Nursing Commons^™

The Cardiovascular Effects Of Human Contact With Coronary Artery Disease Patients In The Coronary Care Unit, Margaret A. Palmour

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Ten coronary artery disease patients were selected using purposive method of sampling and observed for six hours. It was postulated that 1) Human contact with coronary artery disease patients in the coronary intensive care unit would be associated with significant (p = 0.05) changes in the electrocardiogram such as: (a) increased heart rate more than 10 per cent, (b) changed atrio-ventricular conduction more than 10 per cent, (c) changed ST segment one millimeter or more and (d) increased frequency of ectopic beats more than 10 per cent. 2) The degree of stress and cardiac response was related to a number …

The Effect Of Warmed Humidified Oxygen On The Temperature Of Depressed Newborns, Earlene Scharping

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of warmed humidified oxygen on the body temperature of depressed newborns and compare it to the effect of unwarned un-humidified oxygen administered under similar circumstances. The sample group consisted of a total of ten infants (five control and five experimental) with birth weights > 2000 gms who had an Apgar score of less than seven at birth and who required the administration of oxygen. The control group received oxygen in the routine delivery room manner (unwarned and un-humidified). The experimental group received oxygen which had been warmed to a temperature of …

Maternal Perception Of The Neonate, Linda Bertucci

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

The purpose of this study was to determine the maternal perception of the neonate in two groups of patients. The Broussard Neonatal Perception Inventory was used to measure maternal perception. The Inventory was modified by the researcher for use with both primiparae and multiparae. The control group consisted of fifteen mothers receiving traditional postpartum care in the hospital setting. The study group was composed of fifteen mothers who, prior to delivery, chose to participate in an early discharge program. In the early discharge program the patient and her newborn returned home twelve to twenty-four hours after delivery with home follow-up …

Leadership Potentials And Personality Traits Of Associate Degree And Baccalaureate Degree Students In Selected Associate And Baccalaureate Nursing Programs, Beverely J. Cobb

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Leadership potentials and personality profiles of 27 associate degree and 20 baccalaureate degree nursing students were compared, using the California Psychological Inventory (CPI) and the Managerial Key for the CPI. The mean values on each of the 18 scales of the CPI and the mean values of the Managerial Score were compared and revealed no significant difference (p=.05) between the two groups of nursing students, and were within normal range, indicating average social and intellectual adjustment. Though the associate degree students had a higher mean value on the Managerial Score than the baccalaureate students the difference was not significant (p=.05). …

Community Health Nursing Assessment And Counseling Of The Breast-Feeding Primipara, Donita Rotherham

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

An experimental study was conducted with twenty-one breast-feeding primiparas during the initial four-week post-partal period to test the effect of in-home community health nursing assessment and counseling on the breast-feeding success rate. It was hypothesized that mothers receiving assessment and counseling regarding physical, informational and psychosocial needs, would be more successful than those who were not counseled.

Criteria for success were: (1) breast-feeding at four weeks postpartum, (2) an adequate milk supply as evidenced by no need for formula supplementation to keep the baby satisfied, (3) an infant weight gain of one to two pounds during the four-week period, and …

Community Health Nursing Assessment And Counseling Of The Breast-Feeding Primipara, Donita Rotherham

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

An experimental study was conducted with twenty-one breast-feeding primiparas during the initial four-week post-partal period to test the effect of in-home community health nursing assessment and counseling on the breast-feeding success rate. It was hypothesized that mothers receiving assessment and counseling regarding physical, informational and psychosocial needs, would be more successful than those who were not counseled.

Criteria for success were: (1) breast-feeding at four weeks postpartum, (2) an adequate milk supply as evidenced by no need for formula supplementation to keep the baby satisfied, (3) an infant weight gain of one to two pounds during the four-week period, and …

Depression And Non-Responsive Behavior Displayed By Low Socio-Economic Latino Mothers In An Urban Child And Youth Clinic, Raquél María Aguayo

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

During the researcher's experience as a public health nurse, she became aware of two types of depressed women. The first type is the withdrawn, weeping, self-isolating woman while the second type cited numerous physical complaints which prevented her from caring for her home and children. Both exhibited non-responsive behavior to her children's needs.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether or not low socio-economic latino mothers displaying non-responsive behavior had levels of depression different than low socio-economic latino mothers displaying responsive behavior.

Non-responsive behavior Is defined as an inability to utilize clinic services appropriately for health by exhibiting …

The Effects Of Systematic Relaxation On The Number Of Times Pain Medication Was Administered To Immobilized Traction Patients, Brenda Carol Armstrong

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

[Abstract Not Included]

Relationship Between Some Demographic Characteristics And Adverse Reactions Experienced By Women Undergoing A Therapeutic Abortion While Awake, Karen K. House

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

With the liberalization of abortion laws by the Supreme Court in 1973, American women have been able to obtain therapeutic abortions in hospitals and out-patient clinics in ever increasing numbers. With the increased number of women seeking abortions the medical field has responded with abortion procedures that are safe and relatively quick. With the speed doctors use to perform the procedure, many women may wish to take advantage of the medically safer method of abortion under local anesthesia. However, some women are unable to withstand the psychological and physical stress associated with a therapeutic abortion while awake. It would be …

Relationships Between Personality Factors And Job Satisfaction And Importance For Operating Room And Surgical Unit Staff Nurses, Darla J. Anderson

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

This comparative study was designed to explore relationships between personality factors and the satisfaction and importance of selected job factors for staff nurses employed in the operating room and on surgical units. The forty-six subjects were female, registered nurses who were employed full-time either in the operating room or on the surgical units of a 516-bed medical center.

The conceptual basis for the study was found in the motivational theories of Maslow, Herzberg, and Argyris, which ail point to the higher level of satisfaction experienced by individuals who have the opportunity to fulfill their needs for personal growth.

The literature …

Community Health Nurse Influence On Retiree Health Planning, Patricia Hora

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

The number and percent of the population over the age of 60 in the United States is increasing. The majority of these people (96%) are functioning in their own homes (Shanas, 1965). Physical health is important to the enjoyment and utilization of the added years of life. Therefore it seems important to find ways to meet the older citizen before the time of illness and help him/her to develop health goals and plans that will facilitate an optimal level of functioning and improve the quality of life.

The purpose of this study was to describe a method of intervening at …

The Effect Of Planned Physical Activities On Deficient Motor Skills In Head Start Preschool Children, Darlene L. Robinson

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

During the past few years many physicians, nurses, psychologists, teachers, and physical educators have begun to place more emphasis upon the developmental problems of children. As an outgrowth of this, more attention has been given the child showing mild to moderate motor problems. As a result of these more subtle difficulties going unrecognized and untreated, children may suffer from learning disorders, lack of acceptance by teachers and peers, maladaptive behavior and feelings of low self-esteem (Cratty, 1970; Kiphard, -1970; and Ferinden, 1972).

The purpose of this study was to ascertain whether planned physical activities would aid in remediation and/or modification …

The Effect Of Pre-Admission Crisis Nursing Intervention On The Anxiety Level Of Elderly Persons On Admission To A Nursing Home, Doreen C. K. Lee

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

The experimental study attempted to determine whether pre-admission crisis nursing intervention had any effect on the level of anxiety of elderly people when they were transferred from an acute hospital to a nursing home.

The literature review related to trends in numbers of nursing homes and in the increase in longevity. Several articles indicated that the aged, as a group, lacked power to alter their situations. The need for patients to express their feelings and participate in their own decisions was stressed in various studies. Other theories discussed theoretical aspects and goals of crisis intervention. Several articles suggested that crisis …

A Comparative Study Of The Planned Use Of Touch To Enhance The Self Esteem Of The Pregnant Adolescent, Una Marie Reeves

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Two groups of pregnant adolescents were compared in a study of the hypothesis that the use of planned touch would enhance the self esteem of the pregnant adolescent. The girls studied were enrolled in a school for the pregnant minor, established by the San Bernardino County Schools system, in a metropolitan area of San Bernardino, California.

The control group was composed of seven and the experimental group of twelve pregnant adolescents, ranging in age from fifteen through seventeen. The Q Sort technique was used as the tool with which to measure the self esteem of both groups. Two preliminary sorts …

Systematic Nursing Management Of University Students With Infectious Mononucleosis, Lillian N. Yelton

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Infectious Mononucleosis has been one of the most misdiagnosed entities in medicine. Its ability to mimic other diseases and the abundance of misconceptions about it have long confused both diagnosis and treatment. Since there is still no specific drug to combat this disease. patients with characteristic symptoms are treated symptomatically for the period of extended convalescence. This study was carried out to explore the possible effects of systematic nursing management on Infectious Mononucleosis patients, in order to evaluate those things that significantly influence the patient’s course of illness and recovery, in a university outpatient health service.

The hypothesis formulated was: …

The Effect Of Programmed Instruction About Pacemakers Given In The Hospital Setting On The Immediate And Delayed Retention Of Information On Patients With Permanent Cardiac Pacemakers, Ann Ekroth, Eileen Zorn

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

A convenience sample of nineteen patients composing group A, hospitalized for initial placement of permanent cardiac pacemakers, was studied. A programmed instructional test was prepared by the investiga- tors for this population. The question under study was, does programmed instruction for pacemaker patients affect immediate and delayed recall of information? Patients were pre-tested, presented with the programmed instruction package and given a post-test immediately upon completion of the package. They were retested later to evaluate retention level. An IQ test was administered at the same time as the pre-test. Statistical analysis using t-tests indicated significant differences between pre-test scores and …

Consumer Satisfaction With Services In A Mental Health Center, Sandra M. Hare

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

An exploratory study was done with descriptive comparative components to examine the levels of consumer satisfaction at a mental health center, and there was also the intent to determine if satisfaction or dissatisfaction in one area of service affected the general satisfaction level. In addition, other variables and demographic data included in the questionnaire were examined.

Data collection was done by the use of a 23-item questionnaire that was administered to three departments of service, Outpatient, Drug Abuse, and Day-care, at North Orange County Mental Health Services. The sample group consisted of any adult in treatment who had made three …

Evaluation Of A Special Teaching Program With Ambulatory Cardiac Patients, Mary L. Mcgregor Minns

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

This study was designed to test the hypotheses that ambulatory cardiac patients given a special teaching program would have increased understanding about their medication, make fewer medication errors, and know more about undesirable effects and how to handle them than patients not included in the special teaching program. Forty-one ambulatory cardiac patients were, after a random start, alternately assigned to an experimental or to a control group. All the patients were taking one or more of three different medications before hospitalization, during their hospital stay, and after their discharge. Three medications, digoxin (lanoxin), lasix, and nitroglycerin, were studied. The program …

A Descriptive Study Of Women's Attitudes Towards Obtaining Or Not Obtaining Papanicolaou Smears, Linda J. Shults

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

It was the purpose of this study to identify the attitudes of a selected group of women which influenced their participation in Papanicolaou testing. These attitudes were inferred from the reasons women gave for obtaining the test. The subjects were randomly selected from the telephone book of a medium-sized town in Southern California. The 135 women who participated in the telephone interview were considered to be the respondents in the study.

A review of the literature revealed that through the annual use of the Papanicolaou smear, approximately 11,000 deaths every year from uterine and cervical cancer could be prevented, Attitudes …

Stressful Life Events And Coping Methods In Mental-Illness And Wellness Behaviors, Janice M. Bell

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

A descriptive-comparative study was done to examine the relationship between stressful life events and mental-illness and wellness behaviors, and the coping methods used by individuals exhibiting each behavior.

Data collection included the use of the Social Readjustment Rating Scale and a coping scale administered to the experimental and control samples. The experimental group consisted of thirty psychiatric in-patients of three general hospitals who were oriented in three spheres. Subjects of the control group had no history of psychiatric illness, were currently not receiving medical treatment, and were adequately functioning in a socially accepted role. They were randomly selected to match …

Daily Temperature Rhythm In Hospitalized Female Patients, Phyllis L. Mcelmurry

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

The study was designed to determine the hour when temperature peaks occur in adult hospitalized females, and to find if factors such as age and natural or surgical menopause with replacement therapy affect the thermal circadian cycle. Previous studies indicated that the temperature peak occurs in afternoon or early evening, but there were no investigations to determine if aging, sex, or menopause affects the temperature cycle.

The sample included 62 female patients, 29 between 21 and 62 years of age, and 33 between 65 and 90 years. Each subject admitted to the study was screened against fifteen qualifying criteria. Some …

The Relationship Of Locus Of Control Of The Diabetic Patient And Compliance With Medical Regimen, Lois Daniel

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

The literature indicates that many diabetic patients do not adhere to their prescribed medical regimen and that there is a need to discover factors that stimulate compliant behavior. It has been proposed that the patient's decision to accept or reject treatment has many determinants. This study explored the effect of one such determinant, the locus of control (the source of the stimulus for a person's behavior). It was hypothesized that a person with an internal locus (one who believes his actions influence his future) would be more likely to comply with a medical regimen than one with an external locus …

The Effects Of Progressive Relaxation And Myoelectric Feedback On Respiratory Resistance In Bronchial Asthmatics, Daphne Browne Shah

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

For the individual with bronchial asthma, an asthmatic attack can be a life threatening experience. A theory of bronchial asthma as a conditioned response has been recently proposed by several investigators. It was suggested that this conditioned response may be modified by lowering the arousal level, and as a result, decreasing the asthmatic response.

The problem identified in this exploratory study was to measure the effects of relaxation on the smaller or peripheral airways of a convenience sample of six asthmatic subjects fourteen to seventy years of age. It was hypothesized that an increased degree of total body relaxation would …

Prenatal Instruction Of Breast Feeding Mothers, Anita Berry

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

This experimental study tested the effect of prenatal instruction on the success of a group of mothers who desired to breast feed their infants. It was hypothesized that mothers receiving information on how to nurse their infants, how to prevent complications and how to cope with common problems of breast feeding would have a higher success rate than those not so instructed.

Criteria for success was that the mothers would have an adequate supply of milk to meet the nutritional demands of their infant without supplementation, would have fewer and less severe complications, and would express a higher degree of …

Auditory Stimulation Of Comatose Patient : An Exploratory Case Study, Ede Marie Buerger

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

A descriptive case study was conducted at one acute care medical center using one head injured patient who was unconscious for thirty-three days before testing. The study was done to provide descriptive information on the behavioral, physiological and electroencephalographic changes following a program of intermittent, repetitive, long-term auditory stimulation.

A patient who appeared to be unconscious thirty-three days, who had no evidence of extensive cortical damage and who had no evidence of hearing difficulties participated. The experimental stimulation was applied by earphones and consisted of a tape recording of eight Christmas songs which were separated by four seconds of silence, …

Concerns Of Postnatal Mothers About Sexuality, Sheela A. Gideon

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

An exploratory study was designed to find out what questions mothers had about postnatal sexuality. A questionnaire was prepared by the nurse researcher to find out answers to the following questions.

1. What specific questions do mothers have about sexual relations following delivery?
2. Do mothers feel free to initiate discussion about resumption of intercourse following delivery?
3. Do mothers like their husbands to be included in the discussion?
4. When do mothers prefer to receive information regarding sexual relationships following delivery?

The questionnaire was mailed to fifty primipara mothers between three and four weeks after delivery. Mothers with pronounced anemia, heart and lung …

Exploration Of The Incidence Of Identified Emotional Disorders In Selected General Hospitals Of Nebraska, Arlene M. Van Horn

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

A descriptive-comparative survey using content analysis of medical records has been done to determine the frequency with which emotional disorders are identified by medical personnel in the population hospitalized in small general hospitals in north-central Nebraska.

A systematic, random sample of medical records was taken from two hospitals arbitrarily included in the study on the basis of bed capacity and distance from mental health facilities.

Each medical record that was reviewed has been placed in a category based on whether an emotional disorder was identified in it by the medical personnel, or whether it contained recorded behaviors that could indicate …

Prenatal Instruction Of Breast Feeding Mothers, Anita Berry

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

This experimental study tested the effect of prenatal instruction on the success of a group of mothers who desired to breast feed their infants. It was hypothesized that mothers receiving information on how to nurse their infants, how to prevent complications and how to cope with common problems of breast feeding would have a higher success rate than those not so instructed.

Criteria for success was that the mothers would have an adequate supply of milk to meet the nutritional demands of their infant without supplementation, would have fewer and less severe complications, and would express a higher degree of …

A Method For Determining The Location Of The Central Venous Reference Point In Subjects With Hyperinflation Lung Disease, Fred W. Troutman

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

This descriptive exploratory study was designed to identify a method for determining the most consistent extrathoracic landmark for measuring the zero reference point of central venous pressure in subjects with hyperinflation lung disease.

The primary purpose of this study was to find a method to determine if the external reference point that is currently being used on patients with hyperinflation lung disease represents the true zero point of central venous pressure.

The first method explored the use of cadaver subjects during post-mortem examination to determine the location of the hydrostatic zero point. This method was eliminated because a question arose …

The Effect Of Compression Stockings And Foot Exercises On Venous Blood Velocity, Ann Lee Wood

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

To provide information of the effect of knee length compression stockings and foot exercise on venous blood velocity, an exploratory pilot study was conducted. An additional purpose of the investigation was to evaluate the noninvasive doppler ultrasonic flowmeter as a data collecting tool.

Fourteen volunteer female subjects, ages 40 to 80, met the designated criteria and were tested. During the half-hour baseline period and throughout the study at specified intervals, one-minute venous velocity tracings were recorded at the femoral vein with the doppler flow-meter. The baseline period was followed by two minutes of maximum dorsiflexion and plantar flexion of the …