Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

A Pilot Study Of The Impact Of A Pulmonary Clinical Decision Unit On Outcomes In Patients With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Shirl D. Johnson

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Capstones

The Affordable Care Act has transformed our nation’s healthcare system and reimbursement structure. The paradigm shift to improve efficiency, quality and to lower has created evolving models to rapidly diagnose and treat patients presenting to the emergency department with chronic disease. Clinical decision units (CDU) have become a leading strategy for treating patients at an appropriate level of care. CDU use evidence-based protocol driven care according to different disease status. Patients assigned to these areas, are provided with rapid and safe evaluations for patients identified at low-risk. Reducingthe number ofpatients who arereadmitted to thehospital with COPD is a prioritywithin NHC. …

Prevalence Of School Nurses In Kentucky And Student Outcomes, Teena Darnell

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Capstones

Objective: The purpose of this study was to identify whether the presence of a nurse in the public high school setting was associated student outcomes. Data gleaned from the study will be used to enact a new legislative policy mandating the presence of a nurse in all public schools in the state of Kentucky.

Background: Nurses employed in the school setting support both the educational mission of the institution, as well as the health and well-being of students. Studies have explored the relationships between school nurse presence and student health. It has been suggested that when children experience poor …

Use Of The Peanut Ball To Decrease First And Second Stages Of Labor, Carol L. Payton

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Capstones

The purpose for this capstone project was to use a Peanut Ball, to mimic a sitting or squatting position, for decreasing length of first and second stages of labor. In addition, this project was designed to incorporate qualitative data on women’s perception of using the Peanut Ball during labor. The project question was “For laboring women, will use of a Peanut Ball for positioning, as compared to no use of a Peanut Ball, decrease length of first and/or second stages of labor?” The results included a significantly longer second stage of labor in the intervention group (75.63 minutes) when compared …

Gap In Patient Expectations Of Deep Brain Stimulation For The Treatment Of Parkinson's Disease, Colleen D. Knoop Dnp-C

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Capstones

Abstract

Purpose: This project studied a specific group of patients with Parkinson’s disease to: determine if they were asked to verbalize expectations of DBS pre-operatively; determine if patient expectations were met post-operatively; gain information that could aid in improved pre-operative patient education for deep brain stimulation (DBS), address unrealistic expectations before surgery, and meet patient expectations post-operatively.

Methodology: This study was a retrospective, single academic center, two-part design that included a questionnaire and chart review of 29 patients. Those included were patients with Parkinson’s disease who had DBS programming at the academic center, between the years 2007 and 2014.

Results: …

A Post Discharge Support Program For Patients Experiencing Psychological Non-Epileptic Seizures: A Pilot Project, Lahoma Prather

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Capstones

Abstract

Rationale: There are no accepted standards of care for patients with psychological non-epileptic seizure (PNES) disorder. However the literature regarding PNES identified three common themes including acceptance of the diagnosis; consistent support and follow up; and development of appropriate outcome indicators. This pilot project was designed to address these themes rather than focus on a specific treatment modality.

Methods: The pilot project was initiated at the University of Louisville Comprehensive Epilepsy Center (CEC) to evaluate the feasibility of a post-discharge support program for the PNES population. Outcomes identified for measurement included seizure frequency, health care utilization, anti-epileptic medication use …

Strangulation Assessment, Evidence Collection, And Documentation Guidelines For Forensic Nurse Examiners: A Pilot Project, Sally Sturgeon

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Capstones

Accurate and thorough physical assessment, with accompanying documentation, are essential components for appropriate legal intervention for victims in all strangulation cases. There is a need for this strangulation assessment, evidence collection, and documentation protocol. Forensic nurse examiners who work with strangulation victims need to be sure that their assessment, evidence collection, and documentation are complete, accurate, and consistent to help ensure perpetrator accountability.

"Catholic" Healthcare: A Universal Right, Elizabeth Braun

Ethics and Social Justice Center Essay Prizes

This essay presents an argument as to why healthcare is a universal right and examines why governments should be expected to provide healthcare access to their citizens.