Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

The Home Modification Process Through The Lens Of An Ot, James C. Nichols

OTD Capstone Projects

This doctoral capstone project was completed through partnership with FiftyForward and The Home Connection. Both of the organizations serve as a resource for the aging in place population throughout Middle Tennessee. The focus of this project was to provide the OT perspective on the home modification project. Throughout this project, over 15 home evaluations were completed, 1 ramp was built, and 5 homes were modified for increased functionality. Additionally, the creation of systematic guide on how to prepare to age in place, and a 20 page comprehensive resource list was developed with active links to technology, adaptive equipment, DME, and …

Creation Of Occupational Therapy Treatment Protocols For Diagnoses Affecting The Upper Extremities, William Hughes

OTD Capstone Projects

This doctoral capstone project included creation of 20 conservative and post-surgical occupation-based and occupational therapy focused treatment protocols covering diagnoses affecting the upper extremities as well as a comprehensive protocol manual accompanied by a guide for use. This doctoral capstone poster contains a needs assessment, goals of the project, the protocols development process, the occupational therapy perspective, and examples of the protocols created.

Implementing Occupational Therapy Principles Into A Lower Elementary Private School In Middle Tennessee, Alexandra Shea Katzman

OTD Capstone Projects

This doctoral capstone project was completed through partnership with Middle Tennessee Christian School in Murfreesboro, TN. The focus of this project was development, implementation, and advocacy regarding pivotal occupational therapy principals in a school that does not offer school OT services. The goal of this project was implementation of the Zones of Regulation curriculum into Kindergarten - 2nd grade classrooms as well as development of a fine motor skills resource guide for teachers and parents. Zones of Regulation training sessions consisted of identifying emotions, categorizing these emotions into Zones, and discussing regulation tools that drive self regulation. Fine motor resource …

Positive Behavioral Supports And Sensory Experiences At Benton Hall Academy, Ania Spann

OTD Capstone Projects

This project was completed in partnership with Benton Hall Academy, a private institution located in Nashville, TN that provides a compassionate learning environment with individualized learning opportunities for children that learn differently. The focus of this capstone project was to enhance sensory experiences and implement positive behavioral intervention and supports. This was accomplished through providing an in-service presentation, providing resources, continuous communication with faculty and staff, and interaction with students.

Promoting Full Participation For Students Involved In Young Life Capernaum, Hannah Simmons

OTD Capstone Projects

This doctoral capstone project focused on creating educational tools and resources for students, leaders, and coaches involved in Nashville Young Life Capernaum. Young Life Capernaum is a longstanding organization that is built on serving young people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The goal was not to change what they are doing but to supply practical skills and knowledge on topics such as self-regulation, behavior management, accommodations, and appropriate language use to increase participation and inclusivity of all stakeholders involved. The results were guidebooks, specifically made for Capernaum leaders, coaches, and students, that attempt to encompass common questions and frequently needed …

Promoting Health Education And Wellness Among Clients Of Nurses For Newborns, Whitney Mitchell

OTD Capstone Projects

This doctoral capstone project was completed through a partnership with Nurses for Newborns, a nonprofit organization sending specially trained, registered nurses to the homes of babies, moms, caregivers, and teens who face medical, social, or environmental risks. Nurses for Newborns of Tennessee exists as a safety net for families most at-risk in order to prevent infant mortality, child abuse, and neglect by providing home nursing visits promoting healthcare, education, and positive parenting skills. This project was driven by the organization’s need to increase three areas: parent/caregiver participation in physical activity while also bonding with their child, parent/caregiver knowledge of activities …

Defining Success In Patient Care Technician Development, Ferrol A. Thomas

DNP Scholarly Projects

The national nursing shortage has created a need for unique staffing models in healthcare organizations that incorporate unlicensed assistive personnel such as, patient care technicians (PCT). As part of the healthcare team, PCTs provide support to registered nurses contributing to positive patient outcomes. Recruitment and training for PCTs is successful in workforce development programs through employer academic partnership programs. The Success Case Method (SCM) was used to evaluate a local workforce development program for PCT at Nashville State Community College. Participants were evaluated to gain demographic data (n=25) and qualitative interviews (n=6) to provide insight about what made the program …

Mental Health And Mindfulness: A Homeroom Curriculum At Benton Hall Academy, Kasey A. Rohleder

OTD Capstone Projects

This capstone project was completed through a partnership with Benton Hall Academy in Nashville, TN. This academy is a school for children who learn differently and works to help students be successful in their education and transition into the workplace or higher learning opportunities. This project focuses on improving the mental health of lower and middle school students through a 27 week homeroom curriculum teaching about mindfulness, social skills, attention, and emotional regulation. Current literature and materials, students needs, and stakeholder input was utilized to create and implement the project in the lower and middle school homeroom classrooms.

Exploration Of Inclusivity And Accessibility Of Play Spaces And Miracle League Facilities, Anna Dyduch

OTD Capstone Projects

Throughout this capstone project, Anna Dyduch partnered with Miracle League facilities throughout North America to individually assess 300+ facilities for inclusivity standards based on updated best practice standards. Miracle League is an inclusive baseball program for children and adults with disabilities to promote community engagement and play. The focus of the project was to gauge inclusivity of all facilities to provide a database of how each facility scores; this will promote the highest standard of inclusivity for all upcoming Miracle League facilities to be built. Additional project activities included assessing local playgrounds and play spaces for ADA standard accessibility and …

Developing Resources To Promote Increased Program Activity And Independence For Individuals In A Residential Reentry Program, Kaylee Jorgensen

OTD Capstone Projects

The purpose of this capstone project is to partner with Dismas House to develop sustainable resources to increase independence and participation of residents during their time at Dismas House. Dismas House provides a 90-day re-entry program that serves men who are reentering the community after being incarcerated. Dismas House has the goal to support these individuals as they navigate their transition back into the community from being incarcerated and help them overcome barriers they may face in doing so. Dismas House has “Four Pillars of Programming,” which include basic needs, health and well-being, life skills, and legal support which were …

Implementation Of A Rounding Tool To Promote Compliance With Central Line Dressing Changes In An Adult Intensive Care Unit, Fabiola Demuth

DNP Scholarly Projects

Abstract

Evidence supports implementing central line (CL) maintenance bundles and nurse-led rounding interventions to prevent central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs). In a Tennessee intensive care unit (ICU), increased CLABSI rates were associated with inconsistent CL dressing maintenance and documentation. This Doctor of Nursing Practice scholarly project was implemented to improve ICU CLABSI rates and reinforce nursing standard practices for CL dressing care. This quality improvement project used the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) model for improvement, which used the plan, do, study, act (PDSA) cycles as part of the framework to implement a daily nurse-led rounding tool in the ICU, …

Increasing Colorectal Cancer Screening Uptake Among Hispanic/Latino Patients: A Quality Improvement Initiative, Erick Hernandez Campos, Elizabeth Morse, David Phillippi

DNP Scholarly Projects

Background: In 2021, cancer (CRC) screening rates for Latino men (42%) and women (47.5%) remain well below the Health People 2020 target (70.5%). Extensive documentation of barriers for screening include language, insurance status, and other sociocultural barriers which contribute to delays in diagnosis and/or diagnosis at advanced stages of the disease, and worse health outcomes. Latinos need culturally and linguistically appropriate health promotion interventions aimed to increase CRC screening rates with any modality (FIT, Cologuard, or Colonoscopy).

Methods: The Donabedian Structure-Process-Outcome (S-P-O) Model for quality improvement was used to develop and target a provider-driven, language-concordant communication interventions for …

Elopement Prevention: Promoting Safety And Supporting Participation, Sarah C. Duckworth

OTD Capstone Projects

The goal of this capstone project was to create resources promoting elopement prevention and provide suggestions for anti-elopement equipment visits at the Vanderbilt Pediatric Seating & Mobility Clinic. Research indicates that 50% of families have never received guidance about elopement prevention from a healthcare professional. The tools created during this capstone project were meant to improve equipment visits, educate caregivers, and empower future occupational therapy practitioners. The goals were achieved through collaboration with stakeholders, completing a review of the literature, attending a child passenger safety technician course, and developing resources. The result was a social story and sensory toolbox for …

Achieving The Best Of All: Program Development For Adults And Preschoolers With Down Syndrome At Gigi's Playhouse, Samantha Wu

OTD Capstone Projects

This doctoral capstone project was conducted through partnership with GiGi’s Playhouse Nashville, a non-profit organization that offers free, educational programs for individuals with Down syndrome and their families throughout the lifespan. The project concentrated on the establishment and facilitation of two programs: GiGi University and Leaps and Bounds. GiGi University is an adult learning program targeting life skills advancement related to communication, career, physical and mental wellness, money management, and kitchen competency. Leaps and Bounds is a play-based program targeting the development of preschool readiness skills through motor and sensory activities. The goal of both programs is to promote achievement …

Learn, Reflect, Practice, Discuss: A Professional Development Pilot For Clinical Nurse Educators, Jessica Savage, Linda Wofford Dr., David Phillippi Dr.

DNP Scholarly Projects

Abstract

AIM: The aim of this project was to assess the effect of a professional development pilot on the self-efficacy among clinical nurse educators toward evaluation and assessment of students in the clinical setting.

BACKGROUND: Nursing schools employ clinical nurse faculty with varied levels of experience and formal education in teaching. Positive student outcomes are dependent on the competency of their nursing faculty, yet best practices to train and support the professional growth of clinical faculty have not yet been identified.

METHOD: A multi-modal professional development pilot including online-learning modules, self-reflection, practice-learning, and peer-mentoring components was designed and implemented with …

Women's Stories Of Reaching A Diagnosis Of Endometriosis: A Qualitative Study, Susan C. Debolt

DNP Scholarly Projects

Endometriosis is a chronic gynecological condition affecting 10% of reproductive-aged women worldwide. Women with endometriosis often experience a decreased quality of life compared to women without endometriosis. The average time to diagnosis is greater than six years for adult women and greater than 11 years for adolescents. Yet, there is little research investigating the pre-diagnostic experiences of women with endometriosis. This study aims to inform healthcare providers of patients' pre-diagnostic experiences of endometriosis in an effort to improve patient care. Using one-on-one, semi-structured online interviews and a qualitative design, this study explored six women's pre-diagnostic experiences of endometriosis. The main …

Culturally Sensitive Emergency Care For Sexual And Gender Minority Youth, Kaysi Goodall

DNP Scholarly Projects

There is substantial evidence of disparities in access to healthcare and health outcomes affecting sexual and gender minority youth (SGMY). However, evidence of SGMY cultural sensitivity training for pediatric emergency health professionals is limited. This quality improvement research project in an urban pediatric emergency department (PED) used a cross-sectional, pre-test post-test design to improve health professionals’ knowledge, attitudinal awareness, and clinical preparedness in caring for this population. It was informed by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement’s Model for Improvement and completed in four Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycles. Evidence-based pedagogical strategies were utilized for a 60-minute staff training session, including introducing foundational …

Exploring Factors Influencing Nursing Engagement In 4ms Initiatives On An Inpatient Older Adult Unit, Sarah Nelson

DNP Scholarly Projects

Background: The older adult population is growing, and these individuals often have health challenges that require complex nursing care. On an older adult unit in Tennessee, a 4Ms (What Matters, Medication, Mentation, and Mobility) Age-Friendly care initiative was implemented to improve care and outcomes. Early data showed inconsistent nursing engagement with 4Ms initiatives and qualitative data on engagement factors was needed to increase nursing support and improve patient outcomes. Purpose: Therefore, this scholarly project explored factors influencing nursing staff engagement with the 4Ms initiative on an older adult unit. Methods: Nurses and …

Seltec Model Level I Fieldwork Shift In An Ota Program, Paige Henson

OTD Capstone Projects

This doctoral capstone project was completed through a partnership with Nashville State Community College’s (NSCC) Occupational Therapy Assistant Program. To address clinician burnout from supervising students during level I fieldworks, NSCC is in the early stages of researching, planning, and implementing the SELTEC: Service and Experiential Learning Through Engagement in the Community Model for their Level I Fieldwork placements. The SELTEC model’s main objective is to provide quality and consistent level I fieldwork by using a faculty-led approach in partnership with community based organizations to decrease the burden on fieldwork sites and educators. This project aimed to create a manual …

Enhancing Learning Outcomes In An Intervention Based Orthopedic Course, Kathryn E. Kita

OTD Capstone Projects

This capstone project was completed through a collaboration with Belmont University’s School of Occupational Therapy in Nashville, Tennessee. The project focused on reviewing, creating, and implementing supplemental educational material to enhance learning outcomes in first year OTD students in the occupational performance I course (OPI). OPI is the first intervention-based course in the curriculum, focusing on the orthopedic and acute care settings. The educational material created includes five video demonstrations, three comprehensive case studies and videos of the evaluation and treatment sessions that coincide, four review sessions of important topics covered in lecture, and multiple fabricated orthotics. A pre and …

The Lived Experience Of Older Adults Desiring To Age In Place, Sarah K. Dean

OTD Capstone Projects

The Lived Experience of Older Adults Desiring to Age in Place is a study conducted by Sarah Dean, a student in Belmont University's Doctorate Program in Occupational Therapy. Purpose: This project was created to determine the lived experience and perspective of older adults desiring to age in place. This project was intended to benefit all older adults attending FiftyForward in Middle TN and their families. Methodology: The student assisted second-year Belmont OTD students in distributing an initial survey to the FiftyForward participants. The student went back to FiftyForward centers, and conducted in-depth interviews with the older adult participants in …

Promoting Occupational Therapy Student Well-Being Through Scholarship, Hanna Mcclain

OTD Capstone Projects

This doctoral capstone experience entitled “Promoting Occupational Therapy Student Well-Being through Scholarship” aimed to complete tasks within Belmont’s School of OT to promote occupational therapy student well-being. The outcomes and deliverables of the project include submitting a manuscript for publication, analyzing data with research team, manualizing the WBOP intervention, streamlining the WBOP intervention PowerPoints, submitting a grant application, teaching one of the WBOP intervention classes, and creating a new manuscript from the newly analyzed data.

Work Skills Programming Within Davidson County Residential Drug Court, Sarah Dinnes

OTD Capstone Projects

This capstone project was completed through partnership with Davidson County Residential Drug Court (DC4). DC4 is a long-term residential facility that provides on-site treatment and recovery resources for non-violent offenders. The focus of this project was the development of intervention materials that provides resources and tools to help build work readiness skills to better prepare these individuals for long-term employment and becoming productive members of society upon graduation of the program. The handbook includes education and opportunities to apply learned skills in the areas of employment, communication, financial management, and community transportation. To be sustainable for the agency, counselors will …

Exploring Seating And Mobility Provision, Amaris Hornbuckle

OTD Capstone Projects

This doctoral capstone was an exploration of the specialty practice area of seating and mobility through partnerships with Numotion and TriStar Skyline Medical Center. A variety of projects were completed including educational materials for a wheelchair clinic, a loaner wheelchair tracking spreadsheet, educational materials for a Belmont Occupational therapy course, a literature search on pediatric power mobility, and protocol spreadsheets for an FDA research study. Throughout this capstone, I learned the skills necessary for a wheelchair evaluation, developed interprofessional communication skills, and gained an understanding of the lived experience of end users.

Early Progressive Mobility In The Micu: A Qi Project, Kenneth Johnson

DNP Scholarly Projects

Abstract

Background: Immobility causes grave harm to ICU patients. There is not a body system that bedrest does not affect negatively. The MICU has an early mobility protocol; however, patients are often left in bed, PT/OT is underutilized, and nurses are unfamiliar with the current early mobility protocol.

Methods: The Plan Do Study Act quality improvement method was used for this project which ran from September 1 to November 30, 2022, and involved the MICU RN staff. This QI project evaluated the current early mobility protocol, assessed barriers, determined the nurse’s perceptions, and offered recommendations for sustainability.

Intervention: The project …

Impact Of Teamstepps On Team Performance In An Oral And Maxillofacial Surgery Practice, Katherine E. Lee

DNP Scholarly Projects

Effective communication and teamwork skills among oral and maxillofacial surgery (OMS) teams are essential for quality and safe patient care. As some in the profession assert that the team model for delivering anesthesia care is integral to their history of safety, the model continues to be scrutinized by professional groups whose members seek to limit oral surgeons’ ability to provide anesthesia services in the office setting. This quality improvement project assessed how introducing the TeamSTEPPS Office-Based Care (OBC) program in an OMS clinic impacted team dynamics. The impact of TeamSTEPPS OBC training on attitudes and perceptions of teamwork was evaluated …

Postsecondary Education Curriculum For Adult Students With Idd At Lipscomb University's Ideal, Rebecca Gracey

OTD Capstone Projects

Igniting the Dream of Education and Access at Lipscomb (IDEAL) is a postsecondary education program for young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) in Nashville, TN. Students enroll in both traditional university courses and IDEAL courses teaching employment and independent living skills. This project focused on developing curriculum for two upcoming courses as IDEAL grows from a two-year program to a four-year program. Resources were created to develop 12-week curriculums with a focus on independent living skills and employment soft skills to be implemented in the Fall 2023 semester. Each curriculum includes multiple teaching strategies to meet the learning …

Habits For Health: A Holistic Approach To Women's Well-Being, Katelyn Helms

OTD Capstone Projects

The New Beginnings Center is a nonprofit organization that offers a holistic approach to a healthy lifestyle including instruction regarding nutrition and exercise training. They offer a 12-week program for women of all backgrounds 18+ that empowers women through fitness and lifestyle changes. They have also recently started a program called Iron souls which offers the same education and empowerment for teenagers. The objective for this project was to provide the most updated review of literature regarding the interrelationship between hormones and health. This included how reproductive hormones influenced energy levels, losing weight, and building muscle. Additionally, the relationship between …

Exploring Hapi Incidence In Patients Admitted Through The Ed: A Quality Improvement Initiative, Alexa L. Tietgens

DNP Scholarly Projects

Each year in the U.S., pressure injuries, or PIs, are responsible for more than 60,000 patient deaths and billions of dollars’ worth of treatment costs. Research shows that roughly 95% of all PIs are preventable by following evidence-based practice guidelines which include early identification of patients at risk, frequent skin assessments, and implementation of prevention strategies. However, the ED environment creates unique risks for PI development due to the routine use of hard surfaces (i.e., stretchers, backboards, exam tables) and frequent hospital overcrowding. Although nurses play a pivotal role in PI prevention, frequent staffing shortages, high patient acuity levels, and …

Perceptions Of Preparedness Among New Graduate Nurses: Traditional Curriculum Versus Concept-Based Curriculum, Ashley A. Wheeler, Steven Busby, David Phillippi, Tammy Legge

DNP Scholarly Projects

Concept-based curriculum (CBC) is a newer trend in nursing education curriculum aimed at preparing new graduates to enter the workforce as generalist nurses better suited to care for a more medically complex population. Using CBC, students are introduced to concepts in order to build conceptual understandings as they engage in knowledge and skill learning, as opposed to a traditional nursing curriculum that is taught in sections grouped by patient population and medical complexity. At a nursing school housed within a private university in the southeast, the traditional nursing curriculum was replaced with CBC in 2016. To better understand the preparedness …