Nursing Commons^™

The Perspectives Of The Woman/Nurse/Executive Working In The Managed Care Environment Of Southern California, Cheryl Lynn Brandi Dnsc, Ms, Msn, Rn

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to explore the perspectives of the woman/nurse/executive working in the managed care environment of Southern California. This research was extremely timely because (a) Southern California leads the nation in managed care market penetration, (b) changes in health care financing have resulted in a prolific expansion of nurse executive responsibilities, and (c) nurse executive experiences regarding increased responsibilities have not been researched. Role expansion impacts both male and female nurse executives, but female nurse executives must confront the dilemma of functioning in administrative domains which have been largely dominated by men. Knowledge about their experiences …

Correlates Of Staff Nurse Work Satisfaction In Hospitals With Shared Governance, Mary Kay Flynn Dnsc, Rn, Ccrn

Dissertations

Lack of staff nurse participation in hospital decision-making has been cited as a major reason for the dissatisfaction in nursing. Shared governance has been proposed as an organizational model that provides staff nurses with both the structure and the mechanism for having increased decision-making authority. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship of organizational culture, perceived importance of involvement and actual involvement in decision-making, the discrepancy between importance and involvement, staff nurse years of involvement in shared governance, control over nursing practice, and work satisfaction among staff nurses working in hospitals with shared governance. A descriptive, correlational …

The Process Of Ending Domestic Violence Among Latinas: Aguantando No Mas, Nancy A. Coffin-Romig Dnsc, Msn, Rn

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to explore the sociocultural factors which play a role in the process of ending an abusive relationship among Latinas. Dimensional analysis was the method employed for the development of a grounded theory. Aguantando or enduring emerged from this study as pivotal in gaining an understanding of the process of ending an abusive relationship for Latinas. Participants indicated that personal and religious beliefs, the importance of family, and the needs of their children were reasons for aguantando or enduring the abuse. The decision to no longer aguantar, or endure, occurred through a series of encounters …

The Work Of Living With Hiv: A Study Of Binational Groups, Christina Joy Dnsc

Dissertations

The purpose of this investigation was to study the experience of individuals who live with and manage HIV infection and AIDS. The context of living with HIV/AIDS, the prevailing conditions, the actions/strategies used, and the consequences of the actions were considered using grounded theory methodology and dimensional analysis. A purposeful sample of 21 individuals HIV positive or diagnosed with AIDS from San Diego, California and Tijuana, Mexico were interviewed using semi-structured questions. Data were analyzed using open and axial coding, the constant comparative method, and dimensional analysis. The work of living with HIV emerged as the central dimension within the …

Determinants Of Health-Promoting Lifestyle Among Nurses In Taiwan, Chou Chuan-Chiang Yao Dnsc, Ms, Rn

Dissertations

This two-phase study was undertaken to: (1) determine the relationships of self-efficacy, perceived health status, perceived social support, age, marital status, education, work shift, work setting, and years employed as a registered nurse (RN) to the practice of a health-promoting lifestyle; (2) determine the combination of predictor variables explaining the variance in the practice of a health-promoting lifestyle; and (3) investigate other personal and environmental cues and characteristics related to health-promoting lifestyles among nurses (N = 218) in Taiwan. Findings of the quantitative approach in Phase One indicated that a health-promoting lifestyle was significantly related to self-efficacy, perceived health status, …

The Experiences Of Taiwanese Women Caregiving For Parents-In-Law, Shu-Yuan Chao Dnsc

Dissertations

Using grounded theory, a semi-structured in-depth interview was conducted to explore the experiences of Taiwanese women who were caregivers for their parents-in-law. Thirty-one Taiwanese women aged 23 to 58 participated in this study. Just Doing was identified as the core category to indicate the caregivers' striving process once they committed to their in-laws' care. Recognizing Duty, Experiencing Trials, and Responding to Caregiving were subcategories and reflected how a caregiver perceived her role, how she was affected by caregiving tasks, and what responses she had to the caregiving situation. The findings also suggested that caregiving behaviors were influenced by cultural expectations …

Living With Changing Health: Perimenopause Among Chinese Women In Taiwan, Lee-Ing Tsao Dnsc, Mnsc, Rn

Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative study was to generate theory about women's perimenopausal life experiences. Thirty-five Taiwanese women aged 40 to 59 who perceived themselves as perimenopausal and who were not using hormone therapy were interviewed. Data were generated from interviews which were conducted in Mandarin. Living with Changing Health was the core category for describing and guiding the process of perimenopause. During this process, Awareness was identified as the antecedent condition. Once the woman became aware, she would begin the process of living with her changing health. This process would be marked by action and interaction among the categories …

Cultural Discovery In Nursing Practice: The Experience Of Nurses' Who Work With Vietnamese, Evelyn Labun Dnsc, Mscn, Rn

Dissertations

The purpose of this investigation was to generate a substantive theory of cultural discovery among nurses who work with Vietnamese. A grounded theory approach involving dimensional analysis was employed. A purposive sample of 27 registered nurses with experiences working with Vietnamese in acute care, community, and clinic settings was interviewed using a semi-structured format. Data were analyzed for dimensions as well as conditions, context, action strategies, and consequences. The theory of cultural discovery described how nurses learn to see their Vietnamese clients, how they saw a common humanity with others, and how they learn to see health. Nurses who made …

Mending A Torn Fish Net: Parse's Theory-Guided Research On The Lived Experience Of Hope, Ching-Eng Hsieh Wang

Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Persisting While Wanting To Change: Research Guided By Parse's Theory, Florence Beryl Pilkington

Dissertations

No abstract provided.

The Influence Of Physical Activity On Perimenopause, Suling Li

Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Too Familiar For Words: An Analysis Of "Invisible" Nursing Work, Frances R. Vlasses

Dissertations

No abstract provided.

The Phenomenology Of Being Restrained, Mary Elizabeth Johnson

Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Young Adult Women's Responses To Undergoing Treatment For Early Breast Cancer, Donna Abrashoff Schutte Dnsc

Dissertations

In the nearly two decades of cancer research in the United States, there has been little emphasis on the experiences of young adult women with breast cancer. I therefore adopted a qualitative multicase study method to explore the experiences of five young adult women from the time of discovery of a breast mass through the first three months of recovery from mastectomy. Utilizing data collected via semi-structured interviews, this study sought to describe their concerns, the way in which their concerns changed over time, and the influence of contextual factors. Three themes were identified. These included: "I'm going to die!" …

Helper Woman: A Biography Of Elinor Delight Gregg, Jacqueline S. Pflaum Dnsc, Mph, Ms

Dissertations

The intent of this investigation was to conduct an extensive study of the life and character of Elinor Gregg (1886-1970) in order to identify the contributions she made to professional nursing and to humanity. Nurse, educator, administrator, beloved relative, and friend, Elinor Gregg was an outstanding person whom nurses today might well emulate. Historical method provided the context for the study. Data were collected from the National Archives; National Library of Medicine Historical Section; Nursing Archives at Mugar Library, Boston University; Nursing Archives at Simmons College; National Headquarters of the American Red Cross; Archives of Colorado College; and Archives of …

Children With Hiv: How They Feel About What Parents Say, Susan Pease Instone Dnsc, Msn, Cpnp

Dissertations

With improvements in diagnosis and care, children with HIV infection are living long enough to reach school age, a stage when they are capable of perceiving the stigmatizing, life-threatening nature of their illness. Many parents desire to protect them from this knowledge by avoiding an open dialogue about their disease, even though pediatric professionals advocate disclosure. Research-based guidelines about the risks and benefits of telling, however, have not been available in the literature. Using an innovative, qualitative approach through the use of grounded theory and projective drawing techniques, this investigation sought to explore what parents said about the illness and …

The Effect Of Written Information And Reassurance On Patient Satisfaction, Anxiety, And Intent To Return For Emergency Care, June Andrea Dnsc

Dissertations

Patients' satisfaction is one of the primary goals of emergency department (ED) providers today. As emergency departments are overcrowded, stressful environments, anxious patients want to be kept informed. Nurses have the opportunity to meet these needs and possibly influence the patients' perception of the experience and intent to return for future care. This study examined the effects of providing written information and reassurance on patient satisfaction, anxiety, and intent to return for emergency care. The design was a posttest design involving a comparison between the control and three experimental groups. Two hundred and forty patients participated in the study, approximately …

Ethical Decision-Making Among Critical Care Unit Nurses, Mary Ellen Bowen Dnsc, Mn, Rn, Cnaa

Dissertations

The health care business has created complex relationships between consumers and health care institutions. Rising health costs, rationing of health care and medical technology have put critical care unit (CCU) nurses in complex environments where they must face ethical conflict. CCU nurses find themselves ill equipped to make sound decisions concerning ethical dilemmas. Nurses must ensure the patient's choices are respected and honored due to the duties inherent in the nurse-patient relationship. The purpose of this study was to explore the process of ethical decision making (EDM) as it is experienced by CCU nurses. Gaining an understanding of this process …

Nursing Faculty Connecting With Students: A Heideggerian Hermenteutical Study, Debra I. Craig Dnsc, Msn, Rn

Dissertations

This study sought to gain an insight into the phenomenon of nursing faculty members connecting with students. Caring has been espoused as a key component of nursing education for many decades. In the last 10 years the terms caring and connecting are commonly found associated with each other, and yet there is no clear definition of connecting. It is important to understand a phenomenon from the point of view of those who are experiencing it. Therefore, a study which asked nursing educators to tell stories of the times they had connected with students was undertaken. Ten nurse educators in the …

The Journey From Nonexerciser To Exerciser: A Grounded Theory Study, Keri Kuniyoshi Medina Dnsc, Ms, Rn

Dissertations

The physiological and psychological health benefits of regular physical exercise are well-documented; however, drop-out rates from both supervised and unsupervised exercise remain high. Many potential influences on exercise behavior have been studied, but with largely inconsistent results, making it difficult to identify key targets for intervention. The purpose of this study was to explore the process through which nonexercisers become exercisers, and the contextual factors which affect movement through this process, in order to enable nurses to more successfully assist clients to incorporate exercise into their lifestyles. The exercise experiences of 22 individuals who had successfully made the transition from …

Weathering The Storm Persevering Through A Difficult Time, Lynn Allchin-Petardi

Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Feeling Alone While With Others, Carol Ann Leverich Gouty

Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Considering Tomorrow: Parse's Theory-Guided Research, Sandra Schmidt Bunkers

Dissertations

No abstract provided.

An Exploration Of The Relationship Between Critical Thinking Skills And Preferred Learning Styles Of First Year Nursing Students, Gloria J. Clocklin

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine if a relationship existed between the manner in which nursing students preferred to learn and their ability to think critically. First year nursing students (N = 197) from four colleges in a rural Midwestern geographic region were the subjects for the study. Students represented practical nursing, associate degree nursing, and baccalaureate degree nursing programs and were all in their first nursing course. Entire cohort groups from each college were included in the study.

The Kolb (1985) Learning Style Inventory and the Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal (WGCTA, Watson & Glaser, 1980) were administered …

A History Of The Concept Of Creativity In Western Nursing: A Cultural Feminist Perspective, Karen K. Fritz Dnsc, Ms, Ba, Rn

Dissertations

Using historical methodology, this study examined the concept of creativity in Western nursing from a cultural feminist perspective. An exploration of the concept was accomplished by means of a review emanating from the English literature of Western nursing and its allied disciplines of education and psychology. Two distinct views of creativity were delineated--the classical and the contemporary. The classical understanding required the completion of a major product or attainment in order for creativity to be ascribed. In contrast, the contemporary view was that of a novel, unrestrained thought process. It required no creative work or attainment for its ascription. The …

A Model Of Patient Satisfaction And Behavioral Intention In Managed Care, Diane Sturdy Greeneich Dnsc, Ms, Rn

Dissertations

Determination of patient outcomes associated with new and return business is a primary objective of the managed care marketplace. Identification of variables which contribute to both positive and negative patient experience in managed care systems is crucial to their effectiveness. The purpose of this study was to test the functional relationships between the variables of nurse practitioner attributes and behaviors, patient perceptions of the managed care system, and outcomes of patient satisfaction and intention to return to and recommend the managed care system. Functional relationships were measured with the Patient Satisfaction Semantic Differential (Greeneich and Long, 1992), and the Service …

Care Of Aging Parents: The Experiences Of Middle-Aged Filipino Women, Carmen B. Toledo Galang Dnsc, Msn, Rn

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine and analyze parent care as experienced by middle-aged Filipino women, particularly those who have resided in the United States for over 20 years. There is little information known about this topic; therefore, a grounded theory study design was utilized. Open-ended, semi-structured interviews of 29 Filipino women were conducted in English and/or Tagalog, and at times a combination of both languages. Data were transcribed verbatim from the audio-recorded interviews and analyzed using a constant comparative method of analytic induction. Field notes were kept and patterns of observation were analyzed according to their significance. …

Development And Testing Of An Explanatory Model Of Registered Nurse Empowerment, Marilyn D. Klakovich Dnsc, Msn, Rn, Cnaa

Dissertations

Recent innovations in patient care delivery and nursing governance require an empowered workforce. However, little is known about what combination of organizational, leadership, and personal characteristics maximize the prediction of registered nurse empowerment. The purpose of this study was to develop and test an explanatory model of registered nurse empowerment. The predictor variables included personal characteristics of registered nurses (age, experience, organizational tenure, education, and position level of clinical and/or management responsibility), perceptions of organizational culture, and connective leadership. The study was conducted in a tertiary-care hospital in Southern California. A total of 113 registered nurses completed the Organizational Culture …

The Nature Of Mentoring And Its Relationship With Role Socialization For The Academic Nurse Administrator, Anna Rambharose Vance

Dissertations

Problem. Many academic nursing organizations have a great need for leaders who can handle the complex mix of academic administration, health care facilities, and curriculum demands. These administrators are not directly trained to be professional academic nurse administrators. It was the purpose of this study to investigate the nature of mentoring as a vehicle for socializing academic nurse administrators.

Method. A survey research methodology was used to study the characteristics of the mentor-protege relationship. The Mentoring Role Socialization Survey was the instrument used for data collection. For the purpose of this study, the instrument was divided into three sections: Professional …

Illness Impact And Adjustment To Parkinson's Disease: Before And After Treatment With Tolcapone, Mickie D. Welsh Dnsc, Rn

Dissertations

There is evidence that adjustment to chronic illnesses such as Parkinson's disease (PD) may be affected by psychological factors especially how patients appraise and cope with the stress of their illness. There has been limited research available examining the role of illness impact or appraisal in adjustment to chronic illness. No studies were found dealing with the interrelationship of illness impact, adjustment and pharmacological treatment. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the quality of life (as conceptualized by impact of illness and adjustment) was improved by treatment with tolcapone in persons with Parkinson's disease. This study was …