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Full-Text Articles in Nursing

Mental Health Concerns In African American Churches: Pastoral Preparedness In Counseling, Melody Samuel Jan 2019

Mental Health Concerns In African American Churches: Pastoral Preparedness In Counseling, Melody Samuel

Nursing Theses and Capstone Projects

African Americans rely heavily upon their pastors for more than spiritual guidance. Pastors are known as gatekeepers in the African American community serving as a resource to address a multitude of issues for their congregant from personal issues such as finances and marital issues, grief and bereavement, to physical and mental health issues. The aim of this study was to examine pastoral preparedness for counseling of mental health concerns in the African American church. To better understand the demand of mental health counseling for their congregants and assess the pastor’s perception of educational and training needs, 35 pastors and/or associate …


Understanding The Autism Spectrum Disorder Population: An Opportunity To Improve Patient Care, Jean A. Timmons Jan 2019

Understanding The Autism Spectrum Disorder Population: An Opportunity To Improve Patient Care, Jean A. Timmons

Nursing Theses and Capstone Projects

There is a documented need for caring education regarding patients with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) for nursing students and nursing staff. The autism spectrum population is increasing, one in 59 children in the United States as reported by the CDC’s Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network (as cited in Baio et al., 2018). Nurses are expected to provide appropriate care, showing respect and understanding at all times to both the client and family. Through lack of knowledge and misunderstanding the ASD population has not been given this care. Based on Watson’s Theory of Caring, an educational ASD caring program …


Primary Care "Catches" Up With Behavioral Health, Michael Hannes Thorarinson Jan 2017

Primary Care "Catches" Up With Behavioral Health, Michael Hannes Thorarinson

Nursing Theses and Capstone Projects

The problems caused by the lack of care coordination between primary care and behavioral health are well documented. Patients with uncontrolled mental health issues along with chronic health problems cost two to three times the health care dollars to manage than patients who have the same chronic health problems but without uncontrolled mental health issues. Despite this, in rural North Carolina, the de facto level of care coordination is none. Mental health and primary care are completely separate, distinct systems that do not routinely communicate. One of the identified barriers to care coordination is the lack of reimbursement for the …


The Effects Of A Brief Mindfulness-Based Meditation Intervention On Chronic Pain, Jolena B. Allred Dec 2016

The Effects Of A Brief Mindfulness-Based Meditation Intervention On Chronic Pain, Jolena B. Allred

Nursing Theses and Capstone Projects

As the number of individuals suffering with chronic pain escalates, management is shifting from pain specialists to primary care providers. Nurse practitioners are becoming increasingly responsible for the management of this complex patient population. Analgesics, primarily opioids, have been the standard of chronic pain management with a resulting national crisis related to overuse, improper use, and illegal use of these substances. Mindfulness-based meditation has gained increasing interest and acceptance by both the individuals suffering with chronic pain and the providers managing those who suffer, however, limited investigation is available related to brief interventions provided at point-of-care. This Capstone Project evaluated …


Depression Scores In Males And Females With Copd, Cynthia Southers Dec 2016

Depression Scores In Males And Females With Copd, Cynthia Southers

Nursing Theses and Capstone Projects

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of participation in a pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) program on depressions scores in persons with COPD and if there is a difference between males and females in depression scores prior to and following participation in a pulmonary rehabilitation program. The literature review supported multiple factors on how participating in a pulmonary rehabilitation program can have a positive effect on depression scores. The study utilized a descriptive design with a retrospective chart review. The quantitative descriptive design identified variables and examined the differences in males and females with COPD using pre- and …


Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome, Sharon F. Ali Jul 2016

Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome, Sharon F. Ali

Nursing Theses and Capstone Projects

Alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS) is a very serious problem that may affect the patient when admitted inpatient for a traumatic or non-traumatic diagnosis. Chronic Alcohol consumption in moderation may put the patient at risk for delirium tremens which is the most severe form of alcohol withdrawal. Management of alcohol withdrawal in acutely ill hospitalized patients is challenging for healthcare providers (Riddle, Bush, Tittle, & Dilkhush, 2010). Signs and symptoms of AWS are caused primarily by neurophysiologic changes in the brain, which may be mild to severe, and may develop within 6-72 hours after abstaining from alcohol. Mild symptoms of withdrawal …


Post-Concussion Policy Change For The Student-Athlete, Heather Porter May 2016

Post-Concussion Policy Change For The Student-Athlete, Heather Porter

Nursing Theses and Capstone Projects

The intent of the evidence-based practice project was to implement a policy change for the development and implementation of a policy and related procedures to ensure equity and continuity in practices for successful reintegration of student-athletes who had sustained a concussion back into their classrooms. The lack of attention on cognitive effects of concussion and the “ripple effect” in the classroom needed to be addressed by the nursing profession from an education-intervention focus. A corrective action plan was developed by a doctoral student including an educational teaching session and PowerPoint Presentation and pilot policy. The end result of the project …


School Mental Health Guide For Educators, Yvonne Smith May 2016

School Mental Health Guide For Educators, Yvonne Smith

Nursing Theses and Capstone Projects

This Capstone Project explored the impact of providing a staff development program to educators in a public school setting to address rising concerns over unmet student mental health needs in this school setting. Student mental health response and referral had become prominent concerns in the project school. The project leader developed two separate sessions addressing adolescent depression and mental health. The sessions, facilitated by the project leader and the project implementation team, represented the interprofessional disciplines of nursing, counseling, and social work. Each session addressed issues of confidentiality, definition and signs/symptoms of each conditions, common treatments, evidenced-based classroom strategies and …


Sleep Hygiene Program For Night Shift Workers, Dale Wicker May 2016

Sleep Hygiene Program For Night Shift Workers, Dale Wicker

Nursing Theses and Capstone Projects

Sleep is vital to health and wellbeing. Service professionals such as nurses, firefighters, and police officers, historically have worked in shifts requiring around the clock coverage. Now, many companies are following similar strategies with working employees in 12 hour or 8 hour shifts including night shift. Night shift workers must adjust to sleeping during the daytime by combating their normal circadian regulatory system. Maladaptation to daytime sleep can affect overall sleep time and poorer sleep quality. Shift Work Disorder is a medical condition where employees struggle with chronic sleep deprivation that can lead to other health problems. Employee health clinics …


Orientation Program For Psychiatric Clinical Experience, Kathy C. Williams May 2016

Orientation Program For Psychiatric Clinical Experience, Kathy C. Williams

Nursing Theses and Capstone Projects

Student nurses often experience anxiety prior to their psychiatric clinical experience and this anxiety can adversely affect their learning experience and ability to provide optimal nursing care to clients who have psychiatric illnesses. A formal Orientation Program for the Psychiatric Clinical Experience (OP-PCE) was developed to reduce student nurses’ anxiety prior to their psychiatric clinical experience. The OP-PCE was implemented as a component of the routine psychiatric curriculum in a pre-licensure registered nursing program at a university in Southeastern United States of America. Thirty-four student nurses participated in the OP-PCE. The content of the OP-PCE included general orientation information such …


Mindfulness Education For Stress Reduction In Nursing Students, Kathryn Kekenes Peterson May 2016

Mindfulness Education For Stress Reduction In Nursing Students, Kathryn Kekenes Peterson

Nursing Theses and Capstone Projects

Problem. The level of stress experienced by college students can be significant. It can be even more pronounced in nursing students as a result of the intense curriculum and clinical experiences. Stress can be the result of academic, personal, or interpersonal causes. It can affect physical, psychological, spiritual, and social well-being. Stress is not always avoidable but learning techniques to manage stress can improve overall well-being by decreasing the physical, psychological, spiritual, and social effects of stress. Learning to manage stress through holistic self-care with mindfulness stress reduction techniques could help alleviate the negative effects of stress, enabling the student …


Nursing Students' Perceptions Of Mental Health Patients And Mental Health Nursing, Susan Furr Jan 2014

Nursing Students' Perceptions Of Mental Health Patients And Mental Health Nursing, Susan Furr

Nursing Theses and Capstone Projects

This Capstone project evaluated the impact of a simulation-based learning experience on nursing students' anxiety levels, preparedness for psychiatric practicum, and stereotypical views towards individuals with mental illness. A sample of 15 bachelor level nursing students was utilized. The experimental group (n=8) was exposed to a four-hour simulation-based learning experience prior to the beginning of their clinical experience. The control group (n=7) began their clinical rotation without any simulation exposure. A pretest, posttest design utilizing the Mental Health Nursing Survey Part 1 (MHN-1) and the Mental Health Nursing Survey Part 2 (MHN-2) was used to measure the students' stereotypical views, …


Relationship Between Psychotropic Drugs And Falls In The Geriatric Population, Lauren E. Fletcher Crotts Jan 2013

Relationship Between Psychotropic Drugs And Falls In The Geriatric Population, Lauren E. Fletcher Crotts

Nursing Theses and Capstone Projects

Falls in the geriatric population are extremely common and the risk for falls continues to increase with age. Falls are a leading cause of mortality in the geriatric population, and it is the number one reason for institutionalization in the United States. The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship of the prescribing effects of psychotropic medications such as antidepressants, benzodiazepines, and antipsychotics on falls in the geriatric population who live in a long term care community with a diagnosis of depression, dementia, anxiety, delirium, and Alzheimer's disease. The literature provided mixed conclusions on the effects of psychotropic …


Development Of A Lateral Workplace Incivility Nurse Liaison Position In The Psychiatric Healthcare Setting, Christopher L. Brown Jan 2013

Development Of A Lateral Workplace Incivility Nurse Liaison Position In The Psychiatric Healthcare Setting, Christopher L. Brown

Nursing Theses and Capstone Projects

Workplace incivility is becoming commonplace in all work environments including health care. Research highlights the dangerous, distressing, and costly side effects of lateral workplace incivility (LWPI) including nursing staff's overall health, organizational commitment, and intent to stay. Historically, organizations have been considered safe work environments but LWPI has increased over the last several decades. There has also been limited research related to LWPI as it affects psychiatric healthcare staff and no study recommending a needs assessment or developing a position to educate and assist victims. The purpose of this project was to assess psychiatric healthcare staff's understanding and exposure to …


What Is The Caregivers' (Certified Nursing Assistant) Perception Of Their Role While Caring For A Patient In The Household Model?, Daniyele Feaster Jan 2011

What Is The Caregivers' (Certified Nursing Assistant) Perception Of Their Role While Caring For A Patient In The Household Model?, Daniyele Feaster

Nursing Theses and Capstone Projects

This was a mixed design study that assessed the caregivers' perception of their role while caring for patients in the household model. A sample of 12 caregivers currently employed in a long-term care facility operating in the household model was asked to complete a survey and answer 11 questions during a one on one interview. This interview tool allowed the caregivers the opportunity to rate their personal experiences, environment and express their feelings associated with their role as a certified nursing assistant working in a household model. The results indicated that the caregivers enjoyed working in the household environment and …