Nursing Commons^™

Nursing Leadership During Covid-19: Enhancing Patient, Family And Workforce Experience, Anne Aquilia, Karen Grimley, Barbara Jacobs, Maryellen Kosturko, Jerry Mansfield, Charlotte Mathers, Peggie Parniawski, Laura Wood, Victoria Niederhauser

Patient Experience Journal

The global COVID-19 pandemic has challenged nurse leaders in ways that one could not imagine six months ago. Along with ongoing priorities of providing high quality, cost-effective and safe care, nurse leaders are also committed to creating environments that support excellence in patient and family experience. This article will provide exemplars of how nurse leaders used decisive decision-making, adapted to novel situations and issues, ensured reliable and safe delivery of care and engaged patients, families and their workforce to create excellent experiences of care during the pandemic. Throughout this crisis, nurse leaders have learned how to grapple with quick and …

Qualifications Of Executive Nurses For Service On Hospital Boards, Michelle Lee Foxx

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Abstract Healthcare governing boards have responsibility for the legal and financial stability of the organization. They are assuming more responsibility for quality care and outcomes. Nurse leaders have valuable insights into key shared governance issues such as quality of care, financial performance, legal requirements, and regulatory oversight. Yet, only 5% of the 3.2 million nurses in the U.S. health workforce hold a seat on hospital governing boards in the United States. The purpose of this study was to explore how nurses with executive experience perceive their own leadership qualities in the context of established requirements for executive hospital boards. Fifty …

Preceptor Education And Structured Onboarding Process, Charles Morato

Master's Projects and Capstones

Problem: Staff nurse retention is an ongoing problem for this intensive care unit (ICU). Through exit interviews from staff who left, inadequate onboarding and education made them feel unprepared for their job and not part of the team. The preceptors on the unit have never been trained on the roles and responsibilities of being a preceptor. The current onboarding process consists of pairing new hires with a preceptor who either happens to be willing to do it that day or someone who has been there the longest. There is no consistency or personalizing the orientation information to the new hire. …

Pediatric Bullying Education In Arkansas Baccalaureate Nursing Programs, Jasmine Jackson

McNair Scholars Research

Over the years, there has been an ever-increasing spotlight on the issue of bullying among adolescents. Nurses are another adult-figure, in addition to parents and teachers, that can help identify and address bullying if educated properly. The purpose of this study was to examine pediatric bullying education in Arkansas baccalaureate nursing programs. Through the use of a mixed-method approach, the newly created survey was to be completed by one faculty member from each of the 12 BSN programs in Arkansas (12 participants; 6 respondents). The paper describes the quantitative and qualitative data analysis from this non-experimental descriptive pilot study. Results …

Impact Of The Hester Davis Fall Risk Scale On Inpatient Falls, Amelia Payne

Dissertations

Problem: During a three month period in 2018, a rural acute care facility experienced a fall rate of 3.4 falls per 1,000 patient days. The aim of this clinical scholarship project was to implement the Hester Davis Fall Risk Scale (HDFRS) for adult inpatients in a rural acute care facility.

Methods: Utilizing the Find, Organize, Clarify, Understand, Select- Plan, Do, Study, Act (FOCUS-PDSA) model, the HDFRS was implemented and evaluated using a pre and post design to determine its impact on falls per 1,000 patient days and falls with injury per 1,000 patient days. The method of evaluation was a …

A Case For Delirium Risk Prediction Models To Aid In Triaging Resources To Those Most At Risk An Integrative Literature Review, Tammy Perttula

Nursing Masters Papers

Abstract

Delirium is a complex syndrome resulting from compounding effects of acute illness, comorbidities, and the environment. It results in adverse outcomes: elevated mortality rates, length of stay, readmissions, institutionalization, long-term cognitive changes, and diminished quality of life. The rate of iatrogenic delirium is astounding, ranging from 10%-89%. There are no curative treatments; thus, primary prevention is the key. The purpose of this literature review is to identify and critique the research for the accuracy of risk stratification and feasibility in practice. Support for interventions that prevent delirium is mounting; however, interventions are resource-intensive and often not implemented. Researchers have …

The Relationship Of Span Of Control To Nurse Manager Satisfaction, Jeffrey Batcher

Master of Science in Nursing Final Projects

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between span of control (SOC) and nurse manager job satisfaction for nurse managers working in a hospital system. The study may help administrators identify how wide and narrow SOC correlates to the overall job satisfaction of nurse managers.

Design: A non-experimental descriptive correlational study design was used.

Methods: Data were collected from a convenience sample of nurse managers working within an eleven-hospital healthcare system. Survey Monkey was used for data collection and included a demographic questionnaire, The Ottawa Hospital Model of Nursing Clinical Practice (TOH MoNCP) Clinical Management Span …

Implementation Of Post Falls Huddles In Skilled Nursing Facility, Princess Lomax

Evidence-Based Practice Project Reports

The purpose of this paper is to discuss the quality improvement project, implementation of the post fall huddle in a long-term care facility. Falls are the most common problem in adults 65 years and older. Falls in this population can have devastating effects, often leading to significant changes in morbidity or death. Adults in long term care settings have an increased risk of falling and having a subsequent fall due to an acute illness, weakness, or confusion (CDC, 2015). At the skilled facility, there has been a significant increase in hospitalizations due to injuries sustained from falls. To address this …

The Watson Room: Mitigating Compassion Fatigue In Oncology Nurses, Patricia A. Viscardi

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

Aim: The aim of this project was to plan, develop, and implement “The Watson Room” or “Quiet Room” in an inpatient oncology nursing population and evaluate changes in Professional Quality of Life (ProQOL).

Background: Oncology Nurses are at high risk for compassion fatigue (CF), burn-out (BO), and secondary traumatic stress (STS) related to the effects of living the traumas of oncology patients and their families through their cancer journey and the innate stress in a complex and intense workplace. High levels of compassion fatigue, burn-out, and secondary traumatic stress that are poorly managed reduces the nurse’s ability to self-regulate their …

Stress And Burnout In Nurse Leaders, Laura E. Johnson, Kiersten J. Nichols, Jayme A. Sakhitab

Nursing Masters Papers

Problem: Nurse leaders commonly experience stress and self-reported burnout. The associated negative consequences are compelling, yet few studies to date consider the nurse leader population. Stress is “a multidimensional phenomenon determined by a person’s perceptions and may be assessed as harm, loss, threat, or challenge” (Udod, Cummings, Care, & Jenkins, 2017a, p. 160). Burnout is a lack of professional fulfillment caused by emotional, physical, and psychological stress (Nurse Burnout, 2019). Drivers are associated and contributing factors which lead to stress and self-reported burnout.

Purpose: The purposes of this correlational study are to (a) identify drivers from the literature and …

Oral Care And Ventilator Associated Pneumonia Prevention, Rachel Baber

MSN Capstone Projects

With rising healthcare costs and increasing demands placed on healthcare workers, it is no wonder that decreasing hospital length of stay for patients is high priority for hospitals today. Hospital acquired infections are one of the culprits keeping so many patients hospitalized. Specifically, in intensive care units (ICU) and intermediate care (IMC) units that care for mechanically ventilated patients, ventilator associated pneumonia secondary to intubation is a complication and cost that is being sought to be avoided. Hospitals have been pro-active to prevent ventilator associated pneumonia from occurring by placing oral care bundles or protocols in place to care for …

Evidence-Based Policy And Procedure Review System, Meredith A. Stokes

Doctoral Projects

Policies and procedures guide practice and the care of patients in every field of healthcare. Incorporating best practice evidence into clinical practice is a critical step towards providing safer patient care and improved patient outcomes. The challenge has been finding a way to incorporate best practice evidence into policies and procedures. Accordingly, an evidence-based project to answer the following clinical practice question was proposed: What is an evidence-based strategy for reviewing, updating, and disseminating policies and procedures for office staff at a cancer treatment organization? Through the use of Donabedian’s Model for Quality Improvement, student created tools, and an evidence-based …

Barriers To Patient-Centered Care For Dementia Clients In The Long-Term Living Setting, Shaina Gaba

Nursing | Senior Theses

When caring for people with severe dementia, the concept of the person being central is increasingly advocated in clinical practice. Person-centered care acknowledges autonomy in all facets of care. Recent studies examine behavioral changes in individuals with dementia and how health care teams address these alterations. Health care providers are vital for effective holistic management. Therefore, this review focuses on the current knowledge regarding care goals, practices, and perceptions of the client battling with cognitive decline. A literature review ascertains that clients with dementia respond to interventions and have decreased negative health outcomes, when providers ensure values and needs are …

A Multifactorial Intervention To Reduce Weight Bias In Healthcare Providers, Rose M. Flinchum

Evidence-Based Practice Project Reports

No abstract provided.

Reducing Catheter Associated Urinary Tract Infection (Cauti) Rates Benchmark Study, Tendai B. Shambare

MSN Capstone Projects

Abstract

Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) make up to about 40 % of all healthcare associated infections, and about 13,000 patients die yearly from Catheter Associated Urinary Tract Infections (CAUTI) complications. Urinary catheters at times maybe unjustified or inappropriate, which can potentially create increased hospital costs, patient discomfort and pain, length of hospital stay. And even death. The longer the catheter is left in place also increases the patient’s risk of developing a CAUTI. CAUTI bundle packages have been found to be effective in reducing CAUTI rates when used consistently. The bundle is a combination of evidence-based practice policies, nurse and …

Point-Of-Care Reminders To Prompt Provider Adherence With Diabetes Care Guidelines For Adults, Eric E. Spohn

Evidence-Based Practice Project Reports

Diabetes is a complex, chronic illness, and a leading cause of morbidity and mortality (ODPHP, 2019). Gaps in diabetes care exist between clinical guidelines and interventions provided in the clinical setting (ADA, 2015; Chauhan et al., 2017; Renders et al., 2001; Worswick et al., 2013). Improved diabetes management strategies and interventions among healthcare providers are essential to close the quality gap. The purpose of this evidenced-based practice (EBP) project was to prompt providers to adhere to diabetes care guidelines using a paper point-of-care reminder over a 12-week period. Provider performance rates covering four specific guidelines were measured: HbA1c, microalbuminuria, diabetic …

Dnp Project: Improving No-Show Rates In Primary Care, Mai-Linh T. Nguyen, Sarah M. Kuzara

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Abstract

This paper explores the factors that contribute to no-show rates in the primary care setting and effective interventions to improve no-show rates. The average no-show rate in the primary care setting is 23%, (Dantas, Fleck, Olivaria, & Humacher 2018). In 2018, the no-show rate at the WeCare Clinic was 50-60%. A literature review was conducted to gather information regarding why patients choose to no-show their appointments, the common causes of high no-show rates, and effective interventions found to decrease no-show rates. We investigated the primary causes of a high no-show rate at the WeCare Clinic by interviewing staff and …

Preventing Readmissions Through Community Health Nursing, Stephanie Dawson

MSN Capstone Projects

Incorporating community health nurses to follow patients with a moderate to high risk of readmission post-discharge could improve the risk of readmission for these patients. When a patient is discharged from the hospital, they can become overwhelmed and not be adequately prepared to go home despite the discharge education given (Kenney-Lueptow, 2020). Telephone follow up is a low-cost way to decrease readmissions and provide continued education to the patients (Heitkam, 2019). Utilizing the bedside nurses that have been caring for the patients in the hospital can create a greater sense of community for the hospital and its population. By connecting …

Reducing Readmissions In The Heart Failure Population, Yvette Castellanos

MSN Capstone Projects

This paper will explore the importance of preventing acute hospital readmissions in the heart failure adult population. Prevention of re-hospitalization is aimed at improving patient care and outcomes as well as reducing the financial stress caused by readmissions. Recurrent hospitalizations are expensive and unnecessarily overutilize resources (Donzé, Lipsitz, Bates, & Schnipper, 2013). Research shows that improving transitions of care during hospitalization and developing specific heart failure interventions healthcare providers can assist in reducing readmissions. For this project the Plan Do Check Act (PDCA) tool combined with the lean methodology. The PDCA cycle consist of planning, to identify the problems, do …

Bedside Shift Report Improves Patient Safety, Scott Meyers

MSN Capstone Projects

In the inpatient setting, Parkland Health & Hospital System has continued to have patient falls with injury above its target goal. This occurred every month throughout 2019. Additionally, multiple egregious IV medication administration errors occurred over the last year related to nurses bypassing established safety practices.

An evaluation of evidence-based literature reveals that the practice of bedside shift report (BSR) leads to a reduction in both patient falls and medication administration errors. Indeed, BSR is evidence-based practice (EBP) that promotes an overall environment of safety, quality care, and improved communication between nurses and patients. Additionally, there is virtually no risk …

Benchmark Nurse Leader Mentorship Program, Ijeoma Anyanwu

MSN Capstone Projects

“Historically, promotion to management positions has been a key pathway by which hospital staff nurses advance their careers, and these promotions typically occur before the nurse has acquired any formal management training” (Weisman, Minnick, Dienemann & Cassard, 1995, p. 296). Nurse managers are often driven to their roles due to sudden vacancies as a result of promotions, resignations, transfers or layoffs. Though willing to take on these challenges, these nurses are nevertheless inadequately prepared. “Nurse leaders are ill-equipped in terms of knowledge and may lack support and guidance to manage the challenges inherent in the role, such as productivity, job …

Official Mentor Program Benchmark Project, Gabriela O'Hara

MSN Capstone Projects

Nursing shortage, turnover, and low job satisfaction are constant issues that often trouble healthcare organizations. These issues have led organizations to implement programs, such as externship, internship, and preceptor programs to strengthen new nurses’ professional practice and skills. However, these issues continue to be organizational challenges. Considering the need for new nurses to have a supportive foundation for their career and to further encourage workplace satisfaction and retention, the following PICOT question was developed: In a healthcare organization, how does an official mentor program, compared with not having a mentor program, influence nursing retention and nursing job satisfaction over 2 …

Dnp Final Report: Changing Admission Criteria In A Vocational Nursing Program To Decrease Attrition, Gabrielle O. Davis

DNP Final Reports

By the year 2030 Texas will have a shortage of 33,500 Licensed Vocational Nurses (LVN). The LVN is responsible for providing safe, compassionate and focused nursing care to assigned patients with predictable health care needs. Most LVNS work in settings caring for our ever increasing and aged population. To combat the coming shortage VN programs need to graduate safe, competent, and compassionate nurses, but programs across the state are experiencing high student attrition rates. Admission criteria is a common method to determine student success in nursing programs. This evidence-based practice improvement project synthesized evidence and integrated best practices along with …

High-Risk Pregnant Patients In The Third Trimester: Comparing Mental And Physical Health, Megan Maxwell

MSN Capstone Projects

The purpose of the paper is to compare physical and mental health in high-risk pregnant patients in their third trimester who are managed in an inpatient setting compared to an outpatient setting. This paper looks at specific high-risk pregnancy diagnoses.

Controlled Donation After Circulatory Death: Benchmark Study, Marilyn R. Strait

MSN Capstone Projects

Abstract

In potential organ donors after circulatory death (P), does the utilization of an evidence-based critical pathway from identification of potential donor to organ donation (I) versus no utilization of an evidence-based critical pathway (C) increase the rate of organ procurement and the satisfaction of donor families with the donation process (O)? A benchmark study was conducted to answer this question, and in short, yes, it does. The utilization of a critical pathway, when individualized to a local population and hospital’s organization increases the organ procurement rate, the donor family satisfaction with the process, and increases staff satisfaction with the …

Emergency Department Homeless And At Risk Homeless Screening Benchmark Study, Emily Mulder

MSN Capstone Projects

Individuals experiencing homelessness drastically overutilize emergency department (ED) services compared to non-homeless individuals (Ku et al., 2014). Many unhoused individuals have serious medical and psychosocial needs, which are chronic in nature, and become exacerbated due to poor management while living on the streets (Ku et al., 2014). The health needs of such individuals would be best managed through primary care continuity. However, care coordination becomes complex when a patient does not have a physical address or knowledge of available community resources (Mitchell, León, Byrne, Lin, & Bharel, 2017). By understanding the unique barriers that homeless and at risk homeless patients …

Implementation Of A Patient Acuity Tool And The Impact On Nurse Satisfaction, Amber M. Denson

MSN Capstone Projects

Increased workloads contribute to nurse stress, affect nurse-patient relationships, and can ultimately lead to nurse turnover (O’Connell, Nettleton, Bunting, & Eichar, 2020). Nurse satisfaction can also be influenced by nurse-patient assignments (Allen, 2019). Implementation of a patient acuity tool (PAT) to balance workload and evenly distribute patient acuity in nurse-patient assignments can improve nurse job satisfaction, quality of care, and nurse retention (Firestone-Howard, Gonzalez, Dudjak, & Rader, 2017; Al-Dweik & Ahmad, 2019).

Discussions were held on a 20-bed medical-surgical unit in an acute care hospital with stakeholders that included the nurse manager, charge nurses and bedside nurses at staff meetings …

Evaluation Of An Advanced Quality Improvement Program, Arjun M. Dangre Bds Mph, Angelo P. Giardino Md, Phd

Journal of Nursing & Interprofessional Leadership in Quality & Safety

Texas Children’s Hospital implemented the Advanced Quality Improvement and Patient Safety Program (AQI) in 2009, designed to train clinicians and staff to develop leaders in quality improvement to improve patient care, lower costs, change culture, and lead improvement initiatives at the organization. Evaluations of the AQI programs measured the program’s effectiveness in achieving its goals and objectives. This paper describes the Texas Children’s Hospital’s Advanced Quality Improvement and Patient Safety program (AQI,) the program’s evaluation processes, and show the results of the evaluation of the AQI programs using evaluation surveys completed by QI participants over the span of 13 successful …

A Quality Improvement Project To Improve Financial Sustainability Of Home-Based Palliative Care Program, Andrea L. Giffel

Doctoral Projects

Background and Objectives: Home palliative care services are challenging to bill due to the complexity of services and competing time demands. Objectives and protocol were developed to guide coding and billing to increase Relative Value Unit generation and improve financial sustainability.

Design: A quality improvement project.

Setting: A home-based palliative care program in one health system in the Midwest.

Participants: Participants included 7 nurse practitioners.

Intervention: Coding protocol were developed, providers were educated, electronic health record audits were conducted to collect data on improvement, and feedback provided to prompt improvement.

Measurement and Analysis: Documentation of advanced care planning and billing, …

Learning Lean To Lead, Krystle Irene Guenther

Doctoral Projects

This project sought to see if training frontline nurses and physicians together in Lean methodology improved collaboration between the two disciplines while giving them the tools they need to lead change at the bedside and in their practice. A quasi-experimental pre- and post-intervention methodology was used. The intervention was six, four-hour in-person modules on performance improvement (PI). Respondents completed two surveys, the performance improvement instrument and the Professional Practice Environment Assessment Scale (PPEAS). Surveys were paired for analysis. There was a statistically significant median increase in participants confidence for all questions on the PI instrument post-intervention. Results for the PPEAS …