Nursing Commons^™

Implementation Of Provider-Completed Asthma Action Plans In A School Setting, Madison G. Branham, Amanda Harper

Graduate Publications and Other Selected Works - Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

This evidence-based practice project aimed to implement and evaluate the use of a provider-completed asthma action plan (PCAAP) in a school-based setting by evaluating the number of school absences and unscheduled healthcare visits related to asthma exacerbations. This project was implemented in a middle school setting over a three-month period, using the Iowa Model to guide intervention. Data were collected via chart review to compare the number of absences and unscheduled asthma-related healthcare visits from the current academic year to the same time in the previous year. Although the number of unscheduled asthma-related healthcare visits was not impacted, data show …

Assessing Preinjury Frailty In The Elderly Hip Fracture Patient To Promote Palliative Care Referral In Those At Risk For High Morbidity And Mortality, Alicia N. Walker, Jewyl Gibson, Sara Dunham

Graduate Publications and Other Selected Works - Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

The objective of this project is to assess preinjury frailty in hip fracture patients aged 65 and older as a predictor for postsurgical morbidity and mortality, prompting early referral to palliative care services in patients deemed high-risk for postoperative complications. Including palliative care in the multidisciplinary care of the high-risk patient has been shown to improve quality of life, increase patient and caregiver satisfaction, and reduce healthcare costs. The design is a quality improvement initiative. The setting is an academic medical center, serving as the region’s Level 1 Trauma Center. There is no current process for measuring frailty as a …

The Practice Environment For Nurse Anesthetists In Tennessee, Taylor Cathey, Jessica Hobbs, Matthew Owen, Alexis Varney, James Alberding, Tausha Alexander

Graduate Publications and Other Selected Works - Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

Potential consequences of anesthesia provider shortages may include a reduction in health care access, poor patient outcomes, and increased costs to government funded agencies. Current leaders in the anesthesia profession need to establish a work environment that is embracing, supportive, and safe so that certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNA) can remain healthy and productive. The purpose of this Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) scholarly project was to provide an overview of the current CRNA practice environment in Tennessee and advocate for policies to promote CRNA retention and enhance patient access to care. The overarching goal included gathering sufficient evidence regarding …

Addressing Adolescent Sexual Health Through An Educational Toolkit For Providers In Rural Alaska, Anna M. Martin, Tracy L. Brewer, Hannah E. Warren

Graduate Publications and Other Selected Works - Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

Introduction. Adequately addressing an adolescent’s sexual health is essential during the child’s development yet, 33% of adolescents have health visits with no mention of sexual health. On average, primary care providers spend approximately thirty-six seconds discussing sexual health topics with adolescents despite recommendations for comprehensive education. Alaska Native youth face significant disparities regarding sexual and reproductive health care. Implementation and evaluation of a comprehensive educational toolkit regarding various sexual health topics for rural healthcare providers in Alaska revealed positive outcomes in discussing sexual health with an adolescent.

Methods. Larrabee's Model for Evidence-based Practice Change guided the development, implementation, and …

Reducing Occupational Stress And Improving Coping Strategies Among Nursing Home Nurses: Implementation Of The Breathe Web-Based Program., Nicole N. Nde, Allyson Neal

Graduate Publications and Other Selected Works - Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

Objective: The purpose of this quality improvement evidence-based project is to determine the effect of a web-based stress management program called BREATHE on reducing occupational stress and improving coping strategies. This evidence-based web-based program was made available to nurses in a nursing home (NH) in the Southeastern United States who have not participated in any stress management program before.

Method: The project provided a web-based stress management educational program to the participants. The program consists of six modules that give nurses an in-depth understanding of stress, how to manage it, and develop coping strategies. The project was carried out in …

Implementing A Pressure Ulcer Bundle, Amy D. Johnson, Pamela Hardesty, Janice Zimmer, Patricia Moore

Graduate Publications and Other Selected Works - Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

Background: A quality improvement DNP project in a rural southern hospital was implemented to improve hospital-acquired pressure ulcers by implementing an evidence-based pressure ulcer prevention policy and education. Framework: The Evidence-Based Practice framework utilized in the project's development, implementation, and evaluation was the John Hopkins Evidence-based Practice Model. Local Problem: The hospital had no pressure ulcer bundle in place. Design: Quality improvement project utilizing the plan-do-study-act cycle. Methods: An educational presentation on pressure ulcers and the steps to implement a bundle. A pre-and post-test using Pieper's Pressure Ulcer Knowledge Test, modified from Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) website. …

Effectiveness Of End-Of-Life Strategies To Improve Health Outcomes And Reduce Disparities In Rural Appalachia: An Analytic Codebook, Radion Svynarenko, Guoping Huang, Theresa L. Profant, Lisa C. Lindley

Faculty Publications and Other Works -- Nursing

Appalachia is one of the most medically underserved areas in the nation. The region has provider shortages and limited healthcare infrastructure. Children and adolescents in this area are in poor health and do not receive the needed quality care. Implementation of section 2302 of the 2010 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) enabled children enrolled in Medicaid/Children's Health Insurance Program with a terminal illness to use hospice care while continuing treatment for their terminal illness. In addition to being more comprehensive than standard hospice care, this relatively new type of care is more culturally congruent with the end-of-life values …

Instituting An Educational Module To Improve Knowledge Of Local Anesthetic Systemic Toxicity Among Anesthesia Providers, Alisha Marie Linehan, Chad Andrew Mcclure, Steven Taylor Moon, Shukhratilla Ibragimov Shamshitdinov, Julie Newton Bonom, Jason Michael Buehler

Graduate Publications and Other Selected Works - Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

Local anesthetic use in the perioperative period is increasing in the United States as healthcare providers seek alternatives to opioid-based pain management. While increased use of local anesthetics has many benefits, their use also increases the risk of Local Anesthetic Systemic Toxicity (LAST), which is a serious and potentially life-threatening complication. A search of the literature indicates there is a considerable gap in knowledge of LAST among healthcare providers, including Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) and anesthesia residents. This knowledge gap is combined with a lack of standardized approaches to identifying and treating this complication. Identifying and treating LAST is …