Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Use Of Simulation To Reinforce Evidence-Based Collection Processes, Deborah Christeleit

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Proper collection of blood cultures is needed to identify pathogens causing serious infections and direct appropriate antibiotic therapy. Blood culture contamination can lead to longer hospital stays, incorrect antibiotic treatment, additional testing, and overall increased costs for the patient and hospital. Blood culture collection technique is the most important factor affecting contamination rates.

The purpose of this project was to determine the effect of simulation reinforcement of blood culture collection processes on the rate of contamination of blood cultures drawn by nurses in a community medical center emergency department.

This one-group before-and-after cohort study utilized a convenience sample of 50 …

Culture Change And Quality Of Life In Elderly Persons Living In Long Term Care, Carol S. Jones

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Quality of life in long term care (LTC) is a concern for many stakeholders. The elders who are living in LTC facilities, their families, the staff, and government and policy makers are all interested in providing quality care and quality of life to those persons living within the facility. Culture change is one way for LTC facilities to begin to give decision making to the residents, and to increase quality of life of these elders. There are different culture change models that embrace the concept of person-centered care. No matter which model is chosen, the essence of the change is …

Dysrhythmia Monitoring Practices Of Nurses On A Telemetry Unit, Susan Jane Schultz

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Standards of practice for hospital electrocardiogram monitoring were recommended in 2004 by the American Heart Association; however they are not widely followed. Many nurses monitor in a single lead regardless of diagnosis and are unable to differentiate wide QRS complex tachycardias. The purpose of this project was to evaluate the effectiveness of an interactive web-based education program combined with unit-based collaborative learning activities on both telemetry staff nurses‘ knowledge of dysrhythmias and their monitoring practices for patients at risk for wide QRS complex tachycardias. This interventional, one group before-and-after cohort study design consisted of four components: interactive web-based educational program …

Dietary Interventions To Reduce Metabolic Syndrome In An Uninsured Population: An Evidence-Based Approach, Michele Smith Bednarzyk

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Recent studies show that more than one-third of U.S. adults (over 72 million people) were obese in 2005–2006. This includes 33.3% of men and 35.3% of women. Obesity is a primary factor in the development of metabolic syndrome, a condition that places individuals at high absolute risk of mortality and morbidity. The use of a nutritionally balanced diet aimed at weight reduction has the potential to decrease the prevalence of obesity, therefore reducing the incidence of metabolic syndrome and its consequences.

The purpose of this project was to investigate whether individual nutrition counseling would improve the outcomes of patients with …

The Effect Of Electronic Feedback On Anesthesia Providers' Timely Preoperative Antibiotic Administration, Jonathan Pabalate

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The growing presence of electronic anesthesia record keeping and perioperative informatics systems is contributing to a database of valuable information that can significantly improve patient care and patient outcomes. Efforts such as the National Surgical Quality Improvement Project and the Surgical Care Improvement Project have analyzed quality measures that directly correlate to patient outcomes. Several of these quality indicators are influenced by the performance of anesthesia providers’ activities in the perioperative period. These programs promote timely administration of preoperative antibiotics. One of their guidelines states that preoperative antibiotic should be given within an hour prior to surgical incision. Surgical site …

Effects Of Community Of Practice And Knowledge Translation Strategies On Nurse Practitioners' Knowledge And Practice Behavior, Helen M. Holman

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Background: Emerging evidence suggests that interactive CE activities will have the most effect in terms of knowledge and practice. Using technology to provide interactivity via computer-based applications is as effective an educational strategy as traditional education formats.

Methods: A randomized controlled trial was conducted to test the effectiveness and satisfaction of educational activities provided within an online community of practice(CoP) on nurse practitioner (NP) knowledge and practice behavior. The online interactive website combined certified continuing education, professional forum, Ask-the-Experts, national guideline links, patient education tools, and professional resources. A Two-Group Control Group design was used. Study participants were assessed on …