Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Integrating Culturally Tailored Interventions To Increase Cervical Cancer Screening: A Quality Improvement Initiative In A Primary Care Clinic, Marife Centeno Solomon

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

Abstract

Background: While the incidence of cervical cancer in the US has significantly decreased due to the utilization of vaccination and screening tests, Asian, Native Hawaiian, and other Pacific Islander women consistently have the lowest rate of cervical cancer screening, making them at risk for undetected cervical cancer disease.

Problem: The low cervical cancer screening uptake can be attributed to a knowledge deficit about cervical cancer and its screening and the importance of early detection. Being an immigrant and with limited English proficiency can hinder women of Asian, Native Hawaiian, and other Pacific Islander from getting screened for cervical …

Improving Clinicians’ Access To Patient Education And Va Resource Information, Ella Bermudez

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

Abstract

Problem: In a western US Veterans Administration (VA) hospital system, patient education materials are provider-specific, not standardized, and not located in a central, readily available location.

Context: How does a patient education tool affect the clinicians' delivery of health education in increasing health literacy compared to written information alone in the US veteran population? An integrated literature review was performed using Cochrane, Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI), Scopus, CINAHL, and PubMed databases to address the PICOT question above and determine the impact of patient education tools on health literacy and patient engagement. The literature recommended improving patient education for better …

School-Based Telemental Health And Family Psychoeducation: A Program Evaluation, Ainat Koren

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

Background: Telemental Health has been established as an effective model of care in the adult population. There are few studies that addressed the effects of providing child and parent telehealth services in underserved communities where mental health services are sparse. Families who attend face to face mental health support report high levels of satisfaction, show increased knowledge about mental illness/treatment, and youth have a lower risk of relapse.

Purpose: The purpose of this DNP project was to evaluate an innovative Telemental Health model offering timely social/behavioral health support for children/families’ mental health services in rural Massachusetts.

Methods: Process …

Adolescent Mental Health Training For Middle School Educators, Sarah Minton

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

Abstract

Background: Adolescent mental health disorders are an increasing concern in the United States. School systems, specifically educators, are in the unique role to aid in early identification of mental health disorders, as well to intervene in mental health distress. However, mental health training for educators is lacking, leaving educators unprepared to manage mental health concerns within their classroom.

Purpose: The purpose was to utilize an evidence-based training, the “Teacher Knowledge Update Guide” from TeenMentalHealth.org to train middle school educators on the signs and symptoms of mental health conditions in the adolescent population with the intent to increase awareness, knowledge, …

Food Safety And Risk Of Foodborne Illness At A Food Center Extension: Toolkit For Front-Line Volunteers, Sara Anderson

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

Background: Foodborne illness is a serious public health issue. One in six Americans has an episode of foodborne illness each year and over 50,000 are hospitalized. Food distribution centers are instrumental in decreasing food insecurity, however, some of the food donated is expired or may be damaged leading to increased risk of foodborne illness.

Purpose: The purpose of this project was to educate front-line volunteers at a local food center regarding food safety.

Methods: A toolkit was developed to teach food safety to the front-line volunteers. Seven classes were given to front-line volunteers including a pre and post intervention …

Adolescent Sexual Reproductive Health Course: A Mixed Media Intervention And Quality Improvement Project In A School-Based Setting, Stephanie Calabrese

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

Section I: Abstract

Problem: California’s adolescents carry a significant burden of newly acquired sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and gaps in adolescent sexual and reproductive health (SRH) knowledge have led to poor adolescent health outcomes. (CDE, 2019). Context: The California Healthy Youth Act (AB 329) was enacted on January 1, 2016, calling all school districts to ensure that all pupils receive comprehensive sexual health education, and HIV prevention education (CDE, 2019). In a proactive motion, parents from a northern California middle school approached a university to provide a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) student to instruct its sixth grade’s …

Enhancing Nutrition Education For School Aged Children; A Preventive Health Measure And Quality Improvement Project, Fanny M. Powell

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

Objective: The purpose of the DNP project was to improve nutritional knowledge of the adolescents at Kings Canyon Unified School District while also improving their perceived ability to choose healthy food. This project was enveloped in a larger community outreach mission utilizing a free school-based clinic for the purposes of providing sports physicals to students and health screening and physicals to the community. Additionally, nurse practitioner students engaged in a cultural immersion experience through clinical rotations in Central Valley.

Methods: Adolescent students who registered for the clinic watched a nine-minute nutrition video, created by the DNP student, while waiting …

Delivering Culturally Competent Care To The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, And Transgender (Lgbt) Population, Evan M. Mcewing

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

Purpose: To this day, the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) communities still experience negative health outcomes due to social stigma and discrimination. Additionally, nursing has lagged behind other health professions in the promotion of culturally competent care to members of this minority group. Several national authorities on LGBT health have proposed guidelines for providing such care to the LGBT population; however, many nursing schools are not integrating these recommendations into their curricula. Methods: Using these national guidelines, an educational program was developed for BSN students at a large south Florida university to improve competency in providing care for LGBT …

Using Multi-Modal Education In A Public Health System To Increase Rates Of Cervical Cancer Screening, Christina Nardi

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

While Papanicolaou (Pap) screening has been implemented since the 1950’s, and is linked to decreased rates of cervical cancer, national screening rates are still below the national target screening rate. In Contra Costa County (CCC), the current cervical cancer screening rate is 50.92% (Contra Costa Health Services [CCHS], 2016a). This is far below the national goal of 93% and the first benchmark of 54.33% needed in order to receive state funding under the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) Medi-Cal 2020 waiver. The Medi-Cal 2020 waiver has a 5-year Public Health Incentives and Redesign in Medi-Cal (PRIME) program requiring …

Increasing Access To Primary Care Using Np’S: The Framework For An Academic Based Nurse-Managed Center In California, Prabjot (Jodie) Sandhu

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

The dynamics of health care delivery and the role of health care providers is a changing canvas in the United States. The implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), sets a goal to increase access to health care. The systems that support the ACA are constantly under scrutiny as failing to provide key answers to provider shortage and health care access issues. Nurse Practitioners (NPs) who are recognized by the ACA as a comprehensive part of this revolution are in a unique place to find opportunities to promote increased access to health and primary care services. While NPs in California …

Pneumococcal Pneumonia In The Older Adult: Increasing Patient Education And Vaccination, Jessica E. Valletta

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

Background:Pneumococcal disease is a transmitted infectious illness that results in serious complications and death every year in the United States. Given their increased susceptibility to the potential complications of this disease, patients aged 65 and older are considered to be high-risk, but vaccination compliance for this population remain well below state and national goals.

Purpose: The purpose of this project was to increase pneumococcal vaccination rates among adults aged 65 and older in a primary care clinic by increasing patient education.

Methods: An educational intervention was implemented within a large primary care practice located in Central Massachusetts. Educational …

Improving Hpv Vaccination Initiation And Completion Rates: A Qi Project, Princy M. Varughese

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a common sexually transmitted infection in the United States and is the cause of most cervical cancers in women, as well as anogenital cancers, oropharyngeal cancer, and genital warts in both men and women (Centers for Disease Control [CDC], 2014b). The HPV vaccine is recommended for preteen girls and boys to protect against HPV infections (CDC, 2011). In line with the goal of Healthy People 2020, the purpose of this evidence-based quality improvement (QI) project was to implement a text message reminder system, and calculate the completion rate of the 3-dose HPV vaccination series among adolescents …

Copd Dyspnea Palliation Project: Dyspnea Palliation In End-Stage Copd Patients, Kaveri M. Roy

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

Chronic Pulmonary Obstructive Disease (COPD) is a chronic and incurable disease that affects over 12 million Americans. The number of people with COPD is rising, and it is the third leading cause of death in the United States. Management and palliation of COPD symptoms has become a public health issue. The capstone project, the COPD Palliation Project, was a pilot study that combined nursing case management and patient education to provide optimal patient dyspnea palliation and self-efficacy of dyspnea management to end-stage COPD hospice patients. For the intervention, end-stage COPD patients were taught to use a dyspnea algorithm to palliate …

Heightening Mental Health Awareness On A Diverse, Urban Public University Campus Through A Media Outreach Campaign, Kathleen R. Golden Mcandrew

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

Abstract

Mental health problems among students on college campuses have increased in severity over the last decade. On-campus health providers have reported seeing students with more complex problems such as depression, bipolar disorder, and mixed diagnoses that require frequent and regular follow-up and treatment. Students who require mental health services assistance from on-campus services need to be informed about what resources and services are available and how to access them. Since most on-campus counseling services are set up as short-term treatment models, providing students with community-based resource options is also important.

The purpose of this capstone project was to examine …

Program Evaluation For Tdap Immunization Standing Orders In A Birthing Hospital, Helen Crean Taugher

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

Newborn infants are vulnerable to pertussis infections. Although the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends that babies begin their diphtheria, tetanus and acellular pertussis (DTaP) immunization series at two months of age, the minimum age for administration of the vaccine is six weeks of age (Centers for Disease Control [CDC], 2008). Young infants are at risk for whooping cough infection transmitted from parents, siblings and care-givers during the pre-vaccination period in the first two months of life, particularly pertussis transmitted from their mothers. Since the licensure of adult/adolescent formulations of tetanus, diphtheria and acellular pertussis (Tdap) vaccine in 2005, …