Nursing Commons^™

Dnp Final Report: Pressure Injury Prevention Patient Initiative (Pippi), Melissa A. De Los Santos

DNP Final Reports

Background: Pressure injuries have been known to affect approximately 2.5 million patients each year, with roughly 60,000 patients dying as a direct result of a pressure injury. Associate healthcare costs are between $9.1-$11.6 billion per year in the United States. The cost of individual patient care was estimated between $20,900 and $151,700 per pressure injury. During the last three years, pressure injury prevalence has risen within the local long-term care organization. Pressure injury prevention interventions have been developed to improve healthcare outcomes, cut costs, and increase revenue for long-term care organizations.

Purpose: Deliver evidence-based educational intervention that incorporates strategies for …

Dnp Final Report: Sedation Protocol Compliance For Improved Outcomes In Intensive Care, Sonya M. Grigsby

DNP Final Reports

Background: Current evidence-based practice guidelines show that lighter sedation reduces mechanical ventilator days (MVD) and intensive care (ICU) length of stay (LOS). Guidelines (2018) for the management of pain, agitation, delirium, immobility, and sleep were released to direct appropriate high-quality care to achieve positive outcomes. However, studies demonstrated there were barriers to compliance of these guidelines.

Objective: To improve compliance with an existing evidence-based sedation protocol in an intensive care, and, thereby, improve patient outcomes (MVD and ICU LOS).

Methods: The three-month quality improvement (QI) project evaluated processes leading to compliance with the guideline. First, nurses were surveyed to determine …

Dnp Final Project: Implementing Teamstepps Training: Using Evidence To Impact Teamwork In An Acute Care Hospital, Nana Baah Adjei

DNP Final Reports

Background: Medical errors are the third leading cause of death in the United States. Patient morbidity and mortality will decrease when institutional efforts result in the implementation of action plans which reduce medical errors. Teamwork, education, and training through structured initiatives are the most effective mechanism to improve patient safety. Purpose: The project aims to impact the perception of communication among newly hired medical surgical nursing and support staff. The acute care hospital is a 200-bed tertiary care hospital. Intervention: The intervention consists of the registered nurses and support staff participating in an innovative, six-hour, interactive TeamSTEPPS fundamentals course. Results: …

Dnp Final Report: The Flipped Classroom: An Evidence-Based, Course Redesign To Increase Retention Rates In A Vocational Nursing Program, Jennifer P. Hauger

DNP Final Reports

Over the past three decades, Vocational Nursing has been taught using a conventional didactic method that is content heavy and lecture focused. Despite having a group of highly qualified professors and an excellent student pass rates on the National board examinations, student retention in a Vocational Nursing Program in central Texas remains below the National benchmark. With a unique student demographic that is identified as non-traditional (over 21, full-time working adults, English Second Language and single parents), we embarked upon the redesign of a Medical-Surgical Nursing course using the flipped pedagogical framework to increase retention rates. Therefore, in 2019 we …

Dnp Final Report: Diabetic Foot Care In Hispanic Females With Type Ii Diabetes: An Evidence-Based Quality Improvement Initiative, Barbara Chapman

DNP Final Reports

Diabetes affects 30.5 million people in the United States at an annual cost of approximately 245 billion dollars. 176 billion dollars are spent on debilitating often life threatening complications affecting the heart, kidney, eye, and nervous system. Over 69 billion dollars are spent on reduced workforce productivity. Approximately 9.9% of the United States population has diabetes, the diabetic population in Texas is 11.4% and in Collin County population is 10.2%. Hispanic populations are at a higher risk of developing diabetes at approximately 12.2% nationally.

Peripheral neuropathy commonly occurs in the lower extremities of diabetic patients increasing risks of foot complications …

Dnp Final Report: Building A Comprehensive Guideline To Improve The Treatment Of Infants With Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome: An Evidence-Based Innovation Project, Cyndi B. Kelley

DNP Final Reports

Background: The incidence of Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) has increased nationally; however, only 55% of NICUs indicated having a written NAS treatment plan as recommended by the American Association of Pediatrics. Current practice included symptom management via morphine only; however, non-pharmacological interventions were not routinely delivered.

Purpose: The purpose of this project was to standardize and improve the care provided to patients with NAS.

Methods: A systematic search was conducted using keywords and subject headings from the PICOT question. Retrieved synthesized evidence suggested that adding breastfeeding and rooming-in as first-line treatment options reduced the length of hospital stay and medication …

Improving Caregiver Health Literacy Of Pediatric Febrile Illness: A Patient Care Initiative, Rebecca T. Shipley

DNP Final Reports

Background: Pediatric fever, though typically harmless and incredibly common, can cause substantial fear and anxiety for caregivers unfamiliar with how to manage or treat this condition at home. Studies evaluating pediatric emergency department (ED) rates have repeatedly found fever to be a leading reason for clinical evaluation. Local EDs record percentages as high as 40% of pediatric patients seek evaluation primarily for fever. Purpose: Provide educational resources for high-risk populations to reference at home regarding fever so that avoidable ED visits decreased and caregiver knowledge of fever improved. Methods: An educational program was implemented at a pediatric primary care clinic …

Dnp Final Report: Changing Admission Criteria In A Vocational Nursing Program To Decrease Attrition, Gabrielle O. Davis

DNP Final Reports

By the year 2030 Texas will have a shortage of 33,500 Licensed Vocational Nurses (LVN). The LVN is responsible for providing safe, compassionate and focused nursing care to assigned patients with predictable health care needs. Most LVNS work in settings caring for our ever increasing and aged population. To combat the coming shortage VN programs need to graduate safe, competent, and compassionate nurses, but programs across the state are experiencing high student attrition rates. Admission criteria is a common method to determine student success in nursing programs. This evidence-based practice improvement project synthesized evidence and integrated best practices along with …

The Influence Of End Of Life Education On Stress, Anxiety, And Attitude Of The Healthcare Profession Student, Chiquesha Davis

DNP Final Reports

Providing comfort and support to the dying patient is a significant part of the dying process. When soothing a patient, who is dying, the goal is to prevent or relieve suffering as much as possible. Respecting the patient's health and quality of life goals and decisions is essential. Healthcare profession students can experience multiple levels of anxiety, stress, and a negative attitude while taking care of the dying patient. The implementation of a successful intervention is at the cornerstone of helping reduce stress, anxiety, and attitude change in healthcare profession students. The application can also have a positive impact on …