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 Effect Of Exercise On Blood Flow In Pregnant Guinea Pigs, Marjorie Correll Sladek

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Recent investigations have shown decreased fetal weight in pregnant animals who were exercised regularly during pregnancy (Gilbert; Nelson; Longo, 1979; Terada, 1974). The purpose of this experimental study was to investigate fetal weight gain and measure blood flow in pregnant guinea pigs who were exercised 45 minutes per day; and thus answer the hypothesis that prolonged maternal exercise will cause decreased weight gain and decreased placental blood flow during pregnancy.

Twenty pregnant guinea pigs were exercised 15 minutes three times daily from 10 days gestation to approximately 60-62 days gestation (67 days being term) and were compared with 19 control …

The Degree And Time-Course Of Stress In The Patient Undergoing Cardiac Surgery, Hulda Esther Serra, Patricia Jo Yvonne Tygret

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

An important nursing objective is to assist patients through stressful experiences. It has been assumed that cardiac surgery constitutes such a stress situation. For this reason, twenty-two patients undergoing cardiac surgery at Loma Linda University Hospital studied for the purpose of exploring the degree and time-course of were psychological stress.

The methodology consisted of administration of psychological tests before and after surgery; determination of urine catecholamines (UCA) before, during and after surgery; administration of a coping assessment tool before surgery, and a recall interview on the fifth day after surgery. The Multiple Affect Adjective Check List (MAACL)-Today form, and the …

Bacteriuria As A Precursor Of Intracatheter Encrustation, Namcy Moll

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

The problem with which this study was concerned was the development of criteria that could be used to determine when urinary catheter changes were necessary. By determining when encrustation occurred, it was felt that some complications could be eliminated by changing catheters before obstruction occurred due to encrustation.

It was the purpose of this study to: 1) explore some indications for catheter change, 2) determine if encrustation of urinary catheters necessitates catheter change, and 3) estimate potential criteria for a routine time for catheter changes.

Forty-five catheters were examined after their removal from patients. Flow rates were determined on 33 …

Adherence Of Men With Myocardial Infarction To Prescribed Exercise, Marsha Schwartz

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

The purpose of this study was to find out if men with myocardial infarction followed exercise prescribed by the physician. The reasons the patients did or did not follow the exercise prescription were investigated.

An interview guide was used to gather the data for this exploratory study. The questions on the interview guide were designed to obtain information to compare the former exercise pattern of the patient to exercise after infarction. Adherence to the exercise prescription was also determined by the exercise reported in the interview. Fifteen male subjects who had myocardial infarction were interviewed in the hospital and after …

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 …

Incidence Of Staphylococcus Aureus On Fomentation Covers, Yvonne Badgley Mcdaniel

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

This study was to ascertain whether fomentation covers were contaminated with Staphylococcus aureus prior to being placed on a patient receiving a hydrotherapy treatment.

From a review of literature on the subject of the Staphylococcus aureus organism and from studies of hospital-acquired staphylococcal infection it appeared that: (1) researches had used various techniques for making cultures from fabrics, (2) the Staphylococcus aureus cultures may react in varying ways to the laboratory tests making the classification somewhat difficult, (3) the problem of hospital-acquired staphylococcal cross-infection was present, (4) the role played by the environment in hospital-acquired infections was controversial, and (5) …

A Study Of Door Pulls On Isolation Carts In A General Hospital For Evidence Of Contamination, Mary Alice Harper

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

The purpose of the study was to find out if isolation carts were serving as a means of cross infection. Literature pertaining to sources of possible contamination on hospital units written in the past five years were reviewed.

Using the descriptive survey as the method of study, effort was made to find out if isolation carts were a means of cross infection on the hospital unit. Two laboratory cultures were obtained from both door pulls on all isolation carts used by nursing units. This was done over a three month period from December 12, 1963 to March 11, 1964. The …

Application Of Knowledge Of Medications By Senior Students In A Selected School Of Nursing, Patricia H. Okimi

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

The problem arose from the need to study the present method of pharmacology instruction in a selected school of nursing. "How much knowledge of medications do selected senior students have, and how do they apply their knowledge in the administration of medications?"

For this study, the normative survey approach was used as the method of research. Eleven senior students of nursing engaged in the administration of medications, as team leaders, were observed and questioned on two different occasions during one quarter of their school year. The tool of research used to collect data was an observation code sheet developed for …

The Effect Of The Shave On Infection In Maternity Patients, Doris Christine Bethea

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

The purpose of this study was to find out if the shave routinely received by maternity patients could be limited to the perineal area without increasing the incidence of infection among these patients. The experimental method, with the parallel group technique and a single variable, was used.

The study was conducted at two hospitals; the White Memorial Hospital in Los Angeles, California, called Hospital A; and the Washington Sanitarium and Hospital in Takoma Park, Maryland, referred to as Hospital B. Data were collected on ninety clinic patients at Hospital A and on two-hundred and one private patients at Hospital B. …

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 …