Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Increasing Hpv Vaccination Rates Using Social Marketing Strategies, Sharon Wilson Catledge

Doctoral Projects

The human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually-transmitted infection (STI). Approximately 20 million Americans between the ages of 15 and 49 years currently have HPV with > 6.2 million new HPV infections estimated to occur each year. Yet, HPV vaccination rates remain relatively low. More than 40 strains of HPV are transmitted through genital contact during vaginal, anal, or oral sex and can infect males and females. In addition to causing genital warts, HPV is associated with cervical, vulvar, vaginal, anus, penile, and oropharyngeal cancers. In women, the most prominent type of cancer is cervical with > 12,000 diagnoses each year …

Evaluating The Perceptions Of Quality Of Life In Informal Caregivers Caring For Hospice Patients, Rashandra Fisher Laws

Doctoral Projects

Maintaining or improving quality of life for informal caregivers is important as they endure the burden of providing care to terminally ill loved ones on a daily basis. Caregivers are at a greater risk for depression, deteriorating physical health, financial difficulties, and premature death than demographically similar non-caregivers (Demiris et al., 2010). The goal of this capstone project was to determine the effectiveness of the creativity, optimism, planning, and expert information (COPE) intervention, which address specific needs of the family and caregiver.

Twenty informal caregivers completed the Quality of Life (QoL) Index tool, which measured their perceptions of five different …

An Evaluation Of Fall Prevention Interventions Among Older Adults In A Long Term Care Facility, Courtney Anita Bennett

Doctoral Projects

Falls are serious unwanted events that are a common occurrence among older adults in long term care facilities (LTC). Fall prevention in LTC facilities requires the efforts of an interprofessional team that promotes safety within an organization. The purpose of this capstone project is to implement and evaluate evidence-based fall prevention interventions at a LTC facility. Specific objectives of the project include: (a) providing education to healthcare professionals on evidence-based practices to recognize, assess, and prevent falls among older adults in a long term care facility and (b) replacing the existing fall prevention policy and program with a falls and …

Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Workforce Development In Behavioral Healthcare Settings In Rural Mississippi, Arlen Davis Cooper

Doctoral Projects

Description and Significance of the Problem: The United States is facing a significant rural mental healthcare workforce shortage and an uneven distribution of mental healthcare professionals. The psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP) may increase access to mental healthcare in rural underserved regions (NRHA, 2012). However, little is known regarding their distribution. The lack of uniform and consistent data collection methods regarding the number and the geographic distribution of PMHNPs in rural areas, specifically in rural Mississippi, exists. The importance of better data collection and improving infrastructure through collaboration with state licensing boards and state nursing workforce centers is …

Integrating A System Approach To Identify And Manage Aggressive Behaviors In Adult Males With Severe Mental Illness In A Psychiatric Hospital, Mitzie Alford-Jenkins

Doctoral Projects

Aggressive behaviors exhibited by patients with a serious mental illness (SMI) hospitalized in inpatient psychiatric hospitals are a challenging safety problem. Early identification of aggressive behaviors is vital to helping nursing staff develop proactive interventions that focus on prevention. Structured risk assessments identify the level of risk and allow for early interventions.

The purpose of the doctoral capstone project was to: (a) provide education to nursing staff on implementing a structured risk assessment tool in order to identify risk for imminent aggression, manage risk for imminent aggression, and record aggressive behaviors among adult males with severe mental illness (SMI); (b) …

Nurse Knowledge Of Clostridium Difficile, Ashley E. Frosch

Honors Theses

The purpose of this study is to determine the amount of knowledge nurses have about Clostridium difficile. Seventy-five nurses participated in this study. A 25-question true/false survey was distributed via email to graduates of The University of Southern Mississippi. The survey consisted of a brief demographic section and 25 questions addressing Clostridium difficile knowledge. A total of 582 surveys were sent out with a total of 75 completed. Out of 25 questions in the survey, the majority of respondents (>50%) only answered 7 questions incorrectly. Overall, the nurses in this study possessed accurate knowledge about C. difficile; although, there …

Re-Engineered Discharge Planning In A Rural Mississippi Hospital To Reduce 30 Day Readmission Rates Among Heart Failure Patients, Roxie Mae Hogan

Doctoral Projects

The hospital discharge is a complex process that involves interdisciplinary efforts to avoid readmissions and decrease health care costs. The purpose of this capstone project was to take a leadership role in translating evidence into practice by successfully preparing NWMRMC discharge planning stakeholders to adapt Project RED for use with HF patients admitted to NWMRMC.

A comprehensive systematic improvement plan, Project RED is designed to improve the work flow process through the use of timelines and strategies. Project RED supports discharge planning, helps to prevent readmission, and facilitates knowledge transfer that promotes sustainable changes. Re-Engineered Discharge Planning (RED), 6 step …

Opinions Of South Mississippi College Students Regarding Adolescent Sex Education, Mary K. Nobles

Honors Theses

Teen pregnancy and rates of sexually transmitted disease (STD) transmission among teenage Mississippians are disproportionally higher than the national average. These high rates are partially attributed to poor adolescent sex education programs in Mississippi (MS) schools. MS has a long history of inadequate sex education programs; until recently, sex education was not a required component of the curriculum. Most MS public schools teach abstinence-only education, which has been shown to be less effective than comprehensive programs. Most Mississippians probably assume that MS public schools teach the sex education programs of which the majority of Mississippians are in favor. A review …

Promoting Behavior Changes In Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Through Shared Medical Appointments, Shonda Lanette Williams

Doctoral Projects

Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is a chronic disease that affects many individuals in the United States. It was reported that a total of $245 billion is spent annually on both direct and indirect health care costs associated with the treatment of diabetes and diabetic related complications. Diabetes related complications can be prevented or delayed if proper education is done and individuals are willing to practice positive behavior changes and self-manage their disease. The purpose of this doctoral capstone project was to promote behavior changes in patients with diabetes through diabetes self-management education (DSME) in shared medical appointments (SMAs).

This project was …

Bridging The Gap: Understanding, Anticipating, And Responding To The Needs Of Student Veterans In A Bachelor Of Science In Nursing Program, Larry Michael Stowers

Doctoral Projects

The passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendment Act (ADAAA) of 2008 and the Post-9/11 Veterans Assistance Act of 2008 have afforded veterans the opportunity to pursue post-secondary education. Since October 2001, over 2 million American men and women in uniform have deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF). While thousands of returning combat veterans take advantage of recent legislation that helps pay for their education, they face new challenges in the classroom. This nation’s veterans represent a group of diverse individuals who bring different experiences, thus different perspectives than traditional college-aged students. …

An Evaluation Of The Effectiveness Of Providing Foot Care Education In A Rural Clinic Setting, Gloria Green-Morris

Doctoral Projects

Diabetes is one of the most frequently diagnosed metabolic disorders and is currently at pandemic magnitude. Approximately 1.4 million adults are diagnosed with diabetes each year. According to the American Diabetes Association (2011), the numbers of diagnoses will more than double by 2030. Because of the high prevalence of diabetes, the perceptions of risk factors and healthy behaviors are important. A good understanding of written and verbal healthcare instructions, healthcare accessibility, and socio-economic status have a direct effect on patient health outcomes and the overall health of the population (Jovic-Vranes, Bjegovic-Marinkovic & Marinkovic, 2009).

Diabetic foot complications are common concerns …

Awareness, Education, And Prevention Of Chronic Kidney Disease In The Older Adult, Torrel R. Bridges

Honors Theses

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) has become a major issue in our nation. Many of our neighbors, family, and friends have concerns and a call for our attention is necessary. CKD does not have a specific target, but individuals with diseases such as diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disease, and obesity are all at increased risk. Adults older than 65 years of age are especially at increased risk for developing CKD due to decrease in kidney function and other physiologic changes. In light of this, awareness, education, and prevention of CKD in the older adult population is important.

The number of older individuals …

Does Knowledge Make A Difference? Assessing Nursing Students’ Knowledge Of Proper Hand Hygiene Techniques In Correlation With Their Progression Through Nursing School, Charika R. Carradine

Honors Theses

Proper hand hygiene techniques have been widely accepted as the most effective way for health care workers to prevent the spread of diseases. The main focus of this research was to determine differences between nursing students’ semester level and their knowledge of proper hand hygiene techniques. A convenience sample was obtained from the nursing student population. The sample population included nursing students enrolled in the second, third, and fourth semester in nursing school. Data collected was analyzed using SPSS version Twenty. A Parametric and descriptive statistics were used to measure the magnitude of relationships between variables, and describe students’ knowledge …

Solving The Obesity Problem One Bite At A Time: A Review Of Interventions, Sally Catherine Davis

Honors Theses

Resource limitations contribute to obesity in southern rural populations. An examination of published research provides evidence related to factors that lead to obesity and to related health consequences. Resource limitations in southern rural areas include a lack of access to healthy foods, a lack of safe areas to exercise or fitness equipment, and a lack of funding to promote the hiring of adequate numbers of healthcare workers to implement prevention programs and treat obesity related diseases. An investigation of obesity rates in Mississippi and Louisiana demonstrate that high rates of obesity exist. Through an exploration of published interventions in both …

Humor As A Buffer For Stress In Nurse Anesthesia Students, Kayla C. Forbis

Honors Theses

This simple, quantitative study was carried out on 18, first-year, CRNA students to determine if humor could act as a buffer for some of his or her perceived stress. Before an impending final exam, when stress levels would most likely be at their highest, the students were broken into three groups: a control group, a non-humorous group, and a humorous group. The students in the control group ranked their level of stress on a 0-10 scale without any other intervention. The other two groups watched a video clip, either humorous or non-humorous, while ranking their perceived stress on a scale …

Nursing's Ethical Responsibilities In Value-Based Purchasing, Wendy B. Bailes, Marcia M. Rachel, Sheila Keller

Journal of Health Ethics

Healthcare changes have resulted in the development of reimbursement initiatives such as value-based purchasing. These initiatives are designed to improve quality of care, decrease healthcare costs and improve the perception of care. Many of the compliance mandates are related to care provided by the professional nurse. Ethical considerations of these mandates will be explored utilizing the American Nurses Association Code of Ethics.

Determining The Effects Of Past Negative Experiences Involving Patient Care, Jennifer L. Brown Phd, Francine M. Parker Edd, Msn, Cne, Ramona B. Lazenby Edd, Fn-Bc, Cne

Journal of Health Ethics

As the cost of healthcare continues to raise, the need to address nurse attrition, which is a contributing factor, also rises. While there are various factors that influence nurses’ decision to leave or stay, job satisfaction and ethical climate are significant variables. This study examined the effects of negative previous work experiences on job satisfaction and ethical climate. The results showed previous work experiences moderated both job satisfaction and ethical climate. In addition, ethical climate mediated the effects of previous experiences on job satisfaction. The implications include identifying nurses who may have had negative experiences prior to their current employment …

Meaningful Ethical Encounters:The Lived Experience Of The Genetics Nurse, Elizabeth A. Tinnon

Journal of Health Ethics

Meaningful Ethical Encounters: The Lived Experience of the Genetics Nurse

Abstract

Discoveries of the Human Genome Project, while beneficial to improving health, are accompanied by new and unique ethical concerns. The aim of this study was to describe and gain an understanding of the lived experience of genetics nurses as it relates to encountered ethical concerns. A hermeneutic phenomenological approach using van Manen’s thematic analysis was the method for this investigation. A sample of eight genetics nurses participated in the study. Seven essential themes emerged from the texts: (a) caring over time, (b) shared pain and suffering, (c) my job …