Nursing Commons^™

Improving Preeclampsia Education And Assessment Frequency Among Nurses And Patients With Non-Severe Features In A Postpartum Unit, Monica Heredia

Master's Projects and Capstones

Problem: This Quality Improvement project aimed to improve preeclampsia education among Registered Nurses (RNs) and simplify the preeclampsia assessment frequency for patients with non-severe features in the Mother-Baby Postpartum Unit at Hospital Y.

Context: The Quality Improvement project occurred in a 25-bed Mother-Baby Postpartum unit at Hospital Y. The nurse educators at Hospital Y requested that University of San Francisco (USF) nursing students focus on increasing preeclampsia education among nurses and reducing the nursing assessment frequency.

Interventions: Collect quantitative data through observation and hand anonymous questionnaires to the registered nurses and clinical nurse leaders (CNLs) to determine …

Give Love With Lovenox: Improving Nurse Education On Lovenox Prophylaxis To Reduce Pulmonary Embolism Risk On The Postpartum Unit, Jennifer G. Domingo Rn

Master's Projects and Capstones

This quality improvement project aims to improve nurse education about Lovenox prophylaxis to reduce the risk of pulmonary emboli – post-discharge – amongst high-risk postpartum women who underwent vaginal and cesarean deliveries on the family baby unit. This project took place in a Family Baby/Postpartum Unit at Hospital SC. This unit has a total of 25 beds with an increased prevalence of pulmonary embolism following cesarean delivery. Nurses were given anonymous pre- and post-survey questionnaires and provided educational sessions with distributed handouts. A unit needs assessment was conducted using the 5 P’s. Out of the 72 nurses on the staff …

Improving Education On Preeclampsia With Non-Severe Features And Frequency Of Assessment Among Nurses In The Maternal-Child Postpartum Unit, Alyssa J. Willsher

Master's Projects and Capstones

Problem: This Quality Improvement (QI) project aims to improve preeclampsia education among nurses and reduce the frequency of preeclampsia assessments among patients(without severe features) (SF) in the Mother-Baby postpartum unit at Hospital A. Nurses often stated that patients are unable to have uninterrupted rest periods with frequent assessments, which research shows is necessary for reducing patient blood pressure.

Context: The QI project is implemented in a 25-bed postpartum unit that cares for women and their newborns in the postpartum period. The unit’s nurse educator and nurse manager requested that the visiting University of San Francisco research group focus on simplifying …

Implementation Of Standardized Contraceptive Education To Improve Larc Initiation In Postpartum Individuals, Gracie E Clayton, Melissa M. Hessock, Amanda Flood

Graduate Publications and Other Selected Works - Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

BACKGROUND: Approximately 50% of pregnancies in the United States are unintended, leading to negative health, psychosocial, and financial outcomes. Supported methods for preventing unintended pregnancies are promoting education and access to highly effective contraceptive methods, including long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs). Studies demonstrate counselor knowledge and bias contribute to underutilization of LARCs, highlighting the need for standardized education.

LOCAL PROBLEM: The setting for this practice improvement project was a rural obstetrical unit in Tennessee where there was no standardized postpartum contraceptive education. Rates of contraceptive use at postpartum discharge were low. The purpose of this project was to implement …

Educating Nursing Staff On Evidence-Based Maternal Positioning To Promote Fetal Descent During The First And Second Stages Of Labor, Daniela Gonzalez Acosta

Master's Projects and Capstones

This project aims to educate labor and delivery nurses on evidence-based maternal labor positions that promote fetal descent in the first and second stages of labor. In a labor and delivery unit in the San Francisco Bay Area Silicon Valley region, there is a gap in nurse knowledge relating to labor positions. Evidence supports upright and flexible sacrum positions, along with frequent repositioning promotes shorter labor duration, decreased vaginal tearing, and decreased rate of cesarean section deliveries.

A quality improvement project was conducted through education implementation using evidence-based practices utilizing a PDSA cycle for a semester. Educational content was created …

Improved Bonding & Maternal Self-Efficacy In The Nicu: A Scoping Review​, Alexandria Sneed Nauert Bsn, Rnc-Nic, Mckenleigh N. Hill Bsn, Rnc-Nic, Bobby Bellflower Dnsc, Nnp-Bc, Faanp

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Purpose/Background

Mothers of infants admitted into the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) are at risk for developing anxiety, depression, and post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) related to their child’s hospitalization which impedes the mother-infant bonding and attachment process. Research shows that children of mothers suffering from these issues are more likely to develop their own behavioral, emotional and cognitive problems later in life. The purpose of this scoping review is to analyze the literature regarding methods to improve bonding and attachment between NICU patients and their mothers to improve long-term outcomes for the whole family.

Methods

The authors conducted a …

Kangaroo Care Education For Low Socioeconomic Status Families In The Neonatal Care Unit, Joara Peterson

Nursing | Student Research Posters

The early contact between mother and baby is known as skin-to-skin, also referred to as “kangaroo care” (KC). It involves placing the baby on the mother’s chest as soon as it is appropriate (Thompson, 1979). This interaction was primarily for bonding but many researchers have discovered additional benefits. There is significant correlation between kangaroo care and weight gain (especially for low birth weight infants), as well as body temperature and heart rate regulation, which reduces the risk of medical complications. It also decreases levels of stress in mothers and babies by lowering the release of cortisol hormone (Mohammadi et al. …

Evaluating Education In Pregnant Women With Gestational Diabetes In Relation To Patient And Infant Outcomes, Lauren Young, Emily Abbott, Emilee Arsenault

Non-Thesis Student Work

Metabolic control and gestational diabetes can have significant impact on the health outcomes of new mothers and their newborns. This literature review focused on specifically on prenatal education and the impact to achieve adequate glycemic and metabolic control that affect health outcomes of women and their newborn. The goal of this literature review is to highlight the impact education has on gestational diabetes, and to promote positive health outcomes during pregnancy and postpartum. The CINAHL database was used to search the literature using keywords gestational diabetes, education, and patient outcomes. Exclusion criteria included women previously diagnosed with diabetes mellitus, and …

The Relationship Between Self-Efficacy And Informed Decision-Making On Primiparous Women During The Birthing Process, Morgan R. Fillipo

Nursing | Senior Theses

Childbirth is a very intense and vulnerable experience, especially for first-time mothers. Across the globe, the prevalence of traumatic and unsatisfying births has become an increasingly troublesome issue for women. There is extensive evidence of maltreatment, and a large portion of the problem has to do with the client’s medical team. To combat this dilemma, the best course of action would be to prepare women for this possibility by increasing the client’s self-efficacy and decision-making abilities. Self-efficacy, also known as confidence in one’s skills, is an important trait to have when it comes to patients being able to advocate for …

Kangaroo Care Education For Low Socioeconomic Status Families In The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit., Joara Peterson

Nursing | Senior Theses

The early contact between mother and baby is known as skin-to-skin, also referred to as “kangaroo care” (KC). It involves placing the baby on the mother’s chest as soon as it is appropriate (Thompson et al., 1979). This interaction was primarily for bonding but many researchers have discovered additional benefits. There is significant correlation between kangaroo care and weight gain (especially for low birth weight infants), as well as body temperature and heart rate regulation, which reduces the risk of medical complications. It also decreases levels of stress in mothers and babies by lowering the release of cortisol hormone (Mohammadi …

Innovating Cultural Competence Education For Nurses, Darian A. Frieson, Jennifer Patrick, Walker Ray Corless, Abigail Taylor Coulthard, Rebecca R. Fogerty

Graduate Publications and Other Selected Works - Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

Objective

To improve cultural competency levels of registered nurses on the Mother/Baby unit by educating nurses.

Background

Demographics are shifting in the U.S. with an increase in minority populations. Research has revealed insufficient education or a complete absence of education, resulting in nurses that are not equipped to adequately care for culturally diverse patients.

Methods

The Evidence-Based Practice Improvement (EBPI) Model guided the development and implementation of the project. A cultural competence education module was developed utilizing resources from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Outcomes were measured using a pretest/posttest design tool, the Inventory for Assessing the …

Prenatal Education For Black Mothers And Their Support Persons As An Intervention For Improving Initiation Of Breastfeeding, Sandra King

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Background: The benefits of breastfeeding are commonly known; however, the rates of exclusive breastfeeding among the Black community are less than those of other ethnic groups. Providing breastmilk or formula to an infant is an individual decision. Influential factors such as cultural background, employment status, socioeconomic status, level of education, and availability of support from family members and health care providers correlate with the method a mother chooses to feed her infant. Increasing breastfeeding initiation immediately after birth is a necessary precedent for uptake in the exclusivity of breastfeeding.

Purpose: This Doctor of Nursing Practice project aims to improve prenatal …

The Impact Of Outcomes On Depression Literacy In School-Age Children Who Received Depression Education, Loretta Q. Smith Aprn, Pnp-Bc, Bobby Bellflower Dnsc, Nnp-Bc, Faanp

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Purpose/Background Recognizing mental illness is crucial in adolescence. It is the second leading cause of suicide and death in children 10-19 years of age. Early identification and recognition of signs and symptoms could prevent progressive mental health illness in early childhood and adulthood. We are seeking to answer the PICO question: In adolescents between 10 and 19 years of age who are enrolled in school (P), how does receiving education on depression awareness (I) compared to not receiving education on depression awareness (C) affect depression scores (O)?

Methods This review was conducted on articles about adolescent children. These articles were …

Reducing Postpartum Maternal Falls: A Quality Improvement Project, Sarah L. Iroz

Master's Projects and Capstones

Falls are an unfortunate, common occurrence in the healthcare system and are often not thought to be a problem in the obstetrics population. Key stakeholders in a Northern California hospital brought the issue of maternal falls to leaders of the quality improvement team on the maternity unit. In the last three years, there have been 23 falls on the maternity floor, making their fall rate above the national average. It is the purpose of this project to aid the quality improvement team in reducing postpartum maternal falls over the next three years. After conducting a unit assessment, performing a literature …

The Use Of A Peanut Ball During Labor In Nulliparous Term Singleton Vertex Pregnancies To Decrease The Primary Cesarean Rate: An Evidence-Based Practice Improvement Project, Megan Elizabeth Honaker

Graduate Publications and Other Selected Works - Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

BACKGROUND: Current statistics indicate cesarean section rates in nulliparous term singleton vertex (NTSV) pregnancies, a singleton first pregnancy > 37 weeks’ gestation in a vertex position, of 32.8% and rising. A peanut ball, a tool used to optimize pelvic opening and fetal head rotation, can decrease labor length and cesarean section rates. The aim of this evidence-based practice improvement project was to reduce the cesarean rate in NTSV pregnancies by 1% within three months. The project occurred in an urban 12-bed labor and delivery unit in Middle Tennessee. Participants included laboring women meeting NTSV criteria. METHOD: Plan- do- study- act cycles …

Tiny Tusks Internship: Marketing Towards Breastfeeding: How Marketing Can Either Help Or Hinder How Breastfeeding Is Perceived, Hailey Tremmel

The Eleanor Mann School of Nursing Undergraduate Honors Theses

Tiny Tusks Breastfeeding and Infant Support is a program run by faculty and students in the Eleanor Mann School of Nursing program that allows for breastfeeding mothers in attendance at the University of Arkansas sporting events to have a place to pump or provide care to their infant. How marketing towards breastfeeding is portrayed has a huge impact on helping breastfeeding mothers to feel properly educated and supported about the decision to breastfeed. The purpose of this literature review is to demonstrate how marketing tactics can affect the view of breastfeeding, whether that be positive or negative. The results found …

Assessment Of Postpartum Nurses' Knowledge And Teaching Habits Of Maternal Morbidity And Mortality, Mikayla Dodson

DNP Scholarly Projects

The postpartum period is a joyous time of mother-infant bonding, but it can also be a risky time for women. Despite the education that is provided to postpartum women after birth, many women are still questioning whether or not the signs and symptoms they are experiencing are sufficiently alarming to alert a health care provider. Any delay in seeking care can contribute to poor health outcomes and even maternal mortality. Registered nurses oftentimes provide the bulk of discharge education to postpartum patients. When their knowledge or confidence levels regarding specific topics are low, this can negatively impact the education they …

Postpartum Depression: Educating The Provider And Staff About The Importance Of Screening, Referrals, Follow-Up And Adherence To The Maternal Mental Health Safety Bundle Toolkit, Natalie Regis

Doctors of Nursing Practice (DNP) Final Projects, 2020-current

Background: Postpartum depression (PPD) affects approximately 10%-20% of women after childbirth. PPD is a disabling condition that can have serious health implications on mothers and their infants. Experts estimated that only 50% of women with PPD are diagnosed. Lack of education about screening practices can cause the disorder to go undiagnosed and untreated.

Purpose: The purposes of this quality improvement (QI) project were 1). To increase the provider and staff knowledge about the importance of screening with the implementation of a standardized screening tool 2). To increase PPD screening rates to 100% 3). To increase appropriate referrals to mental …

Continuous Glucose Monitoring And Diabetes Management During Pregnancy, Nicole Beamish

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

Continuous Glucose Monitoring and Diabetes Management During Pregnancy

Abstract

According to the Scope of Practice, Standards of Practice, and the Standards of Professional Performance for Diabetes Educators, registered nurses play an integral role in the promotion of diabetes self-management education and training in diabetes care (AADE, 2017). This paper upholds the standards set forth by the American Association of Diabetes Educators (2017) governing body, to stimulate the process of peer review, promote documentation of the outcomes of diabetes self-management education and training (DSME/T), encourage research to validate practice and improve quality DSME/T and diabetes care for pregnant women who use …

Tiny Tusks: Breastfeeding And Infant Support Internship Review, Blair Wilhelm

The Eleanor Mann School of Nursing Undergraduate Honors Theses

Tiny Tusks: Breastfeeding and Infant Support is a tent and lactation room at University of Arkansas athletic events such as men's basketball and football games that allows moms that are breastfeeding a comfortable and private area. Tiny Tusks aims to empower and educate moms about the benefits of breastfeeding and decrease the stigma behind it. The tent offers comfortable chairs, a changing table, arts and crafts for younger kids and educational pamphlets and brochures. Tiny Tusks is run by certified lactation consultants, BSN honors students and Eleanor Mann School of Nursing faculty. Participants were asked to fill out a survey …

Social Support As A Risk Factor Of Postpartum Depression Among Women Of Various Ethnicity, Jingle Xu

MSN Capstone Projects

Postpartum depression is considered the most important mental disorder after delivery because of the high prevalence and the serious negative mother-baby outcomes. Education and support of mothers for postpartum depression are deeply held values of nursing care during pregnancy and the postpartum period (Ladewig, London & Davidson, 2014). Risk factors are the common target of these interventions, among which social support is one of the most popular factors in research currently. Social support is composed of instrumental, informational, and emotional support given by a social network to maintain an individual’s mental health status when they are faced with significant or …

Educational Interventions For Women And Their Support Persons On Breastfeeding Outcomes, Alexandra Cordell

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

n the United States breastfeeding duration and exclusivity rates are not at ideal levels, therefore there is a need to examine existing interventions. The purpose of this systematic review was to examine the effects of education and support interventions during the third trimester, immediate postpartum, and the first six months of life on breastfeeding duration and exclusivity from six weeks to six months. Inclusion criteria were (a) randomized controlled trials or controlled clinical trials, (b) pregnant and/or postpartum women, (c) lactation education and support interventions, (d) measurement of breastfeeding outcomes from six weeks to six months, and (e) published between …

Comparison Of Two Methods Of Pediatric Triage Education, Catherine Recznik

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Introduction. The majority of pediatric emergency patients are seen in mixed-age emergency departments and triaged by general emergency nurses. Educational methods for teaching pediatric triage education to general emergency nurses have not been well studied, and previous studies of the use of the Emergency Severity Index in children have been performed primarily in centers that are high volume for pediatrics. Methods. A repeated measures, randomized crossover study comparing two different methods of pediatric triage education was conducted. Participants were general emergency triage nurses recruited from a general emergency department that is classified as low volume for pediatrics. Each participant was …

Pregnant Women's Knowledge About Fetal Movement Count, Jade Hanna Bowen

Honors Undergraduate Theses

BACKGROUND: Fetal movement count (FMC) is a non-invasive tool used to evaluate fetal well-being and prevent stillbirth. FMC decrease the chances of stillbirth occurrence (Tveit et al., 2009), but in other countries, research shows that women are not taught about the benefits of FMC (Berndl, O'Connel, & Mcload, 2013). The purposes of this study were to discover 1) the knowledge of pregnant women in their third trimester about FMC and 2) sources through which women learn about FMC.

METHODOLOGY: The study is a quantitative descriptive design. An original survey consisting of 12 questions was created for the study. Inclusion criteria …

Pregnancy Loss In The Emergency Department, Gudrun Reiterhiltebrand

Master's Projects and Capstones

Abstract

The aim of this project is to improve the care for patients experiencing pregnancy loss in the emergency department (ED). Objectives are to enhance understanding of staff about the patients’ experience and their knowledge on how to best care for emotional needs, thus improving quality of patient care, work satisfaction, knowledge, confidence and comfort levels, while decreasing experienced stress. The project was implemented in a midsized community hospital with 117 beds, which discharged 74 patients with “interrupted pregnancies” over the previous year from the ED. The project was directed toward nurses, doctors, care partners, chaplains, and social workers. The …

Critical Analysis Of Breastfeeding Education Provided In The Hospital, Abigail Sweet

Senior Honors Projects

The World Health Organization (W.H.O) recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of an infant’s life. A large majority of new mothers are making the decision to breastfeed their newborn child. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as of 2016, high breastfeeding initiation rates show that most mothers in the U.S. want to breastfeed and are trying to do so. However, there are several indicators that suggest that mothers may not be getting the support they need and the early postpartum period is a critical time for establishing support for breastfeeding. Depending on the type of …

Effect Of Interventions On Infant Mortality Rates: A Systematic Review, Sophia H. Simone, Emily K. Swaim

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Infant mortality rate (IMR) is defined as the number of infant deaths per 1,000 live births. Infant mortality is the time period beginning with the infant’s first breath and continuing until the first year of life. In 2006, 6.71 infants died in The United States of America (USA) for every 1,000 live births, compared with 6.86 in 2005 and 6.89 in 2000. Although the USA IMR has fallen steadily in recent decades, the nation still ranks 27th among industrialized countries. Further, IMR disproportionately affects racial and ethnic groups in the USA. Despite research about prevalence, predictors, interventions, and major efforts …

Development Of A Breastfeeding Class Specifically For Working Moms, Maryleah S. Needels

Master's Projects and Capstones

Successfully breastfeeding mothers who are planning to return to work and remain exclusively breastfeeding their infants have a knowledge deficit as to the federal law protecting their rights along with the basic skills for pumping, storing, and bottle-feeding of breast milk. There is a significant drop in breastfeeding rates at both the 3 and 6-month marker, which coincides with maternal return to employment. After attending the Working Moms Breastfeeding Class, 100% of mothers reported an increase in knowledge surrounding the law and the CDC’s basic skills for handling pumped breast milk based on a pre/post questionnaire. Bandura’s theory of self-efficacy …

Breastfeeding Intention Within A Rural Postpartum Population: Does Education Matter?, Brooke Hawkins

DNP Scholarly Projects

Purpose: The purpose of this scholarly project was to determine breastfeeding intention in a rural population after receiving education from a certified lactation consultant.

Review of the Literature: The benefits of breastfeeding for both mother and child are clearly stated in the literature. Despite the known benefits, rates of breastfeeding are decreased within rural populations. Previous research suggests education about breastfeeding benefits is beneficial in increasing these rates. In particular, previous studies focused on the contributing factors affecting a mother’s decision to breast or formula feed. However, few studies were found strictly evaluating breastfeeding intention after receiving formal …

Interprofessional Collaboration And Interprofessional Education, Marcia R. Gardner Ph.D., Rn, Cpnp, Cpn

Faculty Works: NUR (2010-2023)

The recent re-affirmation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) by the U.S. Supreme Court reassures many of us that we are moving in the direction of better access to health care in the U.S. Whether there is adequate access to the highest quality and safest health care is a different question. What else is needed to grow and solidify quality and safety in health care? The U.S. Institute of Medicine,1,2 emphasized the need for more, and more effective, interprofessional collaboration to achieve improved healthcare quality and safety standards. According to the Interprofessional Education Collaborative (IPEC) expert panel, representing nursing, medicine, …