Nursing Commons^™

Raising Awareness About Type 2 Diabetes In Adolescents Through Theatre: A Quasi-Experimental Pretest-Posttest Study, Margaret Curry

Wisdom & Compassion: The LUSON Journal

Education for preventing type 2 diabetes in adolescents should be a high priority among school officials and healthcare providers. The purpose of this research study was to educate adolescents on type 2 diabetes and to increase awareness about this disease. The Health Promotion Model developed by Nola Pender was used as the theoretical framework for this study. A quasi-experimental before-after design was used. The seventh and eighth-grade students enrolled in physical education classes at a local school were recruited. Of the 57 students recruited, 47 completed the study. A diabetes education program geared towards kindergarten through eighth grade was used. …

Nurse Graduates’ Experiences With Pain Science – A Qualitative Study, Rachel Bee, Cynthia Goodrich

Wisdom & Compassion: The LUSON Journal

Background: While the nursing profession has made great strides in pain management over the last 20 years, patients often report being under-assessed and undertreated for pain.

Purpose: The study purpose was to understand the lived experiences of practicing nurses who had completed a baccalaureate-level pain management course during their undergraduate training. The study aims included understanding how pain management skills were implemented in the clinical arena, determining barriers to implementing pain management skills, and identifying opportunities to improve the patient experience regarding pain management.

Design: The researchers implemented a qualitative methodology with a phenomenological design. Data collection consisted of semi-structured …

Framing Medical Mission Trip: Decisions With The Code Of Ethics For Nurses, Kelly Arraf

Wisdom & Compassion: The LUSON Journal

student reflection

Exploring The Impact Of Trauma Informed Care In Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Practice: A Holistic Approach To Healing, Sharon O. Obide

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This scholarly work seeks to establish the significance of Trauma-Informed Care (TIC) in the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) practice to improve mental health results. Hence, TIC changes the paradigm from “What’s wrong with you?” to “What happened to you?” and recognizes the existence of trauma. This paper discusses how TIC can enhance patient communication, decrease patients’ Retraumatization, and enhance rapport with clinicians, resulting in improved outcomes for patients. The outlined project employs a quasi-experimental design and targets 50 PMHNPs in the University of Maryland Medical Center. The expected outcome involves the reduction of the symptoms of PTSD, enhanced …

Nurses’ Ability To Provide Diabetes Education In A Hospital Setting, Nicole Ancrum

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Diabetes is a destructive health problem that affects millions of people throughout the United States. Diabetes rates are drastically increasing, and diabetic adults have a higher risk of excessive hospitalization and readmission. One in every four or five hospitalized adult patients has diabetes. Hospitals nationwide are saddled with the responsibility of assessing the need for and supplying diabetic education. Registered nurses’ perception, awareness, and utilization of diabetes education are essential to patients’ ability and willingness to perform diabetes self-management interventions effectively. Meeting inpatient diabetes educational needs requires persistent, innovative strategies appropriate for available resources and staffing models. Nurses play a …

High-Fidelity Simulation And The Development Of Self-Confidence In Clinical Decision Making When Delivering Patient Care, Deborah Marie Posey

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The competition for available clinical practice sites has increased the need for alternative measures to provide the means for nursing students to develop self-confidence in clinical decision making when providing patient care. The purpose of this one-group, pretest-posttest correlational study was to determine fourth semester associate-degree-seeking nursing students’ perceived levels of self-confidence and anxiety with clinical decision making when delivering patient care after completing a standardized high-fidelity simulation (HFS) following the pandemic. Kolb’s experiential learning theory provided the theoretical framework for this study explaining the connection between experiential learning and HFS. The Nursing Anxiety and Self-Confidence with Clinical Decision Making …

Reduction Of Inpatient Falls In The Treatment Of Patients With Behavioral And Psychological Symptoms Of Dementia (Bpsd), April Davis

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Aim: To identify if utilization of non-pharmacological interventions versus pharmacological interventions can promote the reduction of falls and potential injuries in patients with BPSD on an inpatient geriatric psychiatric unit, ultimately improving patient-centered treatment courses, outcomes, and improved QOL. Background: Falls in the elderly population have a significant impact on the patient and the health care system. Even though health care organizations have been dedicated to developing and implementing strategies to reduce and prevent patient falls, they remain unequivocally the leading cause of adverse events that occur during an acute hospitalization, causing significant injury, disability, morbidity, mortality, and financial burden …

Educating Providers On The Utility Of Pharmacogenomic Testing, Angela L. Holloman

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Pharmacogenomic testing is the use of an individual’s genotype to help determine their response to certain medications metabolized by the cytochrome P450 enzyme family. This information can help to prevent adverse drug effects and guide medication selection and dosing. This testing is becoming more widely utilized and more commonly available. It is now available as a direct-to-consumer test. Many providers lack the necessary education in pharmacogenomics to utilize this technology or discuss it with their patients. Educational interventions for providers are effective at improving provider knowledge and confidence regarding pharmacogenomic testing. This practice project sought to educate providers at a …

The Effects Of High-Fidelity Bereavement Simulation On Perinatal Nurse Attitude And Comfort With Providing Bereavement Care For Patients Experiencing Perinatal Loss, Victoria Jule Johnson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Perinatal loss is a global phenomenon that requires holistic and individualized care of patients. Nurses are responsible for providing most bereavement care after the loss of a pregnancy or infant; however, nurses commonly experience a lack of education and exposure to ways to promote high-quality bereavement care, leading to nurse discomfort providing perinatal bereavement care. The purpose of the study is to examine if high-fidelity perinatal bereavement simulation is an effective method to increase nurse comfort and improve nurse attitudes toward providing perinatal bereavement care. Data was collected using a quantitative quasi-experimental one-group pretest-posttest research design using a sample of …

The Effectiveness Of An Interdisciplinary Care Team: An Integrative Review, Lindsey Marie Ellingford

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

As health care is ever growing and changing, demands for interdisciplinary care team collaboration are crucial for collective competence and team performance across settings. In healthcare facilities across the county, interdisciplinary care teams are made up of multiple disciplines. The following is an integrative review with a purpose to determine if the existing literature supports the implementation of an interdisciplinary care team in the healthcare environment. After completion of this integrative review, the author concluded there should be a standardized tool in the healthcare system to guide the creation and implementation of an interdisciplinary care team. The Jerry Falwell Library …

Hyperlipidemia: Enhancing Patient Education And Clinical Support To Improve Self-Efficacy, Kelly L. Caniglia

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Hyperlipidemia is a chronic, progressive disorder routinely encountered in primary care practice. In the United States, coronary artery disease and cerebrovascular disease are the leading causes of death. Hyperlipidemia is a modifiable risk factor for the development of coronary artery disease, cerebrovascular disease, and peripheral artery disease. However, many individuals fail to recognize the severity of the health consequences associated with hyperlipidemia. Most often, hyperlipidemia is the direct result of unhealthy lifestyle behaviors. Comprehensive care falls short in primary care settings, often due to non-compliance with necessary lifestyle behavior changes. Primary care patients' lack of knowledge and awareness signals a …

Trauma-Informed Care Education Program To Increase Provider Confidence In Caring For Patients With Trauma, Lillian Priante

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This scholarly project addressed the critical need for education on trauma-informed care and birth trauma among birth center providers and staff. The project aimed to enhance the knowledge and skills of birth center professionals to better support birthing individuals who have experienced trauma, ensuring a more compassionate and effective care environment. A comprehensive educational program was administered to birth center midwives and staff exploring the principles of trauma-informed care, the psychological and physiological impacts of birth trauma, and evidence-based strategies for mitigating these effects. The curriculum of trauma-informed care included interactive training sessions using the City Birth Trauma Scale tool …

Paths Initiative: Identifying Potential Sex Trafficking Victims In The Emergency Department Setting, Kayla Mabery

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The Physical signs, Appearance, Talk and communication, History and background, and Support and resources (PATHS) education initiative has proven to be a valuable tool in enhancing the identification and support of sex trafficking victims in healthcare settings, particularly in emergency departments. The training led to significant improvements in the participants' knowledge, confidence, and practical application of skills necessary to recognize potential victims. Despite the limitations of limited participant numbers and lack of face-to-face training, the initiative's positive impact underscores the need for continued efforts in this area. By incorporating the PATHS tool into regular professional development programs and standard operating …

Increasing Self-Efficacy Of Nurse Practitioner Preceptors In Primary Care By Using The One-Minute Preceptor Model, Amy J. Lancaster

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Nurse practitioners represent the fastest growing profession in the United States, with 385,000 practitioners currently licensed. Over 70% of these licensed practitioners are serving in primary care settings. As the growth of this workforce continues, so does the need for nurse practitioner preceptors. The preceptor plays an essential role in championing clinical competencies for nurse practitioner students. This project was implemented in a primary care setting with an aim to improve the self-efficacy of nurse practitioner preceptors by using the One-Minute Preceptor teaching method to improve the practicum experience for both the preceptor and the nurse practitioner student. The One-Minute …

Improved Clinical Outcomes Due To Gfr-Based Clinical Interventions For The Prevention And Treatment Of Renal Disease As It Relates To The Veteran Population Managed By A Patient-Aligned Care Team, Sidneca Evangella Hazward

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study was to understand if the use of eGFR (CKD-EPI 2021) in the absence of race modification influenced early detection of renal disease for veterans managed by patient-aligned care teams. A retrospective cohort study design was used, analyzing patient data from the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC). The study included veterans with available serum creatinine, albumin, eGFR, CKD-EPI 2021, etc. measurements and demographic data. The study employed a systematic data review of electronic medical records from 2019 to 2024 and utilized electronic data collection through a computerized patient record system (CPRS) data collection system. …

Evaluating The Impact Of The Nurse-Patient Relationship: An Integrative Review, Kathryn H. Creasey

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Home care agencies are rated by patients anonymously through surveys after patients’ care episodes. The star ratings on the surveys have a direct impact on the home care agency and all of the staff working there. The star rating affects insurance companies’ reimbursement, which ultimately impacts business revenue, while the goal is to provide quality patient care. In the home care setting, nurses and patients desire continuity of care and the building of trust for competent, safe, and quality care. The literature review explored the importance of fostering the nurse-patient relationship and its impact on patient satisfaction and quality. Utilizing …

Determining The Effectiveness Of A Nurse-Led Heart Failure Education Program In Reducing 30-Day Hospital Heart Failure Readmissions, Amy Suzanne Cosby

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this project was to determine if a nurse-led heart failure (HF) education program would reduce overall 30-day hospital readmissions related to. Affecting millions of adults in the United States, HF is a growing health epidemic as well as an economic burden to healthcare systems. The population for this project included patients admitted with a diagnosis of acute or chronic HF based on the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD-10) codes. An electronic health record intervention indicated that when a healthcare provider diagnosed a patient with any HF ICD-10 code, the nurse-led HF education …

Leveraging Simulation For Excellence, Alecia Kimberly Liburd

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This project aims to identify and address the factors hindering the effective utilization of the simulation lab at Grady Memorial Hospital. Despite the simulation lab’s potential to enhance clinical skills and decision-making abilities through realistic medical scenarios, it remains underutilized. This evaluation project was a pretest and posttest design to assess the impact of educational interventions. Educational workshops, email communications, and awareness campaigns were the primary methods used to increase the understanding and utilization of the simulation lab.

Data analysis involved descriptive and thematic analyses of lab usage metrics and pre- and posttest responses. The findings indicate that simulation-based learning …

Theory Informed Audit And Feedback To Decrease Medication Administration Errors, Victoria Martin

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Medication administration errors remain a serious and preventable cause of morbidity and mortality in health care. Technology at the point of care is often bypassed in the medication administration process despite the intention to prevent adverse drug events through the addition of a layer of cross-checks and alerts. The purpose of this project was to understand if human behavior could be influenced using effective audit and feedback, data transparency, and communication tactics to decrease administration-related errors, such as wrong patient, wrong medication, wrong dose, and adverse drug events, with the use of barcode medication administration (BCMA) in the emergency department. …

Improving Nursing Retention Through Mentorship In A Long-Term Care Facility: An Educational Toolkit, Adriane Nichole Anthony-Cupil

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

A major nursing shortage in the healthcare industry is made worse by high turnover rates. Healthcare organizations have used mentoring programs that have been found to enhance job satisfaction, thus improving nurse retention. To address this challenge, this study examined the use of a mentorship program supplemented by an educational toolkit that is specially made to improve nurse retention in long-term care facilities. By offering an organized learning path with resources that address support, effective communication, and cultural competency, the educational toolkit has the potential to enhance mentorship. The objective of this initiative was to equip registered nurses with the …

Nursing Faculty Exposure To Student Incivility And Interventions In Place To Address: A Case Study, Kimberly Lowe

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore nursing faculty exposure to nursing student incivility at a nursing college in the Mid-Atlantic region. Bandura's social learning theory provided this study’s theoretical framework. The continuum of workplace aggression and conceptual model fostering incivility in nursing education also guided this study. This study answered the following central research question: How have nursing faculty been exposed to incivility by nursing students? Data were collected for this study through one-on-one interviews with nursing faculty exposed to nursing student incivility and a focus group with the same nursing faculty to discuss the current …

Parkinson’S Disease: Traditional And Emerging Approaches To Therapy, Emily Vernon

The Kabod

Honors Petition submitted to NURS 306: Pharmacology.II.

Natural Remedy Use During Pregnancy, Labor, And Breastfeeding, Christine Lyford

The Kabod

Honors Petition submitted to NURS 306: Pharmacology.

To Heal A Mind: A Functional Approach To The Treatment Of Major Depressive Disorder, Gillian Chambers

The Kabod

Honors Petition submitted to NURS 306: Pharmacology II.

Standardizing Critical Skills And Competency Validation To Promote Self-Efficacy Among Rapid Response Nurses, Kelli Dail Baker

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Competency validation is a key component of supporting nurses with necessary skills to provide care for their patients. However, many healthcare organizations do not have a standardized process for determining which skills are evaluated and the method by which evaluation occurs. To address competency validation among rapid response nurses (RRNs), this evidence-based practice project was proposed to increase self-efficacy. This project involved a thorough data review of all rapid response skills, categorizing all interventions based on quantity and acuity, and holding a hands-on educational fair for a set of standardized skills. A quasi-experimental design was used to collect data pre- …

Optimizing Care Delivery: Determining The Impact Of A Mobile Interpreter App On Patient Satisfaction, Leslie M. Bright

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Introduction: Patients with limited English proficiency (LEP) experience increased health disparities including poorer health outcomes, lack of access to quality healthcare services, and decreased patient satisfaction related to cultural and language barriers.

Purpose/Significance: The purpose of this project was to determine the impact of a technology-based mobile app used for medical interpreter services on patient satisfaction in patients with LEP during urgent care visits.

Methods: The project design consisted of a mobile interpreter app used for medical translation services during urgent care visits. Pretest and posttest patient satisfaction questionnaires were administered before and after the mobile app use to determine …

Pediatric Respiratory Assessment Measurement Tool And The Benefits Of Utilizing It: An Integrated Review, Amy Michelle Randolph

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Asthma is a leading cause of hospitalizations of pediatric patients. The absence of comprehensive screening in the emergency department setting can impact the care of the patient who presents in respiratory distress. This integrated review focused on the benefits of the utilization of the Pediatric Respiratory Assessment Measurement tool. The methods utilized to collect evidence included a web-based search that led to a review of multiple articles. The results were analyzed using MeInky’s Hierarchical Levels of Evidence and organized into a literature matrix. The review ultimately supported the hypothesis that the PRAM tool is an effective instrument compared to other …

An Integrative Review: Improving Copd Patient Outcomes Using The Teach-Back Method, Bichundo Lambert

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a common clinical health concern that causes airflow resistance to the lungs and persistent respiratory symptoms, which can impact quality of life for the COPD patient. The condition is common to adults over 40 years of age. It is estimated that 210 million people worldwide suffer from the disease, and its incidence is on the rise. In United States, COPD affects 16 million people and costs the government $24 billion annually. The researchers predicts that COPD will be the third-leading course of mortality by 2030 worldwide. The objective of this integrative review was to …

Exploring Prelicensure Bsn Students' Knowledge Of Mindfulness Meditation Using A Smartphone App To Manage Stress And Promote Resilience: A Qualitative Single Case Study, Beth A. Kelley

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative single case study was to explore pre-licensure Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) students' knowledge of mindfulness meditation (MM) using a smartphone app (SMA) to manage stress and promote resilience. Guiding this study was the transactional model of stress, adaptation, and coping by Lazarus and Folkman (1984) and the zone of proximal development (ZPD) educational theory by Vygotsky. The study asked the following questions: What was pre-licensure Bachelor of Science of Nursing (BSN) students’ knowledge of mindfulness meditation (MM) using a smartphone app (SMA) to manage stress and promote resilience? What had the prelicensure BSN …

Educating Nurses On The Components Of A Healthy Work Environment, Kathryn L. Scott

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

It is essential to look at the entire picture to ensure patient care is offered in the highest quality manner possible. One must look at patient satisfaction, quality outcomes, and job satisfaction experienced by the nursing staff providing care to accomplish this goal. Research has shown that nurse burnout has increased exponentially as of late. Some blame the COVID-19 pandemic; others look at the generation of nurses graduating from nursing school and starting in the field, comparing the baby boomer nurse to the Gen Z nurse. Many factors are involved, and with the recent addition of paying particular attention to …