Nursing Commons^™

Development Of A Measure Of State Infrastructure For School Nursing Services Delivery, Wendy A. Doremus

Master's Theses, Dissertations, Graduate Research and Major Papers Overview

Healthcare systems are increasingly accountable for safety and quality. States have a key role in protecting and promoting the health of their youth, setting regulations and standards for school health services structures and processes. Yet, the lack of an instrument for state-level self-assessment of equity and quality infrastructure supports hinders progress toward improving in school health services delivery. This macro health system project, conducted in three phases, developed a valid and reliable instrument for state-level self-assessment of infrastructure necessary for supporting quality school nursing services. The phases were identification of state-level structures and processes domains and indicators; a content expert …

Perceived Barriers To Contraceptive Use: An Exploratory Study Of Women Living In Rural Haiti, Jocelyne De Gouvenain

Master's Theses, Dissertations, Graduate Research and Major Papers Overview

Maternal health is defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) as the health of women during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period (WHO, 2016). Maternal health is a very important determinant of Haiti’s familial, educational, economic, and environmental development. One key to maternal health is family planning which can empower women to fulfill their familial and community roles. Family planning through contraception offers women the opportunity to gain time between child births by deciding when to get pregnant in relation to their other life obligations. Having fewer children and longer spacing between births provides women and children a better quality …

Nurse Perceptions Of Influenza Vaccination, Leslie L. Brown

Master's Theses, Dissertations, Graduate Research and Major Papers Overview

The purpose of this research study was to determine the perceptions of influenza vaccine of registered nurses who decline the annual influenza vaccination. Influenza is a serious public health issue because it is a highly contagious virus that is associated with considerable morbidity and mortality. The topic of making annual influenza vaccinations mandatory for health care workers remains controversial. A comprehensive review of the literature surrounding influenza vaccinations was explored and discussed. The data for this study was obtained via anonymous voluntary surveys with one open-ended and 14 closed-ended questions. A mixed method design was used to analyze the voluntary …

Aprns' Confidence To Prescribe, Holli J. Brousseau

Master's Theses, Dissertations, Graduate Research and Major Papers Overview

Prescribing medications is an integral part of the Nurse Practitioner (NP) role. Review of the literature revealed a considerable amount of evidenced-based practice recommendations related to prescribing with accuracy. Petty (2012) suggested using evidence-based data to drive prescribing decisions; knowing the patient’s medications; involving the patient in the decision making process; being knowledgeable about drug interactions; remembering that every patient is unique and listening to their story; avoiding polypharmacy; and reviewing the need for continuing a medication and monitoring appropriate labs/diagnostics related to usage. The purpose of this study was to explore the confidence level of the NP related to …

Development Of A Community-Based Lactation Support Program, Susan D. Bryant

Master's Theses, Dissertations, Graduate Research and Major Papers Overview

Background. Despite the recommendations from leading health organizations and the documented health benefits for both mother and infant, breastfeeding success rates continue to be suboptimal.

Design. A program development design was used for this Community-Based Lactation Support Program. This pilot was the first step in accomplishing the long term goal of expansion of the program to the entire community of Scituate and the state of Rhode Island.

Objectives. The objectives of this program were to increase exclusive and sustained breastfeeding rates in the town of Scituate through education and support and to ensure a positive breastfeeding experience for the …

Educational Innovation Brief: Educating Graduate Nursing Students On Value Based Purchasing, Kristen M. Farrell

Master's Theses, Dissertations, Graduate Research and Major Papers Overview

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act implemented value-based purchasing to raise the bar on quality care and patient satisfaction in healthcare facilities. The time has come to educate graduate nursing students on the reality of quality indicators and the impact that advanced practice nurses will have on these initiatives. This educational brief describes implementation of an educational session developed for graduate nursing students on VBP and the APN role. The content for the education was derived from an extensive literature review, The Essentials of Master’s Education in Nursing, and the clinical experience of the author. The education was …

Nurses' Attitudes Towards Drug-Seekers In The Emergency Room, Megan E. Gernt

Master's Theses, Dissertations, Graduate Research and Major Papers Overview

Emergency department patients often present with a chief complaint of pain. There is a unique population of patients who present with this chief complaint in an effort to obtain narcotics for non-medical use. This population is often referred to as drug-seekers and there is little information available to define what exactly nurses mean when they use this term. This study utilized a descriptive survey design to gain a better understanding of nurses’ use of the term drug-seeker. Respondents agreed on a variety of behaviors that lead them to identify patients as drug-seeking and expressed a frustration with this population of …

School Based Nutrition And Exercise Program, Darlene L. Amalfitano

Master's Theses, Dissertations, Graduate Research and Major Papers Overview

The purpose of this project was to develop a school-based nutrition and exercise program aimed at encouraging and teaching healthful lifestyle choices and facilitating behavior change. A premise of the program was that sustainable changes in diet and physical activity accomplished in childhood may be carried into adulthood and may assist in the prevention of obesity in later years. The Ecological Theory by Urie Bronfenbrenner and Nola Pender's Health Promotion Model (2006) were the frameworks that guided this program development. The program duration was six weeks, and sessions met two times per week with 4th, 5th, and 6th grade participants. …

The Perceived Impact Of Diabetes Support Groups, Rebecca Garofalo

Master's Theses, Dissertations, Graduate Research and Major Papers Overview

A dearth o f research exists describing the perceived impact o f diabetes support groups from the perspective o f support group participants. This study examined the subjective experience of being a participant in a diabetes support group upon a person's physical and emotional well being. Participants were recruited from a diabetes support group and interviewed individually through a series of open ended interview questions. The participants reported various physical and emotional challenges related to their diabetes. The support group was a source of information, hope, shared experience and group problem solving as individuals strived to maintain lifestyle behaviors required …

What Impact Does A Coordinated School Health Program Have On Health Behaviors In Rhode Island High School Students?, Dawn Britto

Master's Theses, Dissertations, Graduate Research and Major Papers Overview

Society has become increasingly concerned with minimizing health-risk behaviors in young people grades K-12. These risky behaviors contribute to the leading causes of morbidity and mortality, which are often established during childhood and adolescence, extend into adttlthood, and are interrelated and preventable. School health programs can play a unique and important role in the lives of youth by helping improve their health- related knowledge, attitudes and skills through comprehensive coordinated school health education. A high-quality school health program is a coordinated and comprehensive set of courses, services, practices, and policies that meet the health and safety needs of students and …

Evaluation Of The Culturally Competent Nursing Modules, Ann P. Silva

Master's Theses, Dissertations, Graduate Research and Major Papers Overview

The dramatic aging of the U.S. population and the growing proportion of racial and ethnic minority groups are two factors that continue to increase the urgency of addressing health disparities (State of Aging and Health in America [SAHA], 2007). With 40% of the U.S. population currently consisting of either immigrants or first-generation Americans, it is imperative that healthcare facilities provide cultural competence training for their nurses to ensure that all patients receive quality care(Hascup,2010). Recognizing cultural diversity integrating cultural knowledge, and acting in a culturally appropriate manner enables nurses to be more effective in initiating nursing assessments and serving as …

The Impact Of Neonatal Icu Single Family Rooms On Select Developmental Outcomes, Lynda M. D'Alessio

Master's Theses, Dissertations, Graduate Research and Major Papers Overview

The purpose of this study was to determine if there is a weight gain benefit and earlier achievement to full feedings in the single family room NICU design compared to the multi-bed NICU design.

A retrospective chart review of infants less than 1000 grams born during a three month time frame in both the multi-bed unit and single family unit was conducted. The study compared average daily weight gain and achievement to full feedings in the multi-bed unit and single family room unit. Findings concluded there was a slight difference in the average daily weight gain and achievement to full …

A Gender Specific Educational Pilot Program To Improve Women's Awareness About Heart Disease And Their Risk, Debra Lee Campo

Master's Theses, Dissertations, Graduate Research and Major Papers Overview

Cardiovascular disease is the number one killer of women in the U.S. While public health campaigns have made great progress improving women's awareness of heart disease as the leading cause of death, most women do not understand the magnitude of cardiovascular risks. Some women are not aware that heart disease is the greatest threat to their health and to the health of their loved ones (Thanavaro, Moore, Anthony, Narsavage, & Delicath, 2006). Women continue to have longer delays in seeking medical treatment and have a higher mortality/morbidity rate when compared to men. Disparities also continue to persist among racial/ethnic and …

Napping To Reduce Sleepiness, Fatigue And Improve Reasoning For Nursing Shift Workers, Cheryl Beth Bourdony

Master's Theses, Dissertations, Graduate Research and Major Papers Overview

Shift work outside the normal working hours of 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. is a requirement in acute and chronic care facilities that provide nursing care on a 24-hour basis. Slightly more than 30% of full-time health care workers are shift workers. Shift work sleep disorder, defined as a primary complaint of insomnia and excessive sleepiness, has been diagnosed in almost ten % of shift workers. The excessive sleepiness and fatigue nursing shift workers experience often lead to performance impairment and diminished attentiveness that may affect job productivity and patient safety. Napping is the most natural countermeasure against sleepiness. This …

Curriculum Development And Pilot Program Of Preconception Planning For Latinas, Esperanza Gutierrez

Master's Theses, Dissertations, Graduate Research and Major Papers Overview

Preconception planning is gaining popularity and is a promising method of improving pregnancy outcomes. The need to incorporate this kind of education in various settings is also identified in the literature. According to the March of Dimes, between 2004-2006 Hispanics had one of the highest preterm birth rate of 12.1% in the U.S. and 13.6o/o in RI (March of Dimes, 2009). In addition, during the same years RI statistics on low birth weight infants among Hispanics were 8.3% and 6.9% in the U.S. Healthy People 2010 suggested that this rate should be no more than 5% of live births. A …

Faith Community Nursing Program Development Project, Sharon Galloway

Master's Theses, Dissertations, Graduate Research and Major Papers Overview

Faith community nursing is a model of nursing care that focuses on health promotion and disease prevention and the intentional care of the spirit within the context of a faith community's values, beliefs, and practices. The purpose of this program development project was to develop and identify an implementation plan for a faith community nursing program at the Church of The Apostles in Coventry, Rhode Island. A needs assessment was completed in order to determine the health status and risk factors of the congregants, identify diversity in needs within the congregation and to identify perceived needs and perceived barriers in …