Nursing Commons^™

Class Size And Nursing Students' Perception Of Empowerment, Cynthia T. Keane

Master's Projects

Due to increases in enrollment and budget cuts in many states, college class sizes are reaching unprecedented sizes (Carpenter, 2006). Nursing schools are facing the same challenges. Only limited research has been conducted on the effects of class size on nursing students' perception of empowerment Conger (1989) defines empowerment as the act of reinforcing one's belief in his or her perception of competence. Empowerment is important for nursing students' education (Chally, 1992). To achieve the optimal learning experience in face of increasing class size, it is important to explore how nursing students experience learning in both small and large class …

The Case Of The Silent Crippler, Amanda Orme, Karlen E. (Beth) Luthy

Faculty Publications

Thirteen-year-old “Stephanie” has been complaining of bilateral leg pain and increasing lower extremity weakness. Stephanie's teacher recently approached her parents to inform them of concerns that Stephanie is walking differently and seems off balance at school.

Loma Linda Nurse - Vol. 17, No. 01, Loma Linda University School Of Nursing

Loma Linda Nurse

Contents

2 | From the Dean: Marilyn Herrmann shares her thoughts

Features

4 | Off campus program

6 | Penny Miller

News

8 | Faculty member uses scholarship to assist university in Paraguay

9 | Student receives Jeannette Rankin Foundation scholarship

9 | Anabelle Mills Hills endowment update

Development

10 | Development coordinator joins LLUSN

11 | Meeting needs with planned giving Alumni homecoming

12 | KJN Society Brunch honors friends

13 | LLUSN celebrates alumni and friends with homecoming weekend

14 | Honored classes celebrate during alumni homecoming

15 | A note from the alumni president

16 | LLUSN …

Successfully Incorporating Writing Across The Curriculum With Advanced Writing In Nursing, Karlen E. Luthy, Neil E. Peterson, Jane H. Lassetter, Lynn C. Callister

Faculty Publications

The purpose of this article is to explain the concepts of Writing Across the Curriculum, Writing in the Disciplines, and Writing to Learn, and to describe the incorporation of advanced writing into a baccalaureate nursing program and provide suggestions for accessing resources and promoting success. The goals of incorporating Writing Across the Curriculum, Writing in the Disciplines, and Writing to Learn concepts into nursing curriculum are to assist nursing students to achieve competence in clinically relevant writing assignments; to demonstrate critical thinking and communication skills, both oral and written; to execute useful literature searches; to read and understand research reports; …

Older Adults With Traumatic Rib Fractures: An Evidence-Based Approach To Their Care, Blaine A. Winters

Faculty Publications

It is expected that over the next decade the population of older adults in the United States will increase dramatically. As the older adult population increases, the number of older adults involved in traumatic accidents is also expected to climb. The older population is at na increased risk for complications and poor outcomes following trauma. Practitioners caring for these older adults will need to use evidence-based practice guidelines in an attempt to improve outcomes. This article provides a clinical guideline for the assessment and management of pain in older adults with traumatic rib fractures, and an approach for pain assessment, …

Nps' Perceptions Of Disaster Preparedness Education: Quantitative Survey Research, Milada Tichy, A. Elaine Bond, Renea L. Beckstrand, Barbara Heise

Faculty Publications

Nurse practitioners need to be effective in responding to large-scale natural and man-made disasters. However, disaster core competencies for NPs are largely nonexistent. The purpose of this study was to assess NPs' level of disaster preparedness and determine how NPs acquired knowledge about disaster preparation. Findings suggest that a consistent national NP curriculum for disaster preparedness, including communication with other disaster agencies, is needed. With proper education, NPs can play a major role in disaster management.

Parental Hesitation As A Factor In Delayed Childhood Immunization, Karlen E. (Beth) Luthy, Renea L. Beckstrand, Neil E. Peterson

Faculty Publications

Introduction: One reason for lower immunization rates is that some parents hesitate to have their children immunized. A hesitancy questionnaire was developed to identify reasons parents hesitate in having their children immunized.

Methods: The hesitancy questionnaire was distributed from local pediatric and family practice offices and from the area's county health department. To be eligible, participants needed to be present in the clinic with a child needing a minimum of one immunization that was at least 6 months overdue.

Results: When questioned why their child was overdue for immunizations, the most common response was that participants were confused about the …

Teaching The Teacher Program To Assist Nurse Managers To Educate Nursing Staff In Ecuadorian Hospitals, Sheri P. Palmer, Sondra Heaston

Faculty Publications

Continuing education for hospital staff nurses is a concern worldwide. Current research shows that continuing education among nurses can positively affect patient outcomes (O’Brien, T., Freemantle, N., Oxman, A, et al., 2002. Interactive continuing education workshops or conferences can improve professional practice and patient outcomes. Journal of Evidence Based Nursing. 26 (5)). Seeing a need for improved patient outcomes among hospitals in Ecuador, we conducted a teaching the teacher program to assist nurse managers to carry-out continuing education in their hospital system. This teaching the teacher program was established through the collaboration between one College of Nursing in Utah, USA …

Unlv Magazine, Holly Ivy De Vore, Tony Allen, Barbara Cloud, Erin O'Donnell, Matthew K. Jacobsen, Gian Galassi, Michelle Mouton, Afsha Bawany, Shane Bevell

UNLV Magazine

No abstract provided.

Cost-Efficient Treatment Options For Uninsured Or Underinsured Patients For Five Common Conditions, Karlen E. (Beth) Luthy, Neil E. Peterson, Joey Wilkinson

Faculty Publications

The nurse practitioner's (NP's) role in providing quality care continues to evolve, concurrent with the ever-evolving health care system. With an influx of uninsured and underinsured patients, NPs must not only provide high-quality health care, they must also address cost-efficient treatment options for patients who cannot afford expensive medications. Familiarity with the cost of medications and prescribing cost-efficient medications are valuable tools NPs can use to encourage patient compliance with a specific care regimen, consequently improving the overall health of uninsured or underinsured individuals. Knowledge of patient assistance programs may also assist NPs in decreasing prescription drug costs for patients. …

Emergency Nurses’ Perceptions Of Size, Frequency, And Magnitude Of Obstacles And Supportive Behaviors In End-Of-Life Care, Renea L. Beckstrand, Michelle D. Smith, Sondra Heaston, A. Elaine Bond

Faculty Publications

Introduction: Emergency nurses care for dying patients daily. The process of dying in an emergency department can be complicated. Research on specific obstacles that impede the delivery of end-of-life care in emergency departments and behaviors that support it is limited.

Methods: A 70-item questionnaire was mailed to randomly selected ENA members. Subjects were asked to rate items on the size, frequency, and manitude of obstacles and supportive behaviors that relate to end-of-life care for ED patients.

Results:

The perceived obstacles with the greatest magnitude were as follows: (a) ED nurses’ work loads being too high to allow adequate time for …

Commencement Program 2008, Loma Linda University

Commencement Programs

CONTENTS

2 | 2008 Events of Commencement

3 | The Academic Procession

4 | Significance of Academic Regalia

5 | The Good Samaritan

6 | The Speakers

14 | The University Honorees

24 | The School Honorees

35 | The Programs

36 | School of Medicine

47 | School of Pharmacy

52 | School of Dentistry

62 | School of Science and Technology and School of Religion

70 | School of Nursing

76 | School of Allied Health Professions - Physical Therapy

82 | School of Allied Health Professions

91 | School of Public Health

Paripartum Cardiomyopathy: Implications For Nps, Jeffrey A. Goss, A. Elaine Bond, Renea L. Beckstrand, Lynn C. Callister

Faculty Publications

Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM), the fifth leading cause of death in pregnancy, is often overlooked or misdiagnosed because of vague symptoms and a lack of specific criteria for diagnosis. The authors performed a literature review of articles published between January 2000 and November 2007, and found that early diagnosis via echocardiography and interventions with specific treatment modalities can reduce mortality. Dobutamine stress testing may be prognostic for left ventricular (LV) dysfunction. Standard heart failure (HF) drug regimens, heart transplantation, and mechanical assist devices are viable treatment modalities, depending on individual needs. Subsequent pregnancies must be followed closely. The authors recommend that …

A Literature Review: Current Trends In Holistic Nursing, Angela J. Wolf

Senior Honors Theses

There is scarcity of documentation that seeks to define spirituality relating to holistic nursing; consequently, a literature review was formulated to define spirituality and guide nursing practice towards recognizing the importance of and implementation of spiritual care. By researching the current trends in peer-reviewed journals from the past three years and analyzing associated articles, this paper addresses the need for a comprehensive definition of spirituality. Key concepts such as belief, values, interconnectedness with self, others and God, energy, hope and transcendence will be analyzed, and the accumulated data will be complied into a framework that is easy for a nurse …

Peripheral Intravenous Catheters Started In Prehospital And Emergency Department Settings, Ligia Zarate, Barbara Mandleco, Russell Wilshaw, Patricia K. Ravert

Faculty Publications

The purpose of this study was to determine the rates of phlebitis in trauma patients according to where the peripheral intravenous catheter (PIVC) was inserted in a prehospital setting or in an emergency department setting. Variables investigated also included where the catheter was anatomically placed, the gauge of the catheter, and the patients' Injury Severity Score. The overall phlebitis rate was 5.79%. The rate of phlebitis was 2.92% when started by an RN in the emergency department, 6.09% when started by an intermediate emergency medical technician and 7.78% when started by a paramedic in prehospital setting. There was no significant …

Promoting Self-Confidence In Clinical Nursing Students, Karen M. Lundberg

Faculty Publications

Clinical nursing instructors are continually telling their students that they just need more confidence. But how do students find this needed confidence and how can nursing instructors help them? The author discusses sources and principles of confidence in relationship to teaching behaviors and strategies for increasing self-confidence, such as simulations, peer modeling, story telling, skill review sessions, and journaling.

Hospital Nursing Research Program: Partnership Of Service And Academia, Patricia Ravert, Katreena Collette Merrill

Faculty Publications

Hospitals in a nonprofit mountain west corporation conducted a gap analysis to determine readiness for Magnet Recognition. Major gaps included nursing research and availability of consultation and resources for research. Based on the findings, the development of a dynamic research program promoting nursing research and evidence-based practice within hospitals was undertaken. A nursing research council was reestablished with representatives from service and academia. A literature review and analysis of corporate/academia resources were completed. The plan called for a nursing research coordinator position and development of a research budget. Academia continues to be represented on the hospital institutional review board. A …

Cultural Diversity: Pain Beliefs And Treatment Among Mexican-Americans, African-Americans, Chinese-Americans And Japanese-Americans, Anthony J. Alvarado

Senior Honors Theses and Projects

The purpose of this project was to examine culture and the impact it has on the pain experience. Pain, albeit acute or chronic, is an important subject to understand because it can have detrimental effects on the body if not properly managed. Culture has been found to be a factor that influences one’s pain experience and thus the need for healthcare professionals to acknowledge this is imperative. The cultures examined in this paper include: Mexican- Americans, African-Americans, Chinese-Americans and Japanese-Americans. Within these four cultural groups their beliefs about the origin of pain, physical responses to pain, health and illness beliefs …

Patient Simulator Sessions And Critical Thinking, Patricia K. Ravert

Faculty Publications

The project purpose was too determine whether measures of critical thinking show differences between three groups (simulator, non-simulator, control) of baccalaureate nursing students. The second purpose was to determine the moderating effect of students' preferred learning style. All groups experienced a moderate to large effect size in critical thinking scores. The corrected model for the total scale gain score was statistically significant but not significant for learning style or group.

Effectiveness Of An Evidence-Based Curriculum Module In Nursing Schools: Targeting Safe Patient Handling And Movement, Nancy Menzel, Audrey L. Nelson, Thomas R. Waters, Nancy Hughes, Pamela C. Hagan, Gail Powell-Cope, Viviam Thompson

Nursing Faculty Research

Nursing schools in the United States have not been teaching evidence-based practices for safe patient handling, putting their graduates at risk for musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). The specific aim of this study was to translate research related to safe patient handling into the curricula of nursing schools and evaluate the impact on nurse educators and students' intentions to use safe patient handling techniques. Nurse educators at 26 nursing schools received curricular materials and training; nursing students received the evidence-based curriculum module. There were three control sites. Questionnaires were used to collect data on knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs about safe patient handling …

Loma Linda Nurse - Vol. 16, No. 01, Loma Linda University School Of Nursing

Loma Linda Nurse

Contents

3 | Message from the dean

4 | News from the school

6 | My Years at Loma Linda: Longtime faculty member Eva Miller shares her story

10 | Feature - Adeeba Evans

12 | LLUSN survey

13 | Letter from the alumni president

14 | Alumni homecoming

19 | Remembering Hazel Wood

20 | Alumni feature - Marjorie Whitney

Commencement Program 2007, Loma Linda University

Commencement Programs

CONTENTS

2 | 2006 Events of Commencement

3 | The Academic Procession

4 | Significance of Academic Regalia

5 | The Good Samaritan

6 | The Speakers

13 | The University Honorees

21 | The School Honorees

33 | The Program

• School of Medicine, 34
• School of Pharmacy, 45
• School of Dentistry, 50
• School of Science and Technology and School of Religion, 60
• School of Nursing, 68
• School of Allied Health Professions - Physical Therapy, 75
• School of Allied Health Professions, 82
• School of Public Health, 91

Evaluation Of Student Perceived Self-Efficacy With The Implementation Of A Problem-Based Learning Module, Joel David Romero

Master's Projects

To facilitate the graduation of competent registered nurses, healthcare educators must create learning environments that foster content expertise, problem solving, collaboration, and refined learning skills. Although countless teaching strategies are in existence today, problem-based learning (PBL) has revealed noteworthy potential in healthcare education. In PBL, complex, reality-based problems are used as motivation for students to identify salient concepts, gather data, and ultimately work through posed problems. Considerable evidence supports the use of PBL as a method to promote learning, though examining knowledge alone cannot always assess actual behavioral performance. To ascertain the likelihood learned concepts would be utilized in practice, …

Barriers To Mammograms Among Women Who Are Homeless, Lucinda M. Ramirez

Master's Projects

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to identify barriers to mammogram screening among women who are homeless. Knowing the barriers to mammogram screening will be useful to advanced practice nurses for it provides insight to understanding the perceived susceptibility, benefits, and barriers of women potentially amendable to intervention. Data sources: A descriptive survey was used with a convenience sample of 41 women who were homeless, between the ages of 20-70 years, and agreed to participate in this study. The research was conducted at two homeless shelters in an urban county in Northern California. Findings: Findings reflected positive perceptions recognizing …

Cultural Self-Efficacy Of Graduating Baccalaureate Nursing Students In A State Funded University In The Silicon Valley, Lihua Liu

Master's Projects

The purpose of the study was to examine the level of cultural self-efficacy of graduating baccalaureate nursing students, who care for diverse populations, in a state funded university in the Silicon Valley, California. The level of cultural self-efficacy was measured using Bernal and Froman's Cultural Self-Efficacy Scale (CSES). A convenience sample of 48 nursing students completed an 8-item demographic questionnaire and a 26-item CSES. The subjects of this study were found to have an increased level of cultural confidence in comparison with previous studies. This study suggests nurse educators continue to incorporate cultural concepts and skills in the nursing curriculum.

Dutch Women's Perceptions Of Childbirth In The Netherlands, Taralyn R. Johnson, Lynn Clark Callister, Donna S. Freeborn, Renea L. Beckstrand, Katinka Huender

Faculty Publications

Purpose: To explore the lived experience of childbirth in Dutch women who had given birth at home in the Netherlands.

Methods: Qualitative study using audiotaped interviews with 14 women.

Results: Themes included the advantages of giving birth in the home, where the women felt more in control of their environment; the difficulty and normalcy of the pain associated with giving birth; the feelings of fulfillment and empowerment that come with childbirth and motherhood; and the importance of the supportive role of the midwife–caregiver.

Nursing Implications: Women in a culture different from that of the United States who gave birth at …

Estimating The Supply Of And Demand For Bilingual Nurses In Northwest Arkansas, Katherine A. Deck

Publications and Presentations

In 2004, researchers at the Center for Business and Economic Research (CBER) in the Sam M. Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas prepared a report that detailed the projected shortage of minority nurses in the four county region of Northwest Arkansas. The study focused particularly on the Hispanic residents of Northwest Arkansas, as projections showed the estimated proportion of the total population for that ethnicity increasing from 9.5 percent in 2005 to 16.0 percent in 2025. A separate set of projections in the report estimated that the proportion of the nursing workforce with Hispanic ethnicity would increase …

Giving Birth: The Voices Of Russian Women, Lynn Clark Callister, Natalia Getmanenko, Natalia Garvrish, Marakova Olga Eugenevna, Zotina Nataliya Vladimirova, Jane H. Lassetter, Natalia Turkina

Faculty Publications

Purpose: To gain an understanding of the meaning of childbirth to women living in St. Petersburg, the Russian Federation.

Study Design and Method: Twenty-four Russian women who had given birth in the past 6 months participated in this phenomenological study and were interviewed and audio-taped about the meaning of childbirth. Data collection and analysis occurred concurrently.

Results: The Russian sociocultural context of childbirth was identified in specific themes: (1) adhering to cultural traditions, (2) accessing information, (3) maintaining a healthy lifestyle, (4) articulating the spiritual and emotional meaning of giving birth, and (5) transforming as a mother and a person. …

Omega-3 Fatty Acid Consumption In The Reduction Of Sudden Cardiac Death: A Critical Appraisal, Katie J. Walker, A. Elaine Bond, Renea L. Beckstrand, Mary Williams

Faculty Publications

This article examines the effects of omega-3 fatty acid consumption in reducing sudden cardiac death risk, and provides useful dosing recommendations for patients–with or without a history of coronary heart disease–in a primary care practice.

Emergency Nurses' Perceptions Of Obstacles And Supportive Behaviors In End-Of-Life Care, Sondra Heaston, Renea L. Beckstrand, A. Elaine Bond, Sheri P. Palmer

Faculty Publications

Introduction: Little is known about emergency nurses' perceptions of either obstacles or supportive behaviors for providing end-of life (EOL) care to dying patients. The purpose of this study was to determine the perceived obstacles and supportive behaviors in providing EOL care to dying patients in emergency departments.

Methods: In this survey research, a 73-item questionnaire regarding EOL care was mailed to a geographically dispersed national random sample of 300 members of the Emergency Nurses Association. Descriptive statistics were calculated for the 54 Likert-type items and demographic items. Two open-ended questions were analyzed using content analysis.

Results: Returns after 3 mailings …