Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Increasing Colorectal Cancer Screening Rates In The Psychiatric Inpatient Unit, Diane R. Ventura

Master's Projects and Capstones

Increasing Colorectal Cancer Screening Rates in the Psychiatric Inpatient Unit

Abstract

Problem: Colorectal cancer is one of the leading cancer deaths in the United States. The Psychiatric Inpatient Unit has a colorectal cancer screening compliance rate of 40% compared to the statewide average of 80%.

Context: The Psychiatric Inpatient Unit is a 58-bed inpatient intermediate care facility mental health program in Northern California. Upon review of the EMR, most PIU nurses give verbal instructions and patient education on colorectal cancer screenings when due. Still, no printed handout was provided to the patients upon review of the EMR.

Intervention: Review of …

Decreasing Falls In A Medical Surgical Unit: A Quality Improvement Project, Ann Chetty

Master's Projects and Capstones

Abstract

The purpose of the project was to decrease the number of falls occurring in the 48-bed medical-surgical unit by building standard work for hourly rounding and communication. Falls are a patient safety issue and are preventable. Since the Institute of Medicine has published “To Err is Human” in 1999, there have been a multitude of studies on falls, yet falls continue to be prevalent in health care organizations. The increase in patient falls adversely impact the patient’s length of stay, discharges to nursing homes and the facility’s reputation for providing safe care. The staff in this microsystem used the …

Breast Cancer Patient Preparedness For Transition To Survivorship: Individualized Survivorship Care Plans, Kimberly Beringer

Master's Projects and Capstones

Purpose. For breast cancer survivors, after-effects of surgery, radiation and chemotherapy can be substantial, and recurrence is a concern requiring constant surveillance. National healthcare organizations have promulgated guidelines that include providing individualized survivorship care plans (SCP’s). At a northern California oncology department, SCP’s will be prepared for breast cancer patients and delivered in-person by the oncology nurse navigator (ONN).

Method. The author worked with the ONN to develop the format and content requirements for the SCP’s. The ONN prepared individualized plans for patients and scheduled in-person appointments to deliver the SCP’s. A feedback survey to assess preliminary impact was then …