Evaluating The Impact Of Simulation On Perceived Knowledge And Confidence Of New Graduate Nurses (Ngns) In Maternal-Newborn Care, Disa Seymour

DNP Scholarly Projects

Abstract

Background: Nursing education worldwide varies in duration and training process, with nurses often facing rapid immersion into patient care complexities when entering the workforce. While new nurses contribute significantly to the nursing community with contemporary knowledge, their transition to practice can be daunting, necessitating support for both competence and retention. As specialty care settings integrate more new graduate nurses (NGNs) to address workforce shortages, collaboration between leaders and educators becomes crucial. Simulation emerges as a vital tool in building confidence while learning, offering a safe space for skill development and growth of confidence.

Purpose: This project’s objective was to …

The Clinical Observations Of Nursing Students And Recent Graduates Caring For Lgbtq+ People, Emily E. Roy

Honors Theses and Capstones

Objective: The next generation of nurses have increased educational preparation to provide affirming care to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) people, but an evaluation of the effectiveness of this teaching has not been performed. The purpose of this study was to identify nursing student and recent nursing graduate observations of affirming and non-affirming care of LGBTQ+ people in healthcare settings during clinical experiences. We also sought to understand how those experiences affect their ability and willingness to provide affirming health care to LGBTQ+ people.

Methods: Participants filled out a mixed methods Qualtrics survey that was distributed through school …

Implementation Of A Standardized Process To Increase Promotion Of Family Presence During Resuscitation, Eileen Hollis

DNP Scholarly Projects

BACKGROUND: Family Presence During Resuscitation (FPDR), has been studied and recommended as an important and relevant practice for decades, yet it remains controversial with frequent barriers to implementation. The benefits of this practice are numerous; and to truly embrace shared decision making, nurses and providers must encourage patients and families to participate in all aspects of care, even during resuscitation events. As evidence supporting the emotional and psychological benefits of FPDR began to grow, however, a global pandemic brought family presence to an abrupt halt.

METHODS: This quality improvement project’s focus was to standardize a process for offering and allowing …

Support Their Sleep: Enhancing Nurses' Knowledge And Implementation Of Non-Pharmacological Sleep Protocols To Improve Patient Rest, Recovery, And Reduce Cognitive Impairment., David C. Barry

Master's Theses and Capstones

Background: Sleep and rest play an influential role in promoting recovery and healing in humans. Hospitalized patients are at risk for altered sleep from hospitalization, illness, and stimulation from a hospital environment. Non-pharmacologic interventions preformed by nurses can help to improve sleep and sleep environment for patients.

Local problem: There was no protocol or available information regarding patient sleep promotion for nurses to references when caring for patients.

Methods: Nurses in the microsystem (n=8) were administered a pre/post questionnaire containing Likert scales and a short quiz containing knowledge-based questions. Questionnaires were distributed to nurses prior to and after …

Nursing Students' And Recent Graduates' Observations Of Fatphobia In The Clinical Setting, Myah Kerbyson

Honors Theses and Capstones

Objectives: To investigate the incidence of fatphobic behaviors among the healthcare team and how nursing students’ and recent graduates’ observations of fatphobic behaviors impact the provision of affirming care.

Background: Weight stigma among healthcare providers can lead to fatphobia (e.g., hurtful or stigmatizing language, dismissal of symptoms). These experiences can negatively impact patients’ health and experiences with healthcare, leading some patients to avoid or delay seeking healthcare services. Fatphobia can also cause increased stress levels among patients, which places them at a higher risk of several diseases. The short-term and long-term effects of fatphobia lead overall worse health outcomes.

Methods: …

Establishing A Protocol To Address Workplace Violence And Increase The Perceptions Of Safety Among Emergency Department Nurses: A Quality Improvement Initiative, Devan M. Robidoux

Master's Theses and Capstones

Background: Violence against emergency department nurses has become a widespread phenomenon that can greatly impact a nurse's job satisfaction and performance. Research has been scarce in examining the relationship between workplace violence and its underlying consequences. There remains a disconnect between precursors of violence against nurses perpetrated by patients and the cultural expectation that violence is a part of the nurses job and, subsequently, what they signed up for when going into the field. Nurses learn that having a greater understanding of the value in the lived experience of their patients leads to better quality delivery of care. However, culturally …

Review Of Age-Related Trends Of Infection Among People Hospitalized For Infection With Concurrent Substance Use, Julia Catherine Lucia Gregorio

Honors Theses and Capstones

Abstract

Background: Opioids and related injections are the most common drug associated with infection (Capizzi et al., 2020). Overall, data overwhelmingly shows infection and overdose rates on the rise in recent years (Kaiser Family Foundation, 2019).

Methods: The aim of this study was to identify trends between age and concurrent infection rates related to substance use from 2012 to 2019. This quantitative study utilized data from the NH Hospital Discharge Summaries (Office of Health Statistics, 2021). Specifically, trends among three age groups (young adults (18-34), middle-aged (35-54), and older adults (55+)) who were admitted to an inpatient unit or the …

Promoting A Culture Of Self-Care: Application Of A Caring Science Framework To Prevent Nursing Faculty Burnout, Angela M. Braswell

DNP Scholarly Projects

BACKGROUND: Threats to nurses’ well-being from chronic workplace stress often leads to burnout. Lack of self-care contributes to nursing faculty burnout due to the inability to maintain well-being. Emerging evidence points to theory guided self-caring practices as effective coping strategies to manage the negative effects of workplace environments on well-being.

METHODS: This quality improvement project aimed to provide nursing faculty and staff in the academic workplace with opportunities to cultivate and enhance self-care practices to promote overall health and well-being following principles of Caring Science and Jean Watson’s 10 Caritas Processes^®. A multifaceted set of interventions were provided: …

Nurses’ Perceptions Of Their Role Utilizing Eat, Sleep, Console, In The Management Of Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome, Cerys Eldred

Honors Theses and Capstones

Background: There is a rising prominence of infants being born and diagnosed with Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) in the United States. In recent years, a new non-pharmacological method of managing these infants called Eat, Sleep, Console (ESC) has emerged. While there is mounting evidence demonstrating the positive outcomes for infants treated with this method, there is limited research regarding nurses’ perceptions of this new intervention. This study seeks to understand the nurse’s experience and role during caring for infants with NAS utilizing the ESC method in comparison to the past practices.

Methods: This study used a qualitative descriptive design to …

Enhancing Peripheral Intravenous Line Maintenance Practices Among Nurses In A Critical Care Setting: A Quality Improvement Project, Jaylene Velasquez

Honors Theses and Capstones

Abstract

Background: One of the major risks of infection lies in a patient’s intravenous (IV) access. On a cardiac intensive unit, a Levell II trauma center, preventing adverse events (i.e. infections, sepsis, etc.) is essential within this unit due to the nature of these health conditions. To ensure patient safety, nurses must abide by evidence-based practices and facility guidelines regarding intravenous line management. This quality improvement (QI) project implemented interventions to enhance nursing practices for peripheral intravenous therapy.

Methods: This project included statistical analysis and audits to measure the impact of the interventions. The variables being observed in this project …

Pediatric Emergency Department Nurse’S Knowledge And Attitudes Of Pediatric Fluid Resuscitation, Tannah Kimberly O'Brien, Kerry Nolte Phd, Fnp-C, Denise Downey Msn, Rn-Bc, Cpen, Debra Lajoie Jd, Phd, Msn, Rn, Esq., Allison Ivers Msn, Rn, Cnl, Kathleen Sultan Bsn, Rn, Cpen

Honors Theses and Capstones

Background: Rapid fluid resuscitation is essential to the management of pediatric shock, but there are many barriers to published guideline adherence. Limited evidence describing emergency department (ED) nurse’s knowledge and attitudes of fluid resuscitation exists. This study described pediatric ED nurse’s knowledge and attitudes of fluid resuscitation.

Methods: This single-site descriptive study used survey methodology. A 23-question survey was distributed to nurses in the ED at Boston Children’s Hospital. The survey measured nurse’s knowledge, attitudes, and perceived barriers to fluid resuscitation.

Results: Findings suggested gaps found between actual and perceived knowledge consistent with prior evidence. There was a 50.9% response …

Can Nurses Predict Transitions Of Care In Assisted Living?, Emma M. Blair

Honors Theses and Capstones

The older adult population is rising exponentially due to medical advances and the aging of the Baby Boomer Population (Wister, 2005). Many of these older adults are choosing to live in assisted living facilities due to the increased independence and decreased cost of living compared to nursing homes (Grabowski, Stevenson, & Cornell, 2012). Since nurses are the primary directors of care for those in assisted living, the question was asked if they can predict a resident’s length of stay based on their knowledge and clinical judgement. A prospective study was performed at an assisted living facility in Oakland, California to …

Healthcare And Substance Use Service Accessibility And Barriers For Syringe Service Program (Ssp) Participants In Manchester, Nh, Faith Mackenzie Farnham

Honors Theses and Capstones

No abstract provided.

Instilling Diet And Exercise Confidence: Influence Of Nurse Body Size, Erin Murdock Spaulding

Honors Theses and Capstones

This paper reports a research study focused on perspective of nurse body size and how it affects confidence in a nurses’ ability to provide education on diet and exercise. The study followed a descriptive method design guided by a cross-sectional survey with quantitative variables. Results show that there is increased confidence in a nurse’s ability to provide education and influence habits regarding diet and exercise when the nurse role models such behaviors. Other findings presented include respondents’ perception of their body mass index versus their actual body mass index, percentage of respondents with health care conditions related to obesity, and …

Nursing Textbooks: Comparative Representation Of Physicians And Advanced Practice Nurses, Kaitlin Kirby

Honors Theses and Capstones

Advanced practice registered nurses are nurses educated with a master’s degree who practice autonomously as well collaboratively with other healthcare professionals to diagnose, treat, and manage patients’ healthcare problems. Undergraduate nursing students often misunderstand the role and responsibilities of advanced practice nurses. As nursing students are cultured in the art and science of nursing, textbooks play an essential role. Therefore in this study, seven best-selling nursing textbooks were examined for content related to APRNs and physicians. Selections from all seven textbooks were collected and analyzed to determine the references to physicians, APRNs, and healthcare providers. APRN selections were less prevalent …

Understanding Caregiver Factors Influencing Childhood Influenza Vaccination, Gianelle M. Avola, Jennifer A. Lyon

Honors Theses and Capstones

Influenza is a contagious disease that affects approximately 30% to 40% of American children yearly, and all children 18 and under are recommended to be vaccinated. Through the use of a survey tool, 119 responses were collected about the factors that influence the decisions of caregivers whether or not to vaccinate their children against influenza. The knowledge generated from the survey may be used to formulate education programs to increase vaccination rates.

Understanding The Experience Of Weight Gain And Body Image During Adolescent Pregnancy, Jessica L. Hinkley, Liana J. Newcombe

Honors Theses and Capstones

This qualitative descriptive study explores the experience of adolescent pregnancy and the influence of body image and other factors on weight gain. It identified three main themes through content analysis: Continuity of Care, Adolescent Investment in a Healthy Pregnancy, and the Impact of Pregnancy Symptoms.

Nursing Satisfaction In Caring For Elders, Sarah L. Vlachos

Honors Theses and Capstones

Despite the increasing number of Americans who are over 65 years of age, little research exists about the satisfaction of nurses who care for this population. This qualitative descriptive study investigated the factors that influence the satisfaction of such nurses, and yielded five main themes. Registered Nurses (RNs) reported providing high-quality care, developing relationships, and making a difference to be rewarding components of geriatric nursing. The nurses also discussed challenges, which included caring for elders with dementia and being unable to deliver the high-quality care they felt patients deserve. Several of these finding were consistent with existing studies that addressed …

Two Cultures Of Caring: A Comparative Study, Lisa Armstrong, Chistina Polito

Honors Theses and Capstones

There is much that the UK and the US could and should learn from each other to understand the quality of end-of-life care, through comparison of practice, analysis of care patterns and via original research (Higginson, 2005, p.170). Although comparisons between end-of-life care in the United Kingdom and United States have demonstrated similarities and disparities in many contexts, there is little evidence of research that directly compares nursing perspectives between the two Atlantic partners. This research explores nurse’s perceptions and experiences of caring for people within a hospice context and identifies themes of commonalities and disparities in theory and practice, …