Nursing Commons^™

Mentorship Program Including Alumni, Nicole Brainin

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

The landscape of advanced education in nurse anesthesia presents considerable challenges for Student Registered Nurse Anesthetists (SRNAs), accentuated by demanding clinical hours and the transition from experienced ICU nursing to novice learners. This study explores the implementation of alumni mentorship within Nurse Anesthesia Programs (NAPs) to alleviate these stressors. An initial survey gauged alumni interest in mentorship roles, while a follow-up survey assessed the program's impact on student satisfaction and communication. Findings suggest that engagement and communication frequencies are lower than optimal, while alumni mentorship is perceived positively. Recommendations for enhancing the program include diversified communication channels, structured interactions, and …

Educating Anesthesia Providers On The Physiological Effects And Anesthesia Implications Of Cannabis, Carmel Loud

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

In the U.S., currently 37 states have legalized cannabis for medicinal use prescribed by qualified medical professionals (National Conference of State Legislatures [NCSL], 2022). In 2012, the legalization of recreational cannabis began; as of 2022, 19 states have legalized the recreational use of marijuana (NCSL, 2022). This project aimed to optimize care for patients using cannabis by increasing anesthesia provider knowledge about cannabis. The project's aim was accomplished through a thorough review of the current medical literature and implementation of education to anesthesia providers about the physiological effects and anesthesia implications of cannabis. Thirteen CRNAs took a pre- and post-quiz …

Improvement In Patient Compliance For Gynecological Care, Tracee Williams

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

This quality improvement project implemented the patient-initiated follow-up (PIFU) pathway in a gynecology clinic setting. PIFU has potential to lead to decreased no-show appointments and increased patient autonomy in outpatient healthcare practices. Barriers that influence compliance with plans of care include lower socioeconomic status, racial and ethnic minorities, and unmet social needs such as food insecurity, healthcare travel and cost, and child/adult care needs. In addition to higher rates of no-show appointments, individuals facing these barriers have increased comorbidities. Prior to implementing the PIFU model, patients between the ages of 18 and 42 completed a patient satisfaction survey to better …

Anesthesia Management For The Preeclampsia Or Hypertensive Parturient, Britanie Sumpter

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Preeclampsia is a placental disease characterized by abnormal maternoplacental blood vessels and placental dysfunction resulting in fetoplacental hypoperfusion and maternal multi-system organ dysfunction (Wang et al., 2019). Expectant management of a hypertensive or preeclamptic parturient includes antihypertensive medications, magnesium sulfate for seizure prophylaxis, and early delivery of the fetus (ACOG, 2020). Neuraxial anesthetic-induced sympathectomy combined with circulating antihypertensives, magnesium sulfate therapy, and intravascular volume depletion in preeclampsia is thought to contribute to exaggerated hypotension.

Persistent refractory hypotension after neuraxial anesthesia in parturients with preeclampsia or hypertension has been an ongoing issue affecting obstetric providers at the host facility. This project …

Developing An Advocacy Campaign To Minimize Barriers To Srna Political Awareness, Alejandra Villescas

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Continuous advocacy and political participation have secured better working conditions and recognition of certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs), translating into better patient care. This project aimed to launch an advocacy campaign targeting student registered nurse anesthetists (SRNAs). A pre-lesson survey was designed to identify SRNAs’ political participation barriers and assess their political literacy. Additionally, a lesson was developed to help SRNAs’ understand CRNA advocacy. To evaluate the educational tool, a post-lesson survey was created. These materials were distributed via email to all SRNAs (n=320) enrolled in a CRNA program in Illinois. Only 51 students completed the pre-lesson survey, and 39 …

Remifentanil In Labor Analgesia, Courtney Silberberg

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Labor has the potential to be the most excruciating and intense physical pain a woman experiences in her life. Neuraxial anesthesia, which includes epidural, spinal, or combined spinal-epidural technique, is the gold standard for pain control in laboring patients (Lee et al., 2017). Seemingly forgotten, a subset of parturients cannot experience the benefits of neuraxial anesthesia due to several absolute and relative contraindications. These women rely on other options for labor pain control. Remifentanil has emerged as a preferred opioid option for labor and delivery due to its rapid onset (peak effect in 1.1 minutes) and rapid metabolism by non-specific …

Hyperoxemia Education To Nurses To Increase The Adherence To Oxygen Weaning Goals In Inpatient Copd Patients., Katherine Ellingson

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Hyperoxemia in patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) are at risk for increased hospital stay, mechanical ventilation, and increased risk of death. Literature supports that establishing increased education to nursing staff on the risks of hypoxemia to increase adherence to oxygen weaning protocols has the potential to improve future practice. Oxygen weaning protocols are often not followed for concern of patient care. Nurses may believe to be helping patients when increasing oxygen, when they could actually be potentially harming them. Increased education on hypoxemia in COPD patients for the nursing staff will assist them to feeling …

New Graduate Nurse Professional Development Planning, Cassandra Adkins

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

A 150-bed urban hospital in Chicago lacked a formal process to assist new graduate nurses (NGRN) in developing incremental goals as a part of their longitudinal plan during their first year of professional nursing practice. This left NGRNs feeling unsupported in their journey from novice to expert. With many NGRNs choosing to leave the nursing profession within the first year of practice, organizations must invest in programs to support their transition from academia to practice. This project implemented First Year Coaches and regularly scheduled touchpoints with NGRNs to increase intent to stay at the organization, feelings of support, and future …

Just Culture In Undergraduate Nursing Academia, Marcie Leonard

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Understanding the importance of reporting errors, near misses, and good catches by nursing students is not a standard part of the curriculum at the project site. Nursing students lack pre-requisite knowledge of how just culture does not aim to place blame on individuals but focuses on system flaws. Nursing students fear being dismissed from the nursing program if they make and/or report errors. A focus on eliminating the fear of dismissal from a nursing program for error reporting and formally educating how error reporting can help shape practice for many other nursing students and nurses will result in better data …

Enhancement Of A Peer Mentorship Program For Student Registered Nurse Anesthetist, Cassie Starrett, Katrina Harlan

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Nurse anesthesia programs are associated with rigorous didactic work, doctoral projects, long clinical days, and high levels of financial debt (Mesisca & Mainwaring, 2021). Doctoral students experience significantly higher levels of stress than other graduate students, necessitating resources that support emotional wellness (Griffin et al., 2017). A mentorship program for student registered nurse anesthesiologists (SRNA) may help minimize perceived stress and lessen the adverse physical and psychological effects. While mentorships foster both personal and professional success for mentees, mentors also report increased interest in professional development, productivity, and satisfaction (Flexman & Gelb, 2011). This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness …

Postoperative Delirium Education, Aaron Wede

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Surgical patients, aged 65 and older, comprise the largest surgical population. Increased age correlates with an increased incidence of postoperative delirium. Postoperative delirium (POD) can drastically increase healthcare costs, length of hospital stay, and overall morbidity and mortality. A clinical reference tool was created to have available for perioperative staff members at a 200-bed community hospital in the Midwest. The tool describes risk factors, prevention methods, and treatment options for POD. The initial implementation of the project was achieved with a PowerPoint presentation which was created to summarize the information found in the literature review and to instruct perioperative staff …