Nursing Commons^™

Early Screening Of Postpartum Depression, Mary Ramirez

MSN Capstone Projects

Postpartum depression (PPD) is the most common pregnancy-related complication affecting over half-million mothers each year in the United States and only 50% of these women seek treatment or even receive a mental health evaluation (American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 2015; Horowitz & Goodman, 2004). Failure to detect or diagnose PPD can have serious consequences for both mom and baby. Nurses play a key role in discharge teaching and education, which puts them in the perfect position to ensure that adequate referrals are coordinated and to stress the importance of follow-up care to new mothers (Logsdon et al., 2018). Current …

The Clinically Aligned Pain Assessment Tool (Capa) Evidenced-Based Change Project- Benchmark Study, Mary Vitullo

MSN Capstone Projects

Pain is one of the main reasons people seek medical treatment in the United States (National Institutes of Health, 2017). Frequently, pain is inappropriately managed leading to negative patient outcomes that lead to prolonged discharge time that increases hospital costs (Trzeciak et al., 2018). This is due to improper assessment of pain which leads to challenges in pain management interventions, ultimately decreasing patient safety and satisfaction. By nature, pain reporting by patients is subjective. Various scales are utilized in the hospital setting, but these assessment scales only reflect pain intensity and are unidimensional, as opposed to pain experience and multidimensional …

Huddle And Safety, Jaelynn Hall Bsn, Rn

MSN Capstone Projects

The purposed evidence-based practice (EBP) project focuses on a nursing intervention (team huddles) to increase safety and reduce inpatient fall rates. Negative outcomes to consider from an inpatient fall are harm and injury to the patient along with increased health care cost for the patient as well as hospital facility. Accrued cost associated with an in-patient injury resulting from a fall is not reimbursed according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The additional cost for hospital-acquired falls is estimated to be $6,694 (95% CI: -$1,277 to $14,665) (Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, 2017). This was only related …

Exercise To Improve Cancer-Related Fatigue, Jennifer Watson

MSN Capstone Projects

For the average patient, medical professionals typically recommend exercise to enhance the health of their patients in multiple ways. Oncology patients, however, often have different issues that the treating physicians are more concerned about, so physical activity gets placed on the back burner. The need for exercise in oncology patients is certainly a decision that should be part of an individualized treatment plan, but it is reasonable to believe that most of these patients will benefit from participating in an exercise program. With the high demanding need to decrease chemotherapy side effects and improve lives of those undergoing it, this …

Critical-Care Pain Observation Tool Benchmark Project, Rachel Lutz

MSN Capstone Projects

Background: Pain in the nonverbal adult patient is often misdiagnosed and undertreated. Patients who are unable to communicate pain does not indicate that pain is not present. With the majority of critical-care patients being hemodynamically unstable leaving pain untreated can have detrimental effects on already unstable hemodynamics thus affecting patient outcomes. Research has indicated that patients who have accurate pain management with appropriate analgesia and minimal sedation can help decrease ventilator days, improve patient’s mobility, and help decrease the rate of delirium and length of stay in the intensive care unit (ICU) (Bourbonnais et al., 2016).

Aim: This benchmark project …

Oncology Nurse Compassion Fatigue Benchmark Project, Jessica R. Hayward

MSN Capstone Projects

Oncology nurses provide care to patients during some of the toughest times in their lives. This care places nurses at risk of developing compassion fatigue which can have negative long-term health impacts. There is currently no formal compassion fatigue education offered to oncology nurses. This lack of training leaves nurses vulnerable to the impacts of unmanaged stress, burnout, and compassion fatigue. This benchmark project was completed to bring awareness to the need for a mindfulness-based compassion fatigue course. This course will provide oncology nurses with the knowledge and skills necessary to manage these difficult emotions.

Promoting Recognition And Rescue: Human Trafficking Screening, Erin E. Pittman

MSN Capstone Projects

The exploitation of human beings is a serious public health concern (Centers for Disease Control [CDC] 2018). The United States Department of Justice (2018) defines human trafficking as an act of coercing a person’s labor services or commercial sex acts. Family Nurse Practitioners play a significant role in the identification of victims, especially those practicing in emergency departments. A majority of healthcare providers have yet to establish a standardized screening tool and there is little evidence regarding the impact these screening tools have in recognizing victims of human trafficking (Emergency Nurses Association, 2018). This alarming information brings about the clinical …

Nurse Practitioner Intervention In Palliative Care Settings, Lacie N. Harris

MSN Capstone Projects

Palliative care is a specialty of healthcare that focuses on chronic and severe disease. As chronic disease continues to rise annually related to genetics, sedentary lifestyle, and environmental factors, the need for interventions will increase to meet demands of patients, families, and organizations. Therefore, implementation of a nurse practitioner in the palliative care setting is ideal for optimal patient outcomes.

Non-Physician Led Hypertension Management, Poupak Moshayedi

MSN Capstone Projects

The importance of controlling and better management of hypertension cannot be overemphasized, and the need for task sharing and multidisciplinary approach has never been more significant than in chronic conditions like hypertension. With many complications that it causes and with the many classes of drugs that we have in controlling blood pressure, having only 24 percent of people being controlled shows a break in knowledge and patient care. The gap can be filled with nurse involvement and taking more ownership and responsibility in tackling high numbers with interventions that are proven to work. Getting patients involved and following up with …

Decreasing Bias And Improving Education On Non-Invasive Colorectal Screening Methods, Sara H. Hughes

MSN Capstone Projects

It is estimated that in 2020, nearly 148,000 Americans will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer and 53,200 Americans will die from colorectal cancer (Siegel et al., 2020). One- half of all cases and deaths are due to modifiable risk factors such as diet and smoking and it has been shown that early screening and detection can greatly decrease the morbidity and mortality of colorectal cancer yet colorectal cancer related deaths still ranks among the leading causes of cancer-related deaths in the United States and the world. Early detection of colorectal cancer is crucial to reducing mortality and although this is …

Massage Therapy For Agitation In Dementia Benchmark, Ashley Salyer

MSN Capstone Projects

Dementia is a progressive disease that eventually results in cognitive and functional decline as well as behavioral and psychological symptoms. Age is a significant risk factor for dementia and due to an increase in longevity, the number of people with dementia is rising. Expanding research on dementia and management interventions should be a priority due to the nature of the disease, its impact on healthcare, and its emotional effect on both the individual and family. Over prescription of medication for behavioral and psychological symptoms in dementia has been identified as problem in long-term care facilities. The current practice at many …

Intravenous Catheter Antiseptics To Prevent Infections, Tiara Ford

MSN Capstone Projects

This presentation focuses on finding the most effective antiseptic to preventing intravenous catheter related infections (CRI). There have been many antiseptics used over the years for cleaning the site before insertion, during maintenance, and removal. But there still have been cases of CRI that are costly to hospitals, outpatient settings, and patients. In this benchmark study there have been 12 research articles that have been intensely reviewed to come up with own conclusion, the best antiseptic. Chlorhexidine has been found to be the most effective according to the 12 research articles compared with other antiseptics. The presentation is comparing chlorhexidine …

Music Therapy In The Nicu, Chandler Tice

MSN Capstone Projects

This paper discusses the importance of implementing the use of music therapy in the NICU. Preterm infants experience procedures that cause stress, overstimulation, and a change in vital signs. The use of music therapy aids in protecting preterm infants. This paper discusses the implementation and evaluation process and the benefits, cost, and literature associated with this change.

Physical Activity For Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients: Benchmark Study, Lauren Nicholson

MSN Capstone Projects

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune inflammatory condition that affects the joints; without proper treatment and management, RA leads to the destruction of joint function. The standard of care for RA includes medications such as biologic therapy and disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs. An often-overlooked area of disease management is the implementation of exercise programs for patients with RA. Exercise is known to decrease systemic inflammation, symptoms of depression, and combat fatigue – all common symptoms reported by patients with RA.

Standard of care for patients with RA does not currently include lifestyle management factors such as diet, exercise, and cessation of …

Patient Controlled Fluid Restriction Monitoring, Christina Tindel

MSN Capstone Projects

Patients are often placed under non-pharmacologic orders such as fluid restrictions during their hospital stay. The following article will discuss a plan to implement a change to have patients take a more active role in their plan of care by being the main ones to monitor their fluid intake.

Start Stop-Bang, Valerie D. Reeve

MSN Capstone Projects

Currently standard of care in the perioperative unit is not conducive when caring for patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). OSA is highly prevalent and often undiagnosed. Screening patients with a STOP-Bang questionnaire is quick, effective, and cost efficient. OSA is linked to poor postoperative outcomes. Patients at high risk for OSA often encounter complications such as: additional airway management, respiratory complications, cardiovascular complications, and increased length of stay. Screening creates awareness and identification of patients at risk for postoperative complications.

Structured Discharge Education: A Benchmark Study, Michaela E. Place

MSN Capstone Projects

Patient satisfaction is a topic of interest in many clinical settings. There are many ways healthcare providers can attempt to promote patient satisfaction. One of the most important is to ensure comprehensive discharge instructions are given to patients, especially in the emergency department (ED). One particular study found that in patients discharged from the emergency department, approximately one-fifth experience negative health-related issues that result in readmission or return visits to the ED in the month post-discharge (Campione, Smith & Mardon, 2017). “To reduce the readmission rate, various discharge planning and patient education programs have been provided to the patients preparing …

Honey For The Diabetic Foot Ulcer: Alternatives In Wound Care, Hannah Esther Campbell

MSN Capstone Projects

A literature review was conducted over the available articles surrounding the use of honey in wound care for chronic diabetic foot ulcers. Medical-grade honey bandages have been found to have many properties that can enhance wound healing, and honey dressings were found to promote faster healing times than several alternatives. A benchmark project was conducted to delineate the process for application of research and implementation of practice change in a healthcare facility.

Pcos Lifestyle Management Change Project, Elizabeth King

MSN Capstone Projects

This paper proposes the Lifestyle Modification Change Project to help fulfill this lack of education and emphasis on lifestyle modifications that occurs with patients diagnosed with PCOS. This change project would include a 16-week lifestyle modification program that would evaluate pre- and post- participation data including: BMI, weight, inches, testosterone levels, menstrual cycle regularity numbers, and quality of life questionnaire.

New Graduate Nurses Experiences During Their Transition From Novice To Competent And How Mentorship Post Residency Affect Their Experiences, Kelsey N. Murphy

MSN Capstone Projects

Staffing competent nurses in specialized areas poses a unique challenge to hospitals across the country. Competent and experienced RNs are leaving the bedside for a multitude of reasons including dissatisfaction in workplace environment, retirement, and hospitals are facing a shortage of skilled nurses in acute care (Valdez, 2008). To address this growing concern and meet increasingly complex health care demands, hospitals are relying on nursing schools to produce competent graduate nurses (GNs) (Valdez, 2008). Hospitals recruit and hire GNs for highly specialized roles in acute care areas despite the stressors accompanied with these roles. Clinical educators have the opportunity to …

Therapeutic Hypothermia, False Hope In Cooling, Katherine Zuniga

MSN Capstone Projects

According to the American Heart Association (2018), every year 356,000 people suffer from cardiac arrest. In the vast majority of these cases, the patient is unable to be resuscitated. However, for the individuals for whom Return of Spontaneous Circulation (ROSC) is achieved, the AHA recommends targeted temperature management or therapeutic hypothermia. TH is the process of cooling a comatose person in hopes of preserving neurological function. However, despite this intervention, many still perish or do not retain their prior level of function. In post cardiac arrest patients, what is the effect of therapeutic hypothermia compared to maintaining normothermia on patient …

Workplace Violence In The Emergency Department: Screening With The Stamp Assessment, Adrienne Wilson

MSN Capstone Projects

Health care workers experience significantly more injuries at work due to violence than workers in all other industries, with a particularly higher risk to health care workers in Emergency Departments (EDs) (Copeland & Henry, 2017, p. 65). Following a violent event, 94% of nurses experienced one or more symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, which have a significant relationship with work productivity (Gates et al., 2011, p. 59). Workplace violence (WPV) events are linked to poor staff retention, poor quality of care, increased staff burnout, and patient/visitor dissatisfaction (Renker et al., 2013).

These issues can be addressed with a simple screening …

Oral Care And Ventilator Associated Pneumonia Prevention, Rachel Baber

MSN Capstone Projects

With rising healthcare costs and increasing demands placed on healthcare workers, it is no wonder that decreasing hospital length of stay for patients is high priority for hospitals today. Hospital acquired infections are one of the culprits keeping so many patients hospitalized. Specifically, in intensive care units (ICU) and intermediate care (IMC) units that care for mechanically ventilated patients, ventilator associated pneumonia secondary to intubation is a complication and cost that is being sought to be avoided. Hospitals have been pro-active to prevent ventilator associated pneumonia from occurring by placing oral care bundles or protocols in place to care for …

The Role Of Allergy Testing In Eczematic Patients: A Benchmark Study, Ashley E. Cox

MSN Capstone Projects

Eczema or atopic dermatitis (AD) is the first visible sign that indicates a much bigger and more complex problem within the body. The first presentation of symptoms is typically in individuals less than six months of age. Concerned parents bring their child to the pediatrician where a course of topical corticosteroids is prescribed, according to current AD treatment guidelines (Weston, & Howe, 2019). Long term use of corticosteroids has proven to be detrimental to the patient’s health, especially pediatric patients, in many ways such as gynecomastia, hypertrichosis, staphylococcal infections, skin atrophy, and worsening of skin diseases, just to name a …

Reducing Catheter Associated Urinary Tract Infection (Cauti) Rates Benchmark Study, Tendai B. Shambare

MSN Capstone Projects

Abstract

Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) make up to about 40 % of all healthcare associated infections, and about 13,000 patients die yearly from Catheter Associated Urinary Tract Infections (CAUTI) complications. Urinary catheters at times maybe unjustified or inappropriate, which can potentially create increased hospital costs, patient discomfort and pain, length of hospital stay. And even death. The longer the catheter is left in place also increases the patient’s risk of developing a CAUTI. CAUTI bundle packages have been found to be effective in reducing CAUTI rates when used consistently. The bundle is a combination of evidence-based practice policies, nurse and …

Social Support As A Risk Factor Of Postpartum Depression Among Women Of Various Ethnicity, Jingle Xu

MSN Capstone Projects

Postpartum depression is considered the most important mental disorder after delivery because of the high prevalence and the serious negative mother-baby outcomes. Education and support of mothers for postpartum depression are deeply held values of nursing care during pregnancy and the postpartum period (Ladewig, London & Davidson, 2014). Risk factors are the common target of these interventions, among which social support is one of the most popular factors in research currently. Social support is composed of instrumental, informational, and emotional support given by a social network to maintain an individual’s mental health status when they are faced with significant or …

Impact Of Skin To Skin Contact Implemented In The Operating Room, Michelle K. Reno

MSN Capstone Projects

Healthcare is constantly advancing and adapting to provide the latest evidence-based care for patients and their families. This has become especially true with families deciding where they want to deliver their babies. Family-Centered Maternity Care (FCMC) has become the leading force behind providing care for women and their babies in the hospital setting (Zwelling & Phillips, 2001). One of the main nursing practices promoted under FCMC is that of mother-baby couplet care. The main goal of couplet care is to keep mothers and babies together throughout their hospital stay. This type of care also provides stability and consistency in nursing …

Decreasing Hospitalization In Infants, William Hang

MSN Capstone Projects

Infants are the most vulnerable population at risk for serious diseases. Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a disease that can be detrimental in infants because of their immature lungs and immune system. Palivizumab, a humanized monoclonal antibody medication, given every 28-30 days has been shown to reduces RSV symptoms and decrease rates of hospitalization by 15%. By reducing the rate of hospital stay, it will also reduce cost.

Screen Time Reduction, Karmen L. Serda Mrs.

MSN Capstone Projects

Children and adolescents are spending an alarming amount of time engaging in screen time (ST) activities on mobile devices, computers, televisions (TV), and video games; activities include, but are not limited to, watching shows or movies, playing video games, searching the internet, texting, or using social media. This excessive ST is contributing to a vast array of serious childhood complications and health concerns, of which are rarely discussed, acknowledged, or remedied.

The proposed implementation of a structured 3-day elementary school based screen time reduction program (STRP) that would target not only the children and adolescents, but their parents and/or caregivers …

Preventing Readmissions Through Community Health Nursing, Stephanie Dawson

MSN Capstone Projects

Incorporating community health nurses to follow patients with a moderate to high risk of readmission post-discharge could improve the risk of readmission for these patients. When a patient is discharged from the hospital, they can become overwhelmed and not be adequately prepared to go home despite the discharge education given (Kenney-Lueptow, 2020). Telephone follow up is a low-cost way to decrease readmissions and provide continued education to the patients (Heitkam, 2019). Utilizing the bedside nurses that have been caring for the patients in the hospital can create a greater sense of community for the hospital and its population. By connecting …