Nursing Commons^™

The Criminal Justice Response To Elder Abuse In Nursing Homes: A Routine Activities Perspective, Brian K. Payne, Randy R. Gainey

Sociology & Criminal Justice Faculty Publications

Politicians and researchers have begun to pay more attention to elder abuse in recent times. Most of the research on elder abuse has focused on cases of abuse perpetrated by family members, treating the phenomenon as a social problem, but it is increasingly being conceptualized as a crime problem. The current study examines elder abuse in nursing homes from a criminological perspective. Using routine activities theory as a guide, particular attention is given to the criminal justice system's response to abusive activities committed by nursing home employees. In all, 801 cases of abuse investigated by Medicaid Fraud Control Units are …

A Comparison Of Nurses' Clinical Judgement And The Short Form-Mini Nutritional Assessment Tool In Assessing The Nutritional Status Of Older Patients In An Acute Clinical Setting, Roger Shreeve

Theses : Honours

Decreased nutritional status of older hospitalised patients has been identified as a significant problem. The prevalence of malnutrition in older people has been reported to be between 17% and 65% in acute hospital settings. This has led to the recognition of a need for a valid instrument to adequately assess nutritional status. Tools developed to date still require much time and expertise to implement, limiting their use within the practical setting. Nurses are in an ideal position to conduct nutritional assessments. They possess clinical knowledge which can be utilised to provide individualised and timely assessment. To. date, the literature does …

Relationship Between Functional Level And Cost Of Care Of Nursing Home Residents As Measured By The Functional Component Of The Minimum Data Set And The Breines Functional Assessment Scale, Jeanne Turnamian

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

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Sexuality And The Aging Adult: The Attitude And Practice Of Physicians And Nurse Practitioners, Susan Runsvold

Master's Projects

Background: As the population ages, many quality of life issues will generate discussion. One such issue is sexuality of the aging adult. While there is substantial documentation related to the physiology and desires of the aging adult, little is known about medical practitioners' beliefs and practices regarding sexuality. Method: A 14 question survey with a comment section was developed and mailed to 269 physicians and nurse practitioners in Santa Clara County, California. The responses were evaluated using descriptive statistics. The comments received were grouped related to intent or topic. Results: There was no discernible difference between the beliefs and practices …

Nurses' Perceptions Of The Pharmacological Management Of Acute Pain Experienced By Patients Hospitalised In The General Ward Setting, Susan Slatyer

Theses : Honours

This study explored and described the experiences and perceptions of nurses managing acute pain in a Western Australian public hospital. The focus was nurses practising in the general ward setting and using current prescribing guidelines. The aim of this research was to explore nurses' attitudes, beliefs and knowledge about pain and pain pharmacology and how this practice setting influences efficient pain management. Qualitative methodology was selected for its ability to explore complex issues in order to build nursing knowledge and guide nursing practice. This study used a descriptive, exploratory design based on a phenomenological approach. The sample comprised ten Registered …

Revisiting Vaccine Hesitancy, Barriers And Motivators To Obtaining A Flu Vaccine In A New Covid-19 Pandemic World, Ann M. Mayo Rn, Dnsc, Faan, Steffanie R. Cobler Np

School of Nursing and Health Science: Faculty Scholarship

Purpose

To describe and compare patient perceived barriers and motivators and decision-making conflict between two groups of hospitalized patients, those who receive flu vaccines and those who do not.

Data Sources

Data collection during 2003 included extracting data from databases and mailing two surveys to 436 discharged patients. One hundred eight (108) patients participated in the study.

Conclusions

Top barriers included fear of side effects from vaccine (35%) and fear of contracting the flu (30%). Top motivators for obtaining a flu vaccine included previous vaccination (93%) and provider recommendation (62%). Barriers, motivators and patient decisional conflict differed depending upon patient …

Pressure Ulcer Development And Prevention In Long-Term Care Facilities In Virginia: A Descriptive Survey, Audrey D. Arthur

Community & Environmental Health Theses & Dissertations

The development of pressure ulcers is a common occurrence among older persons who may be temporarily immobilized or confined to a bed. An estimated 60,000 deaths annually can be attributed to complications from pressure ulcers. Guidelines recommended by the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research have been disseminated nationally and continue to be recommended as the standard of care for pressure ulcer prevention. In spite of the use of the recommended guidelines, pressure ulcer rates persist, suggesting there are other factors contributing to pressure ulcer development in long-term care facilities.

A survey was conducted to investigate which provider related …

Surprises In Caregiving, Charles D. Dolph

Alumni Publications

No abstract provided.

Biobehavioral Correlates Of Transfer Trauma In The Frail Elderly: Salivary Cortisol, Affect, And Cognition, Nancy A. Hodgson, Vicki Freedman, Doug A. Granger, Amy Behel

Selected Works of Nancy Hodgson, PhD

No abstract provided.

Delirium: Elders Tell Their Stories And Guide Nursing Practice, Cynthia Mccurren, Sherill Nones Cronin

Peer Reviewed Articles

Delirium is one of the most serious and prevalent cognitive disorders among hospitalized elders. Fourteen elders participated in this phenomenologic study describing the "lived experience " of delirium from the patient's perspective. Implications for nursing practice are derived from their reality and insight.

Transportation: A Crucial Issue For Adult Day Care In Vermont, Francis G. Caro, Regula H. Robnett, Jennifer Higgins

Gerontology Institute Publications

Transportation arrangements are an integral but fragile element in the effectiveness of adult day care services in Vermont and nationwide. Almost by definition, adult day center participants generally cannot drive due to cognitive and/or physical limitations. Since adult day care services are congregate in nature and serve community-residing elders, this long-term care option is feasible only when there are arrangements to transport elders to and from service centers. Transportation is therefore a major issue for adult day care services.

The aim of this report is to call attention to transportation issues in adult day care services in Vermont. The report …

The Relationship Between Companion Animals And Health Status Among Older Adults Living In The Community, Agnes M. Eytchison

Master's Projects

A study was conducted on 18 older adult pet owners and non-pet owners residing in a mobile home park to determine self-perception of health status and the level of attachment to pets. Self-reported health status was high and equal for both pet owners and non-pet owners. The level of attachment to the pets was also high. Studies have demonstrated human-animal interactions being beneficial to both individuals and families; but for many residents of mobile home parks and common interest developments, such as condominiums and townhouses, rules prevent companion animal ownership. Family Nurse Practitioners (FNPs) aware of the benefits of animal …

The Lived Experience Of Older Mexcian American Adults With Type 2, Non-Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus, Lizza C. Abella

Master's Projects

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore the lived experience of Mexican American older adults with type 2, non-insulin dependent diabetes. Research design and results: A phenomenological research approach was used when interviewing a sample of ten English speaking Mexican American older adults in Santa Clara County, California. Three collective themes were identified: Emotions prevalent in living with diabetes, diabetes' impact on life, and cultural factors affecting diabetes self care. Discussion/conclusions/implications: A duality of thoughts and experiences in living with diabetes, and the strong influence of culture and its beliefs characterize the life-world of Mexican American non-insulin dependent …

Reducing The Potential For Falls Among Community Dwelling Older Adults, Sharon-Xiaowen Hu

Master's Projects

This research study used a pre-test and post-test design to determine if a nursing educational intervention would reduce the potential for falls among the community dwelling elderly. The participants (N=15) were: (a) age 65 or older, (b) mentally competent, (c) predisposed to falls, and (d) living independently. Four instruments were utilized to collect data: (a) the Folstein mini-mental state examination (MMSE), (b) a fall predisposition scale, (c) a home assessment checklist (Tideikaar, 1987), and (d) interview questions. Statistics were used to evaluate findings. The results show that a nursing educational intervention had a positive impact to help reduce the risk …

Factors Influencing Compliance In The Treatment Of Elderly Hypertensive Vietnamese Clients, Cuong Phu Pham

Master's Projects

Little is known about health care beliefs and practices among Vietnamese elderly persons living in the United States. In general, studies of patient compliance with medical advice consistently demonstrate a high level of noncompliance. Not following recommendations can have serious negative consequences in the management of disease. The purpose of this study was to investigate compliance among a group of elderly Vietnamese clients with the plan given to them by their physicians for control of hypertension. Because the literature reports a high correlation between income and level of education with compliance in other groups, these factors were also studied as …

Perceived Social Support Of Family Members Of Aged Care Facility Residents And Its Relationship With Family Members Well-Being And Their Support Of Relatives In Residential Care, Christine Toye

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

When elderly people are cared for In Aged Care Facilities (ACFs) it is known that their family members frequently suffer negative effects. These effects may be alleviated by social support and, because they feel better, family members may then offer more support to residents. In this study, the researcher tested a model with a sample of 213 family members of ACF residents. Predictive relationships were hypothesised among incentives for family members to support residents, stress related factors, the perceived formal and Informal support of family members, their psychological wellbeing, and the support they offered to residents. The researcher also developed …

Update - December 1999, Loma Linda University Center For Christian Bioethics

Update

In this issue:

-- John and Alice Wong establish bioethics endowment
-- Richard Rice receives Templeton Award
-- "Humans" and "Persons" in Christian Bioethics (Commentary)
-- Mechanically Restraining the Ill and Elderly: Ethical Problems and Proposals
-- Clinical Ethics Consultation
-- Learn to minister in the clinical setting

Depression In Immigrant Chinese-American Elders, Sandy Chen Stokes

Master's Projects

Depression in later life is a treatable mental disorder (Blazer, 1993) if it is recognized as depression. Because depressive disorders may often go unrecognized and untreated in the Chinese-American elderly population and because treatment for depression can dramatically improve the quality of these later years, correct diagnosis and intervention are vital.

Sensitizing Students To Functional Limitations In The Elderly: An Aging Simulation, Sherry Allen, Viki Lorraine, Anne Lockett, Carolyn M. Rutledge

Ellmer School of Nursing Faculty Publications

Background and Objectives: Using activities of daily living (ADLs) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) as a focus, faculty at Eastern Virginia Medical School provide an aging simulation exercise for a mandatory fouth-year clerkship in geriatrics. The specific aims of the simulation are to 1) experience the physical frailties of aging, 2) develop creative problem-solving techniques, 3) identify feelings regarding the experience of functional loss, and 4) develop proactive clinical approaches to the care of the elderly.

Methods: Students are assigned one of four diagnoses (Parkinson's disease, rheumatoid arthritis, advanced diabetes, or stroke) and are then impaired to simulate …

The Effectiveness Of A Strength Training Program On Extremity Strength, Flexibility, And Balance Of Elderly Women, Patricia L. Murphy

Master's Projects

This quasi-experimental study, partially replicating that of Nelson and Wernick (1997), compares balance, flexibility, and extremity strength before and after an 8-week weight-bearing exercise class. Six women, aged 69 to 85, used 1-5 pound wrist weights and ankle weights up to 1 o pounds. Pre-and post-exercise measurements of biceps curls, seated leg lifts with weights, one leg stand, and seated stretches were gathered. Results showed improvement in every category, with the greatest improvement (41.6%) in balance and the least (8.3%) in trunk flexibility. Nursing is uniquely positioned to assist this population by promoting, developing, and implementing such exercise programs.

Characteristics And Resource Utilization Of Patients Of A Proprietary Home Health Agency In Rural South Central Kentucky, Linda Sewell

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The home health industry's introduction to managed care raises the prospect of reduced access to health care and poor outcomes for a vulnerable segment of our population—the rural elderly. Before effective intervention strategies can be accurately evaluated, a clearer picture of the sociodemographic features and home care service consumption is needed for this understudied group. The study was intended to provide a basis for future research into the evaluation of alternative methods of delivering effective care in terms of outcome and decreased cost for this population. A retrospective descriptive analysis was made of the patient record for the first six …

Identifying Polypharmacy In The Older Adult: A Survey Of Nurse Practitioners, Leslyn Ann Watson

Master's Projects

Currently 12% of the population are over the age of 65 and receive more than one third of all prescription medications. These clients are at risk for polypharmacy which defined in the current literature is greater than four or more medications taken on a daily basis (this includes prescription and over the counter (OTC) medications). Polypharmacy places a client at increased risk for adverse drug reactions which can lead to injury and death. This survey of 109 Nurse Practitioners (NPs) identified whether older adults were assessed for polypharmacy. The number of respondents was 64, or 59%. During routine history and …

Caregiver Assessment Of Problem Behaviors In Relatives With Dementia, Barbara J. Glaze

Master's Projects

Caregivers were asked to rank the presence and difficulty of 15 specific behaviors in their relative with dementia. Results showed that in most cases, female caregivers ranked the prevalence and the difficulty of the behaviors higher than the male caregivers. In this study, caregivers experienced positive outcomes from the caregiving experience.

Geriatric Care Management And The Development Of A Long-Term Care Facilities Database, Patricia J. Iverson

Theses

The purpose of this project was to investigate the professional field of geriatric care management. Information was obtained by reviewing the needs of the caregiver and the aging adult and the dynamics of the relationship which exists between them, by exploring the reasons why this relationship sometimes inhibits the caregiver from pursuing the services that are needed, and by examining the role of the geriatric care manager in helping the caregiver and aging adult sort through the fragmented web of services in order to match the caregiver and the aging adult with the appropriate services.

Locating and selecting appropriate services …

Relationship Between Hardiness And Compliance To Diabetic Treatment Regimes With Diabetes, Karen Nichols Reece

MSN Research Projects

Over 3 million elders in the United States are afflicted with diabetes mellitus. This number is predicted to rise as the number of elders continues to increase. Hardiness is a personality characteristic that has been shown to help people adapt more effectively to chronic illness. Little is known about the relationship between hardiness and compliance to diabetic treatment regimens. The purpose of this descriptive correlational study was to determine if there was a relationship between hardiness and compliance to diabetic treatment regimens in elderly patients with diabetes mellitus. Becker's Health Belief Model served as the theoretical framework for this study. …

Skilled Nursing Facility Based Rehabilitation Outcomes Of The Geriatric Stroke Patient, Sheila Bernadette Andrews

Theses Digitization Project

No abstract provided.

Attitudes Of Nurses To Palliative Care In Nursing Homes In The Perth Metropolitan Region, Lynne Cohen

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Zanna and Rempel (1988) have proposed that attitudes are a summary evaluation of an attitude object based on three classes of information, namely: cognitive information, affective information and behavioural information. This model has mainly been tested in the social groups and social policies area investigating two classes of information: cognitive and affective, and therefore there is a need for research to test the validity of this model in other areas. The present study applies the model to the area of palliative care in nursing homes. 76 directors of nursing, 76 clinical nurse specialists, and 76 nursing assistants working in nursing …

A Comparative Study Of Activities Of Daily Living Levels Of Catholic Nuns In A Motherhouse Nursing Home And Mainstream Women In A Community Nursing Home, Betty Ann Ray Duke

Morehead State Theses and Dissertations

A thesis presented to the faculty of the College of Education and Behavioral Sciences at Morehead State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts by Betty Ann Ray Duke on August 31, 1994

The Effect Of Facilitating Increased Involvement In Nursing Home Caregiving On Former Caregivers' Satisfaction With The Care Arrangement, Christine Toye

Theses : Honours

This study examined the effect of a programme that facilitated fanner caregivers' increased involvement with nursing home care giving on their satisfaction with the care provided for their relatives. It was guided by Ray's Adaptation Model of Nursing (Ray, 1984, 1989). The hypotheses stated that the programme would help former caregivers to adapt to the institutionalisation of their loved ones, as manifested by their increased satisfaction with aspects of the care arrangement (overall care, nursing care, relationships, and the environment). The convenience sample consisted of 31 former care givers of long term residents admitted to a metropolitan nursing home 1 …

Book Review, Mitchell M. Simon

RISK: Health, Safety & Environment (1990-2002)

Review of: MARSHALL A. KAPP, ETHICAL ASPECTS OF HEALTH CARE FOR THE ELDERLY: AN ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY. (Greenwood Press 1992). [200 pp.] Number 17 in series, Bibliographies and Indices in Gerontology. Author index; foreword by Erdman B. Palmore, series editor; preface; subject index. LC: 92-17776; ISBN: 0-313-27490-8. [Cloth $45.00. P.O. Box 5007, Westport CT 06881.]