Nursing Commons^™

Using The Glasgow Coma Scale In Non-Neurological Clinical Areas, Tracey Thornley, Lauren Rullis

Nursing Conference Papers

The Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) was designed for use in a wide range of clinical environments with staff that had no special training (Teasdale and Jennett 1974). Evidence (Waterhouse 2007 and 2008) suggests however that there are ongoing problems with the use of the GCS assessment, and the impact that this might have on patient outcome is unknown. Variations in practice have been found in all areas, including the neurological specialties wards, however the skill level of nursing staff in non neurological areas is concerning with inconsistency in practice.

The purpose of this project was to explore the use of …

Physician Wages In States With Expanded Aprn Scope Of Practice, Patricia Pittman, Benjamin Williams

Health Policy and Management Faculty Publications

In recent years, states have looked to reforms in advanced practice nursing scope of practice (SOP) barriers as a potential means to increase access to primary care while reducing costs. Currently, 16 states and the District of Columbia permit advanced practice registered nurses to practice independently of physicians, allowing them to perform functions such as diagnosing and prescribing under their own authority within the primary care setting. Given the resistance of many physician associations to these reforms, we asked whether the economic interests of primary care physicians might be affected by reforms. Using the Bureau of Labor Statistics data on …

Enhancing Cultural Awareness: Building Relationships Between Non Native American Nurses And Native American Lakota Patients, Sharon Mercill

Theses and Graduate Projects

Enhancing Cultural Awareness: Building Relationships Between Non Native American Nurses and Native American Lakota PatientsCulture impacts the perceptions and responses to health and wellness and acceptance of nursing care. Learning how to build strong relationship bridges with the Native American Lakota patient is important so that a professional nurse can respond appropriately and sufficiently while delivering holistic nursing care. Patients will experience better health if a successful nurse-client relationship is built between them that will allow for all the patient"s needs to be fully considered promoting a true partnership. Jean Watson's caring science nursing framework of caring and healing relationships …

Partnering Associate Degree Nursing Students And Community Health Worker Students In A Collaborative, Culturally Focused, Interprofessional Learning Experience, Jane E. Johnson

Theses and Graduate Projects

The purpose of this project is to provide nursing students in the final semester of their associate degree nursing program and community health worker students with a culturally focused, interactive, collaborative, interprofessional learning experience. Health care reform addresses health disparities in an increasingly diverse population with complex chronic health needs. The needs of this diverse population require health professionals to function as members of interprofessional teams providing culturally competent care. Published professional literature supports interprofessional education for students entering the health care field to prepare them to practice as members of interprofessional teams. Government studies and professional accrediting bodies overseeing …

Bridging The Gap: Nurse Mentorship Program, Jacqueline J. Johnson

Theses and Graduate Projects

High-quality, effective mentorship can be a crucial and valuable tool in recruiting, retaining, and supporting nurses' success, especially novice registered nurses. In the current healthcare environment, growth and development of nursing staff is essential to maintain quality outcomes. Mentorship programs can create a unique environment that facilitates educational opportunities for both the novice and expert registered nurse. Nursing leaders and organizations can make lasting impacts through mentoring relationships. Through effective mentorship, nurses can positively impact healthcare organization, improve job satisfaction, promote professional development, and empower themselves. Even more important is that mentoring can result in improved nursing care, high-quality healthcare, …

Creating A Culture Of Caring In The Perianesthesia Practice, Tammy S. Bergan

Theses and Graduate Projects

Caring has been described as the essence of nursing. What nurses do as they care for patients and others is multi-dimensional, complex, and essential. Nursing's ability to clearly define and articulate what caring is guides the ethics, values, decisions, and foundations of nursing practice. Caring evokes a range of perceptions, feelings, and experiences for the patient and nurse in the perianesthesia specialty setting. Caring as a pillar of the nursing profession is explored on several levels for the perianesthesia setting. Aspects of caring include perceptions of caring, what denotes a caring environment, the role of nursing leadership in a caring …

Developing A Nursing Based Support Group For Incarcerated Women Survivors Of Childhood Sexual Assault: Pathways For Healing, Paula Johns

Theses and Graduate Projects

Every year large numbers of women are incarcerated in jail, prisons or other correctional jurisdictions in America. Research has shown that more than half of these women report a history of sexual abuse as a child, many who have rarely told their story. Typical coping mechanisms for those who have been traumatized sexually are attempts to commit suicide, the use and abuse of drugs and alcohol, running away, disassociation, becoming promiscuous, or eating disorders, etc. These early adaptations at a young age can influence nearly every parameter of their lives, contributing to numerous other negative consequences, such as increased physical …

Type 2 Diabetes And Insomnia: Impact On Metabolic Control, Cheryl Lee Tannas

Wayne State University Dissertations

Diabetes is one of the most serious health challenges in the United States, affecting nearly 21 million Americans. The goal of diabetes management is to maintain the blood glucose close to normal to prevent diabetic complications and therefore extending life expectancy and improving quality of life. Research now indicates a relationship of the quantity and quality of sleep to glycemic control in type 2 diabetics. No research on the impact of insomnia on diabetes prevention and/or management was found in the literature. The purpose of this 11 week intervention study was to examine the effects of participation in Cognitive Behavioral …

Rapidly Progressive Periodontal Disease Associated With Human Immunodeficiency Virus, Khalid Al Hezaimi, Fawad Javed, Tazeen S. Ali, Mansour Al Askar, Abdulaziz Al Rasheed

School of Nursing & Midwifery

Severe periodontal inflammation with generalized dental plaque accumulation, spontaneous and severe gingival bleeding, fungal infection, and interdental papillae necrosis are presented in a patient infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Bite-wing radiographs revealed a generalized horizontal alveolar bone loss of 7-8 millimetres in both arches. Erythematous patches were noted on the gingival mucosa in both jaws. DNA testing was performed to indentify the periodontopathogens. The patient had no signs or symptoms of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. This case-report presents the massive periodontal destruction that occurred in a patient infected with HIV. Therefore, it is highly recommended that patients infected with HIV …

Domestic Violence Against Infertile Women In Karachi, Pakistan, Neelofar Sami, Tazeen S. Ali

School of Nursing & Midwifery

This study investigates the prevalence of physical and psychological violence against infertile women in Karachi, Pakistan. A total of 400 infertile women attending the selected infertility clinics in Karachi, Pakistan were interviewed using the to investigate their experiences of physical and psychological violence. Out of 400 infertile women, 278 (64%) reported to be the victims of violence during the last 12 months before they were interviewed. Nearly one quarter (23.1%) reported facing physical violence. All women reported their husbands and their family members to be the perpetrators. It is concluded that Clinicians should identify the abused women and provide them …

Adolescent Depression Screening Practices Among Texas Pediatric And Family Nurse Practitioners, Carol S. Lieser

Nursing Dissertations - Archive

Depression is a common mental health concern for adolescents that , if not treated, may lead have lifelong consequences. Yet, many in this population are not diagnosed and thus remain untreated. Advanced practice nurse practitioners, in their places of employment, have opportunities to interact with adolescents. They are skilled and trained in health promotion and disease prevention practices. No studies were found that examined screening practices for adolescent depression of nurse practitioners, factors affecting their screening practices, and their management of adolescents whom they determine are depressed. The purpose of this study was 1) to describe the background factors of …

A Quantitative Examination Of Extreme Facial Pain Expression In Neonates: The Primal Face Of Pain Across Time, Martin Schiavenato, Carl L. Von Baeyer

Nursing Faculty Scholarship

Many pain assessment tools for preschool and school-aged children are based on facial expressions of pain. Despite broad use, their metrics are not rooted in the anatomic display of the facial pain expression. We aim to describe quantitatively the patterns of initiation and maintenance of the infant pain expression across an expressive cycle. We evaluated the trajectory of the pain expression of three newborns with the most intense facial display among 63 infants receiving a painful stimulus. A modified “point-pair” system was used to measure movement in key areas across the face by analyzing still pictures from video recording the …

Development And Initial Psychometric Evaluation Of A Culturally- Sensitive Beliefs About Personal Weight Survey, Stephanie Pickett

Wayne State University Dissertations

ABSTRACT

DEVELOPMENT AND INITIAL PSYCHOMETRIC EVALUATION OF

A CULTURALLY-SENSITIVE BELIEFS ABOUT PERSONAL WEIGHT SURVEY

by

STEPHANIE PICKETT

December 2012

Advisor: Dr. Rosalind Peters

Major: Nursing

Degree: Doctor of Philosophy

The purpose of this study was to develop and perform initial psychometric evaluation of an instrument that measures beliefs about personal weight in young African American women. Beliefs about personal weight were defined as a multidimensional concept consisting of the convictions regarding the descriptive characteristics, causal attributions, and consequences of one's personal weight. The theory of self-care (Orem, 2001) was used to conceptualize concepts and conceptual relationships.

The Beliefs about Personal …

The Family Experience Of Participating In An Icu Support Group: A Pilot Study, Rebecca Marie Scharpe

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

The purpose of this study was to describe the experience of family members participating in an intensive care unit support group. The family experience of an adult family member's critical illness is filled with emotional distress, suffering, and difficulty coping. Few family nursing interventions to care for family members of ICU patients have been researched. Research is inconsistent regarding the value of a support group in the ICU setting of a hospital. A qualitative design, using hermeneutic phenomenology was chosen. Five interviews were conducted with seven family members. The experience of participating in an ICU support groups was analyzed within …

College Age Female Smokers And The Efficacy Of Smoking Cessation On College Campuses, Gretchen Suzanne Strobel

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Young females are smoking on campuses in increasing rates in the last two decades. This thesis is secondary data analysis of a primary study with data from 472 female respondents, ages 18 to 24, enrolled or registered for classes at Minnesota State University, Mankato in the Spring, Summer and Fall semester of 2011. This sample included current smokers, former smokers, and nonsmokers. This research study will discuss the relationship between the age one starts smoking and any association with participation in unprotected intercourse and the concomitant use of estrogen containing oral contraceptives. Among the respondents a majority started smoking between …

Access And Barriers To Diabetic Self Care Education And Support Groups In A Rural Southern Minnesota Community, Elizabeth Waters

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Diabetic education and support groups promote self care, improve health outcomes, and decrease health care costs. Self care, an important aspect of diabetes care, can be promoted through diabetes education and support groups. Few studies have been done to explore rural population's access to and attendance of diabetes self care education and support groups. The purpose of this qualitative study was to determine if residents of a rural southern Minnesota community have access to diabetes education and support groups and what barriers they face to attending the groups. The understanding gained through this study will help to develop nursing interventions …

Symptom Intrusiveness, Chronic Conditions And Health-Related Quality Of Life: Development Of Conceptual And Measurement Models, Jill Marie Monfre

MUSC Theses and Dissertations

Background: The number of patients in the United States living with chronic conditions is increasing as patients are surviving conditions that were previously fatal. This increase in survival has resulted in a shift in the disease burden in the United States from infectious to chronic diseases. Many patients with chronic conditions experience associated symptoms that impact their health-related quality of life more significantly than those without associated symptoms. To enable patients to achieve what they determine to be an acceptable state of wellbeing, health care providers must first be aware of the factors and the relationships among the factors that …

Violence Permeating Daily Life: A Qualitative Study Investigating Perspectives On Violence Among Women In Karachi, Pakistan, Tazeen S. Ali, Gunilla Krantz, Ingrid Mogren

School of Nursing & Midwifery

Background: This study explored how married women perceive situations which create family conflicts and lead to different forms of violence in urban Pakistan. In addition, it examines perceptions of consequences of violence, their adverse health effects, and how women resist violence within marital life.

Methods: Five focus group discussions were conducted with 28 women in Karachi. Purposive sampling, aiming for variety in age, employment status, education, and socioeconomic status, was employed. The focus group discussions were conducted in Urdu and translated into English. Manifest and latent content analysis were applied.

Results: One major theme emerged during the analysis, …

Exploration Of Weight Gain In Female Breast Cancer Survivors, Mary Kay Johnson

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Breast cancer is no longer a guaranteed death sentence. Many women today can look forward to a long and healthy life after treatment for breast cancer. However, weight gain is an ongoing, distressing and common problem for women treated for breast cancer. The primary purpose of this study was to gain knowledge about the phenomena of weight gain in females treated for breast cancer. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in a natural setting. Sample: Electronic medical records for 100 female breast cancer survivors who visited a private suburban medical oncology clinic for treatment and/or on-going follow-up for a breast …

The Health Impacts Of Nursing Shift Work, Amanda Maria Cason Shandor

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

This descriptive pilot study was intended to evaluate negative outcomes of shift work stress in nursing. Objective analysis of waist-hip-circumference ratios (WHR) and subjective survey reports were utilized to assess whether differences existed in expressed stress, stress related health disorders, and stress associated behaviors among day shift, night shift, and rotating shift registered nurses (RNs). Statistical analysis of the WHRs indicates that no statistical difference exists in the results from this study across the three nursing shifts. Nonetheless, survey reports do suggest that variance exists between nursing shifts. For example, stress related health problems appear to be most prevalent with …

The Self-Described Experience Of Coping And Adaptation Associated With Workplace Stress Of Registered Nurses In The Acute Care Setting In Florida: An Ethnographic Study, Joyce Burr

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Little is known about how nurses learn and use coping and adaptation skills in the workplace. Quantitative studies have identified the factors, nature, and outcomes of nursing stress. However, qualitative studies describing the human experience associated with workplace stress are lacking. The phenomenon of interest for this study using focused ethnographic method is the self-described experience of coping and adaptation associated with workplace stress of registered nurses working 12-hour shifts employed in acute care hospital facilities in east central and central Florida. Three aspects of the phenomena were examined: the self-described experiences of stress, the manner in which coping skills …

The Five P'S Of Type 1 Diabetes, Paula Elizabeth Esteva

Senior Honors Theses and Projects

No abstract provided.

In Search Of Resilience And Positive Health Outcomes In Low-Income Adolescents With Asthma, Darla Kim Dewolff

Dissertations

Asthma is a chronic lung disease of epidemic proportions affecting 24.6 million Americans, including 7.0 million children. In particular, 22% of high school students indicated a doctor or a nurse had told them that they had asthma, with 10.8% with current asthma. The disease disproportionately afflicts minority children from low-income areas. Adolescents with asthma, who live in such areas, are at particular risk for increased morbidity and mortality. The purpose of this study was to examine the degree to which the phenomenon of resilience, observed in other physical health and psycho-social contexts, may be found in adolescents with asthma exposed …

Coping Mechanisms Among Lebanese First-Time College Students, Rita Doumit

Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Adult Children's Perceptions Of Critical Caregiving Conversations With Their Aging Parents: A Pilot Study, Wendy S. Cregg

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

The purpose of this qualitative pilot study was to describe adult children's perceptions of critical caregiving conversations between themselves and their aging parents; barriers to these conversations; factors that facilitate these conversations; and the support from health care providers that adult children believe would help facilitate critical caregiving conversations between themselves and their aging parents. The overall purpose was to increase understanding of family communication processes that promote health as families age. Focus group interviews using a semi-structured interview guide were conducted with 16 adult children with caregiving experience of their aging parents. Data analysis was conducted utilizing Leininger's phases …

Exploratory Analysis Of The Relationship Between Present-On-Admission Factors Of Adult Inpatients And Risk For Needing A Rapid Response Team Intervention During Hospitalization, John Dixon

Nursing Dissertations - Archive

Knowledge of how intrinsic present-on-admission patient factors such as age, gender, and pre-existing comorbid conditions contribute to patient risk during hospitalization is an important aspect for clinicians to consider when developing individualized plans of care based on patient needs. Health care providers could use such knowledge to screen and identify higher risk patients upon admission to the hospital. For those patients, the health care team could provide greater surveillance and vigilance in observation and monitoring. Such proactive interventions may reduce or avoid the occurrence of patient deterioration or need for a Rapid Response Team (RRT) intervention during hospitalization and thus, …

The Meaning Of Homelessness To Homeless Women Veterans, Robin E. Keene

Nursing Dissertations - Archive

Homelessness in America continues to be a pervasive problem, with veterans being disproportionately represented in this population. As the Iraq/Afghanistan war soldiers return to civilian life, worries about this population and the risk of homelessness is growing. Female soldier's roles in the military have expanded throughout the years and now include many combat roles, thus exposing them to the risks associated with combat. Female soldiers are twice as likely to have Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PSTD) than their male counterparts and are three to four times more likely to become homeless. Female homeless veterans have typically been excluded from participation …

Extent Of Hiv Stigma Among Hiv Positive Healthcare Workers: A Mixed Methods Approach, Jackline Gloria Opollo

Nursing Dissertations - Archive

Regardless of practice settings, healthcare workers (HCWs) in Sub-Saharan Africa are either infected or affected by HIV/AIDS. This mixed methods study measured the extent of HIV/AIDS stigma and the relationship between stigma and sociodemographic variables in a sample of 76 HIV positive HCWs. Qualitative aspects (n=20) explored how HIV positive HCWs manage personal health, stigma experiences in the workplace, and the HCWs role in reducing stigma in the workplace. Overall, HIV positive HCWs in this study experienced low stigma levels (Mean= 7.88, SD 12.90). Subscale means ranged from 0.09 (SD 0.28) for workplace stigma to 0.39 (SD 0.62) for verbal …

Development Of A Communication Intervention To Assist Hospitalized Suddenly Speechless Patients, Carmen S. Rodriguez, Meredeth A. Rowe, Brent Koeppel, Loris A. Thomas, Michelle S. Troche, Glenna Paguio

Nursing Faculty Publications

Healthcare staff face significant challenges while caring for hospitalized patients experiencing sudden inability to verbalize their needs (sudden speechlessness). Familiar methods of communication such as non-verbal strategies are limited and often fail to assist suddenly speechless patients (SS) communicate their needs. Consequently, strategies tailored to the needs of hospitalized speechless patients are necessary, and must consider factors intrinsic to the patients and the complexities of the acute care environment. The feasibility and usability of a multi-functional prototype communication system (speech-generating device) tailored to the needs of hospitalized SS patients was evaluated in this pilot study. Adult SS patients admitted to …

College Of Allied Health And Nursing R.N. To B.S.N., R.N. To M.S.N 2012 Entering Class, Nova Southeastern University

Health Professions Divisions Course Catalogs and Course Descriptions

No abstract provided.