learn more about the effects of caring leadership behaviors on nurses’ well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic. A survey composed of questions from previously validated and reliable surveys used in the field of nursing was used to collect data. Neuman’s systems theory …

Knowledge About Continuous Positive Airway Pressure Machine Usage Among Nurses At A Tertiary Hospital In Tanzania, Wilson Paulo Lomnyack, Tumbwene Mwansisya, Stewart Mbelwa, Kahabi Isangula, Zephania Saitabau Abraham

School of Nursing & Midwifery, East Africa

Introduction: Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) provides an air pressure that maintains the patency of the airway in patients with a variety of breathing problems. Nurses provide the hour to hour management of patients who require CPAP. The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge of nurses about CPAP machine usage at the tertiary hospital in Tanzania which serves the largest number of patients who require CPAP.

Method: A hospital-based descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out from March to June 2019 at Muhimbili National Hospital (MNH) and Jakaya Kikwete Cardiac Institute (JKCI) where 149 nurses who consented …

Human Trafficking Awareness Among Psychiatric Hospital Nursing Staff, Donna J. Czech, Tracy L. Brewer

Graduate Publications and Other Selected Works - Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

Human trafficking is a public health crisis on a global, state, and local level. Victims of human trafficking are a vulnerable population who pass-through healthcare systems unrecognized by nurses and other healthcare professionals due to a lack of awareness about identifiable signs, symptoms, and circumstances. Nurses are in a crucial position to assess trafficking victims for a referral. The purpose of this evidence-based practice (EBP) pilot project was to understand nurses’ knowledge and awareness on human trafficking and assess the perceived ability to identify trafficked individuals in a psychiatric care setting for screening and potential referral. Nurses received an online …

Familial Factors In The Development Of Social Anxiety Disorder, Christine M. Olson

Articles

The purpose of the current article is to explore familial factors that influence the development of social anxiety disorder (SAD) in children and adolescents, including parenting, sibling relationships, and family environment. A multitude of interrelated genetic and familial factors have been found to cause and maintain SAD in children and adolescents. There are many challenges in diagnosing and treating the disorder. Knowledge and awareness of familial factors provide insight on targeted treatments that prevent or ameliorate SAD.

The Effectiveness Of Mixed Personality Trait Analysis With Multiple Stress Education Model In Coping With Stress Among International Students In American, Xiaoyang Mei

DNP Research Projects

No abstract provided.

A Toolkit To Assist Child And Adolescent Providers In Assessing Problematic Internet Use And Cyberbullying In An Outpatient Psychiatry Clinic, Collin J. Mcgrath

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

Social media has become a transformational part of daily life in the United States. Currently, there are few assessment tools and no standard of care when it comes to assessing internet use, social media, and cyberbullying among child and adolescent patients. Problematic internet use (PIU) and cyberbullying can both significantly and negatively impact the mental health of children and adolescents. The purpose of this project is to evaluate the effectiveness of an online toolkit implementation for a Southwest Florida (SWFL) outpatient psychiatry office. A pre/post one group design was used. A convenience sample of 13 healthcare providers was recruited from …

A Quality Improvement Project To Assess The Value Of Pharmacogenomic Testing In Adults Diagnosed With Major Depression, Ileana Miranda Velazquez

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

Abstract

Background: Treatment of major depression follows the guidelines from evidence-based medicine established algorithms; however, 50% of patients diagnosed with major depressive disorder do not respond to their first medication trial, and 70% may go through four treatment attempts before achieving remission.

Purpose: To demonstrate the value of pharmacogenomic testing as a treatment-guidance technology in patients with resistant depression and assess healthcare providers' motivation to adopt the technology.

Methods: A retrospective chart review of (N = 73) patients' treatment response measured by the pre-post PHQ-9 depression scale after pharmacogenomic guided medication intervention with descriptive statistics and paired t-test. The …

Development Of A Pediatric Depression Healthcare Toolkit, Maria Theresa Kennedy

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

Background: Depression is a debilitating and life-threatening disease that strongly affects youth in the United States. Low socioeconomic populations often have high-risk factors for depression, low health literacy, and poor access to care. Risk factors are amplified for those who identify as gender non-binary or lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer (LGBTQ). Psychoeducation can empower youth to be active participants within their treatment.

Purpose: The focus of this project was to evaluate a newly developed healthcare toolkit for pediatric depression in the format of an eBook for mental health professionals.

Methods: An eBook focusing on depression pathology, symptoms and …

Enhancing Therapeutic Alliances In Neonatal Care: Parents With Substance Use Disorders, Shannon A. Starkey

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

Background: The number of newborns exposed to opiates quadrupled in the United States from 1999 to 2014, from 1.5 per 1,000 hospital deliveries to 6.5 per 1,000. Many of these babies are admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit for neonatal abstinence withdrawal syndrome. While neonatal nurses are trained to care for babies exposed to substances in utero, they often struggle to meet the unique psychosocial needs of the babies’ parents. Negative attitudes and strained interactions between neonatal nurses and families with substance use disorders (SUDs) result in subtherapeutic alliances and suboptimal outcomes in neonatal nurseries. Purpose: Educational …

Fostering Resilience In The School-Aged Child, Patricia D. Schneider

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

Background: The world is a challenging and sometimes difficult place to navigate. People are faced with tragedies and adversity. Without supportive people and environments, this can lead to poor outcomes such as physically, socially, and emotionally. Children rely on adults to provide safety, love, and security yet many children do not receive the care they need and deserve. Adversity in children affects their development and reduces their capabilities to deal with stress. For a society to prosper and grow, reducing child adversity is essential. Resilience is a powerful tool that can be fostered and developed in children, so they are …

Improving Early Autism Diagnosis In Underserved Communities Through The Use Of “Learn The Signs. Act Early.” Developmental Milestone Tracking Tool, Tamara L. Ellington, Tracy L. Brewer

Graduate Publications and Other Selected Works - Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

Many children entering early childhood education programs have symptoms of autism spectrum disorder yet remain undiagnosed. Research suggests this is especially true for low-income and minority children who may not participate in regular pediatric check-ups, have parents with low health literacy, or who may experience provider bias. Thus, they are diagnosed at a later age compared to upper-class White children. Early autism-specific intervention services can have a profound and lasting impact on long-term developmental outcomes for children with autism. Identification of the symptoms of autism is key to triggering the autism evaluation process that leads to a formal autism diagnosis …

A School-Based Cognitive Behavioral Progrm To Improve Adolescent Mental Health, Amanda Harper, Tracy L. Brewer

Graduate Publications and Other Selected Works - Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

Problem. While anxiety and depression are prevalent in the adolescent population and can have significant long-term consequences, treatment rates remain low. The gold standard for treatment is cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), but this is often unavailable.

Methods. This project aimed to increase access to CBT through a school-based program. Students from a local homeschool cooperative participated in the Creating Opportunities for Personal Empowerment (COPE). Measures of anxiety and depressive symptoms were collected at baseline, after the program, and one month after the program. A Friedman test was used to evaluate medians’ differences on the screening tools at all three time …