Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Enhancing Teamwork And Collaboration In Nursing Students, Sharon Walker

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Effective teamwork and collaboration are vital components in the healthcare team’s ability to deliver safe, patient-centered care. New graduate nurses play a crucial role in the healthcare team; however, research reveals that many students' express anxieties when communicating with other healthcare personnel. The purpose of this project was to enhance students’ knowledge and understanding of the importance of effective teamwork and collaboration, ultimately influencing the delivery of high-quality and safe patient care. In an effort to promote better patient outcomes and limit failures, the integration of TeamSTEPPS^® training and simulation into nursing curricula offers students an opportunity to build …

Nursing Workplace Incivility And Mindfulness, Cassandra Graham Gibson

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Nurse incivility is currently prevalent in the nursing workplace. Incivility is described in the form of disrespectful attitudes and behaviors. Ethnic values may be ignored by those committing uncivil behaviors. Victims of incivility may not report uncivil incidents. Organizations and other stakeholders may discover difficulty in responding or exploring causative incivility behavior. Workplace incivility may be displayed as unsafe actions, nurse management errors, and staff dissatisfaction. Nursing staff may decide on resigning positions because of workplace incivility. Healthy, civil, caring workplace environments are imperative to patient and staff well-being.

Workplace incivility intervention may introduce a solution to uncivil behavior, rebuild …

Improving Delirium Assessment In Critical Care, Michelle Reed

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

The objective of this project was to identify barriers that impact nurses completing delirium assessments and to improve compliance rates with delirium assessments. The design was an observational, single group pretest-post-test. The preliminary results demonstrated an educational intervention, using the Knowledge-to-Action theory, improved nurses’ compliance with delirium assessments.

Evaluating The Impact Of Resilience Training In The Group Home Care Provider Population, Gwangia O. Hudson

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Stress, compassion fatigue (CF), and burnout are all potential problems faced by those who have adopted a career in caring for others. Poorly managed stresses are associated with strained work interactions, dysfunctional personal connections, poor health, and poor quality of work (Edwards & Burnard, 2003; Richardson et al., 2015; Zajac et al., 2017). Organizations do well to focus on preventing stress, CF, and burnout; and or at a minimum providing, employees with tools to build resilience (Edwards & Burnard, 2003; Gentry, 2018; Zajac et al., 2017).

Aromatherapy As A Non-Pharmacological Complementary And Integrative Sleep Intervention For Veterans, Amy D. Stewart

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Twenty-seven percent to 54% of military personnel and veterans experience insomnia, with apnea and insomnia being the most common disorders in this same population. Due to high incidences of sleep disorders in the veteran population, this project sought to identify and validate a non-pharmacological intervention, aromatherapy, as a viable option for veterans with sleep problems. Aromatherapy, essential oils, have proven to be a natural, safe, low-cost, and non-pharmacological option for improving patient health outcomes and patient satisfaction.

Improving Senior Level Nursing Students’ Application Of Assessing And Managing Pain Through A Virtual Game Simulation, Miranda Yelverton

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Senior nursing students in the last semester of a community college nursing program take the Health Education Systems Incorporated (HESI) Exit Exam to evaluate their ability to pass National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN). The objective of this project was to implement a virtual game simulation on pain assessment and management to improve scores related to the concepts of pain comparing two different cohorts. Senior nursing students were offered the virtual game simulation and could voluntarily report attempts and results through a Google ™ Form.

Prescription Labels: Get To Know Them, Karen Adams

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Low health literacy is a problem for millions of Americans resulting in increased use of healthcare resources resulting in poor health outcomes. The older adult population is continuing to grow and is the largest user of healthcare. Use of pharmaceutical regimens to manage chronic illnesses is the most commonly used treatment modality. Unfortunately, people with low health literacy may have trouble understanding and following their providers instructions. It can be difficult to read directions on over the counter and prescription medication bottles. Community-based health educational programs benefit the maintenance of older adult health. The purpose of this project was to …

Inspiring Nurse Leader Connectedness To Improve Patient Experience, Shauna Maxson

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Objectives:

1. Interventions targeted at improved communication, retention, empowerment, and encouragement will be utilized to enhance the practice environment of incumbent and future nurses in the emergency department. Nurse connectedness will be improved 25% over baseline following implementation of interventions to positively augment practice environment.

2. Patient experience scores in the emergency department will be sustained at benchmark, or greater, following efforts to improve nurse connectedness.

Design: Prospective, single-center, non-randomized, pre- vs. post-

Data Sources: Scholarly, peer-reviewed journal articles and texts, results from pre- and post-intervention completion of Utrecht Work Engagement Scale, Press Ganey patient experience scores

Review Methods: Review …

Nursing Education Intervention On Using Video-Based Patient Education "Modifiable Stroke Risk Factors", Julie C. Webb

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Objective: Nurses play a significant role in the discharge education and understanding of the disease state to stroke patients. This study aimed to educate nurses on implementing video-based stroke patient education, focusing on individualized patient modifiable risk factors.

Methods: This project included education sessions focused on training nurses to access and use available video-based stroke education. In addition, nurses participated in a needs and knowledge-based survey. These education sessions were provided during staff huddles on different shifts over one week.

Results: Education sessions focused on the proper use of the video-based stroke patient education tool positively influenced nursing opinions regarding …

The Impact Of An Escape Room Simulation On Confidence And Competence In Nursing Student’S Identification Of Critical Changes In Patients: A Mixed-Method Approach, Kristy Schmaldinst

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Background The novice nurse takes time to show competency and confidence when implementing the new skills learned throughout their time in nursing school. With the increasing complexities of the healthcare system in the United States, it is necessary to ensure graduates are adequately prepared to handle critical situations. However, the ability of novice nurses to recognize critical changes in patients continues to be a hurdle that nursing faculty are attempting to address.

Objectives The objectives of this project were to explore the impact of an escape room simulation on student’s confidence and competence in recognizing critical changes in patients.

Design …

Spiritual Dimensions Of Care: Need For Spiritual Care Interventions In Nursing Clinical Practice, Jillian Jack

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Empirical research has identified emerging evidence concerning the value and importance of spirituality in the provision of nursing care. Spiritual well-being has important implications for a patient’s well-being and there is evidence that points to the association between spirituality, individual healthcare outcomes, and quality of life (QOL). Assisting patients in meeting their spiritual needs is also recognized internationally. Despite the fact that spiritual care is an essential part of nursing care, there remains a gap concerning spiritual care practices in the nursing clinical environment. The magnitude of the problem has to do with the lack of spiritual care education training. …

Addressing Hidden Barriers To Follow Up Healthcare: A Community Referral Pilot Project, Amber Williams

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Objective: The project was aimed to reduce the number of participants lost to primary care follow-up following a mobile health unit screening event.

Design: A pilot study program screening tool implementation was utilized to address the hidden barriers of the Social Determinants of Health (SDoH) during a Winter 2021 event.

Sample: A group of 12 participants were screened during a mobile health unit event. Eight of the participants opted to be a part of the pilot study.

Measurements: A comparison ratio of Primary Care follow up was compared from the Winter of 2020 with Winter of 2021, where the screening …

Aerosol Spacers With Asthma Inhalers: Best Practice For School Health Nurses, Casey Page

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Healthcare providers do not have adequate knowledge regarding the use of aerosol spacers and asthma inhalers. Inappropriate use of asthma inhalers may lead to poor medication distribution in the lungs and poor asthma control. The utilization of aerosol spacers with asthma inhalers is shown to increase medication distribution to the lungs. Asthma is the number one chronic condition seen by school health nurses. An online learning module was created for school health nurses to reiterate the best practice use of aerosol spacers with asthma inhalers. After completion of the online learning module, school health nurses answered nine questions on an …

Hand Hygiene For Health Promotion, Phyllis Knight-Brown

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

For many years public health organizations, such as The World Health Organization (WHO) and The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), have stressed the need for proper hand hygiene. Proper hand hygiene requires a prescribed process to rid the hands of potentially infecting organisms by using soap and water (handwashing) or hand sanitizer (sanitizing). These processes need to be performed at critical times to promote infection prevention. Many studies have shown that hand hygiene is a learned behavior that becomes habitual over time, and behavior change mechanisms in addition to education are needed to affect a long-term change in …

Evaluating An Overall Experience Of Virtual Learning In Meeting The Continuing Education Needs Of Rural Nurses In North Carolina, Yuen Li (May) Cheung

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Background. Rural nurses in North Carolina (NC) face several barriers to accessing face-to-face continuing education (CE) opportunities.

Objective. The purpose of the project is to connect to rural nurses in NC by designing accessible and flexible CE programming that includes virtual learning activities.

Methods. System Usability Scale (SUS) and the Usability Metric for User Experience short version (UMUX-Lite) tools were used. to predict whether participants will use or adopt a new technology following a North Carolina Area Heath Education Center (NC AHEC) hosted virtual conference.

Findings. Of the 103 participants who attended the CE conference, 93 …

Virtual Medication Reconciliation Simulation With Senior Nursing Students, Courtney B. Calhoun

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Abstract not available

Enhancing Learning And Self-Efficacy With Virtual Simulation, Lawone J. Lane

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Background Evidence is lacking for support in the use of virtual simulation as a viable alternative for experiential learning and enhancing satisfaction, self-efficacy, and learning.

Problem Virtual simulation activities can provide opportunities for nursing students outside of clinical sites. In prelicensure nursing education, how does the development of a virtual simulation compare to traditional nursing education and does virtual simulation enhance student satisfaction, self-efficacy, and learning?

Approach A non-experimental descriptive design was used to examine attitudes of prelicensure nursing students related to perceived satisfaction, self-efficacy, and learning following a virtual simulation in place of a clinical site experience.

Outcomes Nursing …

Self-Care Practice In Nursing, Leslie Rhom

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Nurses encounter multiple stressors throughout each shift. If this is not managed well through self-care and coping strategies, it can negatively impact one 's health and the well-being and care delivered to patients. The purpose of this project is to bring awareness of current self-care strengths and limitations of nursing students, equipping students with evidence-based practices to enhance self-care. This effort can lead to improved patient care outcomes by decreasing job turnover, burnout, and compassion fatigue. The participants in this project were pre-licensure nursing students in the final semester of nursing school. Participants attended a didactic lecture, completed the Mindful …

Enhanced Breastfeeding Support Using Video Education To Improve Exclusive Breastfeeding Rates In A Baby-Friendly Acute Care Facility, Carol Mayernik

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) provides health benefits and is recommended by professional health organizations including the American Academy of Pediatrics, The World Health Organization, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Healthcare facilities support families to achieve EBF by educating clinicians and patients about the benefits of exclusive breastfeeding, providing prenatal education and hospital support to patients, and by achieving Baby-Friendly Designation through the Baby-Friendly USA, as endorsed by the World Health Organization/UNICEF. Most pregnant patients desire to exclusively breastfeed yet multiple barriers exist to achieve this goal. Evidence supports the use of video learning as an effective way to …

Perioperative Advanced Directives, Derek Washer

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Technology and surgical techniques continue to improve, resulting in more clients with advanced directives presenting to the operative suite for surgery or procedures requiring anesthesia. Anesthesia providers are in a critical position to discuss with the surgical patient or surrogate any alteration or reconsideration to their advanced directive. Unfortunately, patients and anesthesia provider discussions at a North Texas hospital were limited due to a knowledge deficit, an outdated hospital policy rescinding all directives perioperatively, and an inadequate consenting mechanism. The perioperative advanced directives project involved updating the hospital policy to current national guidelines and developing a “DNR Under Anesthesia” consenting …

Opioid Free Anesthesia, Sarah Medina

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Patients undergoing surgery are often given opioids intraoperatively. Administration of opioids is associated with untoward side effects that include nausea, respiratory depression, constipation, ileus, hyperalgesia, prolonged length of stay, and the potential for dependence (Garimella & Cellini, 2013). Emerging research on the topic of opioid-free anesthesia (OFA) is available and indicates several benefits of OFA, including reduction in postoperative pain, reduction in postoperative nausea and vomiting, reduction in postoperative shivering, and improved oxygen saturation levels (Mulier et al., 2018). This quality improvement project aimed to advance anesthesia providers' understanding of OFA by creating an OFA guideline and providing a learning …

Cultural Competency Training For U.S. Army Security Force Assistance Brigade (Sfab) Brigade Medical Teams, Jacob Blount

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

The United States Army began standing up Security Force Assistance Brigades (SFAB) in February 2018. The Brigade Medical Team (BMT) is an 11-person, interdisciplinary Army National Guard team. National Guard Soldiers only have one weekend per month and two weeks of annual training per year to develop/maintain cultural competence. The researcher investigated the efficacy of the Cross-Cultural Competence Trainer (3CT) V2 course to develop and maintain cultural competency in BMT personnel. Pre-test results were obtained from three military medical personnel and a post-test immediately after the course. Participants completed a longitudinal test 28-31 days after the post-test. There was a …

Development And Implementation Of An Orthopedic Enhanced Recovery After Surgery Protocol, Beth Mccoy

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Abstract

As life expectancy rates have grown and individuals desire a more active lifestyle the number of total hip arthroplasty and total knee arthroplasty surgeries performed has grown significantly. Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocols have been shown to decrease the financial impact and improve patient outcomes in total joint surgeries. After a literature review a multidisciplinary team met and developed an ERAS protocol for total joint replacement surgeries to be implemented at a 250-bed community hospital in central Illinois. After an eleven-question pre-test was given to 34 participants consisting of perioperative nursing staff, anesthesia, and surgeons assessing their knowledge …

Impact Of A Standardized Neurologic Exam On Diagnosis Of And Referral Pattern For Neurologic Disorder In Pediatric Toe Walking, Allison Hotze

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Successful management of toe walking, a common patient complaint addressed by pediatric orthopedic providers, requires detection of concerning neurologic causes for toe walking. However, nurse practitioners in an outpatient orthopedic clinic were not following recommended guidelines for the history and physical exam for children who toe walk, resulting in delayed referrals and poorer patient outcomes. A performance improvement project was initiated that included an educational intervention, chart review, and data analysis. The goal was to improve the performance and documentation of neurologic exam when nurse practitioners saw patients for an initial visit for toe walking. A literature review provided evidence-based …

Improving Nurse Resilience, Brandon Hedgspeth

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

The national average nurse turnover rate was 18.2% in 2017 (Ackerson & Stiles, 2018). A contributing factor for nursing turnout rates was nurse burnout and compassion fatigue (Barratt, 2018; Cleary, Kornhaber, Thapa, West, & Visentin, 2018; Cope, Jones, & Hendricks, 2016; Magtibay, Chesak, Coughlin, & Sood, 2017; Delaney, 2018; Manomenidis, Panagopoulou, & Montgomery, 2019; Poulsen, 2015). Improvement in nurse resilience was revealed to reduce burnout and compassion fatigue in nurses (Ackerson & Stiles; Delaney). The primary goal of this quality improvement project was to evaluate the use and impact of resiliency education on the resiliency of nurses in the hospital …

Heart Failure 30-Day Readmission Frequency, Rates, And Hf Classification, Yolanda R. Brown, Twonia M. Goyer, Margaret C. Harvey

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

30 Day Hospital Readmission Rates, Frequencies, and Heart Failure Classification for Patients with Heart Failure

Background Congestive heart failure (CHF) is the leading cause of mortality, morbidity, and disability worldwide among patients. Both the incidence and the prevalence of heart failure are age dependent and are relatively common in individuals 40 years of age and older. CHF is one of the leading causes of inpatient hospitalization readmission in the United States, with readmission rates remaining above the 20% goal within 30 days. The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services imposes a 3% reimbursement penalty for excessive readmissions including those who …

Increasing Nurse Knowledge Using A Formal Lung Transplant Education Program, Amy M. Stoddard, Donna Lynch-Smith, Kate Carlson Wrammert, Bobby Bellflower

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

This quality improvement project was completed to show that a formal lung transplant education course for nurses caring for lung transplant patients increased their knowledge. An eight-hour education course was developed by experts in the field of lung transplantation. A pretest was administered before the education course. A posttest was administered to determine if knowledge was improved. A three-month follow-up test was administered to determine knowledge retention. Based on the data analysis, nurse knowledge improved after formal education. Item analysis determined what areas of educational content need to be the focus of quarterly education. The education course was adopted as …

Implementation Of Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (Eras) Protocol After Cystectomy: A Quality Improvement Project To Evaluate Bowel Function With Implementation Of Eras Protocol, Weruche Agube

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Abstract

The purpose of this Quality Improvement project was to develop and implement an enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocol for cystectomy patients at a regional hospital in central Illinois. Specific goals included reducing patient’s length of hospital stay, reducing occurrence of postoperative ileus after surgery as well as educating the nurses involved in patient care about effective implementation the protocol. An educational presentation and knowledge assessment via testing was developed and subsequently presented to the nurses both inpatient and outpatient at the host facility. A specific protocol was crafted after discussion with stakeholders and the ERAS protocol was finalized …

The Effect Of An Online Educational Intervention On The Community Knowledge Of Physical Health, Mental Health And Self-Efficacy During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Kerstin Ashby Ferguson

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Background

Community health education during times of pandemic is of utmost importance to disseminate information regarding safety precautions, educate the public regarding the disease process, and provide accurate health information during a time when individuals are specifically vulnerable to inaccurate sources of information. During the COVID-19 pandemic, physical gatherings were highly restricted; therefore, it became important to incorporate technology into the educational process.

Purpose

The purpose of this project was to determine if a thirty-day, online community health education program would increase the health knowledge and self-efficacy of participants.

Methods

This project utilized a quantitative quasi-experimental pre-test/post-test design from a …

The Effect Of An Online Mental Health Promotion Program During Covid-19, Juliana Maldonado

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Background

The negative impact of Coronavirus 19 (COVID-19) on mental health has been observed through the pandemic. People have had to adapt to a new norm of social distancing, wearing a mask, and abstaining from big group gatherings. These changes have impacted all levels of society and the rise of mental health care continues to grow as COVID-19 continues at this time. Mental health promotion strategies may be enhanced through the use of telehealth.

Purpose

To determine if a six-week online mental health promotion intervention would improve the GAD-7 scores of participants.

Methods

This project utilized a quantitative quasi-experimental pre-test/post-test …