Nursing Commons^™

The Relationship Of Instructions During Labor And Relaxation, Frances Josephine Hume Lopez

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

A causal-comparative study was done in a county hospital using twenty subjects to determine if the ''unprepared" primigravida patient in active labor will experience less pain if given instructions to aid relaxation. It was hypothesized that the "unprepared" primigravida patients receiving continuous nurse attendance plus instructions to aid relaxation by (1) breathing techniques, and (2) body positions would show less evidences of pain, tension and anxiety during the first and second stages of labor than the group of patients which received only the continuous nurse attendance.

Two devices, (1) a structured observation, (2) a questionnaire with fixed-alternative questions, were used …

Time Study Of Emergency Care In A Selected Hospital, Pauline Neal

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

The problem of this study was to find out the time lapse between admission and discharge of patients entering the selected emergency room and to determine the portion of the total time spent in prescribed, selected areas. The purpose was to determine areas where the major portion of time was spent by patients and to analyze the reasons for the amount of time required to complete patient care. It was hypothesized that there was unnecessary delay in the rendering of patient care in the selected emergency room. Literature was reviewed to provide background information for the study. The descriptive survey …

A Study Of The Relationship Between Preoperative Anxiety And Postoperative Vomiting, Taye Grace Emori

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

The identification of anxiety as a causative factor in post operative vomiting was the purpose of this study. It was hypothesized that the more anxiety a patient experienced before surgery, the greater would be his chances of vomiting immediately after surgery.

The establishment of an underlying basis and need for a study of the relationship of anxiety and postoperative vomiting were made through a review of literature. The factors which researchers believed were contributory to postoperative vomiting and the possible inclusion of anxiety as one of them were studied.

Three physiologic measures (systolic blood pressure, heart rate, and eosinophil count) …

Motivating Factors In Completing Tetanus Immunization, Eva Mae Krohn Leech

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

It was the problem of this study to find out the number of people who were given tetanus antitoxin who did and did not initiate and complete tetanus immunization and to find out why they did or did not do so. The subjects were patients from two hospitals who had been given tetanus antitoxin sometime between January 1, 1963, and October 15, 1963. These subjects were contacted through the use of a questionnaire. The 75 who returned the questionnaire were considered respondents of the study.

This sample was composed primarily of men who were married and were members of the …

A Survey Of The Hospital Experience Of The Isolated And Non-Isolated Patient, Rose Marie Olson Kuhn

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

The descriptive survey was the method used to conduct the study to find differences in the amount of nurse contact between the isolated patient's and the non-isolated patient's hospital experience, and to explore their feelings concerning their hospitalization. Ten patients, on the surgical units of three hospitals, were included in the study. Five of the patients were isolated because of an infectious disease and comprised Group I. Five patients who were not isolated served as a control and comprised Group II. Data were collected in two main categories: (1) the amount of nurse-patient contact, type of personnel visiting the patient, …

Morbidity, Growth And Development Of Prematurely-Born Twins In Early Childhood, Lynelle King

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

This study was concerned with the problem of determining the effect of twinship on the prematurely-born twin's growth and physical and emotional morbidity during early childhood. The immediate purposes of the study were to compare prematurely-born twins with prematurely-born singletons regarding their incidence and types of physical and emotional morbidity, and their growth during early childhood. It was hypothesized that prematurely-born twins have slower growth and more physical and emotional morbidity than prematurely born singletons. The descriptive survey method was used. From children cared for at a selected premature clinic, nineteen twins were matched with nineteen singletons for: race, sex, …

Hospital Situations In Which Male Patients Prefer A Male Nurse, Norma Groome White

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

This was a study of the preferences of men patients for the sex of the nurse desired to meet their physical, social, spiritual, and emotional needs. The purposes of the study were: (1) to identify the hospital situations in which a male nurse is preferred to give care, (2) to provide information that could be used in the utilization of male personnel, and (3) to provide information that could be used to possibly provide for better fulfillment of the needs of male patients.

The descriptive survey was chosen as the method of study. A questionnaire of thirty-five hospital situations was …

Nurses' Interpretation Of Force Fluids, Colleen W. Blair

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

This study was done to survey nurses on the medical units of one hospital in order to (1) ascertain their interpretation of a minimum and maximum amount of fluid in the order "Force fluids", and (2) determine criteria most used by these nurses to identify the fluid quantities.

The descriptive survey was the method of study. A questionnaire, which centered around recorded chart information for four patients whose fluid therapy was prescribed as "Force fluids", was the research tool.

Findings revealed that the upper limits and modes on the minimum and maximum fluid distributions remained constant and the means and …

Incidence Of Staphylococcus Aureus On Fomentation Covers, Yvonne Badgley Mcdaniel

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

This study was to ascertain whether fomentation covers were contaminated with Staphylococcus aureus prior to being placed on a patient receiving a hydrotherapy treatment.

From a review of literature on the subject of the Staphylococcus aureus organism and from studies of hospital-acquired staphylococcal infection it appeared that: (1) researches had used various techniques for making cultures from fabrics, (2) the Staphylococcus aureus cultures may react in varying ways to the laboratory tests making the classification somewhat difficult, (3) the problem of hospital-acquired staphylococcal cross-infection was present, (4) the role played by the environment in hospital-acquired infections was controversial, and (5) …

A Comparative Time Study Of Emergency Room Service In A Selected Hospital, Marlohn Balas

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

This comparative study was conducted in order to determine (1) the average length of stay patients experienced in a selected emergency room, (2) in what area this time was being spent, (3) what class of patients required the most time, and (4) if there was an increase or decrease in the average length of time for twenty-five patients in Group I in 1963, and twenty-five patients in Group II in 1965.

A review of literature was done relating to emergency room service. The descriptive survey was chosen as the method of study. A checklist was the tool of research.

Findings …

Altered Body Image Following Radical Mastectomy, Julia Lee Anne Mcconnell

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

The purpose of this study was to identify reactions and adjustments to the altered body image following radical mastectomy. It was felt that nurses could be of more assistance to women facing this experience if they knew and understood the common reactions which occur.

Other studies have indicated that major areas of adjustment focus upon dress and appearance. Sexual and social relationships, and curiosity of others. The disruption of a body image makes necessary certain adjustments in the individual's perceptions of himself.

The method of research in this study was descriptive survey with the use of partially structured interviews. Thirty-five …

Nurse Attendance Versus Use Of Analgesic Medication In The First Stage Of Labor, Jo Ann Soulé Henriksen

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

To determine if the woman who receives the continuous attendance of a nurse during the first stage of labor requires less analgesic medication than the woman who is given interrupted or intermittent nursing care, a study was made employing the experimental method with the parallel-group technique. Thirteen patients meeting the criteria of the study who received continuous nursing attendance during the first stage of labor by the nurse researcher were closely matched to thirteen patients from a group of one hundred seventy-three, whose nursing care was given by the staff personnel. As an objective method of assessing support during labor …

The Extent To Which Patients Follow Their Low-Cholesterol Diets, Beverly Jo Peterson

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

This exploratory study was conducted to discover to what extent patients follow their low-cholesterol diets. If they did not, the reasons were investigated. It was hoped that the findings would aid in defining areas of instruction which need greater emphasis when patients receive instruction concerning a low-cholesterol diet.

An interview guide was used as a data gathering tool. The dietitians at one private teaching hospital recorded all dietary prescriptions sent to them during the specified period and ten physicians were contacted for permission to include their patients in the study. The patients were then contacted by telephone and the interviews …

Sex And The Transurethral Prostatectomy, Edward T. Moon

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

The purpose of this research was to find out what effects the TURP has on ejaculatory ability, frequency of coitus and the emission of seminal fluid. The sample consisted of 50 men, age 46-65, who were married, and had no cancer or other possible physical causes for impotence. Each man was personally interviewed.

Forty-six patients (92 percent) were able to ejaculate. A decrease in the frequency of coitus was reported by 40 per cent of the men. A normal ejaculation of seminal fluid was experienced by thirteen (26 percent) of the men. Considering all the changes in the sexual function …

Interpretation Of Activity Orders By Physicians And Nurses, Sharon Jean Staley

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

The purpose of this study was to find out the interpretations of activity orders by physicians and nurses in one selected hospital, and to compare the findings of this study to Roose's study to develop a guide for these activity orders. Roose, who surveyed the interpretations of activity orders by physicians and nurses in a group of hospitals, recommended that the same study be replicated in one hospital to find out the discrepancies of interpretation by physicians and nurses in one environment. This study, based on that recommendation, surveyed interpretations by physicians and nurses of four activity orders: (1) complete …

Neurological Complications Following Open Heart Surgery, Lavaun Ward Sutton

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

The propose of this exploratory study was to gather data for analysis on possible predisposing or related factors in the development of neurological com plications following open heart surgery as well as to determine the scope and frequency of symptoms exhibited, indicative of cerebral damage. In addition, the researcher hoped to learn the outcome of these patients through information on the duration and resolution of symptoms, noting type and degree of residual problems as well as the incidence of mortality. A review of the literature provided background information for this study. This review indicated that although considerable attention has been …

The Affect Of Activities In The Intensive Care Unit On Patients, Dorothy Millholland Mottweiler

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

The purpose of this study was to find out whether there is a relationship between what the patient can see and hear of on-going activities in the intensive care unit and patient stress. The descriptive survey method was used. A checklist was developed from several sources in literature. Data were collected by observation of individual patients in two intensive care units and by recording their behavior on the checklist. Recording of stress signs was done for five minute intervals every thirty minutes for eight hours, making sixteen intervals for every eight hour period. Nineteen separate patient observations of eight hour …

A Comparative Study Of Two Methods Of Obtaining Midstream Urine Specimens, S. Maxine Page

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

The purpose of this study was to find out if the procedure developed by the investigator for obtaining midstream urine specimens for culture from adult female outpatients would produce less contamination than the procedure most often used in the selected outpatient department. Following a review of pertinent literature, two relatively equivalent groups of twenty-two adult females with medical or surgical problems were selected. Persons with symptoms of urinary tract infection were excluded from the study. One group was subjected to the control procedure, designated as Procedure A. Procedure A was an unsupervised procedure involving the use of soap and water …

An Analysis Of Critical Incidents To Determine Effective And Ineffective Clinical Instructions, Nyrabella Fiedler Clague

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

It was the purpose of this survey to determine what constitutes effective and ineffective clinical instruction from the student's viewpoint, and to make the findings available. The descriptive survey method using the critical incident technique was used as the method of research. A critical incident report form was constructed as a tool for gathering the data. There were 117 students of nursing who submitted 166 incidents; 52 per cent were of effective instruction and 48 per cent of ineffective instruction.

A review of pertinent literature revealed that the reactions of students to teachers were important criteria to use as one …

A Comparison Of Axillary And Rectal Temperatures In Children, Doris Payne

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

This study was conducted on seventy-five children, three to eight years of age. The purpose was to compare a three-minute axillary with a three-minute rectal temperature. Known factors which might influence the findings were eliminated. These were emotional stress, physical exercise, antipyretic medications, cooling and heating measures, gastro-intestinal disturbances, and croupettes or oxygen tents. The range of the difference between the temperatures was from 0.8 degrees to 2.2 degrees with the mean difference of 1.13 degrees. A little less than half of the temperatures had one degree of difference. An additional thirty-two per cent were within 0.2 degrees of being …

The Nature And Sources Of Patients' Pretest Knowledge Of The Diagnostic Test, Electroencephalography, Dorothy Weeks

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

This study was conducted to determine the nature and sources of patients' pretest knowledge and understanding of the diagnostic procedure, electroencephalography. A review of literature on electroencephalography and patients' involvement in diagnostic procedures revealed that patients need to be informed about scheduled electroencephalography in order to reduce their anxiety, thereby improving the technical quality of the test. Nursing literature contained many statements encouraging nurses to inform patients about diagnostic procedures. No literature was found concerning the teaching role of physicians in informing patients, although both patients and technicians look to the physician as the expected source of patients' pretest information. …

A Comparison Of Blood Pressure Readings Taken On Preoperative Patients During Hospital Admission And One And One-Half To Three Hours Later, Susan Lee Woodward

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

A "before-after" type experimental study was conducted to find an advantageous time to record baseline blood pressure readings on preoperative patients, which could be referred to following surgery and interpreted as representative of normal for the patients. A review of medical and nursing literature revealed that there is a need to established a blood pressure reading indicative of normal for each patient prior to surgery. Because literature substantiated its acceptance, the ausculatory method of taking indirect arterial blood pressure readings was the technique utilized in this study. Sixty conveniently selected general elective surgical patients, twenty-five to forty-five years of age, …

A Comparative Study Of Discomfort Experienced By Surgical Patients On Three Selected Postoperative Days, Lillian Barker Bartlett

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

A descriptive survey was conducted to compare the discomfort experienced on three selected postoperative days to determine if there is one day identified by the patient as the most uncomfortable and to assess the symptoms of which he might complain. A checklist of twelve symptoms common to postsurgical patients was administered on the evenings of the second, third and fourth postoperative days by the researcher. Findings indicated that nineteen or 56 per cent of the thirty-four patients interviewed stated that the second day was most uncomfortable, nine or 27 per cent the third and six or 17 per cent the …

Factors Which Deterred Twenty-Three Selected Patients From Utilizing Public Health Nursing Services, Lora Wood Welch

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

A study was conducted to identify factors which deterred twenty-three selected epileptic patients from utilizing public health nursing services. The literature was reviewed in areas relating to factors which may contribute to or deter patients use of clinic or public health services.

The descriptive survey approach employing an interview guide was used. Data on the guide were classified in two areas: (1) personal characteristics and (2) participant responses. The participant responses were further categorized according to (1) perception of the public health department and public health nursing services, (2) perception of the needs of the epileptic patient and his parents, …