Nursing Commons^™

Job Satisfaction And Stress Level Of The Occupational Health Nurse, Angela Ballard

Nursing Theses and Capstone Projects

Occupational health nursing is a specialized field of nursing, employing only about 1% of total U.S. nurses (Moore & Moore, 2014). For this reason, it is often difficult to recruit prospective occupational health nurses (OHN). The need for OHN has grown in the auto industry in 2014 and 2015 due to increased production rates. It is important to determine whether or not current OHN, specifically in the auto manufacturing field, are satisfied and plan to stay in their current positions. Identifying reasons for job stress and job satisfaction helps leadership to correct deficiencies and develop and maintain a positive work …

The Correlation Between Satisfaction With Nursing Orientation And The Number Of Preceptors Utilized, Alessia H. Parker

Nursing Theses and Capstone Projects

The satisfaction of new graduate nurses with hospital orientation may impact job satisfaction, retention, and the ability of healthcare facilities to develop proficient nurses. Preceptors are an integral part of nursing orientation and the use of one or multiple preceptors during new graduate nurse orientation is discussed in previous research studies with varying results. Some study participants value using a minimal number of preceptors, while other new graduate nurses enjoy the variety of having multiple preceptors. The purpose of this thesis was to examine the effect of orienting with one or multiple preceptors on the degree of satisfaction with the …

Compassion Fatigue: Exploring The Impact On Emergency Department Nurses, Lauren E. Pittman

Nursing Theses and Capstone Projects

The purpose of this thesis project was to explore levels of compassion fatigue in emergency department nurses. Compassion fatigue has directly affected many nurses’ lives as well as impacting the field of nursing in various ways. Jean Watson’s Theory of Human Caring served as the theoretical framework for the study. The literature maintains that the prevalence of compassion fatigue has been established, yet severity varies among institutions and specialties. A quantitative study to determine the level of compassion fatigue in ED nurses was conducted by utilizing a group on the social media site Facebook that is specific to travel nurses …

Inpatient Diabetes Management Readiness: For The Nurse, When Does It Begin?, Lisa Haynes

Nursing Theses and Capstone Projects

It is the bedside nurse that spends the most time and effort managing symptoms of the diabetic patient during the course of a hospitalization. With the goal of optimal blood sugar levels of each patient to promote healing and wellbeing, this task can be quiet daunting. It is imperative for the acute care nurse to acquire a competency level of diabetes management that exhibits evidence-based practice, regardless of length of work experience, in order for patients to receive excellent care. This research studied the level of comfort, familiarity, and knowledge of new nurse graduates while answering the question, “When does …

Nurse Preceptors' Perceptions Of Preparedness In The Preceptor Role, Ebony Phillips

Nursing Theses and Capstone Projects

Healthcare is multifaceted with complicated illnesses that require aggressive treatments and therapies. Caring for patients with these illnesses has become progressively difficult due to the nursing shortage, high turnover rates, and lack of competence and critical thinking, which impacts quality care and outcomes. To enhance the knowledge of the nurses, preceptors are an essential part the orientation experience. Therefore, preceptors’ perceptions of preparedness influence the effectiveness of the role. Appropriate preparation provides them with the knowledge needed to meet learning needs. The aim of this study was to explore preceptors’ perceptions of preparedness in the preceptor role. The perceptions of …

Socio-Demographics And Exclusive Breastfeeding In The Medicaid/Women Infant And Children (Wic) Population In Spartanburg County, April D. Miller

Nursing Theses and Capstone Projects

Breast milk is recognized as the optimal source of nutrition for infants because of its unique nutritional and immunological characteristics. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of an infant’s life. "Exclusive breastfeeding (EBF)" is defined as no other food or drink except breast milk for the first six months of life. Despite its countless benefits to children and mothers, the continuation rates of exclusive breastfeeding are low in the United States, especially in the Medicaid/Women Infant and Children population. It is vital to understand how multiple factors affect breastfeeding practices in order to …

The Impact Of Short Papers On Clinical Decision Making Skills Of Nursing Students, Tara R. Hayes

Nursing Theses and Capstone Projects

Clinical decision making and critical thinking are fundamental skills to ensuring the success of undergraduate nursing students. Nursing faculty, and specifically clinical nursing faculty, are responsible for encouraging the development of these types of skills as students work in direct patient care. Traditional methods of clinical evaluation include lengthy case studies, concept mapping, and discussion board participation. While these methods have been in effect for some time, clinical short paper assignments are a fresh, innovative way to challenge students as they refine their critical thinking and clinical decision making abilities. No statistically significant difference was found between the perceived level …

The Effects Of Preoperative Education On Readmission Rates For Total Joint Arthroplasties, Michele Gobble

Nursing Theses and Capstone Projects

Background: Primary total hip arthroplasty (THA) and total knee arthroplasty (TKA) are two of the most successful procedures performed in orthopedics. The demand for these procedures is estimated to grow 174% for THAs and 673% for TKAs by 2030, which will have a valued bill of almost $50 billion for Medicare. The bundled payment plan is a way to reduce costs for these procedures, where an estimated 35% of the bill is related to post-discharge care (Schaeffer et al., 2015, p. 723).

Review of the Literature: In 2015, this healthcare reform began including readmission penalties for patients readmitted within 30 …

The Relationship Between The Nurses’ Perception Of The Practice Environment And Patients’ Satisfaction, Shalonda Brown

Nursing Theses and Capstone Projects

Nurses’ practice environments contribute to patient satisfaction. The practice environment is influenced by work design, workforce development, organizational management practices, and culture. Each of these influential factors is significant to how patients perceive how their treatment as a person and their nursing care. The purpose of this study was to examine the nurse practice environment and determine its impact on patients’ satisfaction with care during hospitalization. The objective was to analyze the collected data and use it to gain insight and heighten awareness of how various aspects of the nurse practice environment directly and indirectly impact the patient experience. A …

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

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 …

Examining Kaplan Nursing School Entrance Exam For Student Success And Attrition: A Retrospective Review, Delicia Mckoy

Nursing Theses and Capstone Projects

The purpose of this study is to determine what the relationship is between student performance on the Kaplan Nursing School Entrance Exam, academic success, and attrition. Nursing Undergraduate Retention and Success (NURS) Model by Marianne R. Jeffreys (2012) was the theoretical framework for a study. The population consisted of 94 BSN students at a southeast public university in North Carolina. An existing nursing student database was used to collect the data. The independent variables were Kaplan Nursing School Entrance Exam scores, including the composite score and subtest scores in math, science, reading, and writing. The dependent variable, academic success, was …

Outcomes Of Peer Mentoring At An Associate Degree Nursing Program, Melissa B. Harper

Nursing Theses and Capstone Projects

Nursing students have described clinical experiences as being stressful, yet the application of classroom knowledge to the clinical health care setting is a requirement. The purpose of this mixed-method study is to compare students’ perceptions of the peer mentoring leadership experience (PMLE) and the student charge nurse experience (SCNE). The PMLE was piloted at a southeastern community college’s associate degree nursing (ADN) program. Hand-selected PMLE second-year nursing students (n=5) were paired with hand-selected PMLE first-year nursing students (n=5) for medical/surgical clinical rotations. The ADN program’s purpose for these clinical rotations was to provide a mutually beneficial mentoring experience. The remaining …

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 …

Simulation In Orientation: Increasing Nurses' Self-Confidence In Hospital Equipment, Policies, And Procedures, Haley Wilmoth

Nursing Theses and Capstone Projects

Simulation provides a safe environment for the nurse to practice and learn new skills in a safe and controlled manner. This allows a novice nurse to advance to an expert level without placing a patient at harm and increasing self-confidence at the bedside. The purpose of the Orientation Simulation Study is to evaluate the effectiveness of simulation on self-confidence on new hire nursing staff when learning how to use the hospital Heparin Nomogram and dose mode on the IV pump. The study was conducted over four months with 18 nurses surveyed using a pre- and post-Likert scale called the Confidence …

Bedside Nurses' Perceptions Of Intensive Care Unit Telemedicine In A Rural Setting, Susan Parker

Nursing Theses and Capstone Projects

Healthcare is a rapidly changing and continuously advancing field. Currently, virtual care technology (e-ICU) is moving into many rural healthcare facilities in an effort to improve patient care outcomes and bridge physician and nursing shortages. The purpose of this Masters of Science thesis is to determine the impact that electronic telemedicine has on the quality of nursing care at the bedside. The study done by Mullen-Fortino et al. (2012) in an urban academic center was replicated to compare the bedside nurses’ perception of ICU telemedicine in a rural hospital setting. Thirty-eight rural ICU nurses working with ICU telemedicine responded to …

Nclex-Rn Success: Correlation Study Of Ati Comprehensive Predictor In An Associate Degree Nursing Program, Wanda L. Jenkins

Nursing Theses and Capstone Projects

The purpose of this quantitative study was to determine the relationship between the ATI Comprehensive Predictor and NCLEX-RN success on first attempt for the ADN program at a consortium of three community colleges in the foothills of North Carolina. The population sample consisted of graduates from the associate degree consortium of three community colleges in the foothills of North Carolina in 2014-2015 that have made one attempt at NCLEX-RN. The total number of students included in the study was 111. The results were collected and analyzed utilizing the SPSS version 23 statistical system and a predictive spreadsheet to determine overall …

Factors That Influence Mothers' Decisions Concerning Breastfeeding, Kimberly M. Futrelle

Nursing Theses and Capstone Projects

The purpose of this study was to explore factors that influence decisions concerning breastfeeding in a group of 30 mothers who are employed, place their children in a childcare center, and whose children are five years of age and under. The study utilized Fishbein and Ajzen’s Theory of Reasoned Action as the conceptual framework. The descriptive study allowed for determination of the factors of attitudes, beliefs, and opinions that influence mothers’ decisions concerning breastfeeding. Statistical data compiled from survey results revealed many participants believed that breast milk is less expensive than formula. However, a significant number of mothers were neutral …

Stemi Gender Differences, Rhonda Anderson

Nursing Theses and Capstone Projects

The purpose of this study was to look at gender differences in a ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), in a population from a large tertiary hospital over one year and three months period to see if there were differences in female and male population. Looking at the time of onset of symptoms to time in seeking treatment and to see if this had an impact on morbidity, treatment modalities, and length of stay in the hospital. The time of onset of symptoms to time of treatment is important because of the time-dependent nature of reperfusion strategies. This can minimize myocardial …

The Structure Of Multidisciplinary Rounds And The Effects On Patient Perceptions, Frank Alagna

Nursing Theses and Capstone Projects

Daily rounds is one strategy to improve communication between caregivers and engage patients and families in care decisions. The purpose of this study was to determine if the structure of multidisciplinary rounds affected the patient's perception of care. King's Theory of Goal Attainment guided this study related to the relationship of interaction and outcomes three medical surgical units were identified as using different structures for patient rounding: tabletop rounds, nurse-led rounds, and team-based rounds. Patient perceptions were collected from the Professional Research Consultants (PRC) database, a nationally recognized patient satisfaction survey. Over a six month period, survey data was analyzed …

Lived Experiences Of Individuals With End-Stage Renal Disease On Peritoneal Dialysis, Jessica W. Airheart

Nursing Theses and Capstone Projects

End-stage renal disease (ESRD) is a prevalent condition among the elderly population in the United States. ESRD is the most feared stage of chronic kidney disease (CKD), as it is a terminal diagnosis requiring long-term management. Peritoneal dialysis (PD) is the most common method of home-dialysis treatment for individuals with ESRD. The purpose of this research is to gain insight into patient experiences of integrating PD therapy into daily lifestyle for a selected sample of people diagnosed with ESRD and currently on PD therapy. The research questions addressed include: how decisions about ESRD treatment options are made, choosing between PD …

Building The Foundation: Utilizing Concept Maps To Enhance Critical Thinking In First Semester Nursing Students, Lisa S. Smith

Nursing Theses and Capstone Projects

Critical thinking and clinical decision making are essential components of the knowledge and skills necessary for all nurses in order to make complex decisions that improve patient outcomes, safety, and quality of nursing care. Promoting student competence in critical thinking skills is imperative for nurse educators. Concept mapping is an active teaching strategy that can assist nurse educators in preparing nursing students to think critically in today’s complex health care environment. The purpose of this project was to implement concept maps as an additional instructional activity with first semester Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) students to promote confidence in basic critical …

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 …

Transitioning Novice Nurses To Expert Nurses In Progressive Telemetry Care, Timothy E. Fraley

Nursing Theses and Capstone Projects

New nurses do not possess the clinical skills necessary to thrive in a fast-paced, rapidly changing telemetry unit. The study explores the idea that nurses with less than two years’ experience may not have the self-confidence or experience to begin a career on a telemetry unit. A search of the literature was performed to identify the skills needed to be successful in a critical care telemetry unit. Established orientation programs, nurse internships, and nursing experience were the keywords researched. Patricia Benner’s Theory: From Novice to Expert Excellence and Power in Clinical Nursing Practice (1984) serves as the foundation for this …

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

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 …

Improving Patient Safety Through Patient Safety Aide (Sitter) Competency Education, Colman Tom

Nursing Theses and Capstone Projects

Healthcare facilities today are faced with many difficult patient care and safety challenges. In addition to providing immediate complex patient medical needs, healthcare staff must ensure patients are in a safe environment. Patient safety has become a major focus of many medical and long-term care facilities. An in-house reporting system of a medium size medical healthcare facility identified a patient safety issue. Multiple patient safety sentinel events have been reported; namely patient elopements (unauthorized missing patients) and high-risk patient falls. Certified nursing assistants were contracted to sit with these high-risk patients to alleviate these patient safety issues; nevertheless, these patient …

Lateral Violence Among New Graduate Nurses, Megan Russell

Nursing Theses and Capstone Projects

Lateral violence is an act of aggression that is committed against one nurse by another. There are many names for lateral violence, some of these include: horizontal violence, bullying, aggression, horizontal hostility, verbal abuse, or nurses eating their young. Lateral violence occurs when nurses covertly or overtly direct the dissatisfaction they are feeling inward toward each other. The effects of lateral violence on new graduate nurses and the organizations in which they work can be detrimental. An extensive literature review was undertaken to understand the significance and prevalence of lateral violence against new graduate nurses. The purpose of this study …

The Effect Of Purposeful Hourly Rounding On The Incidence Of Patient Falls, Crista H. Brown

Nursing Theses and Capstone Projects

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of purposeful hourly rounding on the incidence of patient falls. Purposeful hourly rounding is a vital component of the nursing care delivery model that is impacting the fall rates. Providing structure and emphasis to the hourly rounding process assist in the evaluation of the desired outcomes as it relates to patients falls. As healthcare organizations experience the concept of public reporting, patient safety has become an increasingly important concern. Purposeful hourly rounding can improve quality, safety, and the patient’s perception of their care. The results of this study found there …

Pre-Employment Testing To Improve Nurse Retention, Jonathan Brandon

Nursing Theses and Capstone Projects

Nurse retention is an issue healthcare organizations cannot afford to ignore. The nursing shortage continues to impact healthcare in this country which increases the importance and urgency of retaining nurses. Job success, also referred as job satisfaction, is a key indicator of a nurse’s intent to stay. There are pre-employment tests that were designed specifically for healthcare organizations to help them choose applicants that are most likely to be successful resulting in better patient outcomes and improved nurse retention. The purpose of this study was to compare the perceived job satisfaction and intent to stay of nurses that completed pre-employment …