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Nurses' Occupational Trauma Exposure, Resilience, And Coping Education, Sherry Lynn Jones Jan 2016

Nurses' Occupational Trauma Exposure, Resilience, And Coping Education, Sherry Lynn Jones

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Nursing education courses and professional development (PD) do not include coping and resilience training for registered nurses (RNs) who work in emergency departments (EDs). Exposure to traumatic events, death, and dying may lead to health issues, substance abuse, stress symptoms, nursing staff turnover, and compassion fatigue among ED RNs. Without training, the pattern of adverse outcomes may continue. The purpose of this study was to explore ED RNs' experiences with occupational traumatic stress (OTS), and their recommendations for change to nursing PD programs, using a qualitative bounded intrinsic case study. The conceptual framework for this study included social learning and …


Improving The Charge Nurse's Leadership Role: A Collaborative Learning Forum, Felicia Katherine Pryby Jan 2016

Improving The Charge Nurse's Leadership Role: A Collaborative Learning Forum, Felicia Katherine Pryby

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Staff nurses are frequently placed in charge nurse positions without the necessary formal training. The long-term goal of this project was to develop a curriculum for a formal institutional leadership workshop for the charge nurses at the practicum site. The Johns Hopkins Nursing Evidence-Based Practice model and Lewin's change theory were used to guide the development and implementation of the workshop. Data were collected using a focus group approach with 4 novice and 5 expert medical-surgical charge nurses. The short-term goal of the project was to understand the charge nurses' perceptions of leadership and the challenges as a front-line leader. …


Nursing Distance Learning Course Comparison Of Assignments And Examination Scores, Jennifer Mundine Jan 2016

Nursing Distance Learning Course Comparison Of Assignments And Examination Scores, Jennifer Mundine

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Nursing programs have embraced distance learning in their curricula, but discussion is ongoing about course assignments and grading criteria to increase examination scores in nursing distance learning courses. Because course examinations are a predictor of success on the postgraduate licensing examination (NCLEX-RN), the purpose of this study was to determine whether differences existed in student examination scores between nursing distance learning courses with and without points aligned to assignments. The theoretical framework was Knowles's theory of andragogy, which highlights adults' motivation and self-direction to succeed. The quantitative causal comparative study included a convenience sample of 164 students to compare archival …


Relationship Between Nurse Training And Physical Restraints In Nursing Homes, Terah Tessier Jan 2016

Relationship Between Nurse Training And Physical Restraints In Nursing Homes, Terah Tessier

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

According to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), approximately 1.3 million U.S. residents are residing in nursing homes. CMS enforced regulations in the Nursing Home Reform Act. Training in the use of restraints in nursing homes is monitored through the CMS standards. The purpose of this study was to determine whether there was a correlation between training standards of health care practitioners and their use of restraints in nursing homes based on the patterns of citations by RNs and CNAs. Data were collected from Kansas, Louisiana, and Ohio within the CMS Nursing Home Data Compendium. The key research …


An Exploration Of The Effectiveness Of Problem-Based Learning In Nursing Education, Yvette Marie Jackson Jan 2016

An Exploration Of The Effectiveness Of Problem-Based Learning In Nursing Education, Yvette Marie Jackson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Critical-thinking is an essential skill that graduate nurses need to make sound clinical decisions. While traditional lecturing is the method most commonly used in nursing education, incorporating problem-based learning (PBL) into nursing curricula has been suggested as a better option for students' learning of theory and practice. The purpose of this study was to explore the difference in critical-thinking and problem-solving skills between nursing students taught using PBL versus those taught with traditional classroom lectures. A quasi-experimental approach, with cognitive learning theory as the foundation, was used to compare the results of an Assessment Technologies Institute (ATI) Comprehensive Predictor posttest …


Improving Colorectal Cancer Screening In Primary Care, Jenerie Reniedo Navarrete-Pak Jan 2016

Improving Colorectal Cancer Screening In Primary Care, Jenerie Reniedo Navarrete-Pak

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Despite indications that colorectal cancer (CRC) screening strategies can decrease mortality and morbidity, screening rates among veterans remains to be low. In the Veterans Affairs (VA), the performance measure for CRC screening is lower than the national standard. This quality improvement (QI) project evaluated the effect of a team-based approach, effective electronic information structures, and the provision of education to nurses and patients in increasing CRC screening rate in primary care from 77% to 85%. CRC screening data were retrospectively collected prior to the start of the project and then compared to screening data 3 months after project implementation. The …


Bedside Nurses' Influence On Patients' Continuum Of Care Through Effective Discharge Teaching, Mary Ann Whicker Jan 2015

Bedside Nurses' Influence On Patients' Continuum Of Care Through Effective Discharge Teaching, Mary Ann Whicker

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The evolution of person-centered healthcare reinforces the need for nursing to provide effective patient education. Literature suggests nurses desire to provide strong discharge education to patients, but are challenged by knowledge gaps and other barriers. This DNP project developed a plan for integrating teach-back on a 30-bed cardiac unit, focusing on heart failure patients. Following a logic model, the process improvement plan to implement teach-back includes education on teach-back, empowerment of unit champions to support the project and evaluation of effectiveness of the education plan and impact on heart failure patients. The sample size of 15 cardiac nurses provides a …


Recent Graduates' Perspective On The Efficacy Of Nursing Simulation Laboratory Experiences, Holli Sowerby Jan 2015

Recent Graduates' Perspective On The Efficacy Of Nursing Simulation Laboratory Experiences, Holli Sowerby

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

It has become progressively difficult to find suitable clinical placement for nursing students. To help meet this need, local schools of nursing are turning to high-fidelity simulation manikins to substitute for clinical experience. There is a lack of research that explores recently graduated nurses' perceptions about the efficacy of simulation experiences. Guided by the constructivist theory, this qualitative case study identified how recent RN graduates viewed simulation experiences and whether associate's-degree RN program graduates and bachelor's-program RN graduates viewed simulation differently. Nine recent graduates participated in individual face-to-face interviews. The data were coded and grouped into 5 major themes in …


Automated Medication Dispensing Cabinet And Medication Errors, Marie Helen Walsh Jan 2015

Automated Medication Dispensing Cabinet And Medication Errors, Marie Helen Walsh

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The number of deaths due to medical errors in hospitals ranges from 44,000 to 98,000 yearly. More than 7,000 of these deaths have taken place due to medication errors. This project evaluated the implementation of an automated medication dispensing cabinet or PYXIS machine in a 25-bed upper Midwestern critical access hospital. Lewin's stage theory of organizational change and Roger's diffusion of innovations theory supported the project. Nursing staff members were asked to complete an anonymous, qualitative survey approximately 1 month after the implementation of the PYXIS and again 1 year later. Questions were focused on the device and its use …


The Creation Of A Pacemaker Clinic At A Federally-Funded Patient-Centered Medical Home: A Quality Improvement Project, Tony Anno Jan 2015

The Creation Of A Pacemaker Clinic At A Federally-Funded Patient-Centered Medical Home: A Quality Improvement Project, Tony Anno

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

It is common for clinicians to implant medical devices, such as permanent pacemakers and implantable defibrillators, for cardiac diseases. These medical devices require follow-up care at regular intervals to ensure proper device function and optimal outcomes. Currently, many individuals without insurance or financial resources lack access to recommended follow-up care after implantation of a cardiac device. The purpose of this project was to determine the number of individuals who have had a medical device implanted without insurance coverage over a 3-year period, and then to establish a clinic that provides this service. The standard of care and operating procedure for …


Factors Contributing To Loss Of Nursing Intellectual Capital, Vera Ligia Grover Jan 2015

Factors Contributing To Loss Of Nursing Intellectual Capital, Vera Ligia Grover

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In a Level II trauma center, experienced nurses are retiring from nursing positions, which is causing an unstable workforce. According to the literature, there are not enough experienced nurses to mentor the new nurses. Evidence suggests that experienced nurses are associated with improved patient outcomes and that experienced nurse mentors can improve the work environment for less experienced nurses. Focusing on Watson's theoretical framework of caring and Covell's theoretical framework of intellectual capital, this phenomenological study explored the lived experiences of a small group of nurses. Five nurses with 15 years of experience and who had served as mentors were …


The Association Between Core Science Course Timing And Completion Of An Associate Degree Nursing Program, Patricia Ann Pfeiffer Jan 2015

The Association Between Core Science Course Timing And Completion Of An Associate Degree Nursing Program, Patricia Ann Pfeiffer

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The aging population in the United States has led to an increased demand for registered nurses. Nursing program administrators must examine ways to increase nursing program completion, which will increase the supply registered nurses. The purpose of this study was to determine the associations among length of time between core science course completion and nursing program admission, on-time completion, and National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) success for students at a southeastern community college. A convenience sample of 288 community students admitted to an associate degree level nursing (ADN) program between 2007 and 2012 was selected. The guiding …


An Educational Program For Nurses On Therapeutic Misconception In The Oncology Setting, Debra Magnanelli Jan 2015

An Educational Program For Nurses On Therapeutic Misconception In The Oncology Setting, Debra Magnanelli

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

A key component of informed consent to participate in research is the understanding that research is not the same as treatment and that scientific goals have priority over therapeutic ones. However, studies have found many research participants do not understand these important differences between research and treatment, a phenomenon termed therapeutic misconception (TM). The problem addressed in this project was research nurses' lack of education regarding the existence and concepts of TM, and their struggles to assess and address research participants' TM of clinical trials. Matutina's conceptual model of TM was used to guide this project. The purpose of this …


The Effects Of A Concept-Based Curriculum On Nursing Students' Nclex-Rn Exam Scores, Patricia Allen Edwards Jan 2015

The Effects Of A Concept-Based Curriculum On Nursing Students' Nclex-Rn Exam Scores, Patricia Allen Edwards

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The Institute of Medicine and the National League of Nursing have called for curricular reform that promotes high first-time pass rates on the National Counsel of Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN). A campus in the southeastern region of the United States implemented a concept-based curriculum; however, the effect on the first-time NCLEX-RN pass rates was unknown. The purpose of this comparative study was to determine if the concept-based curriculum improved student scores on the NCLEX-RN. Dreyfus' model of learning guided this study because of the andragogy tenets, which in turn supported the concept-based curricula. The research questions examined the …


Visual Arts And Chronic Pain: Thematic Analysis To The Artistic Statements Of Visual Artists, Susan Beth Janicke Jan 2015

Visual Arts And Chronic Pain: Thematic Analysis To The Artistic Statements Of Visual Artists, Susan Beth Janicke

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The relief of pain is an essential element of nursing practice. Nursing has begun to successfully use art to assess and reduce pain among hospitalized children, surgical patients, and oncology patients. Structured art projects have been used to provide distraction from pain and patient drawings have allowed nurses to assess pain. This project employed grounded theory and thematic analysis to uncover significant concepts in the artists' statements. The Roy adaptation model and Saunders' total pain theory provided the project theoretical framework. The artistic statements and the art of chronic pain patients were examined using thematic analysis to identify recurrent themes. …


The Role Of Nursing Practice In Promoting Sleep During Brain Injury Rehabilitation, Jill Massengale Jan 2015

The Role Of Nursing Practice In Promoting Sleep During Brain Injury Rehabilitation, Jill Massengale

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

During hospitalization, sleep can be interrupted or even elusive. It has been established that quality sleep is essential in neural repair. Previous research has indicated that many nurses are unaware of the impact of sleep disturbance on brain injury recovery and do not understand how to promote sleep in the neurorehabilitation setting. The purpose of this project was to determine whether educational intervention would influence nurses' knowledge and attitudes toward sleep. Benner's (2001) novice to expert theory provided a framework for the project. With the collaboration of a neuropsychologist, this study produced a sleep knowledge and attitudes instrument. Pulmonary sleep …


Barriers To Receiving The Influenza Vaccine In Adults 65 Years And Older, Melissa Madalone Jan 2015

Barriers To Receiving The Influenza Vaccine In Adults 65 Years And Older, Melissa Madalone

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Vaccination is regarded by many as the most effective means of reducing influenza infection and disease; however, many people in the United States are hospitalized from flu-related illness each year. Adults 65 years and older account for more than half of these hospitalizations and almost all flu-related deaths. This project aimed to identify barriers to receiving the influenza vaccine among the adult population (> 65 years of age) in a community setting. The goal was to develop a teaching tool that would assist practitioners towards improving influenza vaccination rates among this population. The Health Belief Model was the theoretical framework …


Patient Safety Culture And High Reliability Organizations, Jared D. Padgett Jun 2014

Patient Safety Culture And High Reliability Organizations, Jared D. Padgett

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

A 1999 evaluation of case studies performed by staff from the Institute of Medicine found that between 40,000 and 98,000 patients died from preventable errors, while 43,598 individuals died in car accidents that year. A 2011 report increased that estimate nearly 10 times. Widespread preventable patient harm still occurs despite an increase in healthcare regulations. High-reliability organization theory has contributed to improved safety and may potentially reverse this trend. This explorative single case study explored how the perceptions and experiences of nursing and respiratory staff affected the successful transition of a healthcare organization into a reliability-seeking organization. Fourteen participants from …


Healthy Work Environment Orientation Training And Psychiatric Nurse Retention, Lawanda Rollins Jan 2014

Healthy Work Environment Orientation Training And Psychiatric Nurse Retention, Lawanda Rollins

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

According to recent research, more than 75% of newly employed nurses leave employment within 6 months. Changes in organizational training programs are needed in order to improve psychiatric nurse retention, nationally and globally. A healthy work environment (HWE) has been described as an environment that includes mentoring for good communication skills; it is also one that explores collaborative strategies for safe practice; professional advancement; and empowerment through research, education, and skill development. Examination of the impact of this HWE psychiatric nurse orientation training program on nurse retention was done using Rogers' theory of diffusion. Study variables included the length of …


Patient Adherence To Oral Oncolytics, Holly Sansoucie Jan 2011

Patient Adherence To Oral Oncolytics, Holly Sansoucie

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Oral oncolytics continue to come to market at an unprecedented pace. Traditionally, chemotherapy was delivered in the controlled environment of the infusion suite; however, with the increasing use of oral oncolytics, the burden of administration and monitoring has shifted to the patients and/or their caregiver. This paradigm shift, from intravenous chemotherapy to oral chemotherapy, has created new challenges in cancer care. Despite the seriousness of their diagnosis, oncology patients are not always adherent to these requirements. Oncology nurses have always taken the lead in patient education, yet that lead has mostly been in the context of intravenous chemotherapy. There is …