Nursing Commons^™

The Efficacy Of An Audio Program And Discussion Guide In Promoting Exclusive Breastfeeding In Cameroon, Africa, Kathryn R. Reinsma

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Background: In the Northwest Region of Cameroon, approximately 90% of women initiate breastfeeding; however, only 34% continue exclusive breastfeeding for the recommended six months (Kakute, et al., 2005; WHO, 2008). Entertainment-education is a mass-media communication strategy of placing educational information into media such as television programs, movies, and radio programs (Siegel & Lotenberg, 2007). This form of behavioral change communication has proven effective in addressing health-related issues in developing countries.

Purpose: The aim was to design an audio program and discussion guide to test the hypothesis that an audio program and discussion guide improves exclusive breastfeeding knowledge, beliefs, benefits, self-efficacy, …

The Effects Of An Intervention Program On Nursing Burnout, Maria Rosa-Morales

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

The risk for professional burnout has become commonly recognized and in the past several years has been a focus of research efforts. Nursing is one of the professions generating a high level of stress which results in burnout.

The purpose of this study was to test the effects of an intervention program for nurses who felt they were experiencing burnout. Nursing burnout was defined as a chronic condition of stress among nurses, which leads to a syndrome of emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and lack of personal accomplishment. The design used was a true experiment. Fifty-two nurses served as voluntary participants who …

Smoking Behavior Among Alabama Student Nurses : The Role Of Behavioral Beliefs And Normative Referencing, Judith Rausch

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

The purpose of this study was to determine predictors of smoking behavior for the senior student nurses in the state of Alabama using Ajzen and Fishbein's Theory of Reasoned Action. Smoking prevalence by level of educational preparation and selected health behaviors were examined for relationship to cigarette use.

A sample of 11 schools of nursing were selected from Alabama's 34, using a random numbers table. There were 13 total programs as two of the schools had both A.D. and B.S. nursing programs. Thirty-two percent (N=555) of senior A.D., B.S. & diploma students nurses in Alabama responded to an 87 item …

The Modified Index Of Severity Scale, Marion Gamundoy

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

[No Abstract Included]

Measuring The Effectiveness Of Patient Teaching In Postpartum Patients, Nancy Racine

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

[Abstract Not Included]

The Effect Of Fetal Age On Skin Permeability In Guinea Pigs, Benita Stiles Whitted

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Preliminary investigation has indicated large decreases in fetal skin permeability during the latter half of gestation (Parmley and Seeds, 1970; Treager, 1966). The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the degree of skin permeability in fetal guinea pigs at various gestational stages. The test hypothesis was that these skins would show a significant decrease in permeability to tritiated water when tested at time increments through out the latter half of gestation.

In vitro skin permeability to tritiated water was measured in samples from 22 guinea pig fetuses. Gestational age ranged from 30 to 65 days in increments of five, …

The Effect Of Self-Help Support Groups On Self Esteem And Blood Glucose In Young Insulin-Dependent Diabetics, Linda L. Woertz

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Successful adaptation to diabetes is probably a function of many factors: the stress involved, the rewards, the motivation of the individual, and the self concept. The more optimal the self concept the more optimal the behavior may be. By helping the patient shape a positive self concept, a base can be built for blood glucose control (Bruhn, 1977, pp. 93-97). One method of improving self concept or self esteem may be through the development of self-help support groups for diabetics.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of self-help support group intervention on the levels of self …

A Comparative Study On The Frequency Of Respiratory, Gastrointestinal, And Allergic Disorders Between Bottle-Fed And Breast-Fed Infants From Birth To Twelve Weeks Of Age, Sylvia C. Souza

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Questions concerning the advantages of breast-feeding have been debated since the introduction of commercially-prepared formula about 50 years ago. Some recognized benefits of breast milk include less respiratory as well as other Infections, less allergy in infancy and later life, and a lower morbidity rate in less-developed countries. From 1955 to 1971 in the United States there was a decline in the incidence of breast feeding related to several factors which included the introduction of formula, mothers returning to the work force, and strict maternity units' rules and routines. Since 1971 to the present there has been a resurgence in …

A Study Of The Physiological And Mental Effects Of Various Shift Patterns On Registered Nurses, Carolyn Taylor Smith

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

The effects of shift work on circadian I an rhythms has become a subject of great Interest to many industries, hospitals, and sleep researchers. More and more recognition is being given to the results of these studies, especially the possible adverse effects on those working the night shift or a shift they are unable to adapt to adequately. Only a few of these studies, however, have been conducted on registered nurses, a major group involved with shift work.

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effects on nurses working the a.m. shift (7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.), …

Effects Of Relaxation Therapy On Anxiety In Depressed Clients, Patricia Anne Worret

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

During a psychiatric field placement, it was noted by this nurse researcher that patients with a diagnosis of depression often overtly displayed symptoms of anxiety. A brief literature review revealed that this anxiety-depression duality occurred frequently.

The purpose of this study was to determine if relaxation therapy was a therapeutic intervention which could be utilized by nurses to provide relief from the symptoms of the anxiety-depression syndrome. This was a clinical, quasi-experimental research investigation. The sample was chosen by a purposive, non-random selection of 20 experimental and 10 control subjects who were hospitalized with a diagnosis of depression in an …

The Effects Of A Teen Mother Program On The Growth And Development Of The Child, Barbara Mccarthy

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Teen-aged childbearing is a serious social, economic and health problem which has now reached epidemic proportions in the United States. Teen pregnancies have been shown to produce infants of low birth weight, of higher risk to disease and of slower growth and development.

Many programs have been developed by the state and federal government to help the young mother better cope with the problems of pregnancy. These Teen Mother programs combine the opportunity to complete a high school education with instruction in the special skills needed for parenting. This study was designed to investigate the growth and development of the …

A Comparison Of The Empathy Of Registered Nurses Practicing Primary Nursing As Compared To That Of Registered Nurses Practicing Team Nursing, Carol Milardo Floriani

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Historically the most outstanding feature of the nursing profession has been its genuine concern for the human being, and quality care of the sick has been its manifestation. However, technology with its high level of development and pervasiveness in the culture of the United States has threatened not only our society at large but also the nursing profession. "Depersonalized" and "nursing" are contradictory terms, and if used together certainly cannot denote a high quality of nursing care. In order to meet this threat, concerned health care professionals are studying ways to increase the empathetic element in nursing care in order …

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 …

Community Health Nursing Assessment And Counseling Of The Breast-Feeding Primipara, Donita Rotherham

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

An experimental study was conducted with twenty-one breast-feeding primiparas during the initial four-week post-partal period to test the effect of in-home community health nursing assessment and counseling on the breast-feeding success rate. It was hypothesized that mothers receiving assessment and counseling regarding physical, informational and psychosocial needs, would be more successful than those who were not counseled.

Criteria for success were: (1) breast-feeding at four weeks postpartum, (2) an adequate milk supply as evidenced by no need for formula supplementation to keep the baby satisfied, (3) an infant weight gain of one to two pounds during the four-week period, and …

Community Health Nurse Influence On Retiree Health Planning, Patricia Hora

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

The number and percent of the population over the age of 60 in the United States is increasing. The majority of these people (96%) are functioning in their own homes (Shanas, 1965). Physical health is important to the enjoyment and utilization of the added years of life. Therefore it seems important to find ways to meet the older citizen before the time of illness and help him/her to develop health goals and plans that will facilitate an optimal level of functioning and improve the quality of life.

The purpose of this study was to describe a method of intervening at …

The Effect Of Planned Physical Activities On Deficient Motor Skills In Head Start Preschool Children, Darlene L. Robinson

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

During the past few years many physicians, nurses, psychologists, teachers, and physical educators have begun to place more emphasis upon the developmental problems of children. As an outgrowth of this, more attention has been given the child showing mild to moderate motor problems. As a result of these more subtle difficulties going unrecognized and untreated, children may suffer from learning disorders, lack of acceptance by teachers and peers, maladaptive behavior and feelings of low self-esteem (Cratty, 1970; Kiphard, -1970; and Ferinden, 1972).

The purpose of this study was to ascertain whether planned physical activities would aid in remediation and/or modification …

A Descriptive Study Of Women's Attitudes Towards Obtaining Or Not Obtaining Papanicolaou Smears, Linda J. Shults

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

It was the purpose of this study to identify the attitudes of a selected group of women which influenced their participation in Papanicolaou testing. These attitudes were inferred from the reasons women gave for obtaining the test. The subjects were randomly selected from the telephone book of a medium-sized town in Southern California. The 135 women who participated in the telephone interview were considered to be the respondents in the study.

A review of the literature revealed that through the annual use of the Papanicolaou smear, approximately 11,000 deaths every year from uterine and cervical cancer could be prevented, Attitudes …

Concerns Of Postnatal Mothers About Sexuality, Sheela A. Gideon

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

An exploratory study was designed to find out what questions mothers had about postnatal sexuality. A questionnaire was prepared by the nurse researcher to find out answers to the following questions.

1. What specific questions do mothers have about sexual relations following delivery?
2. Do mothers feel free to initiate discussion about resumption of intercourse following delivery?
3. Do mothers like their husbands to be included in the discussion?
4. When do mothers prefer to receive information regarding sexual relationships following delivery?

The questionnaire was mailed to fifty primipara mothers between three and four weeks after delivery. Mothers with pronounced anemia, heart and lung …

Prenatal Instruction Of Breast Feeding Mothers, Anita Berry

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

This experimental study tested the effect of prenatal instruction on the success of a group of mothers who desired to breast feed their infants. It was hypothesized that mothers receiving information on how to nurse their infants, how to prevent complications and how to cope with common problems of breast feeding would have a higher success rate than those not so instructed.

Criteria for success was that the mothers would have an adequate supply of milk to meet the nutritional demands of their infant without supplementation, would have fewer and less severe complications, and would express a higher degree of …

The Effect Of A Repressive-Inspirational Discussion Group On The Self-Esteem Of Selected Elderly Individuals, Rebecca Hollesca Gucilatar

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

This study was conducted to determine if the use of a repressive-inspirational discussion group has significance in changing the level of self-esteem of institutionalized essentially normal elderly individuals.

A review of literature indicates the need for a group method that can help in developing and maintaining self-esteem in the elderly. Different studies reveal the need for self-esteem in the aged. The development of self-esteem is necessary so that elderly individuals can cope with situations in daily living and maintain physical and mental health.

An experimental method was utilized in conducting this study. A sample of twenty elderly individuals was selected …

The Nursing Process And Its Relationship To The Quality Of Nursing Care, Arlene H. Johnson

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of the systematic use of the nursing process on the quality of nursing care. Quality nursing care was defined as being achieved when the patient's nursing care needs are identified and plans made to assist the patient with these needs.

It was hypothesized that the quality of nursing care would be improved by the participation of the team leaders in a series of classes on the nursing process. This improvement in quality nursing care would be evidenced by a higher correlation between the patient's needs perceived by the nurse and …

Health Status Of Emergency Department Patients, Marjean J. Horning

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

The purpose of this study was to help nursing develop a comprehensive care system for patients in selected emergency departments. To develop such a system, it was necessary to know the characteristics of and the health needs of that population.

The problem of this study was to describe the characteristics and health needs of patients in selected emergency departments.

Patients were interviewed using the Kisch Health Status Proxy (KHSP) and the Health Habits Inventory (HHI) as a guide. The KHSP listed acute and chronic conditions that an individual experienced. It gave a numerical score which rated the respondent in good, …

Post-Abortion Counseling And Anxiety Levels Of Unmarried Adolescents Having Therapeutic Abortions, Linda Levisen

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a post-abortion counseling program. It was hypothesized that unmarried adolescents who received counseling following a therapeutic abortion would exhibit significantly fewer negative affects than those who received no counseling. The affects measured were anxiety, depression, hostility, and guilt. Twenty clients were randomly selected for this study. Prior to the abortion, the twenty clients were-tested for negative responses to the unwanted pregnancy. Ten clients received post-abortion counseling twice following the abortion and were tested at each visit for negative affective responses to the abortion. The other ten clients received no …

Patients' Reactions To Witnessing Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation, Lynn Andree Finch

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

The purpose of this study was to describe the reactions to stress in patients witnessing a cardio-pulmonary resuscitation, in order to determine if the witnessing patients' needs are being met adequately, and to determine the effect of a specific psychological stressor on patients.

All resuscitations ("STATS") done over a two-month period at Loma Linda University Medical Center, with oriented patients in the room, were observed and recorded on an Observation Guide. A Questionnaire was also solicited from medical-surgical nursing personnel who had observed "STATS" with witnessing patients in the last three months. The Guide and the Questionnaire were developed from …

The Effect Of Early Postpartum Teaching Of Infant Feeding On Maternal Concern, Linda M. Richter, K. Judy Toews

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

An experimental study was conducted on thirty primiparae during the postpartum period to determine if individualized instruction regarding infant feeding would result in a lower level of maternal concern in this area. The study sample was randomly and evenly divided into a control and an experimental group. It was statistically determined that the two groups were homogeneous in regard to age, education, occupation, previous information (prenatal classes and reading) and help at home. The experimental group received individualized instruction by the researchers concerning their chosen method of infant feeding on the second postpartum day. There was no instruction given the …

Using A Participating Relationship To Improve Teen-Age Unwed Mother's Self-Esteem, Linda Gail Reeves

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

The study was to provide an approach to help teen-age unwed mothers increase their feelings of self-esteem and thereby attain a conceptual buffer for better coping with life. Self-esteem was defined as individual perception of the worth of oneself relative to that of significant others. The hypothesis tested was that the participating relationship a community health nurse has with a teen-age unwed mother will significantly increase the mother's self-esteem as measured by statistical Q-Sort analysis.

A convenience sample of twenty teen-age unwed mothers was obtained from referrals from San Bernardino County Health, Welfare, and Probation Departments. The girls were between …

Depression And Uncooperativeness In Public Health Patients, P. Sherrill Baugher, Nancy Lynn Swan

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

The purpose of this study was to determine whether uncooperative behavior and a quantitative measurement of depression exist in the same patient in a public health nurse's caseload. Seven full-time public health nurses were randomly selected from the San Bernardino Public Health Department staff. They reviewed their caseloads and selected all the patients who met the general criteria.

Patients were then classified as cooperative or uncooperative based on the following specific criteria: (1) gives unreliable information, (2) uses the nurse as a "buffer" between helping agencies, (3) demands immediate gratification of requests in a stressful situation, (4) makes only token …

The Effect Of Selected Nurse-Patient Contacts On The Attendance Of Non-Private Patients At Preparation For Childbirth Classes, Judith A. Hart

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

The purpose of this study was to determine whether selected nurse-patient contacts effected the attendance of non-private patients at Preparation for Childbirth classes. During the data collection period only six of the eight patients who met the criteria for this study were available. Each of the six patients was reached by at least one of the three types of nurse-patient contacts-- a letter of invitation to the Preparation for Childbirth classes, weekly contacts with the patients at the classes and three home visits to each patient. Tools used to collect data for this study were a personal information questionnaire, home …

Relationship Between Sleep Deprivation And Postpartum Depression, Janet Wagner

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Postpartum depression was thought to be an important component of maternity blues and was the factor explored in this study. Sleep was hypothesized as a factor affecting either the occurrence or severity of postpartum depression. Hence, the purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between sleep deprivation and postpartum depression.

Twenty patients were interviewed one to three weeks prior to their expected dates of delivery. The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory Depression scale was administered during the interview and each patient kept a record of her hours of sleep during the following week. Each patient again kept a record …

An Instructional Method For Self-Administered Medications, Beryl Marx, Lorene Russell

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

An experimental study was done to determine the effectiveness of an instructional method for older ambulatory patients taking prescribed self-administered medications. This method was developed to emphasize the physicians' specific orders, the purpose of medications, feedback of instruction and a plan for remembering and recording medications. The hypothesis tested was that a selected group of ambulatory patients age 60 and over with the instructional method would make significantly fewer errors than a similar control group with no instructions.

Sixty private patients from the Loma Linda University Hospital outpatient department were selected and randomly placed in the experimental and control groups. …