Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Right To Play's Intervention To Reduce Peer Violence Among Children In Public Schools In Pakistan: A Cluster-Randomized Controlled Trial, Rozina Karmaliani, Judith Mcfarlane, Hussain Maqbool Ahmed Khuwaja, Yasmeen Hassan Somani, Shireen Shehzad, Tazeen Saeed Ali, Nargis Asad, Esnat D. Chirwa, Rachel Jewkes

School of Nursing & Midwifery

Background: Peer violence is common globally, but a little researched topic in low-and middle-income countries. This study presents the evaluation of a two-year randomized controlled trial of a structured play-based life-skills intervention implemented in schools in Hyderabad, Pakistan.
Objective: To determine the impact of the intervention on school-based peer violence (victimization and perpetration) and depression among school children.
Methods: 40 single-sex public schools were randomized into two study arms (20 per arm 10 of each sex). A total of 1752 grade 6 students (929 from intervention and 823 from control schools) were enrolled in the trial. The two-year intervention was …

Prospective Evaluation Of Association Between Negative Emotions And Heart Failure Symptom Severity, Kyoung Suk Lee, Terry A. Lennie, Debra K. Moser

Nursing Faculty Publications

Background: Prior studies of symptoms in heart failure (HF) were largely cross-sectional and symptoms were measured using retrospective recall. Because negative emotions influence information processing, retrospective symptom reports by patients with depressive symptoms and anxiety may be biased. The purpose of this study was to determine whether there are differences in patterns of symptom changes, measured prospectively, over 15 days by levels of depressive symptoms and anxiety.

Methods: HF patients (N=52) rated daily symptom severity for shortness of breath (SOB), fatigue, sleep disturbance, and edema over 15 days on a 10-point visual analogue scale. Patients were grouped into higher vs …

Integument: Guidelines For The Care Of People With Spina Bifida, Patricia Beierwaltes, Sharon Munoz, Jennifer Wilhelmy

School of Nursing Publications

PURPOSE:

Skin-related issues have a significant impact on health, activities of daily living, and quality of life among people with spina bifida. Data presented by select clinics that participate in the National Spina Bifida Patient Registry reported that 26% of individuals had a history of pressure injuries with 19% having had one in the past year. The spina bifida community lack direct guidelines on prevention of these and other skin related issues. The Integument (skin) Guidelines focus on prevention, not treatment, of existing problems.

METHODS:

Using a consensus building methodology, the guidelines were written by experts in spina bifida and …

Bowel Function And Care - Guidelines For The Care Of People With Spina Bifida, Patricia Beierwaltes, Paige Church, Tiffany Gordon, Lusine Ambartsumyan

School of Nursing Publications

PURPOSE:

Bowel dysfunction, such as constipation and fecal incontinence, has a significant impact on health, activities of daily living, and quality of life among people with spina bifida. Secondary complications may result from bowel dysfunction and include urologic dysfunction, loss of skin integrity, shunt (hydrocephalus) function, as well as loss of social opportunities and employability.

METHODS:

Using a consensus building methodology, the guidelines for management of bowel dysfunction in spina bifida were written by experts in the field of spina bifida and bowel function and care.

RESULTS:

The evidence-based guidelines are presented in table format and provide age-specific recommendations to …

Care Coordination Guidelines For The Care Of People With Spina Bifida, Alexander Van Speybroeck, Patricia Beierwaltes, Betsy Hopson, Suzanne Mckee, Lisa Raman, Ravindra Rao, Rebecca Sherlock

School of Nursing Publications

Care coordination is the deliberate organization of patient care activities between two or more participants (including the patient) involved in a person’s care to facilitate the appropriate delivery of health care services. Organizing care involves the marshalling of personnel and other resources needed to carry out all required patient care activities. It is often managed by the exchange of information among participants responsible for different aspects of care. With an estimated 85% of individuals with Spina Bifida (SB) surviving to adulthood, SB specific care coordination guidelines are warranted. Care coordination (also described as case management services) is a process that …

Stress Overload / Coping In Ric Undergrad Nursing Students, Cynthia Dutt

Honors Projects

The purpose of this project was to conduct a preliminary assessment in order to obtain baseline data in regard to stress and coping mechanisms among Rhode Island College undergraduate nursing students. Common stressors, stress levels and coping mechanisms among undergraduate nursing students were identified. Appropriate evidence-based methods were provided as a resource to the undergraduate nursing student participants to assist with coping with their stressors. This project surveyed Rhode Island College undergraduate nursing students in a quantitative and qualitative fashion by having them answer the Student Nurse Stress Index (SNSI) (Jones & Johnston, 1999) and answer open-ended questions in relation …

Ensuring Racial Equity In Midwifery Education Programs: Beginning Steps For Midwifery Education., Ronnie Lichtman, Jennifer Woo, Pamela Reis, Carrie S. Klima, Dana Perlman

College of Health Professions Faculty Papers

No abstract provided.

Creating An Educational Intervention To Combat Nursing Incivility Benchmark Study, Kathleen P. Melancon

MSN Capstone Projects

When most people reflect on the nursing as a profession, the term compassionate typically comes to mind. The association with compassion is no surprise as nursing is considered to be the most compassionate profession in the world. Nurses, by trade and in all areas of practice, have an ethical and professional responsibility to create and uphold an environment of mutual respect and civility. However, the notion of “nurses eat their young” and the behaviors that stem from this mindset are causing detrimental effects not only to those organizations employing nurses but to patients and the nurses themselves.

Over the last …

Managing Hypertension With Lifestyle Modifications, Ladonna D. Willis

MSN Capstone Projects

Cardiovascular disease has taken the lives of millions of Americans, specifically, African Americans who do not have access to health care, which leads to morbidity and increased mortality. This benchmark project proposes to provide cardiovascular educational packets to patients who are admitted to the hospital and have been diagnosed with hypertension.

Meaningful Recognition And The Effect On A Medical-Surgical Unit's Staff Satisfaction And Retention, Lindsey Greene

MSN Capstone Projects

The current state of the American healthcare system is riddled with challenges. Nurse administrators are faced with the formidable tasks of decreasing operating costs; improving the patient experience; delivering high-quality and safe patient care; and decreasing the mounting rates of nurse turnover. Nurse leaders must understand the complexities of their work environment, including the key drivers for nurse satisfaction and retention. In 2005, the American Association of Critical Nurses developed six standards for creating a healthy work environment. (American Association of Critical Care Nurses, 2016). An adult, medical-surgical unit at a South Texas hospital was faced with rising rates of …

Sepsis Alert Benchmark Project, Leigh A. Normand

MSN Capstone Projects

Sepsis is steadily rising as one of the leading health concerns in our country due to the high risk of mortality and morbidity. Based on the data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the state of Texas, in 2018, had over 4,000 mortalities due to sepsis. Texas was ranked fifth in the nation for the highest sepsis mortality rate (Stats of the States - Septicemia Mortality, 2020). Anyone can develop an infection which can lead to sepsis, severe sepsis, or septic shock. Those at highest risk are infants, immunocompromised, advanced age, and those with chronic conditions …

Emergency Department Workplace Violence Against Nurses, Adam Johnson

MSN Capstone Projects

Emergency room nurses are often thought of as the adrenaline junkies of the nursing world. Emergency nurses interact with a wide array of patients and visitors and are often the first clinician a patient may see upon arriving at an emergency department. With this wide array of patients and visitors, also comes a volatile environment with the increased risks of violence against nurses. This violence could include verbal, physical, and emotional violence from patients, visitors, and even fellow staff members. As violence increases, nursing longevity decreases and thus further increases the expense of nursing on a facility. Therefore, this has …

Benchmark Project On Interactive Education Class For Osteoporosis Patients, Adrienne N. Johns

MSN Capstone Projects

Research project focusing on providing patients that have been diagnosed with osteoporosis with an non-traditional interactive educational opportunity to better their health and improve quality of life.

Effects Of Patient Monitoring While On Hormonal Contraceptives: A Benchmark Project, Ashley Simo

MSN Capstone Projects

The advancements made by the hormonal contraceptive industry has been a major advancement in the topic of women's health. However, it has been speculated through various complaints and studies that this pro-woman drug came with its risks. Common complaints about depressive moods have begun to be noted and associated with these drugs. This evidenced based project analyzes the correlation between hormonal contraceptives and the development of depressive symptoms. To better prove this, the study examines the effects of implementing patient contraceptive monitoring into practice, and its benefits.

Nurse Practitioners In Healthcare Benchmark, Jun Cho

MSN Capstone Projects

With the shortage of physicians and rise of healthcare costs, it is imperative that healthcare start looking at the best alternative to take care of patients. With average life expectancy increasing and baby boomers entering Medicare, there will be more in need for providers. There are many uncertainties and questions concerning nurse practitioners practicing independently, compared to physicians, about overall care and patient satisfaction. There have been many evidence-based researches that shows nurse practitioners can provide just as efficient and safe care as compared to physicians.

Catheter Associated Urinary Tract Infection, Latrina Mae Martin

MSN Capstone Projects

Catheter associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI) are a common preventable occurrence in healthcare. With many conditions requiring catheterization for numerous reasons, catheter use is unavoidable in many circumstances. The benchmark project will address the steps of data analysis, protocol approval, staff education, implementation, and post implementation data analysis. The previous 12 months of data on CAUTI rate, CAUTI mortality rate, number of catheter days, current protocols in place for catheter insertion/discontinuation, and catheter selection will be carefully reviewed. The data analysis will be presented to Administration for review and approval of a new protocol to decrease CAUTI rate. Once approved, …

Heart Failure Transitions Of Care Benchmark Project, Tamera M. Brandon

MSN Capstone Projects

Heart failure (HF) is a major cause of death associated with extensive morbidity and impaired quality of life. The incidence and prevalence of HF has also increased dramatically in the past three decades (Whitaker-Brown et al., 2017). HF now affects approximately 5.7 million people in the United States and is the cause of more than 55,000 deaths annually (Whitaker-Brown et al., 2017). Consequently, readmission rates of HF patients are an area of great concern. The purpose of this benchmark project is to decrease HF readmission rates in adults who had a recent HF related hospitalization by providing comprehensive transitional care …

High School Students As Citizen Scientists To Decrease Radon Exposure, Ellen J. Hahn, Craig Wilmhoff, Mary Kay Rayens, Nicholas B. Conley, Emily Morris, Angela Larck, Trista Allen, Susan M. Pinney

Nursing Faculty Publications

Residents in rural Kentucky (KY) and suburban Ohio (OH) expressed concerns about radon exposure and lung cancer. Although 85% of lung cancer cases are caused by tobacco smoke, radon exposure accounts for 10–15% of lung cancer cases. Academic and community members from the University of KY and the University of Cincinnati developed and pilot-tested a family-centered, youth-engaged home radon testing toolkit. The radon toolkit included radon information, and how to test, interpret, and report back findings. We educated youth as citizen scientists and their teachers in human subjects protection and home radon testing using the toolkit in the classroom. Youth …

Standardized Bedside Report During The Transfer Of Care, Lauryn Fanning-Goff

MSN Capstone Projects

Optimization of our communication processes can prevent multiple adverse/sentinel events that will also prevent the organization from potentially being held liable to cover those costs. The use of a standardized form of handoff is supported by literature as a way to ensure critical information is not omitted. Completing the report at bedside allows the patient and family to be involved in care, improve patient safety, and enhance patient satisfaction scores (Baldwin & Spears, 2019). Because of this, the PICOT question is: “In staff nurses on a pediatric surgical unit (P), how would a standardized bedside report during the transfer of …

Cpm Machine Protocol For Knee Replacements, Lacy White

MSN Capstone Projects

A benchmark project was conducted regarding the use of a CPM machine postoperatively to increase standardization of care for total knee replacement patients while also increasing the patient’s range of motion of the knee and decreasing the post-surgical pain. Over a six week period of time, each patient was given a CPM machine no later than 2 hours post op after the total knee replacement surgery and each patient was discharged after a one night stay in the hospital under observation instead of inpatient. When the patient were discharged they would be followed by a home health service who will …

Opioid Education Program, Cynthia De Atley

MSN Capstone Projects

Pain management has become a challenging field both for the patients, their families, and providers. The rise of the opioid crisis has made the availability of opioids limited, even for those patients who truly need the life changing medications. Nurses, physicians, and administrators play a vital role in patient education and the education regarding the importance of using opioids safely. Lack of patient education regarding the use, misuse, and side effects of opioids can lead to potential injuries, overdose, and even death.

Providing patients with an educational program would greatly decrease their risk of misuse and abuse of opioids. During …

Home Blood Pressure Monitoring, Bethany N. Hughes

MSN Capstone Projects

Hypertension is prevalent worldwide and is responsible for nine million deaths annually. Despite its prevalence, a majority of patients go unmanaged or undiagnosed (Kitt et al., 2019). Health complications of hypertension can be life-altering and life-threatening; therefore, if changes are not made to improve community hypertension control rates, worsened population health and financial burden on health systems may persist. Would you believe that an effective tool exists and has been endorsed worldwide to combat hypertension, yet it is not used consistently in practice? Furthermore, can you imagine this specific tool is easy to operate, cheap, and recruits patient involvement in …

New Graduate Nurse Satisfaction After Completion Of Nurse Residency Program, Jessica Andrews

MSN Capstone Projects

Transitioning from novice nurse to competent nurse can come with a great amount of stress, anxiety, and apprehension. Many new nurses feel inadequate and leave their first nursing job within one year for various reasons. Research has indicated that new nurse graduates who complete a nurse residency program (NRP) have a better sense of knowledge, critical thinking skills, and sense of belonging. Whereas nurses who do not complete a residency program often feel insufficient and are less prepared.

Although there are various types of general orientation programs available, it is important to educate new graduates on the advantages and significance …

The Relationship Between Early Discharge Planning And Length Of Stay, Kandiss Hearn

MSN Capstone Projects

Discharge planning (DCP) and early discharge intervention has proven to have a direct effect on reducing hospital length of stay (LOS), reducing readmissions, reducing patient morbidity, improving patient satisfaction and possibly reducing patient healthcare cost. This proposal specifically addresses hospital length of stay but with research it was found that early DCP also has the potential to improve outcomes in several areas adjacent to both the patient aspect and business aspect of health care. The proposed question is as follows: In adult hospitalized patients (P), how does discharge planning within the first 24 hours of admission (I) compared to late …

Impact Of Hourly Rounding On Fall Rates: A Benchmark Paper, Monica D. Smith

MSN Capstone Projects

Falls and fall-related injuries create a significant financial burden on patients and healthcare organizations, particularly in adult inpatient hospital units such as rehabilitation and medical-surgical units. Costs associated with additional hospital days, diagnostic testing, and potentially fall-related surgeries can average about $14,000 per fall (The Joint Commission, 2015). Moreover, falls can be devastating in older adults, impacting their overall quality of life. According to Abou et al., 20% of yearly individual costs associated with falls are among patients with Parkinson's disease (2020). This is a proposal to implement a pre-and post-implementation change project. This paper addresses the use of evidence-based …

Increased Discharge Compliance Through Mental Health Follow-Up, Robert H. Kirby

MSN Capstone Projects

Emergency departments are being strained to their breaking points as a result of the recent COVID pandemic. These departments are in need of programs that can help to reduce stress on not only limited budgets but also reduce the strain on their overwhelmed staff. One such strain on emergency departments and their limited resources is the readmittance of mental health patients as a result of non-compliance of the discharge instructions. The change project looks to address whether following up 10 days post discharge can increase discharge instruction compliance and ultimately reduce readmissions. The aim of the project is through the …

Mindfulness-Based Intervention Program For Nurses, Monica Savage

MSN Capstone Projects

Currently, in most health care facilities across the country, they are experiencing a shortage of nurses. Nurses are taking on heavy loads of patients that are only getting sicker. Many nurses are experiencing symptoms of burnout such as depression and anxiety. Many are also contemplating leaving the bedside because they are unable to cope with the stress they are experiencing.

Although most organizations have employee assistance programs for support, they are not being utilized. Implementing a mindfulness-based program will give nurses the tools they need at a moment’s notice when they need it. Giving nurses the tool to properly take …

Impact Of Technological Communication Devices, Joshua George

MSN Capstone Projects

Nurses, family members, and other medical professionals have always found it difficult when communicating with patients who have impaired communication. Those who fall under the category of impaired communication include those who are mechanically ventilated and those who have a tracheostomy. Ineffective communication skills on both ends of the spectrum have led to negative patient outcomes. According to Aslani, Niknejad, Maghaddasi, & Akbari (2017), ineffective communication in patients with impaired communication have led to numerous physical and mental complications. Discovering an effective communication method to implement has been of great importance in the nursing field.

The current practice of communicating …

Pain And Sedation Scales In The Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Marsha K. Triana

MSN Capstone Projects

In the pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) there is a need for analgesia and sedation to reduce pain and discomfort, allow for interventions, optimize ventilation, decrease the amount of time in the PICU, and improve outcomes including the time after discharge. Adequate management of sedation and pain is the key to healing, duration of hospitalization, as well as a decrease in mortality rates. It is essential to have adequate pain control to maintain healing and stress reduction. Over sedation with mechanically ventilated children in the PICU can have significant complications. Complications include withdrawal, risk for infection and increased the amount …

Utilizing Simulation To Enhance The Medical Emergency Response Team In Schools, Jennifer Gaskill

MSN Capstone Projects

Modern technology and health care advancements have significantly affected the patient populations encountered across numerous health care and public settings. One such setting is the school systems within the United States where students and staff with complex cardiovascular conditions, who were once restricted due to medical concerns and associated risks, are now actively learning and working among their peers. Though these conditions are typically managed well in this population, their risk of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) remains, and schools must be equipped and prepared to respond to such emergencies. Many buildings have developed Medical Emergency Response Teams (MERTs) intended to …