Nursing Commons^™

A Study Of Emergency Room Utilization Related To Poorly Controlled Asthma In Pediatrics, Leistey T. Wortman

Nursing Theses and Capstone Projects

Asthma is a disease of the respiratory system, which causes swelling and narrowing of the airways. Asthma is commonly seen in children. It is the leading cause of hospital stays and school absences. Hospitalization accounts for the single largest portion of the direct health care costs for asthma, estimated at nearly $18 billion a year (Everage, et al, 2010). Children with asthma may be able to breathe normally most of the time but when they encounter a substance that can cause problems (a "trigger"); an asthma attack (exacerbation) can occur (PubMed Health, 2011). The purpose of this study is to …

Neurological Outcomes In Induced Hypothermic States (Post Cardiac Arrest Resuscitation), Shonna Lee Bible

Nursing Theses and Capstone Projects

International studies indicate that induced hypothermia in successful Post Cardiac Arrest Resuscitation improves cerebral perfusion resulting in improved neurological function. Patients undergoing a neurological exam prior to induction of hypothermia may indicate potential mortality prognosis in this population. Literature Review indicated the use of the Glasgow-Pittsburg Cerebral Performance Categories for evaluation of neurological status in this population, but most institutions seem to utilize Glasgow Coma Scoring (GCS) in all patient populations for neurological examination. The purpose of this study was to determine if a neurological evaluation prior to and during the Induced Hypothermia state would affect the mortality outcomes in …

Senior Nursing Students' Perception Of Clinical Teacher Behavior, Karen Baker

Nursing Theses and Capstone Projects

Clinical experience is the most important component of nursing education (Gaberson and Oermann, 2007; Walker, 2005). As part of the clinical education environment, the teaching behaviors of nursing faculty have considerable potential to influence students' learning. To produce effective learning by students, nurse educators have a responsibility to instruct students so that learning is optimal. The purpose of this study was to explore students' perception of clinical teaching behaviors of nursing faculty. The study uncovers new knowledge about clinical teaching behaviors based on the student's perceptions during their own clinical experiences. A non-experimental survey, descriptive exploratory design was used. A …

The Effect Of Medium Fidelity Simulation On Perceived Competence Level Of Novice Nursing Students, Tracy D. Arnold

Nursing Theses and Capstone Projects

This Capstone Project examined the effect of medium fidelity simulation on perceived competence level of novice nursing students. A convenience sample of 56 second-year associate degree nursing students enrolled in an Adult Medical-Surgical II nursing course and experiential laboratory course participated in this project. Students were divided into two separate groups based on course schedules: 27 students participated in the traditional laboratory experience, and 29 students participated in the instructor guided Mock Code simulation-based learning experience. Descriptive statistics were used to determine the overall mean of all student responses to each question on an altered version of the Perceived Competence …

Smoking And Tobacco Cessation Education, Leslie D. Bolin

Nursing Theses and Capstone Projects

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of a brief computer-based learning module on nurses' self-efficacy regarding tobacco cessation counseling. Twelve registered nurses practicing in an acute care hospital system participated in the one-group pretest-posttest study. At registration, participants completed a demographical tool and the Modified "5 A's" Training Program Survey. The Modified "5 A's" Training Program Survey was completed again immediately after the training program. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the demographic data. Statistical analysis did not reveal significant changes in the dependent variables for self-efficacy for smoking cessation counseling. Results of this study support …

Predicting Nclex-Rn Success Utilizing Standardized Testing, Michelle Jolly Dunn

Nursing Theses and Capstone Projects

The purpose of this quantitative study was to determine if Assessment Technologies Institute's (ATI) comprehensive predictor accurately predicts student results on the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) for graduates of an Associate Degree nurse program at a community college in the Northwestern part of North Carolina. The study was also used to determine the feasibility of the School of Nursing (SON) continuing to purchase the ATI standardized testing products for student use. This study evaluated the comprehensive predictor scores and first time pass/fail rates for graduates (N=285) from 2007 to 2011. All data was analyzed using IBM …

Staff Nurse Perception Of Leadership Styles Among Nurse Managers, Robert A. Jaffe

Nursing Theses and Capstone Projects

This project examined if transformational nurse managers were perceived by their nursing staff as more effective leaders than transactional or passive/avoidant leaders using the Transformational Theory of Leadership through administration of the Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire (Form 5X) to nurse unit managers and staff nurses. 80 staff nurses and seven unit nurse managers participated in the study. Unit nurse managers completed the MLQ (Form 5X) about themselves and nursing staff completed the MLQ (Form 5X) about their unit nurse manager. Using descriptive statistics unit nurse manager results were compared with nursing staff results. The goal was for unit nurse managers to …

Registered Nurses' Perception Of Hispanic Women's Use, Decline And Preference Of Pain Control During Childbirth, Sarah R. Conte

Nursing Theses and Capstone Projects

The purpose of this descriptive study was to identify registered nurses' perceptions of why Hispanic women use or decline pain control during the childbirth process and to identify preferences of pain control. A convenience sample of registered nurses (N = 30) from a large healthcare system in North Carolina was utilized. An 11-item questionnaire using a Likert scale was used. (Appendix A). The questionnaire instrument was developed specifically for this study, and was validated by Julie Stembridge, certified nurse mid- wife, an experienced mid-level provider in obstetrical care. (Appendix B) Demographic data was collected to provide a basis for variations …

Preoperative Education: How Effective Teaching Impacts Knowledge With The Surgical Patient, Heidi Grossweiler

Nursing Theses and Capstone Projects

This research study involved questions identifying the perception of nursing staff related to preoperative teaching. Does initiating teaching, built through relationships and learning during the preadmission visit, have a positive effect on outcomes? The study design included a survey based on the Likert scale, evaluating nurses who conduct preadmission testing visits with patients in the outpatient surgical setting. The evaluation provided information about the correlation of information given between the nurse and the patient, which provides teaching guidelines for educating a patient preoperatively. A cover letter was given to the participant that detailed the purpose of the study and included …

Implications Of Perinatal Safety Nurse Fetal Monitoring Surveillance In The Labor And Delivery Setting, Kellie M. Griggs

Nursing Theses and Capstone Projects

Successful maternal and infant outcomes are the most important safety goals for all obstetrical units providing care for low and high-risk patients. The purpose of this research study was to describe how the implementation of the "Perinatal Safety Nurse" position in the Labor and Delivery setting effected fetal outcomes as well as provided an added level of safety. This study proposed that a direct correlation exists between fetal outcomes and fetal safety initiatives. The research design chosen for this proposal was a retrospective study that utilized a descriptive design. The data compared one hundred deliveries from January 2009 to December …

Transition From Student To Nurse: The Orientation Process, Jessica Ivey

Nursing Theses and Capstone Projects

The transition from a student nurse to a registered nurse poses a difficult transition for some. Benner's model, Novice to Expert, details the transition in stages. It is important for hospital educators and administrators to understand Benner's stages and model their orientation programs appropriately. The Revised Casey-Fink Graduate Nurse Experience Survey was used to query new nurses (≤ 2 years experience) and their preceptors. Results indicate that new nurses feel uncomfortable performing certain skills, communicating with doctors, and lack support after their orientation period. The results support a change in the orientation process and preceptor education.

The Use Of Music To Reduce Test Anxiety In Nursing Students, Janice Kaye Fuson

Nursing Theses and Capstone Projects

The purpose of this study was to determine if listening to music at 60-80 beats per minute prior to testing would decrease anxiety. The following null hypotheses were presented, 1. There is no significant difference between the experimental and control group test STATE-TRAIT Anxiety scores. 2. There is no significant difference between experimental and control group pretest STATE and TEST anxiety score and pulse rates. 3. There is no significant difference between experimental and control group post-test STATE and TEST Anxiety Score and pulse rate (Summers et. al 1990). A previous pilot study was used as a basis for additional …

Emergency Departments And Stemi Care, Are The Guidelines Being Followed?, Dawn W. Hendren

Nursing Theses and Capstone Projects

The purpose of this study examined if an Emergency Department (ED) in a small rural hospital in western North Carolina is compliant with the American College of Cardiology (ACC) and the American Heart Association (AHA) guidelines for obtaining Electrocardiogram's (ECG's), administering fibrinolytics, and performing Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) on patients with chest pain diagnosed with ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI). The national standards for ECGs is less than 10 minutes from arrival to first medical contact (FMC) with triage nurse; for fibrinolytics, less than 30 minutes from arrival to FMC; and for FMC to PCI, less than 90 minutes. The …

Nurse Practitioner Supply And Demand And Development Of A Family Nurse Practitioner Program, Cassaundra Hefner

Nursing Theses and Capstone Projects

The development of a nurse practitioner program in a rural community to meet the supply and demand of Nurse Practitioners (NP) in North Carolina was the focus of this project. With the recent enactment of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) (H.R. 3890), the United States (U.S.) is faced with a predicted primary care provider shortage of 45,400-65,800. According to Miller (2011) The New England Journal of Medicine ranked North Carolina as # 7 in the U.S. as having the biggest challenge of producing enough primary care providers to meet the needs of the newly insured. A detailed …

Critical Care Nursing Interventions And Incidence Of Ventilator Associated Pneumonia In The Trauma Population, Kelli R. Moore

Nursing Theses and Capstone Projects

Ventilator Associated Pneumonia (VAP) in the Trauma Intensive Care Unit is the most commonly encountered infection in the intensive care unit and can be linked to increased morbidity, increased mortality, increased mechanical ventilation days, increased hospital length of stay, and increased cost. A retrospective, correlational study examined the effect of compliance with a ventilator bundle protocol in the Neuro-Trauma Intensive Care Unit on aggregate VAP rates. The study's primary focus was to determine if interventions performed by critical care nurses reduced the incidence of Ventilator Associated Pneumonia (VAP) in the Trauma Intensive Care Unit. The study utilized the retrospective collection …

Evaluating The Effectiveness Of Nurse-Focused Computerized Clinical Decision Support On Urinary Catheter Practice Guidelines, Robin Lynn Neal Lang

Nursing Theses and Capstone Projects

A growing national emphasis has been placed on health information technology (HIT) with robust computerized clinical decision support (CCDS) integration into health care delivery. Catheter-associated urinary tract infection is the most frequent health care-associated infection in the United States and is associated with high cost, high volumes and determined to be preventable through the application of evidence-based guidelines. The purpose of this quasi-experimental, ex post facto study was to evaluate the impact of an evidence-based practice guideline computerized clinical decision support (CCDS) intervention in patients with a urinary catheter device. Correlational relationships were explored among patient and nurse-specific demographics as …

Open Visitation Effects On The Critically Ill Individual, Melissa Mcneilly

Nursing Theses and Capstone Projects

The Intensive Care Unit has been known to be fast paced, stressful, and at times a loud atmosphere. Being a nurse in the ICU can be intimidating and being a patient can be frightening. Critically ill patients require close monitoring and supervision by the nursing staff. Many different aspects of care are crucial to the patients' recovery. Family members are an important part of a critically ill individual's recuperation. Different factors have an effect on the level of stress that a patient may experience while in the hospital. Critical Care Nurses were given a questionnaire to determine the beliefs and …

The Effects Of A High Fidelity Simulation Experience On Students' Knowledge, Starla H. Logan

Nursing Theses and Capstone Projects

The purpose of this study was to identify and examine the effects of high-fidelity simulation on the knowledge of second semester associate degree nursing students at a small community college. The research question addressed was: Does high-fidelity simulation increase the knowledge level of second semester ADN students. Researcher developed pre and post tests were used to measure the effects of the simulation on the students' knowledge level. The data was analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences, Version 19. Findings revealed a significant difference between the scores of the pre-test and the scores of the post-tests. The results of …

Knowledge Of And Attitude Toward Pain Control Among Hospice Nurses In A Southeastern State In The Us, Brandy C. Leroy

Nursing Theses and Capstone Projects

The hospice philosophy is based on pain and symptom management, comfort measures, and enhancement of quality of life at end-of-life (EOL). Pain management at EOL requires advanced knowledge and understanding by the healthcare team caring for these patients. A primary concern for the nurse caring for a patient at EOL is to achieve adequate pain control, provide comfort measures and maximize the patient's quality of life. This descriptive correlation study examined the hospice RN's knowledge and attitude of pain control at end-of-life. Forty-nine nurses employed at a hospice facility in a Southeastern state in the US were surveyed. Findings of …

Registered Nurses' Practices And Perceptions Of Indwelling Urinary Catheters And Number Of Indwelling Urinary Catheter Days In A Hospitalized Population, Janice Martin

Nursing Theses and Capstone Projects

Prevention of catheter associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) is an important component of the delivery of safe quality care. A common theme is emerging from the literature: not all indwelling urinary catheters are appropriate for the duration of the catheterization, which places the patient at an increased risk of CAUTI (Blodgett, 2009). Often, the reasoning used for determining if a patient needs a catheter is not evidence-based. The placement and maintenance of indwelling urinary catheters (IUCs) are in the scope of practice for registered nurses. Nurses should play an integral role in developing strategies to limit the use of catheters …

The Effect Of Education On Evidence-Based Practice And Nurses' Beliefs/Attitudes Toward And Intent To Use Evidence-Based Practice, Steve Mooney

Nursing Theses and Capstone Projects

Purpose: Does tradition or "we have always done it this way" provide for safe, confident care? The care nurses provide should be based on evidence. Many barriers to evidence-based practice (EBP) exist. Nurses' lack of knowledge about EBP and nurses' beliefs/attitudes toward and implementation of EBP need to be addressed. Hospital administration and nursing staff must be aware of current practice guidelines. Awareness of the need for EBP demands a process/action to change practice habits. The rewards of implementing EBP should motivate a transformation leading to adaptation of EBP care. The research question this project proposed to answer was: Will …

Introducing Telehealth To Nursing Students In A Pre-Licensure Program, Dwayne F. More

Nursing Theses and Capstone Projects

Telehealth has emerged as an enhancement to health care, giving clients greater access to care providers than ever before. It has benefited persons living in remote areas who cannot readily access health services and it has helped clients who have chronic disease conditions that require frequent monitoring, saving themselves and hospitals thousands of dollars. Nurses are an important part of delivering telehealth, yet it is not currently being taught in many nursing courses. The purpose of this project is to introduce telehealth into a pre-licensure nursing program via a learning module and to assess the students' understanding of the material …

Increasing Participation In The North Carolina Controlled Substances Reporting System Registration Among Western North Carolina Nurse Practitioners, Elizabeth Scism

Nursing Theses and Capstone Projects

The misuse of prescription drugs for non-medical purposes is a risk to public health and safety. The rates of misuse and diversion of prescription drugs have nearly doubled since the 1990s. This project explored the importance of educating Nurse Practitioners (NPs) in North Carolina (NC) regarding the registration and utilization of the North Carolina Controlled Substances Reporting System (NCCSRS). This reporting system was designed to identify and prevent diversion and to reduce morbidity and mortality of unintentional drug overdoses among primary care patients. A website was developed to showcase the multiple benefits and encourage registration and utilization of the NCCSRS …

What Patient Related Factors Negatively Impact Patient Or Procedure Outcomes In Screening Colonoscopy?, Rebecca Truett

Nursing Theses and Capstone Projects

The success of colonoscopy in early detection and treatment of colonic lesions depends upon adequate bowel preparation. This study addresses factors related to the adequacy of bowel preparation for colonoscopy with a focus on patient factors including variables related to demographics as well as compliance. The hypothesis of the study of factors related to the adequacy of bowel preparation for colonoscopy is that certain patient factors are associated with inadequate colon preparation independent from preparation type or timing of the procedure.

Patient related factors were compared to colonoscopy procedure completion, compliance with colonoscopy preparation instructions and quality of colon preparation. …

An Overview Of Collaborative Work: The Student Experience, Shernett M. Chung

Nursing Theses and Capstone Projects

This study used a descriptive, quantitative design with survey methods to examine the experiences and opinions of 69 graduate and undergraduate nursing students who anonymously responded to questions about group work. The two-fold purpose of the study was to investigate students' negative perception and experience of collaborative learning in a tertiary level academic setting, and determine if students preferred to use the two instruments suggested in the study as regular components of future group assignments. A review of the literature suggested that the presence of slackers, social justice, and the Matthew Effect were known contributors of negative experiences within groups. …

The Use Of Peppermint Oil To Reduce The Nausea Of The Palliative Care And Hospice Patient, Mary Seale

Nursing Theses and Capstone Projects

A descriptive study was initiated to investigate the use of peppermint oil to reduce the nausea of the palliative care and hospice patient. Two local palliative care and hospice programs were used as sites for the study. Patients eighteen and older complaining of nausea were invited to participate in the study. The study was conducted for one and a half months. A total of eight patients consented to participate in the study with a mean age of seventy one years. The Bieri Scale, a visual-numeric analog, was used as the measurement instrument for the patients to evaluate their nausea. Results …

Knowledge And Attitudes Of Nurses Toward Pain Management, Penny Hennessee

Nursing Theses and Capstone Projects

The under-treatment of pain is a problematic area for hospitalized patients nationwide. Pain diminishes a person's quality of life and this issue can be of great concern to healthcare personnel. The purpose of this study was to explore nurses' knowledge and attitudes towards pain and pain management. Fifty nurses from various practice areas participated in the survey that included a demographic data form and the Knowledge and Attitudes Regarding Pain Management questionnaire. A literature review was conducted to review and explore nurses' knowledge and attitudes towards pain and pain management. This provided empirical evidence of nurses' assessment and documentation behaviors, …

Second-Year Associate Degree Nursing (Adn) Self-Efficacy In Relation To Simulation Lab Experiences, Sarah W. Tate

Nursing Theses and Capstone Projects

Second-Year Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) Self-Efficacy in Relation to Simulation Lab Experiences utilized a convenience sample of second-year associate degree nursing students to conduct a survey of their perceptions of an increase in self-efficacy or self confidence in relation to their simulation lab experiences. Albert Bandura's theory of self-efficacy was the theoretical framework for the study. Students who have high levels of self-efficacy have been shown to handle obstacles with less stress, perseverance, and success. In this study, 85% of the students agreed that simulation lab experiences were beneficial in increasing their confidence to perform safely in their preceptorship and …

Barriers To Diabetes Self-Management In African American Women, Christine Little-Gregory

Nursing Theses and Capstone Projects

Diabetes is a global epidemic and is a leading cause of disease-related death. In the United States, diabetes is the most common chronic disease affecting 23.6 million Americans or 7.8% of the population (Centers for Disease Control, 2010a). African American women have the highest prevalence of diabetes. Health promotion in the form of diabetes self-management is the key to reducing this urgent disparity. This descriptive study sought to identify barriers to diabetes self-management and identify relationships associated with self-management in this population. This study was conducted using a convenience sampling of African American women with diabetes who were surveyed to …

Self-Care Agency And Self-Care Practice Of Adult African Americans With Type 2 Diabetes, Martha Eddings

Nursing Theses and Capstone Projects

The purpose of the study was to identify and examine the concepts of self-care agency and self-care practice of African American adults diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, living in the local community. The research questions addressed were: 1) What is the self-care agency of adult African Americans diagnosed with type 2 diabetes? 2) What is the self-care practice of adult African Americans diagnosed with type 2 diabetes? 3) Is there a relationship between self-care agency and self-care practice in adult African Americans diagnosed with type 2 diabetes? The Denyes Self-Care Agency Instrument (DSCAI-90) and the Denyes Self-Care Practice Instrument (DSCPI-90) …