Nursing Commons^™

The Effect Of The Warm Water Bath On Axillary Temperature In Normal Newborns, Ann J. Morton

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of the warm water bath and the radiant heater on the axillary temperatures of normal newborns. The sample group consisted of thirty newborns--15 babies placed into the water bath in Group I, and 15 babies placed under the radiant heater in Group II. Birth weights were between 6.25 and 8.75 pounds, gestational ages between 37 and 41 weeks, and 5-minute Apgar scores were 8 or more. The maternal temperatures, taken within two hours before birth, ranged between 97 and 99 degrees. All infants were born by spontaneous or low-forceps vertex …

The Cardiovascular Effects Of Human Contact With Coronary Artery Disease Patients In The Coronary Care Unit, Margaret A. Palmour

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Ten coronary artery disease patients were selected using purposive method of sampling and observed for six hours. It was postulated that 1) Human contact with coronary artery disease patients in the coronary intensive care unit would be associated with significant (p = 0.05) changes in the electrocardiogram such as: (a) increased heart rate more than 10 per cent, (b) changed atrio-ventricular conduction more than 10 per cent, (c) changed ST segment one millimeter or more and (d) increased frequency of ectopic beats more than 10 per cent. 2) The degree of stress and cardiac response was related to a number …

The Effect Of Warmed Humidified Oxygen On The Temperature Of Depressed Newborns, Earlene Scharping

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of warmed humidified oxygen on the body temperature of depressed newborns and compare it to the effect of unwarned un-humidified oxygen administered under similar circumstances. The sample group consisted of a total of ten infants (five control and five experimental) with birth weights > 2000 gms who had an Apgar score of less than seven at birth and who required the administration of oxygen. The control group received oxygen in the routine delivery room manner (unwarned and un-humidified). The experimental group received oxygen which had been warmed to a temperature of …

Relationship Between Some Demographic Characteristics And Adverse Reactions Experienced By Women Undergoing A Therapeutic Abortion While Awake, Karen K. House

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

With the liberalization of abortion laws by the Supreme Court in 1973, American women have been able to obtain therapeutic abortions in hospitals and out-patient clinics in ever increasing numbers. With the increased number of women seeking abortions the medical field has responded with abortion procedures that are safe and relatively quick. With the speed doctors use to perform the procedure, many women may wish to take advantage of the medically safer method of abortion under local anesthesia. However, some women are unable to withstand the psychological and physical stress associated with a therapeutic abortion while awake. It would be …

Selected Physiological Responses To A Back Rub, Norma (Ewing) Anderson

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

The back rub, which has been an established part of evening patient care for many years, is given to promote relaxation and sleep as well as to promote skin care. Yet its place in modern nursing seems questionable. Today's nurse is less willing to practice using empirically established procedures.

There have been few investigations showing the effect of massage to the back and no studies have shown that a brief back rub, as given by nurses, promotes relaxation. In cardiovascular nursing there is some controversy as to whether or not the back rub causes stimulation to the cardiovascular system that …

Patient Preference In Two Types Of Colostomy Irrigations, Mildred Ann Marks

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

The purposes of this study were threefold: (1) to find which method of colostomy irrigation (enema bag vs. bulb syringe) was best accepted by colostomy patients; (2) to functionally evaluate the two types of colostomy irrigation methods; and (3) to report the results of this study to medical personnel interested in advancements for colostomy irrigations. The population in this study consisted of colostomy patients who had irrigated on a regular basis with the bag technique for a minimum of six months. Twelve colostomates completed this study by recording the parameter of time, amount of irrigation fluid used, quality of return, …

Selected Factors Related To Ability To Regain Bladder Function Following Indwelling Catheterization, Jongkolnee Padmasiri

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

This exploratory retrospective study was designed to evaluate selected factors, including the ability to regain bladder function related to post indwelling urethral catheterization in an acute general hospital population.

The records of 107 patients who met the study criteria became the study population. These patients had three-way urethral catheters, continuous antibacterial irrigation and closed drainage system. Twenty patients died (19 percent) before the catheter was removed. Of the 87 patients who were alive, 37 percent (32 patients) had in-adequate bladder function. Of these 32 patients, no attempt was made to remove the catheter from 15 prior to their hospital discharge. …

Relationship Of Ventilation Ability And Positioning In Left-Sided Congestive Heart Failure Patients, Nancy E. Carson

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Proper positioning is used to relieve dyspnea, edema, and fatigue in congestive heart failure patients. According to the review of literature, improved ventilation as measured by specific lung volumes and lung mechanics occurred with upright positioning in normal persons. The effects of specific changes in lung volumes related to position change in congestive heart failure patients has not been documented in literature, although various recommendations related to positioning are made. This exploratory study was undertaken with nine congestive heart failure patients to see if a relationship existed between degree of head elevation and lung ventilation ability as measured by water-bell …

Cold For Relief Of Postoperative Limitation Of Activity Due To Incisional Pain, Haroldine Roberts

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

This study was concerned with testing the effectiveness of cold to aid the cholecystectomy patient in performing certain selected activities usually inhibited by incisional pain.

Available references of the effects of cold on the abdominal area were studied to formulate a method of approach as no previous methodology was found in the literature.

The experimental method of research was used on a sample of 18 cholecystectomy patients meeting the criteria for the study, independent variable for the 10 patients in the experimental the application of cold over the closed incision, plastic bag covered with one thickness of towel was used …

Sensory Stimulation To Influence Body Awareness In The Adult Hemiplegic Patient, Sue Carol Bradley

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

An experimental study was conducted in four convalescent facilities using fourteen CVA patients with body scheme disturbances. The study was done to test the hypothesis that the experimental technique of light touch sensory stimulation as supplied by fast brushing to the skin dermatomes C 5, 6, 7, and 8 of the affected arms would increase the scores of the subjects in the experimental group.

Patients were assigned via a random process to the experimental or control groups if, upon taking the MacDonald Test of Body Scheme, they obtained a score of 39 or below. Subjects in the experimental group received …

A Study To Demonstrate The Immediate Destination Of An Embolus Formed In The Lumen Of A Peripheral Venous Catheter, Rosemarie Morikone Emori

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

This study was designed to show the immediate destination of an embolus formed in the lumen of an intravenous catheter placed in a peripheral vessel. The hypothesis stated that clots injected into a peripheral vessel will lodge in the lungs. A subhypothesis was that the clot may lodge anywhere along the circulatory pathway.

Indications of need for the study as shown by the review of literature were the following: (1) the complications resulting from the frequent use of intravenous polyethylene catheters, (2) experimental studies that showed that clots were formed around intravenous catheters, (3) the evidence that intravenous catheters predispose …

Sensory Stimulation To Produce Micturition In The Cerebral Vascular Accident Patient, Mary Alice Pearce

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

An experimental study was conducted in a university and a convalescent hospital using eight female CVA patients with urinary incontinence to test the hypothesis that the experimental technique of icing and brushing LI dermatome skin area would increase the probability that the CVA patient would void within a prescribed time and place. A modified one group method was used in which the patient served as her own control by participating in two types of bladder training programs over an eight to twelve hour period for four consecutive days. Program A used the experimental technique; Program B omitted the experimental technique. …

What Nursing Personnel Know About Identifying The Signs Of Increased Intracranial Pressure, Naomi Bullard

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

This study was concerned with finding out how much nursing personnel know about identifying signs of increased intracranial pressure and what understanding they have regarding the importance of prompt reporting of these signs.

A statement was prepared describing what the registered nurse, the license vocational nurse and the nursing assistant should know. This was validated by a panel of experts.

A two part questionnaire was developed from this statement. Part I asked for an essay response regarding the definition, causes, signs and symptoms and the nurse responsibility in intracranial pressure. Part II presented situations to which best answers were to …

Survey Of Knowledge Of Fifty Registered Professional Nurses Regarding Selected Factors Of Indirect Blood Pressure Measurement, Audrey Gayle Krueger

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

This study was concerned with determining the knowledge registered professional nurses had regarding selected factors that contributed to variations in the indirect measurement of blood pressure. It was thought that assessment of the nurses' knowledge could contribute to more effective nursing services by disclosing areas of weakness which could be strengthened by hospital in-service and nursing education. Literature was reviewed on the methods of measurement in current use, common errors encountered in indirect measures, and selected factors that influence blood pressure readings, i.e., cuff width, emotions and activities, obesity versus thinness, position of the subject, inflation and deflation of cuff …

A Study Of The Relationship Between Preoperative Anxiety And Postoperative Vomiting, Taye Grace Emori

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

The identification of anxiety as a causative factor in post operative vomiting was the purpose of this study. It was hypothesized that the more anxiety a patient experienced before surgery, the greater would be his chances of vomiting immediately after surgery.

The establishment of an underlying basis and need for a study of the relationship of anxiety and postoperative vomiting were made through a review of literature. The factors which researchers believed were contributory to postoperative vomiting and the possible inclusion of anxiety as one of them were studied.

Three physiologic measures (systolic blood pressure, heart rate, and eosinophil count) …

Nurse Attendance Versus Use Of Analgesic Medication In The First Stage Of Labor, Jo Ann Soulé Henriksen

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

To determine if the woman who receives the continuous attendance of a nurse during the first stage of labor requires less analgesic medication than the woman who is given interrupted or intermittent nursing care, a study was made employing the experimental method with the parallel-group technique. Thirteen patients meeting the criteria of the study who received continuous nursing attendance during the first stage of labor by the nurse researcher were closely matched to thirteen patients from a group of one hundred seventy-three, whose nursing care was given by the staff personnel. As an objective method of assessing support during labor …

A Comparison Of Axillary And Rectal Temperatures In Children, Doris Payne

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

This study was conducted on seventy-five children, three to eight years of age. The purpose was to compare a three-minute axillary with a three-minute rectal temperature. Known factors which might influence the findings were eliminated. These were emotional stress, physical exercise, antipyretic medications, cooling and heating measures, gastro-intestinal disturbances, and croupettes or oxygen tents. The range of the difference between the temperatures was from 0.8 degrees to 2.2 degrees with the mean difference of 1.13 degrees. A little less than half of the temperatures had one degree of difference. An additional thirty-two per cent were within 0.2 degrees of being …

Patients With Transistor Pacemakers : Their Problems In Adjusting To Daily Living, Miriam L. Moore

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

It was the purpose of this study to gain greater insights into the problems and needs of patients with artificial pacemakers. The problem was to find out in what ways the pacemaker affected the patients' manner of living and what problems they had had in adjusting to a new way of life.

The method of the study was the descriptive survey; an interview guide was the tool. Seven patients who had been electronically paced for periods of four weeks to two and one half years were interviewed in their homes. The ages of the three men and four women ranged …

Effects Of Alternate Hot-And-Cold Treatment Following Hysterectomy, Teresa Eileen Holland

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

This study was conducted to find out if the giving of alternate hot-and-cold treatments to the chest following abdominal hysterectomy would result in measurable benefits in improved patient comfort and rate of recovery. The White Memorial Hospital was selected as the control area and the Loma Linda Sanitarium and Hospital was selected as the experimental area.

Literature was reviewed to determine the value of wet heat and cold on the circulatory and respiratory system and whether or not their effects would be useful postoperatively.

Studies were further searched to find individual differences in the perception of pain. The influence of …

A Study Of The Bacteriological Effectiveness Of Oral Thermometer Procedures In Three Selected Hospitals, Esther Mae Rose

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Because pathogens such as streptococcus and staphylococcus have been transferred in many hospitals, the source of the infections is of concern to doctors, nurses, and other medical personnel. As shown by the review of literature, good techniques are necessary to stop the spread of disease.

It was the purpose of this study to investigate one facet of patient safety by: (1) the culture of thermometers ready for use in three selected hospitals; (2) to determine the effectiveness of the Group, Individual, and Central Supply methods of disinfection currently practiced in the three selected hospitals.

The method for the experiment of …