Health and Medical Administration Commons^™

Assessing Social Determinants Of Health In Primary Care, Vicki Carpenter

Doctoral Projects

The social determinants of health encompass the various circumstances and environments in which individuals reside, develop, labor, and experience aging (Social Determinants of Health, 2022). These variables significantly contribute to the existence of health inequities and disparities within populations. In order to effectively mitigate health disparities, it is imperative to consider the various determinants that influence health outcomes, as this consideration is crucial for advancing the goal of achieving health equity. This public health concern encompasses multiple sectors within our society, necessitating the collaboration of various organizations and communities to effectively address and mitigate its impact.

The fundamental …

A Quality Improvement Project To Increase Awareness And Utilization Of Employee Assistance Program Services Among Healthcare Providers, Scarlet Gould

Doctoral Projects

Mental health distress among healthcare providers (HCP) is a common problem, yet Employee Assistance Programs (EAP) are consistently underutilized. Unmanaged workplace stress can lead to problems such as provider burnout and increased rates of turnover, which can result in decreased access to patient care. The purpose of this project was to increase awareness and utilization of EAP services by using the Plan-Do-Study-Act cycle (PDSA) for quality improvement. Nurse Practitioners at a community-based hospital were provided with a PowerPoint^® presentation via email that contained information regarding the facility’s employee assistance program, mental health wellness education, as well as ways to …

Early Onset Hypertension Objective Structured Clinical Examinations, Katrina Morace

Doctoral Projects

Hypertension is known as a condition in which raised blood vessel pressure persists. On a normal day, the pressure can rise and fall causing damage to the heart. When the pressure stays at higher readings, damage can be caused to the heart and can also lead to additional health problems. Another word for high blood pressure is hypertension. The blood is carried to all body parts from the heart by the arteries. The harder the heart pumps the higher the blood pressure (Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention [CDC], 2020). When hypertension is not diagnosed and treated at an early …

The Lived Experiences Of Icu, Med-Surg, And Er Nurses In The United States Attempting To Breastfeed During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Amy Seay

Dissertations

Breastfeeding is important to promote the health of both mothers and babies (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2021). Many mothers experience workplace barriers and stress which negatively impact breastfeeding duration (McCardel & Padilla, 2020; Nagel et al., 2022). However, a gap in the literature exists surrounding specific barriers and the impact of stress on U.S. nurses who breastfeed. Specifically, workplace challenges and stress among nurses resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic lack exploration.

This interpretive phenomenological study explored the lived experiences of ICU, Med-Surg, and ER nurses who attempted to breastfeed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Roy’s adaptation model was …

Barriers To Preoperative Warming: Best Practice Guideline, Tyler Comans, Zachary Hays, Caleb Leach

Doctoral Projects

The lack of preoperative warming has a direct relationship to perioperative hypothermia complications which include, but are not limited to: increased infection rate, coagulopathies, and increased myocardial oxygen consumption; all contributing to poor patient and facility outcomes. Implementation of an evidence-based educational module with visual aid can potentially increase the utilization of active warming techniques in the preoperative setting by perioperative staff. The DNP Project investigated barriers to preoperative warming by perioperative staff at a large teaching hospital in the southeastern United States. Barriers were assessed by a voluntary survey sent to 87 perioperative staff members. Twenty-two surveys were completed …

Increasing Patient Satisfaction Survey Response Rate At An Ambulatory Surgery Center, Carlee Nicholson

Doctoral Projects

In an effort to increase distribution rate and response rate of the patient satisfaction survey at this ASC, adjustments were made to current processes. These interventions included accentuating the option of a paper or emailed survey, providing pre-operative and post-operative response prompts, as well as adding a cover letter to the existing survey. The purpose of these interventions was to ensure a 100% distribution rate of the survey as well as to increase the response rate by 20%.

Results were obtained by collecting forms to monitor distribution of the survey. The response rate was calculated by the number of responses …

Incidence Of Student Registered Nurse Anesthetists In The United States Who Own And Use Smartphone As Supplemental Learning Tools, Ruoyu Zhao

Doctoral Projects

Background: Smartphones have a great potential for students to learn more efficiently. Students now have the ability to download applications with pertinent information in the palm of their hand for both educational and clinical duties. This descriptive correlational quantitative research examines whether student registered nurse anesthetists own and use smartphones as supplementary learning tools.

Methods: An online survey was sent through AANA to Masters and DNP student registered nurse anesthetists (SRNAs) in the United States. Respondents were asked if they owned smartphones and how often they used smartphones for educational and clinical duties. Data Analysis was conducted using a Chi-square …

Hospital Practices Related To Breastfeeding In Mississippi: A Socio-Ecological Approach, Amir Alakaam

Dissertations

Mississippi continues to have one of the lowest rates and the weakest support in respect to breastfeeding in the nation (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2014a). Hospital practices supporting breastfeeding such as the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding (TSSB) can dramatically increase breastfeeding rates and duration (Rosenberg, Stull, Adler, Kasehagen, & Crivelli-Kovach, 2008). The aim of this study was to explore breastfeeding practices in Mississippi hospitals based on two levels of the Socio-Ecological Model: the organizational level (phase I) examined the hospital practices based on the level of implementation of the TSSB; the individual level (phase II) examined knowledge …

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 …

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 …

Emotional Intelligence And Community Healthcare Productivity, Christopher Jacob Fox

Dissertations

Economic crisis is threatening state budgets. The strain on state budgets effects pensions and the healthcare benefits to communities. Rising healthcare costs and lagging insurance reimbursement rates are forcing healthcare organizations to sustain programs with fewer financial resources. Research studies indicate that payment increases from Medicare and Medicaid will not keep pace with the historical trend in hospital cost inflation (Kaufman, 2011). Of the healthcare facilities affected by federal budget constraints are community mental healthcare centers. The strain on state budgets has taken its toll on community mental healthcare facilities in particular struggling under the healthcare reform initiatives (Simpson, 1995). …

Perceptions Of A Dedicated Education Unit In The Mississippi Delta, Jacquelyn Felecia Brownlow

Doctoral Projects

The highest health care disparities in the country plague the Mississippi Delta. A weakened economy, minimal access to healthcare and an outdated traditional clinical learning environment place enormous strains on nursing education in this area to provide more nurses. The office of Nursing Workforce reported a 14% to 16% nursing turnover in the Delta compared to the national average of 13.5%. As a result, the health care organization has encountered high nurse turnover, increased staffing shortages, and a decrease in nursing quality indicators. As an effort to improve clinical education and bridge gaps between education and practice, several schools in …

Value Based Purchasing: Positioning A Healthcare Organization For The Future, James Dale Heard

Doctoral Projects

In 2005, the Deficit Reduction Act introduced Value Based Purchasing (VBP) into the healthcare system as a means of hospital reimbursement for acute care hospitals receiving reimbursements from the Centers of Medicare and Medicaid (CMS). The purpose of this Capstone Project was to increase the knowledge of healthcare executives concerning Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) and VBP and the effect it will place on the organization though the utilization of a consultant program. The role of the consultant in this project is to provide expert advice to healthcare executives about the impacts of HCAHPS and provide …

The Impact Of A Direct Care Training Program On The Self-Efficacy Of Newly Hired Direct Care Employees At State Mental Health Facilities, Marcus Wayne Lewis

Dissertations

Self-efficacy has been shown to be an important element in the success of individuals in a variety of different settings. This research examined the impact of a two week new employee orientation training program on the general and social self-efficacy of newly hired direct care employees at state mental health facilities. The research showed that the training program did not have a statistically significant impact on the social self-efficacy of the new employees after the training or after one month on the job. The research also showed that the two week new employee orientation program did not have a statistically …