Nursing Commons^™

Description Of Self-Regulation In Health Behavior Change Using Ecological Momentary Assessments, Melissa Anne Brown

Theses and Dissertations

Despite the known associations between unhealthy behaviors and disease, reduced quality of life, and morbidity, individuals struggle to initiate and maintain health behavior change. Self-regulation is a process that includes activities in which people engage to achieve a goal. Poor self-regulation (i.e., inability to set specific, achievable goals; impaired planning skills; limited emotional control) may contribute to unhealthy behaviors across the lifespan. Self-regulation as a concept is inconsistently applied and inadequately understood. The purpose of this secondary analysis of Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) data was to develop an in-depth description of self-regulation, as conceptualized in Ryan’s Integrated Theory of Health …

Critical Illness Survivors’ Perceptions Of Their Recovery: An Interpretive Phenomenological Inquiry, Kelly Calkins

Theses and Dissertations

Surviving critical illness with its physical, cognitive, and psychosocial morbidities is a growing clinical and research challenge and an important public health concern. Currently, there are few interventions for survivors of critical illness after hospital discharge. Potential interventions include rehabilitation services, Intensive Care Unit (ICU) diaries and ICU follow-up clinics, however, most survivors do not have access to these post-hospital interventions.

The purpose of this study is to gain a better understanding of how critical illness survivors experience their recovery, interventions they use, and what they perceive as facilitators and barriers to their recovery. A better understanding of these factors, …

The Impact Of Maternal Diabetes On Fetal And Infant Outcomes: A Secondary Analysis Of Peridata.Net® From 2013 To 2017, Christina Lynn Dzioba

Theses and Dissertations

ABSTRACT

THE IMPACT OF MATERNAL DIABETES ON FETAL AND INFANT OUTCOMES:

A SECONDARY ANALYSIS OF PERIDATA.NET® FROM 2013 TO 2017

Christina Dzioba, MS, ARNP, WHNP-BC, C-EFM

Background: Diabetes is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality for most of the developed world and is known to contribute to adverse maternal, fetal, and infant outcomes. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship of maternal diabetes to fetal and infant outcomes for infants born in a small heterogeneous urban community with significant disparities in infant mortality using data in the PeriData.Net® database.

Methods: Women with diabetes were case matched …

Navigating Complex Realities: Barriers To Health Care, Law Enforcement And Mental Health Concerns Of Undocumented African Immigrant Women In The United States, Oluwatoyin Olukotun

Theses and Dissertations

It is well established that undocumented immigrants experience structural barriers to accessing resources and services including healthcare. Existing literature largely examines the experiences of undocumented Latino immigrants. To address this gap, the qualitative descriptive study was conducted to understand undocumented African immigrant women’s barriers to healthcare access, their experiences seeking healthcare within a racialized context and how the complex stressors they face impact their health and well-being. This study was undergirded by a postcolonial feminist framework. Twenty-four undocumented African immigrant women and twenty nurses were interviewed about their perceptions of barriers to healthcare access for undocumented immigrants. Data were collected …

Preterm Infant Growth And Human Milk Exposure In The Nicu, Lindsay Schehr

Theses and Dissertations

PRETERM INFANT GROWTH AND HUMAN MILK EXPOSURE IN THE NICU

Purpose: Examine how feeding practices impact growth in infants less than 1500 grams from birth until reaching full enteral feedings. Identify growth velocity rates associated with clinician initiation of fortification of preterm infant human milk feedings.

Design: Retrospective descriptive study

Setting: Level three neonatal intensive care unit in a small urban community in Southeast Wisconsin.

Participants: A convenience sample of 82 very low birth weight preterm infants who were born with birth weight < 1500 grams, vaginal or cesarean birth, born at study hospital or transferred to study hospital within 12 hours of birth.

Methods: Data were collected from the participant’s electronic health records from birth until the infant reached full …

Health, Wellness, And The Health Care Experiences Of Female Adolescents Living With Increased Weight, April L. Yerges

Theses and Dissertations

Clinic-based health care encounters (HCEs) remain a beneficial setting for early assessment, identification and treatment of overweight in adolescents. The purpose of this study is to describe how female adolescents who are obese or overweight perceive the health care encounter with a particular focus on obesity. Using a qualitative design, a purposive sample of 28 English speaking female adolescents, 13–19 years of age, who were overweight or obese, participated in in-depth interviews. Five themes emerged from the thematic analysis: Mental and physical wellness, The impact of weight, Cause I’m a teenager, Talking about weight affects me, and Help me instead …

Self-Management Experiences Of Community-Dwelling Adults With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Wendy Bauer

Theses and Dissertations

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is an incurable lung illness causing significant individual and public health burden. Individuals with COPD often experience high symptom burden, unpredictable exacerbations, numerous comorbid conditions, and frequent health care utilization. Self-management can improve health outcomes and reduce health care costs; however, many individuals with COPD struggle with effective self-management. Improving the self-management of individuals with COPD and the delivery of self-management support from health care providers is crucial to reducing the individual and societal costs of the illness.

The purpose of this study was to explore the self-management experiences of community-dwelling adults living with COPD …

A Preliminary Evaluation Of An Academic Support Program, James Colin Bumby

Theses and Dissertations

The responsibility for graduating students is a school responsibility. A large urban Midwestern research university created the Nursing Endeavor Program (NEP) to ensure that students from underserved minorities, first generation, and/or low income are enabled to graduate successfully. There is a 100% retention rate for the period from admission to the nursing major in the junior year; however, in the pre-nursing years, the retention rate is only 50%. The role transition from pre-nursing student to student nurse can be challenging and stressful. A qualitative phenomenographic research approach was utilized to identify the factors facilitating and the factors hindering this transition. …

Deciding To Call The Shots: Awareness, Agency, And Shelter-Bbuilding During Home Birth Planning, Jessica Coburn

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this dissertation was to explore the decision-making process for women who choose planned home birth. Medical studies suggest that there is a greater risk of perinatal death (3.9 vs. 1.8 deaths per 1,000 births) associated with planned home birth. There is professional disagreement about provision of home birth perinatal services and social and economic barriers to home birth. The percent of home births in the United States rose by 71 percent from 2004 to 2014, indicating the presence of elements other than risk and cost in the decision-making process for planned home birth. In this dissertation, I …

Promoting Meaningful Learning Through The Use Of Concept Maps, Duaa Amr Hafez

Theses and Dissertations

Background and significance: There have been dramatic changes in the healthcare system with the high use of technology. The healthcare needs of patients have increased due to the chronic diseases, and an increase in the number of the older population. These changes require nurses with high levels of thinking, knowledge and skills. It is vital to reconsider the teaching and learning methods used in nursing schools to ensure graduating nurses are capable of working in these challenging environments. The purpose of this naturalistic inquiry descriptive study is to explore the experiences and perspectives of undergraduate and graduate nursing students and …

Fat And Caloric Content Of Breast Milk Of Mothers Of Premature Infants: Comparison Of High Vs. Low Volume Producers And The Impact Of Volume In Single Pumping Sessions And The Interval Between Pumping Sessions, Barbara Haase

Theses and Dissertations

Premature birth affects 8-18% of all infants worldwide and is the leading cause of death in children less than the age of 5 years. The premature birth rate has been on the rise between 2014-2016 in the United States and 1 in 10 infants are born prematurely. Infants who are born prematurely are at considerable risk of serious infections, visual impairments and neurodevelopmental problems. Human milk, specifically mother’s own milk (MoM), is associated with decreased rates of necrotizing enterocolitis, pneumonia, chronic lung disease and late onset sepsis. MoM is also associated with improved neurodevelopmental outcomes in premature infants.

Although MoM …

Whispers2mom: A Young Adult Prenatal Text Messaging Intervention, Christine Patricia Laurent

Theses and Dissertations

WHISPERS2MOM:

A YOUNG ADULT PRENATAL TEXT MESSAGING INTERVENTION

by

Christine P. Laurent

The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, 2018

Under the Supervision of Dr. Jennifer Doering

Purpose: To evaluate the feasibility of Whispers2Mom, a prenatal text messaging educational intervention designed for young adults, 18 to 26 years old. The findings of this study may inform nursing strategies to improve breastfeeding intention and rates in the emerging adult population.

Background: Childbearing young adults are among the least likely populations to breastfeed, yet their infants stand to benefit greatly from breastfeeding. Current methods of prenatal education have failed to increase rates of breastfeeding intention …

Using Critical And Transformative Theory To Describe Basic Palliative Care In The Acute Care Setting, Tammy Neiman

Theses and Dissertations

The population of chronically ill, older adults is expected to grow in the coming years as the baby boomer generation ages. The Institute of Medicine recommends that all healthcare providers have a basic competency in palliative care, also referred to as basic palliative care. The definitions and descriptions to date are vague and do not provide an in-depth description of how basic palliative care differs from the care provided by specialists. The purpose of this study was to describe nurses’ understanding and perceptions of basic palliative care in the acute care setting. Focus group and individual interviews were utilized for …

The Effects Of A Repeating Simulation Experience On Senior Nursing Students, Laura Skoronski

Theses and Dissertations

Nurse educators are challenged with meeting the needs of students and patients. One method of educating students that is used widely across the United States is simulation. The purpose of this dissertation is to determine if participation in a repeating simulation experience has an impact on nursing students’ knowledge and clinical judgment. A conceptual analysis of simulation was undertaken to clarify the definition of simulation and confirm the appropriateness of Kolb’s theory and Tanner’s model as the theoretical framework for the study. A quasi-experimental pre-test/post-test with comparison with norms observational study design guided by Kolb’s Theory of Experiential Learning and …

Pediatric Nurses' Experiences Of Identifying And Managing Constipation In Hospitalized Children, Eileen Sherburne

Theses and Dissertations

Pediatric nurses care for hospitalized children with constipation daily. Pediatric nurses’ timely identification and management of constipation in hospitalized patients can be key to preventing long-term problems with chronic constipation and promoting child well-being. The purpose of the study was to investigate the experiences of pediatric nurses regarding their identification and management of constipation in hospitalized children. The Theory of Planned Behavior (TBP) informed this qualitative study. Participants for this phenomenological investigation were 21 pediatric nurses. Nurses provided care in the inpatient setting in a freestanding 292 bed magnet-designated pediatric hospital. In depth interviews were conducted to explore participants’ perspectives …

Overwhelmed: A Qualitative Study Of The Mental Health Experiences Of Mothers Of Minor Children After Release From Jail And Prison, Ann Elizabeth Stanton

Theses and Dissertations

Mass incarceration in US jails and prisons is a major public health concern. Over one million women are released from US jails and prisons each year. Incarcerated women experience disproportionately high rates of mental health issues and most incarcerated women are mothers of minor children. Mothers of minor children who leave jails and prisons with mental health issues face increased risks of experiencing substance use, risky behaviors, homelessness, and recidivism. Their children are also at increased risk for adverse mental health, behavioral, and social outcomes. The purpose of this study was to explore the mental health experiences of mothers of …

The Association Between Physiologic Sources Of Pain And Sleep Quality In Older Adults And People With Dementia, Crystal-Rae Evans

Theses and Dissertations

The association between physiologic sources of pain and sleep quality in older adults and people with dementia was examined in this dissertation. Previous research illustrates multiple factors contribute to sleep quality outcomes. Musculoskeletal pain, respiratory distress, gastrointestinal discomfort, and genitourinary pain were examined in relation to sleep quality in older adults and people with dementia. No theory currently exists to guide this nursing research, therefore an illustration of pain and sleep quality in older adults and people with dementia was utilized. Descriptive data analysis and logistic regression were used to address the study aims. The findings from this research illustrate …

Medical Device Alarm Systems: A Multi-Hospital Study Of Alarm-Related Events, Caregiver Alarm Response, And Their Contributing Factors, Colleen K. Lindell

Theses and Dissertations

Medical device alarm systems are expected to improve patient care by alerting clinicians about conditions that require attention. However, due to a variety of circumstances, including inadequate training, muting alarms, alarm fatigue, and staffing shortages, the effectiveness of alarm systems may be questionable. This research looked at the appropriateness of time- to-respond (TTR) to alarms, the alarm system configuration, policies and procedures regarding alarms, and the extent of alarm-specific training and education alarms. Using concepts from cognitive systems engineering, organization policy, and organizational learning, a research model was assembled to investigate these relationships.

Quantitative data analysis included an online survey …