Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

The Role Of The Nurse Practitioner In Health Promotion And Childhood Obesity, Michelle Rosamond Rice

MSN Research Projects

The purpose of this study is to consider patient satisfaction of this role. Many factors can affect patient satisfaction and these also will be investigated. The nurse practitioner role is a major factor in healthcare. Patient satisfaction with the role is an important fact to consider and will impact the future of the role.

The Role Of The Nurse Practitioner In A Perioperative Setting, Michael Collins Nelms

MSN Research Projects

The purpose of this project is to explore the healthcare literature regarding the role of the nurse practitioner in a perioperative setting and further to determine applicable evidenced based practice behaviors as a basis for future study.

The Role Of The Nurse Practitioner Regarding The Promotion Of Health In Childhood Obesity, Joanna R. Mccollum

MSN Research Projects

Childhood obesity is a condition that is growing in epidemic proportions in the United States (U.S.). The prevalence of childhood obesity has doubled since the 1980’s. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC, 2002), stated that approximately 55 % o f the U.S. population is overweight. According to Moran (1999), preventing childhood obesity significantly decreases morbidity related to type II diabetes, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, hyperuricemia, and other chronic conditions. The purpose o f this Evidence Based Practice (EBP) project was to develop a nurse practitioner knowledgebase regarding health promotion in childhood obesity. The research questions asked: (a) What is the level o …

The Role Of The Nurse Pracitioner In End Of Life Care, Caryn Alison Johnson

MSN Research Projects

Although advances in medical technology have increased the average lifespan of the elderly population, many patients do not receive assistance at the end of life, and suffer with avoidable pain and distress. Practitioners and researchers have identified the need for further research to improve the quality of EOLC. Research shows that the NP may be the best choice of hospital staff to initiate EOLC discussions and decisions with patients and their families. For this reason, it is likely that the role of the NP in EOLC will expand to a specialty focus in the near future. Therefore, the purpose of …

Quality Of Life In Men With Prostate Cancer, Pamela Lott Baird

MSN Research Projects

The diagnosis of prostate cancer is extremely serious and overwhelming for men of any gender, age, or socioeconomic class. Unfortunately, many patients are left to deal with the ramifications of the illness with little information or coping mechanisms. Perhaps prostate cancer could be dealt with in a more productive and positive manner if patients had opportunities to vocalize feelings and ask pertinent and relevant questions of healthcare providers without feeling embarrassed or ashamed. Clearly, quality of life is changed in many ways by this serious and often lethal illness. According to Willener & Hantikainen, the illness is quite prevalent: Prostate …

Evidence-Based Practice Considerations For The Role Of The Nurse Practitioner In Promoting Resilience, Amanda M. Weeks

MSN Research Projects

The importance o f resilience as a concept is clearly defined throughout the lifespan. Therefore it is very important to understand the responsibility o f nurse practitioners in promoting resilience. Resilience is affected by assessment, diagnosis, education, and health promotion given from all healthcare providers. McAllister (2003), states that “whilst a problem focus is criticized by some, it remains largely unchallenged as the guiding light for nursing practice” (p.l). She goes on to state that “by refocusing on a solution focused approach, we could show how we are different from medicine, and how we aim to do nursing differently through …

Autonomy As It Relates To The Role Of The Nurse Practitioner, James A. Ray

MSN Research Projects

The quintessential issue of nurse practitioner practice is the establishment of autonomy. The intention o f the pioneers o f nursing was to build on existing nursing autonomy and significantly expand it to accommodate the new role (Brown & Draye, 2003). While it is true nurse practitioners enjoy a limited amount of practice autonomy today, true autonomy cannot be achieved until the stigmata of collaborating physician is removed as a requirement for practice. The purpose o f this integrative literature review was to investigate the level of knowledge regarding nurse practitioner coping with role transition. The current level o f …

The Role Of The Nurse Practitioner In End Of Life Care, C'Sara R. Strong

MSN Research Projects

Comfort is an essential concept related to end of life care. Webster’s (2004) defines comfort as “ freedom from pain, want, anxiety, encouragement or discomfort.” The aging process of the body brings about increasing discomfort (Malinowski & Staimler, 2002). At the start of the 21st century, the oldest of America’s 76 million baby boomers are in their mid 50s and the youngest are approaching age 40 (CMS, 2004). As advances in medical technology continue to extend life, these aging Americans will have to contend with the aches, pains and progressive disabilities of chronic illness. The need for specialized palliative care …

Recognition Of Facial Expressions Of Six Emotions By Children With Specific Language Impairment, Kristen Diane Atwood

Theses and Dissertations

Over the past several years, research has shown that children with language impairment often have increased social difficulties. The purpose of this study was to take a closer look at the relationship between language ability and emotion understanding by examining the recognition of facial expressions in children with specific language impairment (SLI) and their typically developing peers. As such, this study is a follow-up investigation of the work done by Spackman, Fujiki, Brinton, Nelson, & Allen (2006). Children with SLI and their age- and gender-matched peers were asked to identify the following six facial expressions of emotion in a language-minimal …

Psychometrically Equivalent Arabic Monosyllabic Word Recognition Materials, Maida Christine Robertson

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to develop, digitally record, evaluate, and psychometrically equate a set of Arabic monosyllabic word lists to use in the measurement of the word recognition score. Familiar Arabic monosyllabic words were digitally recorded by a native male talker from Jordan who was judged to have a standard Arabic dialect. Twenty native Arabic participants with normal hearing were used as subjects to determine the percentage of correct word recognition for each word at 10 intensity levels ranging from -5 to 40 dB HL in 5 dB increments. The monosyllabic word data were analyzed using logistic regression. …

Accuracy Of Automated Developmental Sentence Scoring Software, Carrie Ann Judson

Theses and Dissertations

Developmental Sentence Scoring (DSS; Lee 1974) is a well established, structured method for analyzing a child's expressive syntax within the context of a conversational speech sample. Automated DSS programs may increase efficiency of DSS analysis; however the program must be accurate in order to yield valid and reliable results. A recent study by Sagae, Lavie, and MacWhinney (2005) proposed a new method for analyzing the accuracy of automated language analysis programs. This method was used in addition to previously established methods to analyze the accuracy of a new automated DSS program, entitled DSSA (Channell, 2006). Previously collected language samples from …

Psychometrically Equivalent Bisyllabic Words For Speech Reception Threshold Testing In Arabic, Elisha Rose Ratcliff

Theses and Dissertations

The use of speech audiometry is essential in audiological testing. One of the most important elements of speech audiometry is speech reception threshold. To provide services for the growing population of non-English speaking people, audiologists need speech audiometry materials in a variety of languages. The purpose of this study was to develop, digitally record, evaluate, and equate Arabic bisyllabic words for use in testing speech reception threshold. Ninety frequently used bisyllabic words were digitally recorded by a male talker of standard Arabic. These words were presented to 20 normally hearing subjects in 2 dB increments at intensity levels ranging from …

Psychometrically Equivalent Bisyllabic Word Lists For Word Recognition Testing In Taiwan Mandarin, Alycia Jane Dukes

Theses and Dissertations

The aim of this study was to develop, digitally record, evaluate, and psychometrically equate a set of Taiwan Mandarin bisyllabic word lists to be used for word recognition testing. Frequently used bisyllabic words were selected and digitally recorded by male and female talkers of Taiwan Mandarin. Twenty normally hearing subjects were presented each word to find the percentage of words which they could correctly recognize. Each word was measured at 10 intensity levels (-5 to 40 dB HL) in increments of 5 dB. Logistic regression was used to include 200 words with the steepest logistic regression slopes in four psychometrically …

Speech Reception Threshold Materials For Taiwan Mandarin, Katie Bedke Slade

Theses and Dissertations

Speech reception threshold (SRT) tools have been developed to assist in the evaluation of hearing. This study was performed to develop, digitally record, evaluate, and equate Taiwan Mandarin trisyllabic words which can be used to measure the SRT. Eighty-nine commonly used trisyllabic words were chosen and digitally recorded by native male and female speakers. The words were then presented to 20 normally hearing subjects at 14 intensity levels (-10 to 16 dB HL) with 2 dB increments. Psychometric function slopes were calculated using logistic regression. Twenty-eight words with steep psychometric function were selected and digitally adjusted to match the mean …

The Relationship Between The Health Behaviors Of Female University Freshmen And Their Academic Success, Courtney Taylor

MSN Research Projects

The purpose o f this study was to characterize the relationship between the health behaviors and academic achievement o f university women. To this end, female freshmen at Mississippi University for Women were given questionnaires measuring their healthrelated lifestyle habits that were then correlated with the students’ grade point averages. Lifestyle habits were assessed via the Wellness Worksheet questionnaire (WW), and academic success, first semester grade point averages (GPA). The analysis revealed a moderately weak and positive relationship between healthier lifestyle choices and first semester GPA, r = .34. Among the behaviors addressed by the WW, alcohol and other drug …

Role Of The Nurse Practitioner: Health Promotion And Education In Teenage Pregnancy Prevention, Alissa Anne Hood

MSN Research Projects

According to Martin, Kochanek, Strobino, Guyer, & MacDorman (2005), the lowest reported rate in the past six decades for teenage pregnancy in the United States occurred in the year 2003. Although this was found significant, the United States still holds the highest rate of teenage pregnancy in the industrialized world. It has been estimated that by the year 2010 there will be a 10% increase in the number of teenage girls between the ages of 15-19(Coren, 2005). Therefore, it was found imperative to increase the awareness and promotion of healthy sexual behaviors to reduce further teenage pregnancy. The purpose of …

A Retrospective Evaluation Of The Planetree Patient Centered Model Of Care Program's Impact On Inpatient Quality Outcomes, Susan Stone Phd

Dissertations

This retrospective quasi experimental study evaluated the effectiveness of Planetree's patient-centered model of care. Donabedian's model linking structure and process to outcome was used to frame this study. The structure variable is the inpatient acute care hospital unit and the process variable consists of the Planetree patient-centered model of care. Outcomes are (1) patient satisfaction, (2) length of stay, (3) readmission, (4) cost per case, and (5) productive nursing hours per patient day. All data for patient satisfaction, length of stay, readmission, cost per case and productive nurse hours per patient day were retrospective, no participant recruitment was needed. Data …

The Current Level Of Nursing Knowledge Regarding The Management Of Cardiovascular Disease In Postmenopausal Women, Lynda Smith Hardin

MSN Research Projects

Cardiovascular disease (CYD) is the single leading cause o f death and a significant cause o f morbidity o f American women. Despite years of research and compelling data indicating that CYD is largely preventable, alarming trends in the prevalence and management o f risk factors in women continue to occur. In 2005, the estimated direct and indirect cost o f CYD was $393.5 billion (American Heart Association [AHA], 2005). Despite the fact that CYD kills more women per year than the next six causes of death combined; only 13% o f women consider CYD to be their greatest health …

Patient Satisfaction With Nurse Practitioner Care In Telemergency, Melissa Henry King

MSN Research Projects

Recent studies suggest that patient satisfaction has a direct correlation to patient outcome. In today’s healthcare system, satisfaction is the ultimate measure of services rendered from a provider to a consumer. From retail sales to the delivery of healthcare services, satisfaction surveys are highly regarded by the provider of services as a means to correct and improve products or services. A patient who is not satisfied with provided services will seek out providers with whom they gain the greatest amount of satisfaction. Telemergency is a fairly new concept that is growing rapidly in popularity with both hospital administrations and providers. …

Entry Level Therapists’ Perceived Readiness To Prescribe Low-Technology Adaptive Equipment To Geriatric Populations, Russell Wood

Masters Theses

In this research entry-level therapists' were questioned about their readiness to prescribe low-technology adaptive equipment to geriatric populations. The analysis of 33 returned questionnaires have been discussed, with the overall results indicating that experience, familiarity, and education of specific equipment are all significantly related to the confidence levels of entry-level therapists in prescribing those equipment.

Additionally, the results of specific analysis for the groups of equipment, namely dressing, bathing and toileting were entertained. Open ended questions regarding equipment usage, follow up and trends are also discussed. Finally prediction equations are shared resulting from statistical analysis.

Sleep Quality Of College Students And Its Relationship To Coping Styles And Well-Being, Cathy Alison Word

Doctoral Dissertations

College students suffer from more sleep disturbances than the general population. Sleep difficulties in college students can lead to lower levels of performance, memory, and cognitive ability, as well as increased levels of anxiety and decreased levels of well-being. Sleep quality is known to impact individuals' physical and psychological health, which are indicators of well-being. Sleep also appears to influence individuals' choices of coping strategies. Sleep quality is also highly correlated with college students' emotional response to stress. The relationships between and among sleep quality, well-being, and coping style have not been fully examined. The purpose of this study was …

Nurse Practitioner Adoption Of Clinical Innovations, Rhoberta Jones Haley Phd

Dissertations

Adoption of clinical innovations by Nurse Practitioners (NP) is a complex phenomenon, rooted in personal values and influenced by challenges within health care environments. When clinical innovations are adopted or rejected by NPs, this decision has meaning for patients, NPs, health care agencies, and society. The decision controls the opportunity for patients to access a clinical innovation that could reduce morbidity and mortality, save money, and provide satisfaction related to the health care encounter. The purpose of the study was to increase knowledge about NP adoption of clinical innovations, particularly emotionally-laden clinical innovations. The lines of inquiry focused on what …

The Interaction Between Internal And External Information On Relational Data Search, Yang Gong

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

People often use tools to search for information. In order to improve the quality of an information search, it is important to understand how internal information, which is stored in user’s mind, and external information, represented by the interface of tools interact with each other. How information is distributed between internal and external representations significantly affects information search performance. However, few studies have examined the relationship between types of interface and types of search task in the context of information search. For a distributed information search task, how data are distributed, represented, and formatted significantly affects the user search performance …

Temporal Calcium Response Of Jurkat Cells To Nanosecond Pulsed Electric Fields, Shaka Shakar Scarlett

Electrical & Computer Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Nanosecond pulsed electric fields (nsPEF) of megavolt per meter field strengths can interact with subcellular structures [1] and consequently trigger a variety of biological events. The exposure can induce apoptosis, as well as an array of differential "sub-lethal effects." One of the most sensitive and immediate responses is the increase in intracellular calcium concentration in pulsed cells [2], [3][4].We investigated the response of Jurkat cells (a human leukemic cell line) to nsPEFs of 60 ns duration and field strengths from 25 tol00 kV/cm. The development of the induced calcium response in individual cells was studied by spinning-disc confocal microscopy with …

Gaussian Mixture Models And Neural Networks For Automatic Speaker Identification, Usha Gayatri Chalkapally

Electrical & Computer Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Automatic Speaker Recognition is the process of automatically recognizing who is speaking on the basis of individual information contained in speech signals. This technique of Automatic Speaker Recognition makes it possible to use the speaker's voice to verify their identity and control access to services such as voice dialing, banking by telephone, telephone shopping, database access services, information services, voice mail, security control for confidential information areas, and remote access to computers.

In this thesis, the techniques of Gaussian Mixture Models and Neural Networks for Automatic Speaker Identification are presented. Algorithms for Speaker Identification using Gaussian Mixture Models were developed, …

Assessing Effects Of Iq On Sociable And Withdrawn Behaviors In Children With Language Impairment, Amanda Lyn Bradshaw

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of IQ on subtypes of sociable and withdrawn behaviors in children with language impairment (LI). Research has suggested that children with LI are more likely to experience difficulty with social interaction than their typically developing peers (Brinton & Fujiki, 1999; Rice, 1991). The Teacher Behavior Rating Scale (Hart & Robinson, 1996) was used to compare sociable and withdrawn behaviors in 19 children with LI and 19 children with typically developing language. IQ scores for each participant were obtained by administering the Universal Nonverbal Intelligence Test (Bracken & McCallum, 2003). These …

Healthcare Encounters Of Formerly Incarcerated Women: A Grounded Theory Study, Karen Sue Hoyt Phd

Dissertations

The adult correctional population in the United States soared to nearly 7 million people (Bureau of Justice Statistics [BJS], 2005). Over 2 million individuals were housed in prisons or jails in the United States. Nearly 7 percent (6.9%) were women (BJS, 2005). Recent trends in the adult correctional population suggest that there has been a stark increase in the number of formerly incarcerated women in the United States. The purpose of this research was to explore how formerly incarcerated women perceived their healthcare encounters. The aims of this study were to answer the following questions. How did formerly incarcerated women …

Influence Of Age On Auditory Gating, Ginny Marissa Smith

Theses and Dissertations

This study utilized paired tones at 1000 Hz with a 500 ms interpair interval and a 10 s interstimulus interval to assess sensory gating. Forty-two participants, ranging from 3-72 years of age were used to observe maturational changes in amplitude, latency, and suppression ratios of the P50 waveform. Previous research has shown that in normal adults the amplitude in response to the second of the paired tones is significantly suppressed compared to the amplitude in response to the first tone. The current study showed amplitude decreased with age to middle adulthood, where it increased slightly to later adulthood. Latencies decreased …

Enhancing Nurses' Autonomous Caring Practices In Ukrainian Villages Affected By Chornobyl, Lisa Prytula

Theses and Graduate Projects

Twenty years after the Chornobyl nuclear disaster of 1986, the people living in villages affected by Chornobyl in northern Ukraine suffer from poor health status. Compounding the biophysical effects of latent exposure to ionizing radiation, socio-economic instability and psychological stress increase their suffering, The nurses that serve these villages depend on inaccessible physicians to guide them and lack basic medical supplies. The purpose of this transcultural nursing practice project is two-fold: (1)to strengthen nursing caring practices used by village nurses to serve a socially, economically, and environmentally disadvantaged population in Ukrainian villages surrounding Chornobyl; and (2) to enhance village nurses' …

Older Single Women In Transition: Moving To A Supportive Retirement Community, Linda L. Hansen-Kyle Phd

Dissertations

This study explored role changes, resilience, social, and health challenges encountered by older women who transitioned to a retirement community that provided social, health, and safety support structures. The aim of this study was to analyze and describe the transition from the viewpoint of the participants. Although previous research has shown transitions lead to psychosocial, emotional, physical, and health changes, the importance of this study stems from the lack of research on older women moving to supportive communities and their unique challenges. A convenience sample of 39 women, aged 70-94, who had been living alone before moving to a church …