Nursing Commons^™

Living With Hypertension: Experiences Of Black Men Related To Their Perceptions Of The Clinical Encounter At Diagnosis, Glenda Mccartney Feild

Doctoral Dissertations

Introduction: In the U.S., hypertension (HTN) is the most common primary diagnosis and HTN related illnesses are the number one cause of death. Being a member of the Black population increases the risk for developing HTN. Black males are reported to develop HTN earlier in life and have a high incidence of undiagnosed, untreated, and uncontrolled HTN. Sociocultural and gender barriers influence this population’s perceptions of medical experiences, which affects their participation in health-promoting behaviors such as eating a healthy diet, engaging in regular physical activity, avoiding tobacco, limiting alcohol consumption, and decreasing stress.

Purpose: The purpose of this study …

Coronary Heart Disease Prevention With A Focus On Diet Modifications In Female College Students At A Local Community College, Traci N. Spitzmiller

Master of Science in Nursing Evidence-Based Practice Projects

In the United States, cardiovascular disease is the number one cause of death in women. The most common and deadly form of cardiovascular disease is coronary heart disease (CHD). Many coronary heart preventive education awareness programs focus on the adult women population (40 years old >). By that time, many previous lifestyle choices such as poor dietary choices have contributed to the development of risk factors for developing CHD. Young college women (18-24 years old) have the ability to implement healthy diet choices, which in turn will help to decrease their risk for CHD development. Sinclair Community College is located …

Premature Births And Maternal Health: An Analysis Of Risk Factors That Affect The Rate Of Prematurity / Los Nacimientos Prematuros Y La Salud Materna: Un Análisis De Los Factores De Riesgo Que Afecta La Tasa De Prematuridad, Alexandria Mickler

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Research Question: What are the major socio-demographic risk factors influencing the rate of preterm birth in Valparaiso, Chile? Objectives: The objective of this study is to identify risk factors that influence the rate of preterm birth in an urban population of women living in Valparaiso, Chile. This study aims to understand whether a relationship exists between socio-demographic characteristics, such as economic level, education, lifestyle, access to medical attention and resources and the risk of prematurity. The outcomes of this study seek to determine the major biological, cultural, and social relationships and identify at-risk social groups. Additionally, this study considers the …

Respect Yourself, Protect Yourself, Mary Gura, Deborah Baresic

Deborah Baresic

Women of the poor community of Cien Fuegos, Dominican Republic often use folklore or self-treatment for symptoms of vaginitis. Based on assessment of women in Cien Fuegos, an education program was developed called Respect Yourself, Protect Yourself. The need to increase empowerment and self respect was clearly evident for the women of this community. The program focuses on issues of vaginal hygiene, vaginitis, sexually transmitted infections and women's rights and self-protection. To provide sustainable education, the module will be sent to Cien Fuegos and implemented by local health providers.

Intervening At The Intersection Of Medication Adherence And Health Literacy, Jackie H. Jones, Linda A. Treiber, Matthew C. Jones

Linda A. Treiber

Hepatitis C Testing In The Birth Cohort 1945-1965. Have You Been Tested?, Donna M. Zucker Rn, Phd, Faan, Donald (Chip) E. Bailey Phd, Rn

Donna M. Zucker

No abstract provided.

Accessing Healthcare: The Experience Of Individuals With Autism Spectrum Disorders In Maine, Alan Kurtz, Angie Schickle, Margaret Carr, Marnie Bragdon-Morneault, Susan Russell, Debra Rainey, Jill Downs, Nancy Cronin

Health and Well-Being

Previous research has revealed that children and adults with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are significantly more likely to have both unmet healthcare needs than those with other disabilities. In addition, they are more likely to have difficulty accessing primary or specialized medical care. Minority status, living in a rural location, and low income can exacerbate these disparities. Other obstacles to effective healthcare for individuals with ASD include the following: (1) severity of symptoms associated with ASD; (2) lack of knowledge or skill by medical practitioners; (3) lack of access to comprehensive healthcare supports or a medical home; and (4) lack …

Investigating The Viability Of Two Stenotrophomonas Maltophilia Isolates After Air-Drying, Samantha Lane, Joanna Brooke

DePaul Discoveries

Abstract

Stenotrophomonas maltophilia is a water-borne infectious bacterium that is found in both clinical (hospitals) and non-clinical environments. This human pathogen is commonly recovered from respiratory tract infections. A recent study at a hospital in Taiwan suggested that dry patient charts can serve as a vehicle of transmission of this bacterium⁷. As S. maltophilia is not commonly isolated from dry surfaces, this current study tested the hypothesis that this pathogen can remain viable for some time on a dry surface. This study was designed to determine how long S. maltophilia could remain viable after air-drying by observing …

Does End Of Life Terminology Influence Decisional Conflict In Surrogate Decision Makers?, Dawn Fairlie

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

This study investigated the relationship between end of life terminologies and decisional conflict in surrogate decision makers using a convenience sample of 234 adults age 50 and older at active adult communities, and senior centers in New Jersey. Participants were randomized into two groups, and each received a vignette that was personalized. The vignettes varied only in the use of the words "Do Not Resuscitate (DNR)" and "Allow Natural Death (AND)". The Decisional Conflict Scale (DCS) was administered.

There was no difference in total DCS score based on AND and DNR versions. However, AND respondents perceived their decision as a …

The Prevalence Of Smoking In Nursing Students, Jennifer Trotter

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Tobacco use is one of the most preventable sources of death and disease, and yet remains a worldwide problem. With the rising costs of healthcare, the focus of efforts to control them has honed in on lifestyle behaviors that contribute to the escalating costs. Within the scope of this scrutiny, the prevention or cessation of smoking and tobacco usage has become a global priority and a major focal point of worldwide anti-tobacco initiatives. The World Health Organization (WHO) has identified cessation interventions by health care professionals as a crucial factor in successful patient smoking cessation, and studies have shown that …

The Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative, Kathryn E. Brackett

Senior Honors Theses

Abstract

The Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) is a worldwide movement started by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) that is aimed at providing hospitals with a certification that guarantees the best possible patient-centered care for mothers and infants. It focuses on breastfeeding as optimal infant nutrition, and implements strategies to encourage and support mothers to breastfeed their infants exclusively for six months after birth. The Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding are a set of 10 simple, easy to understand guidelines developed by WHO and UNICEF for implementing this initiative in the hospital setting and …

Global Health Program: Experiences From The School Of Nursing, Michelle A. Cole, Shery Watson, Eileen Yost

Shery Watson

Hosted by Majid Sadigh, MD, Director of the Global Health at Danbury Hospital/WCHN. Presented by: Michelle Cole, DNP, MSN, RN; Assistant Professor/Guatemala Missions Coordinator Shery Watson, PhD(c), MSN, RN; Clinical Assistant Professor/Jamaica Missions Coordinator Eileen Yost, PhD(c), MSN, RN-C; Clinical Assistant Professor/Guatemala Missions Coordinator.

Global Health Program: Experiences From The School Of Nursing, Michelle A. Cole

Michelle A. Cole

Hosted by Majid Sadigh, MD, Director of the Global Health at Danbury Hospital/WCHN. Presented by: Michelle Cole, DNP, MSN, RN; Assistant Professor/Guatemala Missions Coordinator Shery Watson, PhD(c), MSN, RN; Clinical Assistant Professor/Jamaica Missions Coordinator Eileen Yost, PhD(c), MSN, RN-C; Clinical Assistant Professor/Guatemala Missions Coordinator.

Global Health Program: Experiences From The School Of Nursing, Michelle A. Cole, Shery Watson, Eileen Yost

Eileen Yost

Hosted by Majid Sadigh, MD, Director of the Global Health at Danbury Hospital/WCHN. Presented by: Michelle Cole, DNP, MSN, RN; Assistant Professor/Guatemala Missions Coordinator Shery Watson, PhD(c), MSN, RN; Clinical Assistant Professor/Jamaica Missions Coordinator Eileen Yost, PhD(c), MSN, RN-C; Clinical Assistant Professor/Guatemala Missions Coordinator.

African American Race And Culture And Patients' Perceptions Of Diabetes Health Education, Linda Marie Keenan

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

African Americans diagnosed with diabetes are less likely to self-manage diabetes-specific modifiable risk factors. As a result, utilization of healthcare services occurs at a greater rate than other racial groups, and thereby incurs higher than expected healthcare costs. This ethnographic study explored the elements of diabetes educational material African Americans in a large city in the southern part of the United States found most useful to facilitate self-management of their disease. Bandura's self-efficacy theory provided the theoretical framework. Research questions addressed the preferred educational content, layout of material, and methods for educational delivery and caregiver support. A purposive sample of …

Copd Dyspnea Palliation Project: Dyspnea Palliation In End-Stage Copd Patients, Kaveri M. Roy

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

Chronic Pulmonary Obstructive Disease (COPD) is a chronic and incurable disease that affects over 12 million Americans. The number of people with COPD is rising, and it is the third leading cause of death in the United States. Management and palliation of COPD symptoms has become a public health issue. The capstone project, the COPD Palliation Project, was a pilot study that combined nursing case management and patient education to provide optimal patient dyspnea palliation and self-efficacy of dyspnea management to end-stage COPD hospice patients. For the intervention, end-stage COPD patients were taught to use a dyspnea algorithm to palliate …

Employing Provider Mentoring/Coaching To Improve Preventive Quality Ordering, Julie Knox-Woodward

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Preventive quality ordering is a provider intervention aimed at disease prevention through the ordering of industry-recommended health maintenance tests. This pilot study evaluated the effectiveness of provider mentoring/coaching to improve preventive quality ordering using the 2014 Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality best practice preventive clinical services guidelines. Literature indicates provider inconsistency in preventive and quality ordering as the primary cause of disparate health outcomes. Guided by theories of modeling and role-modeling, as well as the theory of cognitive continuum, this pilot study offered provider mentoring/coaching to encourage timely preventative quality ordering. Routinely monitored historic provider practice patterns in a …

Development Of A Community-Based Lactation Support Program, Susan D. Bryant

Master's Theses, Dissertations, Graduate Research and Major Papers Overview

Background. Despite the recommendations from leading health organizations and the documented health benefits for both mother and infant, breastfeeding success rates continue to be suboptimal.

Design. A program development design was used for this Community-Based Lactation Support Program. This pilot was the first step in accomplishing the long term goal of expansion of the program to the entire community of Scituate and the state of Rhode Island.

Objectives. The objectives of this program were to increase exclusive and sustained breastfeeding rates in the town of Scituate through education and support and to ensure a positive breastfeeding experience for the …

Nurses' Knowledge Related To Heart Failure Essentials, Ann Mary Garris

Master's Theses, Dissertations, Graduate Research and Major Papers Overview

Heart Failure is a complex syndrome which continues to be a major health issue in the United States and worldwide. Strategies and educational interventions implemented by hospitals to reduce hospital admissions and readmissions for this costly chronic disease have not been consistently successful. Patient education is an important strategy for the management of HF to improve quality of life, optimize patient outcomes, and reduce the use of healthcare resources by reducing readmissions. The purpose of this program development was to increase nurses’ knowledge regarding HF education to be provided to HF patients prior to discharge from the acute care setting. …