Medical Specialties Commons^™

Non-Clinical Perspectives On Sepsis: A Project For Enhanced Awareness, Anjali Kumari Singh

Master's Projects and Capstones

Problem: This project aimed to enhance non-clinical staff knowledge of sepsis through a targeted awareness campaign, while also seeking to uphold or enhance the organization's sepsis-related performance.

Context: Clinical Nurse Leader students conducted a microsystem assessment in five crucial non-clinical departments of an urban Bay Area hospital, each playing a vital role in the organization's efficiency at different levels.

Intervention: During Sepsis Awareness Month, a sepsis awareness campaign was implemented. This involved a concise presentation on sepsis, its consequences, and the significance of awareness in each department. Additionally, informational fliers detailing sepsis signs and symptoms were distributed.

Measures: A pre-and …

Sepsis Inservice And Video At An Urban Hospital In California, Angela T. Ho

Master's Projects and Capstones

The emergency department at an urban hospital in California was performing below institutional goals related to sepsis protocols over the past few months. This intervention was targeted at nurses and was composed of a PowerPoint in-service on compliance to SEP-1 protocols and follow-along video on using the correct sepsis order set and documentation in the electronic health record (EHR). Goals included increased compliance to the SEP-1 protocol and documentation, (2) reduced time between the onset of symptoms, recognition, and intervention, (3) decline in sepsis rates and mortality rates, and (4) lower cost of care. Data was collected from the EHR …

Nurse-Led Education On Oral Chemotherapy Medications, Carmen Lucia Glick Alonso

Master's Projects and Capstones

Problem: Breast cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer death among women in the United States. Annually, around 264,000 breast cancer cases are diagnosed in women and 2,400 in men (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2022). According to the American Cancer Society, the risk of a woman in the United States being diagnosed with breast cancer in their life is around 13% (2022).

Context: Along with a cancer diagnosis comes the need to introduce patient education about new oral chemotherapy treatments. As a treatment team member, the oncology nurse plays a vital role in this …

Standardizing Perinatal Mental Health Interventions: A Guide For The U.S., Maile Lauren Robles

Master's Projects and Capstones

The term perinatal individual refers to women and other individuals who are pregnant or who have been pregnant within the last 12 months. Every year, in the United States there are 700 pregnancy-related deaths and 10% are due to mental health causes including death by suicide. Mental health conditions including but not limited to anxiety, depression, substance use disorders, and post-traumatic stress disorder affect one in five perinatal individuals throughout the United States. This increases perinatal morbidity, hospitalization costs, and economic burden nationwide.

After 43 days postpartum, mental health conditions are the second leading cause of death. The United States …

No One Should Have To Give Birth Alone: An Analysis Of The Efficacy Of Community-Based Doula Programs Serving Ethnic Minorities In San Francisco, Maria Margaret Nelson

Master's Projects and Capstones

Adverse birth outcomes for both the parent and the child disproportionately affect people of color. Evidence demonstrates that one of the ways to mitigate these negative consequences is through the utilization of a doula, a trained birth companion that is not a medical provider but whose role it is to physically and emotionally support the patient through pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. Community-based doula programs, where the doula is of the same cultural background as the client, are particularly effective in improving birth outcomes in communities of color by providing culturally competent care and helping to navigate a healthcare system that …

Understanding The Significance Of Virtual Support During Global Pandemic In Young Adults Diagnosed With Hepatitis C, Veronika Arkhipova

Master's Projects and Capstones

Hepatitis C is a viral infection that attacks the liver and leads to inflammation. In recent years, the prevalence of hepatitis C infections among 20 and 30 years of age has increased by 300 percent, and between 30 and 39 years by 400 percent. Due to the global coronavirus pandemic, people diagnosed with Hepatitis C have lost access to mental health services and resources, including in-person meetings with support groups. Since most states enforced stay-at-home order, many community centers, non-profit organizations that work with Hepatitis C patients and the affected population provide limited to no access to support group meetings …

Preparing Healthcare Staff For Cardiac Arrest Codes In The Outpatient Clinical Setting: Code Drill Training Improves Patient Outcomes, Rowan Edwards, Rn

Master's Projects and Capstones

Preparing Healthcare Staff for Cardiac Arrest Codes in the Outpatient Clinical Setting: Code Drill Training Improves Patient Outcomes

The acuity of care provided in outpatient clinical settings across the United States continues to rise. It is estimated that more than 350,000 cardiac arrests occur outside of a hospital each year (AHA, 2019). For the purpose of this clinical nurse leader (CNL)-lead quality improvement project, the relevant focus is directed towards improving the knowledge, physical skills and perceptions of healthcare staff within an urgent care center (UCC) regarding the application of advanced rescue skills. It is important to note that the …

Educational Prevention Program Of Surgical Site Infections (Ssi), Carena Leung

Master's Projects and Capstones

Surgical site infections (SSI) cause negative health care effects to patients and hospitals. SSI is one of the most common types of healthcare-associated infections (HAI) accounting for 31% among hospitalized patients (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2012). It is associated with prolonged length of stays (LOS), higher morbidity and mortality, and increased healthcare costs. The purpose of this quality improvement project is to decrease SSI rates by enhancing patient education and engagement in preoperative care and hygiene before surgery. In a metropolitan pediatric hospital, a microsystem analysis of the preoperative unit was conducted before generating the SSI Prevention …

Cancer Survivorship: Promoting A Lifetime Of Health, Janelle Coleman-Smith

Master's Projects and Capstones

Abstract

Introduction Cancer survivors can face post-cancer treatment effects that need addressing throughout their care trajectory. Education provided to stakeholders and patients will be beneficial in preventing fragmented care, increasing patient satisfaction, and expanding ongoing supportive clinical survivorship care. Methods An adapted Dr. Joanne Lester survivorship needs survey was given to n=7 post-cancer treatment patients within a northern California cancer patient advisory committee. The survey results were analyzed to identify common underserved chronic long-term survivorship needs. Based on the data, an evidence-based educational component was included within a booklet to enhance future survivorship care. Additional surveys were sent to stakeholders …

Ent Educational Patient Bedside Tool, Alina M. Toma

Master's Projects and Capstones

Early educational and discharge preparations are an advantage to patients, the interdisciplinary team, and hospital. It was determined that lack in communication and coordination among staff members led to inadequate patient teaching, therefore an educational tool that is kept at the bedside may facilitate accountability and smoother transition to home.

The aim of the project is to improve the education of patients with tracheostomies and laryngectomies, and enhance staff communication and coordination by December 2014.

Analysis methods used included Failure Mode Effects Analysis (FMEA), fishbone diagram, process map, and SWOT analysis. The social learning theory is the framework chosen for …