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Full-Text Articles in Nursing

Parents Knowledge Of Child Passenger Safety Laws And Use Of Safety Restraints, Tracy Bell Jan 2015

Parents Knowledge Of Child Passenger Safety Laws And Use Of Safety Restraints, Tracy Bell

Nursing Theses and Capstone Projects

The purpose of this study was to determine if there was an association between the parent’s knowledge of child passenger safety laws and the use of child passenger safety restraints. A review of current literature demonstrates barriers to incorrect use of child passenger safety seats. The literature demonstrated that multiple factors that are involved in inappropriate use of child passenger safety seats. The research was guided by Nola Pender’s framework for Health Promotion Model. The study was comprised of a convenience sample of 34 parents and caregivers from a child development center. Data was collected using the Child Passenger Safety …


The Impact Of Self-Care Education On Heart Failure Patients With A High Risk For Readmission, Neil Williams Ii Jan 2015

The Impact Of Self-Care Education On Heart Failure Patients With A High Risk For Readmission, Neil Williams Ii

Nursing Theses and Capstone Projects

The purpose of this Capstone Project study was to answer the question: Does self-care education improve knowledge and decrease 30 day readmission rates in a class of heart failure patients that are at high risk for exacerbation? The study used a randomized control design with a pre-test/post-test. A convenience sample of 50 African Americans diagnosed with heart failure were entered; control group (n=25) and experimental group (n=25). Both groups received the Heart failure Pre/Post Test developed by the researcher during the initial interview and four weeks post discharge. The experimental group received a phone call weekly over the four weeks …


The Effect Of Art Therapy On Hospice And Palliative Caregivers, Carol E. Gress Jan 2015

The Effect Of Art Therapy On Hospice And Palliative Caregivers, Carol E. Gress

Nursing Theses and Capstone Projects

A quazi-experimental, one-group, pretest/posttest study was conducted with a group of 25 hospice workers employed by a medium sized county hospice organization in the southeastern United States that was experiencing rapid personnel turn-over. Participants in the study included a doctor, a physician’s assistant, a nurse practitioner, a massage therapist, a grief counselor, a licensed practical nurse, a certified nursing assistant, two clergy, three administrative staff, three social workers, seven volunteers, eight registered nurses and one other. The purpose was to investigate whether attending four 1-hour art therapy sessions could help reduce stress and thereby Burnout. Stamm’s (2010) Professional Quality of …


Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy In A Sample Of Wic Participants, Sarah Rowe Jan 2015

Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy In A Sample Of Wic Participants, Sarah Rowe

Nursing Theses and Capstone Projects

Breastfeeding is recognized as the gold standard for infant nutrition. Women enrolled in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) give birth to over half of the infants born in the US and over 50% of manufactured formula is sold to WIC participants. The aim of this study was to determine the breastfeeding self-efficacy score and to evaluate if there was a relationship between breastfeeding self-efficacy scores and initiation and duration of breastfeeding in a sample of women enrolled in a WIC program. A total of 33 subjects were included in this study. Findings indicated women …


Lean And Six Sigma Impact On Operating Room Safety Attitudes And Efficiency, Nancy Marlene Geedey Jan 2015

Lean And Six Sigma Impact On Operating Room Safety Attitudes And Efficiency, Nancy Marlene Geedey

Nursing Theses and Capstone Projects

Non-healthcare organizations have utilized Lean Six Sigma methodologies for several decades to eliminate waste, decrease expenses, and improve efficiency. This approach to problem-solving can be successfully applied to health care process improvement projects. Health care leaders and front line staff can use a prescribed set of steps to define steps in care processes and identify potential solutions. Health care leaders can use Lean Six Sigma tools such a fishbone diagram or a cause and effect matrix to identify issues. After carefully organizing the problems into groups according to priority, leaders can develop action steps toward resolution.


Exploration Of Work Environmental Factors That Affect Nurse Job Satisfaction In A Hospital Setting, Mary L. Peeler Jan 2015

Exploration Of Work Environmental Factors That Affect Nurse Job Satisfaction In A Hospital Setting, Mary L. Peeler

Nursing Theses and Capstone Projects

Nurses are experiencing increased stress and dissatisfaction in the health care arena. The work environment impacts nurses’ perception and loyalty to organizations based on satisfaction versus dissatisfaction, including quality patient care. The purpose of this study was to explore work environmental factors that affect nurse job satisfaction in a hospital setting. Marilyn Ray’s Theory of Bureaucratic Caring was the theoretical framework for this study. The research utilized the McCloskey/Mueller Satisfaction Scale (MMSS) to examine factors in an acute care hospital associated with nurse job satisfaction. The study invited 130 nurses from a hospital in rural South Carolina to participate electronically …


The Effect Of In Situ Simulation On Teamwork Attitudes In Nursing Students, Janice Kaye Fuson Jan 2015

The Effect Of In Situ Simulation On Teamwork Attitudes In Nursing Students, Janice Kaye Fuson

Nursing Theses and Capstone Projects

Nursing students are not adequately trained in teamwork principles. Positive teamwork has been identified by governmental and accrediting bodies of healthcare to be an essential element in patient safety. TeamSTEPPS© is a program developed by the Department of Defense adapted to healthcare as a cost effective method to change the culture of healthcare organizations. A capstone project that implemented in situ simulation using a TeamSTEPPS© tool was conducted in a rural North Carolina nursing program. Eighteen students participated in the simulation and completed a pre and post TeamSTEPPS© Teamwork Attitude Questionnaire. Mean scores were noted to be considerably lower post …


Variables Influencing Breastfeeding Among First Time Mothers, Myra Westbrooks Jan 2015

Variables Influencing Breastfeeding Among First Time Mothers, Myra Westbrooks

Nursing Theses and Capstone Projects

This research examined the variables that influence breastfeeding in first time mothers. The study utilized Fishbein and Ajzen’s Theory of Reasoned Action as the theoretical framework. The sample included 147 first time mothers and utilized a descriptive design with a retrospective chart review. The descriptive study allowed for the identification of variables and patterns or characteristics of first time mothers who chose to breastfeed. Associations between several demographic variables and breastfeeding were identified in this study. By identifying variables that have a significant influence on breastfeeding, focused action plans can be developed to improve both maternal and infant health outcomes.


The Use Of An Unfolding Case Study To Enhance Self-Efficacy In Nursing Students, Hettie V. Peele Jan 2015

The Use Of An Unfolding Case Study To Enhance Self-Efficacy In Nursing Students, Hettie V. Peele

Nursing Theses and Capstone Projects

Nurse educators are challenged with preparing new nurse graduates that can function in the current healthcare practice environment of high patient acuity, morbidities, and information technology while maintaining patient safety and quality care management (Cronenwett et al., 2007). Therefore, nurse educators are amenable to exploring alternative teaching pedagogies that provide students with engaging learning opportunities that simulate real-life clinical scenarios they may encounter in professional nursing practice. This study explored the use of an unfolding case study as an innovative teaching strategy to enhance the perception of student self-efficacy. A one-group pretest-posttest descriptive design with a convenience sample of 17 …


Incorporating Simulation Into Advanced Cardiac Life Support, Lorraine Calwile Jan 2015

Incorporating Simulation Into Advanced Cardiac Life Support, Lorraine Calwile

Nursing Theses and Capstone Projects

The knowledge and practical skills of the Basic Life Support (BLS) and the Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) are among the most important determining factors of the cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) success rates. Every year there are millions of healthcare workers that dread coming to ACLS class for fear of failure of the written exam or the mega code. Many of these participants haven’t participated in a code situation since they left class the previous two years. Participants sit in class for two days listening to lectures and going through practice mega codes to prepare them for the final mega code. …


Early Intervention Of Non-Invasive Positive Pressure Ventilation In Elderly Patients With Rib Fractures, Jaclyn Gosnell Jan 2015

Early Intervention Of Non-Invasive Positive Pressure Ventilation In Elderly Patients With Rib Fractures, Jaclyn Gosnell

Nursing Theses and Capstone Projects

Rib fractures in the elderly population, 65 years and older, is more prevalent than any other population. Mortality increases with each year over the age of 65 and with each number of ribs fractured. Rib fractures are painful and can lead to a decreased respiratory effort. This results in complications such as pneumonia, respiratory depression, respiratory failure, Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS), and respiratory infections. Non-Invasive Positive Pressure Ventilation (NIPPV) assists with reducing the patient efforts to breathe while also ensuring spontaneous lung expansion. NIPPV can assist with promoting positive outcomes in patients with respiratory complications. The purpose of this …


Timeliness Of Patient Discharges: A Comparison Of The Acute Care Discharge Process For Medical And Surgical Patients, Robert Moore Jan 2015

Timeliness Of Patient Discharges: A Comparison Of The Acute Care Discharge Process For Medical And Surgical Patients, Robert Moore

Nursing Theses and Capstone Projects

Patient flow is becoming increasingly important to the efficient operations of an acute healthcare setting. Multiple factors peaking in their influence on the number of patients seeking healthcare services are on a collision course. When the true impact is felt in healthcare the potential for record numbers of patients to seek acute medical care are high. It is imperative to streamline patient flow processes to ensure healthcare facilities have the ability to provide the care sought by patients in a timely manner. This study’s purpose was to assist in increasing the number of patients an acute care facility can provide …


Final Semester Associate Degree Nursing Student Stress And Comprehensive Nclex-Rn® Predictor Exam Results, Brittany Hudgins Jan 2015

Final Semester Associate Degree Nursing Student Stress And Comprehensive Nclex-Rn® Predictor Exam Results, Brittany Hudgins

Nursing Theses and Capstone Projects

This study assessed perceived stress among graduating nursing students and explored the relationship between perceived stress and scores on a comprehensive NCLEX-RN® predictor exam. The goal was to provide data for educators to examine the correlation between student stress levels and comprehensive NCLEX-RN® predictor exam scores. Findings indicated that nursing students had higher than average stress levels based on established averages reported for the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) three weeks prior to graduation. No relationship was found in regards to stress and ATI Comprehensive Predictor Scores administered two days after students completed the PSS questionnaire. Implications for nurse educators based …


Perceived Ease Of Use And Usefulness Of Podcasting In Nursing Skills Competence, Lisa M. Barnes Jan 2015

Perceived Ease Of Use And Usefulness Of Podcasting In Nursing Skills Competence, Lisa M. Barnes

Nursing Theses and Capstone Projects

This capstone project examined nursing students' technology acceptance of podcasting as a tool for nursing skill acquisition. Technology acceptance was determined by measuring the students' perceived competence of the skill along with the perceived usefulness and ease of use of the provided podcasts. A convenience sample of 49 first semester nursing students from an associate degree and practical nursing program participated in the project. Perceived competence of the three nursing skills: obtaining vital signs, inserting a Foley catheter, and performing a sterile dressing change was examined and compared from pre-podcast availability to post-podcast availability. The overall means of the nursing …


The Effect Of Community Education On Osteoporosis Knowledge, Avis O. Morrow Jan 2015

The Effect Of Community Education On Osteoporosis Knowledge, Avis O. Morrow

Nursing Theses and Capstone Projects

Osteoporosis is a metabolic disorder characterized by the loss of bone mass, increased bone fragility, and the increased risk of fractures. Bone loss is accelerated when the diet is deficient in vitamin D and calcium. The National Osteoporosis Foundation estimates that 57 million Americans are at risk for this disorder. The risk depends on the amount of bone mass achieved between ages 25-35 and how much bone loss occurs after that age. Bone loss increases after menopause. Lifestyle modifications needed include knowledge of vitamin D, calcium, and exercise recommendations.


Perceived Patient Satisfaction With Hospital Services And Interventions, Marietta Abernathy Jan 2015

Perceived Patient Satisfaction With Hospital Services And Interventions, Marietta Abernathy

Nursing Theses and Capstone Projects

The patient and family voice should be heard in the healthcare setting. Gaining knowledge and insight from a parent of a pediatric patient will allow hospital staff and administrators to see the hospital experience from the vantage point of a patient and family member (Uhl, Fisher, Docherty, & Brandon, 2013). It is important to continually review feedback and suggestions from families of pediatric patients to improve the care of future patients. Ultimately, this will improve patient satisfaction scores, but most importantly, it will improve the experience of pediatric patients (Creating patient and family advisory councils, 2010). The investigator interviewed ten …


Utilizing Motivational Interviewing To Promote Condom Use Self-Efficacy, Ann Maria Bell Jan 2015

Utilizing Motivational Interviewing To Promote Condom Use Self-Efficacy, Ann Maria Bell

Nursing Theses and Capstone Projects

Condom use is one of the most important preventive mechanisms available to combat sexually transmitted diseases and unintended pregnancies, yet over 70% of adolescents and young adults lack education on the proper use of condoms. Lack of education and confidence in using condoms contributes to a decrease in condom usage, resulting in increased rates of sexually transmitted diseases and unintended pregnancies. The purpose of Project Motivate was to determine if motivational interviewing significantly improves self-efficacy related to condom use among patients presenting for screening of sexually transmitted diseases. The project sought to determine if motivational interviewing is an effective intervention …


The Use Of Peer Video Via M-Learning To Teach Essential Nursing Skills, Elizabeth Hall Carver Jan 2015

The Use Of Peer Video Via M-Learning To Teach Essential Nursing Skills, Elizabeth Hall Carver

Nursing Theses and Capstone Projects

The purpose of this project was to compare adding an additional educational intervention (the use of an instructional peer video on a mobile device) to standard practice in the skills lab to teach the skill of male and female urinary catheterization and the removal of a urinary catheter. The project had a quasi-experimental design, without control, and utilized a convenience sample of 31 pre-licensure nursing students. Failure rates at skills evaluation were compared between the previous semester A (fall 2014) and semester B (spring 2015). Semester B was subdivided into two groups, with approximately half in the traditional instructional B1 …


Effects Of Comfort Education On Maternal Comfort And Labor Pain, Abby E. Garlock Jan 2015

Effects Of Comfort Education On Maternal Comfort And Labor Pain, Abby E. Garlock

Nursing Theses and Capstone Projects

A lack of understanding regarding the relationship between comfort education and maternal comfort experienced during labor exists within current literature. This project examined the effects of providing education regarding comfort and comfort options available in the hospital setting on level of maternal comfort during labor. A quasi-experimental pretest/posttest comparison group design was used for this project, in which a convenience sample of 80 participants was randomly assigned into a standard care control group or an educational intervention group. Providing comfort education during admission to the labor and delivery unit did not increase comfort scores or decrease pain scores in the …


Exploring Incivility Among Registered Nurses In The Hospital Setting, Lesley Ann Gillian Jan 2015

Exploring Incivility Among Registered Nurses In The Hospital Setting, Lesley Ann Gillian

Nursing Theses and Capstone Projects

The purpose of this study was to examine the level of incivility among registered nurses in the hospital setting. A non-experimental descriptive quantitative design was used.The Nursing Incivility Scale (NIS) was sent to all registered nurses (653) employed at the hospital via email with a response rate of 24% (n=158). The NIS has source specific subscales included. The results indicated that nurses did have experiences with incivility at this facility with the sources being identified as General Hostile Climate, Nurse Gossip and Rumors, Physician Abusive Supervision and Patient and Visitor Displaced Frustration.


Rural Healthcare Providers' Behavioral Intentions With Hospice Referrals: Attitudes, Knowledge, Beliefs, Benefits And Barriers, Meki Jacobs Graham Jan 2015

Rural Healthcare Providers' Behavioral Intentions With Hospice Referrals: Attitudes, Knowledge, Beliefs, Benefits And Barriers, Meki Jacobs Graham

Nursing Theses and Capstone Projects

As hospice programs gain recognition, hospice referrals are gaining momentum. Yet for multiple reasons hospice referrals are challenging amongst rural healthcare providers (HCPs). For rural healthcare providers, lack of knowledge about hospice services and care contributes to a decrease in hospice referrals. The purpose of this capstone project was to develop an intervention to improve rural health care providers' behavioral intention to make hospice referral. The study sought to determine if an educational intervention would improve behavioral intentions to make a hospice referral resulting in increased hospice referral rates. Outcome data was based on utilizing a pretest/posttest survey design. An …


Evaluating Chain-Of-Command Self-Efficacy Through High Fidelity, Student-Directed, Obstetrical Simulation, Michelle Mcewen-Campbell Jan 2015

Evaluating Chain-Of-Command Self-Efficacy Through High Fidelity, Student-Directed, Obstetrical Simulation, Michelle Mcewen-Campbell

Nursing Theses and Capstone Projects

The purpose of this quasi-experimental capstone project was to evaluate the impact of high fidelity, student-directed, obstetrical simulation upon chain-of-command self-efficacy of baccalaureate nursing students. The convenience sample, composed of 48 junior nursing students, was randomly divided into four simulation groups, and then further randomly divided into active or observational status. Active participants planned interventions and participated in high fidelity obstetrical simulations related to patient safety and chain-of-command initiation. Active and observational students participated in a combined debriefing session. A pretest posttest design utilizing the General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES) was utilized to measure chain-of-command self-efficacy in relation to both active …


Improving Attitudes Toward Interdisciplinary Collaboration Between Nursing And Medical Students In Simulation, Kristy H. Williams Jan 2015

Improving Attitudes Toward Interdisciplinary Collaboration Between Nursing And Medical Students In Simulation, Kristy H. Williams

Nursing Theses and Capstone Projects

This capstone project assessed whether a curriculum change for senior nursing students could have an impact on improving attitudes toward physician-nurse collaboration. A convenience sample of 60 senior level nursing students and eight residents were enrolled in the study. The nursing students and residents participated in a high-fidelity simulation scenario, and were given a pretest and posttest using the Jefferson Scale of Attitudes Toward Physician-Nurse Collaboration. There was strong evidence (t= -1.971, p=.05) that the attitudes of physician-nurse collaboration improved for nursing students through a simulation based scenario with residents. The confidence interval for the difference was (-0.22, 0.002). Although …


The Impact Of Simulation-Based Learning Experience On Student Satisfaction, Perceived Self-Confidence, And Anxiety, Michelle Britt Warren Jan 2015

The Impact Of Simulation-Based Learning Experience On Student Satisfaction, Perceived Self-Confidence, And Anxiety, Michelle Britt Warren

Nursing Theses and Capstone Projects

Nurse educators are faced with the challenges of facilitating student learning in shorter time frames along with decreasing student opportunities to further their learning experiences in real-world clinical situations (LaFond & Van Hulle Vincent, 2012; Smith & Barry, 2013). There is an identifiable need for safe environments where students can practice and apply the knowledge they have learned in the didactic component of the course to the clinical situations (LaFond & Van Hulle Vincent, 2012; McClure & Gigliotti, 2012). The capstone project, "The impact of simulation based learning experience on student satisfaction, perceived self-confidence and anxiety" examined the implementation of …


Relationship Between Patient Safety Culture And Safety Outcome Measures Among Nurses, Jamie Kay Brown Jan 2015

Relationship Between Patient Safety Culture And Safety Outcome Measures Among Nurses, Jamie Kay Brown

Nursing Theses and Capstone Projects

Preventable errors in healthcare are a significant problem in today’s society, contributing to numerous adverse patient outcomes and even deaths on a daily basis. Identifying adverse outcomes is an imperative first step in creating a safer healthcare system, which can be followed by cause analyses and action plans to address systematic issues and improve process reliability. Despite the widespread use of voluntary reporting systems to identify adverse events, recent literature has found extreme limitations and severe underreporting with its use in healthcare facilities. A frequent theme in the literature implies that identifying reportable events and discouraging hesitation in reporting begins …