Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

A Qualitative Study On Nurse Facilitators Of Mind-Body Skills Groups, Paula D. Blake-Beckford

Mindfulness Studies Theses

The Center for Mind-Body Medicine (CMBM), founded by Dr. James Gordon, provides communities with evidence-based Mind-Body Skills Groups (MBSGs) that foster self-care, self-awareness, and self-expression. MBSGs range from 8 to 12-week series on various mind-body practices wherein group members meet, practice, and reflect on the impact of mind-body skills in their lives. Research has demonstrated that participants in MBSGs have positive outcomes. Healthcare professionals (HCPs), especially nurses, gain resiliency from MBSGs. As facilitators of MBSGs, nurses develop essential skills transferable to clinical and educational settings. MBSGs are therapeutic for adult participants with chronic stress. Prior to this thesis, only one …

Perceived Sources Of Stress Related To Burnout Amongst Emergency Department Staff Due To The Covid-19 Pandemic: A Literature Review, Sydney Craig

The Eleanor Mann School of Nursing Undergraduate Honors Theses

Emergency departments (ED) are usually considered high stress environments. The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and the accompanying challenges such as frequent exposure to the novel virus, lack of personal protective equipment (PPE), being over worked and underpaid, and the uncertainty surrounding the overall trajectory of the COVID-19 pandemic have resulted in an increased level of burnout for ED staff, especially nurses. This study involves a meta-analysis of current literature surrounding ED burnout including incidence rate and causes during the COVID-19 pandemic. Because studies indicate upwards of three fourths of ED staff reporting increased stress and burnout, finding ways to …

Not Coming Home: The Flaws In Skilled Nursing Facilities And Their Contribution To Cyclical Hospitalizations Of Post-Acute Patients, Kate Eisenbraun

Pitzer Senior Theses

This literature review will discuss the experience of patients within the US healthcare system, focusing on skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) and their contribution to cyclical hospitalizations. SNFs differ from nursing homes and other long-term care facilities by providing short-term, post-operational rehabilitation at a cost lower than what is offered at hospitals. Despite their critical role, SNFs often face fundamental issues, such as understaffing, underfunding, and staff burn-out, which result in lower quality patient care. This thesis argues that the issues faced by SNFs are a result of inconsistencies with state and federal staffing regulations, as well as inadequate insurance reimbursements. …

Use Of Compassion Fatigue Education And Guided Imagery To Reduce Compassion Fatigue In The Oncology Nurse, Laura Mahoney

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Capstones

Abstract

Background: Oncology nurses are exposed to their patients’ extreme suffering and death. This exposure places them at risk of developing Compassion Fatigue. Compassion Fatigue is often described as trauma that results from caring for those that are suffering. Its sequelae are like post-traumatic stress syndrome, including emotional and physical conditions. Nurses experiencing Compassion Fatigue could jeopardize their health, as well as their patients’ health. Evidence-based interventions may reduce the risk or presence of Compassion Fatigue.

Objectives: The objective of this project was to test an intervention that could prevent or reduce Compassion Fatigue in the oncology nurse. Based on …

The Impact Of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Techniques On Nurse Burnout In An Icu, Heather L. Vincent

Student Scholarly Projects

Practice Problem: Burnout among nurses has been linked to turnover, negative patient safety and quality outcomes, and higher costs for institutions.

PICOT: The PICOT question that guided this project was, in ICU nurses (P), what was the impact of the use of MBSR techniques (I), versus the current state in which no MBSR techniques are practiced (C), on self-reported BO (O), over the course of eight weeks (T).

Evidence: A total of 14 studies were identified in the literature that directly support the implementation of this project. Themes from the literature show that mindfulness-based stress reduction techniques such as meditation, …

Disruptive Communication Among The Interdisciplinary Team: Gaining Insight And Providing Nurse Education, Kristen Marie Anderson

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Project

The purpose of this study is to identify what types of disruptive behavior nurses are experiencing, discuss outcomes of disruptive behavior, and educate healthcare providers and administrators of disruptive communication. Understanding the consequences of disruptive communication can help educators articulate the need for training in conflict management and therapeutic communication methods. It can also aid healthcare providers to be more conscious of their behavior in the professional setting. Seven research questions related to communication were developed and analyzed in this study. The author developed a pre-education survey that included demographics, multiple-choice questions, and open-ended questions to assess the nurses' knowledge …

Implementation Of Post Falls Huddles In Skilled Nursing Facility, Princess Lomax

Evidence-Based Practice Project Reports

The purpose of this paper is to discuss the quality improvement project, implementation of the post fall huddle in a long-term care facility. Falls are the most common problem in adults 65 years and older. Falls in this population can have devastating effects, often leading to significant changes in morbidity or death. Adults in long term care settings have an increased risk of falling and having a subsequent fall due to an acute illness, weakness, or confusion (CDC, 2015). At the skilled facility, there has been a significant increase in hospitalizations due to injuries sustained from falls. To address this …

A Positive Framed Message To Improve Cpap Compliance For Patients With Osa, Frances Clark

Evidence-Based Practice Project Reports

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) affects 24% of the US population (DiNapoli, 2014). Untreated OSA causes many diseases, affects one’s quality of life, and increases mortality (Pengo et al., 2018). Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is the lifelong treatment for OSA; yet 30%-80% of OSA patients are CPAP noncompliant within one year. The purpose of this EBP project was to determine if implementing a positive frame message intervention would improve CPAP compliance for newly diagnosed OSA patients. Based on the evidence, implementation of behavioral interventions, such as a positive framed message, was effective in improving CPAP compliance (Pengo et al., 2018). …

A Multifactorial Intervention To Reduce Weight Bias In Healthcare Providers, Rose M. Flinchum

Evidence-Based Practice Project Reports

No abstract provided.

Impulsivity As A Trait Predictor In Baccalaureate Nursing Students, Jennifer Bertucci

Dissertations

Impulsive personality traits have been linked to pathological decision making in individuals who possess the trait. Impulsive pathological decision making may include acts of aggression, divergence, risky behavior, lack of self-care, etc. The purpose of this study was to examine impulsive personality traits among nursing students. Traditional students are defined by the following characteristics: earns a high school diploma, enrolls full time immediately after finishing high school, are financially dependent on parents, and either do not work during the school year or works part-time (the exception to the rule) (Choy, 2002). A non-traditional nursing student is defined as students who …

What's All The Buzzy About? Using Cryotherapy And Vibration For Pain During Vaccinations In Children, Marta L. Byma

Evidence-Based Practice Project Reports

Vaccinations are the most common painful needle procedure, with an estimated 12 billion injections given per year (CDC, 2019). The usual method for administration of vaccinations is through needle puncture, which is often painful. Children often report receiving a shot as one of the most feared and painful experiences (McMurtry et al., 2015). The purpose of this evidence-based practice (EBP) project was to improve patient experiences by decreasing the pain that is associated with vaccinations through the use of a nonpharmacological method for comfort via the Buzzy® device. After thorough analysis and synthesis of the literature, the Buzzy® device that …

Job Satisfaction And Turnover Among Millennial Nurses In Public Hospitals, Gwen Mancuso

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This study addressed turnover of millennial generation behavioral health nurses (MGBHNs). Because retention strategies mitigate the consequences of turnover, the purpose of this quantitative, correlational study was to examine job satisfaction (JS) and anticipated turnover (AT) intention among MGBHNs employed in U.S. public hospitals. Research questions were focused on determining what, if any, correlation exists between AT and JS. The theoretical frameworks were Herzberg’s theory and person in environment theory. A multiple linear regression and 5 Spearman’s rho correlation analyses were used to analyze data from a convenience sample of 65 MGBHNs to understand the relationship between the independent variables …

The Effect Of The Implementation Of A Quarterly Triad Tool In The Pain Clinic Setting On The Assessment And Mitigation Of Risks In Patients On Chronic Opioid Therapy, Caroline Asava

Evidence-Based Practice Project Reports

The concurrent use of opioids and benzodiazepines (BZDs poses a formidable challenge for clinicians who manage chronic pain. While the escalating use of opioid analgesics for the treatment of chronic pain and the concomitant rise in opioid-related abuse and misuse are widely recognized trends, the contribution of combination use of BZDs, alcohol, and/or other sedative agents to opioid-related morbidity and mortality is underappreciated, even when these agents are used appropriately. Patients with chronic pain who use opioid analgesics along with BZDs have a defined increase in rates of adverse events, overdose, and death, warranting close monitoring. To improve patient outcomes, …

Implementation Of An Advance Care Planning Protocol To Increase Advance Directive Completion Rates, Christine Engle

Evidence-Based Practice Project Reports

Advanced directives (AD) allow an individual to retain autonomy in end-of-life decisions and can prevent unnecessary costs and treatments associated with aggressive life-prolonging measures. As of 2017, only an estimated 36.7% of the United States adult population had a form of advance directive documented (Yadav et al., 2017). The purpose of this evidence-based project was to determine if implementation of an advanced care planning (ACP) protocol would increase ACP discussions, AD completion, and result in a modification in stage of change or behavior. The Transtheoretical Model (TTM) and Stetler Model of evidence-based practice were used as the framework to guide …

Use Of Smartphone Application To Facilitate Weight Loss And Promote Accountability In Obese And Overweight Patients, Angela M. Turner

Evidence-Based Practice Project Reports

In 2015, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services published a National Health and Nutrition Survey (NHANES) on obesity from 2011 through 2014. From the survey, it was determined that the prevalence of obesity in the U.S. was 36% in adults and 17% in young adults/children (Ogden et al., 2015). Lifestyle modifications including moderation of caloric intake and increased exercise have been shown to be effective for both prevention and treatment of obesity. The purpose of this evidence-based practice (EBP) project involved the design, administration, and evaluation of a technology-assisted weight loss intervention to address the health problem of …

An Exploration Of Nursing Communication Competence During The Handoff Report, Megan Elizabeth Smith

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Introduction Nurse handoff reporting is a crucial time for communication exchange in healthcare settings. During the handoff report, patient information is exchanged between senders and receivers transferring responsibility for care with the main purpose of providing accurate and timely information about the patient. The Joint Commission reports that shortcomings related to communication can be directly related to an increase in patient care errors, with approximately 80% of medical errors resulting from miscommunication during the handoff process. Numerous intervention studies focus on standardizing information, developing physical locations and environments for ideal handoffs, and creating tools for structured information exchange between different …

Meditation As An Intervention To Help College Students Cope With Stress, Marissa Bottos

Evidence-Based Practice Project Reports

According to the American College Health Association (ACHA) (2017), in a survey of 31,463 students, 31.7% stated that stress negatively impacts their academic performance (lower grades, dropped course, etc.). Additionally, 45.1% of the students stated they have more than average stress levels. The purpose of this evidence-based practice (EBP) project was to determine if mindfulness meditation was effective in helping college students cope with stress. Based on current evidence, Jon Kabat-Zinn’s online application for mindfulness meditation is supported as an effective way to help college students cope with stress (Regehr et al. 2013; Yusufov et al. 2018; Cavanagh et al. …

Evaluating Ways To Reduce Errors In Medication Reconciliations Performed By Nurses In A Rural Hospital Setting, Kalen T. Freeman

MPA/MPP/MPFM Capstone Projects

Medication reconciliation, also known as “med recs”, are an important part of a patient’s care during their hospitalization. A med rec is when hospital personnel generate a list of the medications the patient takes at home. Med recs are vital in the hospital admission process because home medications need to be restarted at appropriate times to fully care for the patient. Also, mistakes in a home medication list can lead to serious consequences in the patient’s health. This study focuses on med recs being performed at Marcum and Wallace Hospital in Irvine, Kentucky. More specifically, the study explores the different …

Nurse-Led Positive Psychology Intervention Is Feasible In Patients With Heart Failure, Erin Taylor

DNP Projects

Introduction:  Prevalence of heart failure (HF) in the US is projected to rise 46% by 2030, resulting in more than 8 million people with HF.  Negative psychologic states including depression and pessimism (negative future expectations) have been linked with poor cardiovascular outcomes, including HF.  Despite the fact that optimism (positive future expectations) and other positive affective states have been associated with superior outcomes, there has been little focus on interventions designed to increase positive psychological states in patients with HF.

Objective: To test the acceptability and feasibility of a nurse-led positive psychology intervention, Best Possible Self (BPS).

Methods: A convenience …

Improving Pediatric Oral-Systemic Health Through Motivational Interviewing: An Interprofessional Training Intervention, Oksana Prodan

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

Introduction: In response to the prevalence of early childhood carries (ECC) in the United States, recommendations were established for pediatric primary care providers to routinely incorporate oral-systemic health promotion services into clinical practice. An interprofessional education project was developed between Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) and dentistry students in San Francisco to assist trainees in the effective delivery of oral systemic health promotion services. Improving health promotion communication skills was identified as an area of need for both sets of learners. Therefore, the IPE activity was designed to incorporate Motivational Interviewing (MI) into the training along with pediatric oral …

“We Make Death Look Pretty”: A Qualitative Study Analyzing Reported Effects Of Compassion Fatigue On Hospice Nurse-Patient Communication, Katherine Harville

Masters Theses, 2010-2019

Rationale: Compassion fatigue is present in multiple nursing fields, but hospice poses a significant threat to nurses working within that specific environment. This is due to their consistent proximity with patient suffering, death and dying, and constant communication with patients regarding their death. The hospice nurse-patient relationship requires a deeper connection between nurse and patient which often results in consistent emotional labor for hospice nurses, further amplifying the threat of compassion fatigue. While the effects of compassion fatigue can manifest in many forms, it is typically characterized by a nurses’ decline in job satisfaction, which they do not tend to …

Combating Workplace Violence: An Evidence Based Initiative, Diana L. Giordano

Evidence-Based Practice Project Reports

Patient/visitor violence against healthcare (HC) employees is a type of workplace violence (WPV) and considered a dangerous hazard within HC occupations (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2015). Lack of recognition of the true incidence and underreporting of WPV may contribute to a false sense of security within a HC facility (HCF). Therefore, fully addressing the problem may be met with administrative resistance, resulting in poor employee perceptions of support and commitment for a zero-violence environment. A retrospective analysis was conducted on the HCF’s online incident reports, security request calls, and data from a previously deployed WPV employee survey. The emergency department …

An Analysis Of Ed Nurse Opinion Of Their Ed Nurse Manager Leadership Characteristics And Outcomes, Charlotte Ann Gore

Dissertations

The purpose of this cross-sectional, descriptive, correlational study was to examine ED staff nurses’ opinions of their ED nurse managers’ full range of leadership characteristics , the degree to which the characteristics correlate with specific outcomes of leadership behavior, and how the results of the measure and subscale compare to other nursing groups in literature. The Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire 5X Rater Form (MLQ 5X Rater Form) was used to measure ED staff nurses’ opinions of their ED nurse managers, along with an ED Staff Nurse Demographics Questionnaire to gather information about the characteristics of the population. The population for this …

Improving Lgbt Cultural Competence In Senior Nursing Students, Hallie Orgel

Evidence-Based Practice Project Reports

LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) health care is considered a national priority by The Institute of Medicine (IOM, 2011) and HealthyPeople 2020 (2013). The shortage of LGBT culturally competent health care providers is a top contributor to the oppression and discrimination affecting LGBT health (2013). The purpose of the evidence-based practice (EBP) project was to improve the cultural competence of nursing students by improving their knowledge, attitudes, and skills in working with the LBGT population. A multi-method intervention was provided to seniors in a baccalaureate program. The project took place at a private Midwestern university and utilized a pretest/post-test design. …

Warmth And Competence Traits: Perceptions Of Female And Male Nurse Stereotypes, Randolph E. Gross

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

A nursing shortage looms ahead; 1.03 million new nurses will be needed by 2022 to meet society's healthcare needs. A major barrier to recruitment of women and men are nurse stereotypes. The literature suggests four female and four male stereotypes exist; however, no quantitative research exists that explores perceptions of non-nursing undergraduate students. Approximately, 90% of college students do not consider nursing as a career option, and 72% have misconceptions of what nurses do in reality.

According to social cognitive theory's Stereotype Content Model (SCM), perceptions are viewed through a combination of two dimensions: warmth and competence. The author devised …

Nurse Perceived Barriers To Effective Nurse-Client Communication, Sara J. Brandenburg

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Successful client care depends on effective nurse-client communication. It is essential in meeting clients' needs, providing quality care, and maximizing positive client outcomes. The intent of this thesis was to explore nurse perceived barriers to effective nurse-client communication. A literature review was conducted and nine articles were identified as addressing nurse perceived barriers to communication. Four major barriers were identified: nurse comfort and knowledge, environment, time, and culture and language. Research on interventions to address nurses' perceptions of barriers to effective nurse-client communication may provide a better understanding of communication barriers and address issues created by ineffective communication with clients.

An Evidence-Based Mentorship Program For Experienced Nurses, Roma Allen

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Turnover of experienced nurses is a component of the nursing shortage, which has created a lack of expert nurses administering bedside care. The project site is a Chicago suburban hospital with an average first year turnover of experienced nurses at 35%. This rate is above the 27% first year turnover reported by the Metropolitan Chicago Healthcare Council. This project focused on development and evaluation of an evidence-based mentorship program supported by theory that can contribute to an increase in experienced nurse retention. A detailed literature review references causative factors of turnover, such as an increasing workload, a multigenerational and aging …

The Effects Of Continuing Education On Nurse Knowledge Of Safe Haven Laws In Illinois, Lindsay Thiemkey Gordon

Evidence-Based Practice Project Reports

Illegal and often fatal infant abandonment is a pervasive public health crisis. Safe Haven Laws (SHLs) help to prevent illegal infant abandonment by allowing specific professionals, including nurses, to accept unharmed newborns within statutorily defined parameters. SHLs have existed for nearly two decades, yet many healthcare workers are not knowledgeable about these laws: this implies that initial efforts to educate healthcare workers about SHLs have been ineffective. Continuing education supports lifelong learning which is a basic tenet of nursing practice. The purpose of this evidence-based practice (EBP) project was to teach nurses about SHLs through evidence-based continuing education. Literature firmly …

Implementation Of A Nursing Workload Tool To Reduce Nurse Burnout, Nicole K. Greives

Evidence-Based Practice Project Reports

Nursing burnout and workload is a complicated issue with far-reaching effects. Nursing burnout and inappropriate nursing workload have been linked to increased risk of urinary tract infection, respiratory infections, decreased patient satisfaction, decreased quality and safety of care, and increased mortality. The purpose of the project was to decrease nursing burnout on a Medical Progressive Care Unit (MPCU) by moving patients with high workloads and medical instability to a higher level of care. Within this project, Rosabeth Kanter’s Theory of Structural Power was used for the theoretical framework, and the Stetler Model guided the implementation. The intervention consisted of a …

The Effect Of Standardized Patient Encounters On Undergraduate Nursing Student Empathy And Self-Efficacy In Therapeutic Communication, Alana M. Urness

Evidence-Based Practice Project Reports

Therapeutic communication between the nurse and patient is an essential component of optimal nursing care. Current evidence supports the use of standardized patient (SP) encounters to assist students in learning therapeutic communication skills. In addition to offering students an opportunity to practice in an environment free of clinical consequence, SP encounters have been shown to increase clinical knowledge and skill, improve diagnostic reasoning, and improve communication skills and interviewing skills. The purpose of this evidence-based practice project was to assess the effect of SP encounters on undergraduate nursing student empathy and self-efficacy related to therapeutic communication. Secondary outcomes included participant …