Nursing Commons^™

A Standardized Palliative Care Referral Workflow And Educational In-Service At An Outpatient Congestive Heart Failure Clinic, Rachel E. Cardosa

Doctoral Projects

Cardiovascular disease is a significant health issue in the US as it is the leading cause of death and most cited reason of hospitalizations in Medicare enrollees (Centers for Disease Control, 2014; Unroe et al., 2011). The American Colleges of Cardiology and the American Heart Association Guidelines recommend palliative care for all patients with heart failure (Yancy et al., 2013). The purpose of the scholarly project was to address the gaps in current practice by creating a standardized palliative care referral process and education for clinicians in an outpatient Advanced Congestive Heart Failure (ACHF) Clinic. A referral tracking process was …

Effective Interventions To Reduce The Increase In Elective Cesarean Sections In Low Risk Women, Kimberly Kelsey, Crystal Hunter, Brianna-Kirsten Tan, Sara Shea, Heather Holland, Sasha Riley, Mary Uy, Tenzin Tsomo, Fasha Ruys-Solorzano, Dolma Tso

Student Research Posters

According to the Annals of Family Medicine, the amount of babies born via cesarean section has increased from 4.5% in 1965 to 26.1% in 2002 and nearly 40% of all cesarean sections are repeats. After an extensive literature review, results showed that patients need to be educated about the risks and benefits of vaginal delivery and cesarean delivery. It was also found that there needs to be policy changes to decrease the amount of cesarean sections done and increase the labor and delivery support without using interventions. Further study should be focused on morbidity and mortality very low birth weight …

Ua61/1 Nursing Spirit, Volume 1, Neal Chambler, Dean, Mary Bennett, Director, Susan Megahee, Editor, Creative, Wku School Of Nursing

School of Nursing Publications

No abstract provided.

Engaging Individuals In Their Healthcare Through Education And Awareness, Margaret L. Hudock

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Translational and Clinical Research Projects

Abstract

The purpose of this descriptive pre/post study was to identify if individuals within a church population were engaged participants in their health and healthcare. The project aims were three: (a) to ascertain the knowledge, skills and confidence of the participating parishioners in relation to their health through the use of the Patient Activation Measure^TM (PAM^TM) , (b) to provide information and awareness on healthcare topics to all participants (engagement, care transitions, communication with one’s healthcare provider and the importance of asking questions), and (c) to assess the health status and health education needs using a demographic health …

Validity Of Home-Based Sonographic Diagnosis Of Obstetric Risk Factors By Auxiliary Nurse Midwives In Rural Nepal, Naoko Kozuki, Luke C. Mullany, Subarna K. Khatry, Ram Ghimire, Sharma Paudel, James M. Tielsch, +5 Additional Authors

Global Health Faculty Publications

Background

Approximately 2·3 million fetal, neonatal, or maternal deaths occur annually during the intrapartum period or on the day of birth. Several risk factors for intrapartum-related complications require ultrasonography for accurate diagnosis, but sonographic services are scarce in low-resource settings. In this study, we aimed to assess the feasibility of community-based ultrasonography conducted by auxiliary nurse midwives to identify basic obstetric risk factors, in rural Sarlahi District, Nepal. We aimed to assess the validity at which these health workers can detect noncephalic position, multiple gestation, and placenta previa and to explore whether sonographic diagnosis could improve outcomes for women with …

The Effect Of A Multifaceted Reminder Intervention On Nursing Documentation Completeness, Meredith A. White

Evidence-Based Practice Project Reports

Nationwide, nurses must withstand growing patient assignments and increased workloads. The consistency between nursing documentation and technical nursing interventions performed indicates that registered nurses provide much more care than they record. This incongruence has the potential to impact patient safety, but also has significant financial implications, since reimbursement is linked to documented services. The purpose of this EBP project was to implement a multifaceted reminder intervention (including a 10-minute PowerPoint and visual reminder) in an IMCU setting to assist the nursing staff (n = 38) in completing the HAPU documentation components. John Kotter’s Eight-Stage Process and the Iowa Model of …

Nurse Educator Perceptions Of Faith-Based Organizations For Service-Learning, Rebecca Power, Amy R. Toone, Belinda Deal

Nursing Faculty Publications and Presentations

Knowledge about service-learning for nursing students in faith-based organizations (FBOs) is limited. This descriptive study explored the perceptions of nurse educators about using FBOs for service-learning clinical sites. Participants (N=112) relayed specific benefits and barriers to using FBOs for service-learning clinical experiences. Recommendations are made for effective school–FBO partnerships.

Gardening/Yard Work And Depressive Symptoms In African Americans, Elisa R. Torres, Carolyn M. Sampselle, David L. Ronis, Harold W. Neighbors, Kimberlee A. Gretebeck

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

Background

The purpose of this study was to examine the frequency of gardening/yard work in relation to depressive symptoms in African-Americans while controlling for biological and social factors.

Methods

A secondary analysis was performed on the National Survey of American Life (n = 2,903) using logistic regression for complex samples. Gardening/Yard work was measured by self-reported frequency. Depressive symptoms were measured with the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale.

Results

Biological and social factors, not gardening/yard work, were associated with depressive symptoms.

Conclusions

Biological and social factors may need to be addressed before the association between gardening/yard work and depressive …

Development Of A Toolkit To Evaluate Efficacy Of The Respecting Choices© System Of Advance Care Planning, Nicole M. Harpold

Doctoral Projects

In 1991 the United States Congress enacted the Patient Self-Determination Act which was an attempt by the government to improve completion rates of advance directives. Despite enactment of this law, completion rates of advance directives have remained relatively unchanged with only 18-36% of adult Americans having completed a document (United States Department of Health and Human Services, 2008). Nearly 90% of healthcare spending in the United States is on the management of chronic conditions (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2015). As the baby boomer generation, which already has a high number of chronic conditions, ages our struggling healthcare system …

Use Of Culturally Tailored Media To Increase Hiv Screening Among African Americans, Leda Evans

Doctoral Projects

Over one million people in the United States have HIV with a substantial portion of these individuals being African American. Innovative approaches to improving the HIV disparity among African Americans have been encouraged by the federal government. Culturally tailored HIV risk reduction interventions have been noted as effective in several studies in reducing risk behavior. The purpose of the intervention was to determine if the use of culturally tailored HIV risk reduction media would result in an increase in HIV screening among African Americans. A one-time community based-intervention with no control group was utilized to determine impact of media. Screening …

Development Of A Protocol For Implementing The Medicare Annual Wellness Visit In A Primary Care Setting, Jennifer M. Ohman

Doctoral Projects

The Medicare Annual Wellness Visit (AWV) was enacted in 2011 as part of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. The AWV is an opportunity to improve care delivery by encouraging use of preventive services and coordinate care for Medicare patients 65 and older who are at high risk for high usage of healthcare services. During this visit, patients are screened for common geriatric-related conditions such as depression, cognitive impairment, fall risk, and functional decline. This visit is also an opportunity to identify risk factors for chronic illness and help patients stay current on recommended screenings and vaccinations. The organization …

Evaluating The Use Of The Asthma Action Plan And The Asthma Control Test By Providers In A Primary Care Office After Implementation Into The Electronic Health Record, Claudia N. Turkson-Ocran

Doctoral Projects

Asthma is a life-long chronic lung disease that inflames and narrows a person’s airway. Asthma results in recurring periods of chest tightness, wheezing with inspiration and/or expiration, shortness of breath, nighttime or early morning coughing, and trouble sleeping as a result of coughing and wheezing. An asthma exacerbation occurs when asthma symptoms worsen enough to require medical intervention or self-administration of oral corticosteroids. Exacerbations can be graded in severity as mild, moderate, severe, and life threatening. An asthma action plan (AAP) is a written treatment plan developed collaboratively between the health care professional and the patient for self-management and maintenance …

Effects Of Undergraduate Nursing Student-Preceptor Relationship On The Student's Self-Reported Clinical Competence, Self-Esteem, And Readiness To Work As A Registered Nurse (Rn), Gloria N. Otoo

Theses & Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Is Dietary Intervention A Viable Method For Improving Outcomes In Adult Patients With Asthma?, Jennifer Grolimund

Senior Honors Theses

Asthma is a disease process characterized by episodic inflammation of the lower airway in response to various triggers. Those with asthma have trouble breathing effectively during an acute episode, making asthma a potentially life threatening condition. Standard medical treatment of asthma, including medications and environmental changes, can be effective at reducing or eliminating negative outcomes in patients with asthma. However, a holistic approach to patient care, including an examination of dietary influence, may also be useful for patients trying to manage the course of their illness. Variations in intake of individual nutrients or in total dietary patterns may play a …

Opioid Exposed Mothers And Infants In Delaware: Clinical And Legal Considerations, Michele K. Savin, Msn, Nnp-Bc, David A. Paul, Md

College of Nursing Faculty Papers & Presentations

Drug use is on the rise in Delaware, as demonstrated by the continued increase in infants born with neonatal abstinence syndrome. Thoughful, evidence based, and coordinated approaches are necessary to impact this problem. There is solid evidence that mothers and infants who remain together have improved outcomes. Professional medical and nursing societies are unanimous in support of non-punitive approaches to care. Medical Professionals, legislators, and society in general would benefit from ongoing education on the addiction disease process in order to best care for the increasing number of mother/baby dyads with neonatal abstinence syndrome.

2016 Spring Newsletter, Morehead State University. Nursing Department.

Nursing Department Publications Archive

2016 Spring Newsletter of the Department of Nursing at Morehead State University.

Training Traditional Birth Attendants In Sub-Saharan Africa, Lindsey J. Smith

Senior Honors Theses

Even after many adjustments, recommended practice regarding traditional birth attendants (TBAs) and their contribution to lowering the maternal mortality rate (MMR) continues to be disputed among various stakeholders. Sub-Saharan Africa continues to see high maternal mortality rates, despite various attempts by the World Health Organization (WHO) and others at utilizing the formal health care system (Prata, et al., 2011). Considering all factors and variables behind the reason for this problem in Sub-Saharan African, it is reasonable to conclude that training traditional birth attendants (TBAs) in evidence-based practice, in conjunction with developing longer-term strategies, is an appropriate approach for the short …

Faith Community Nursing: Bridging The Gap Between Effective Healthcare And Biblical Ministry, Moriah Kenna

Senior Honors Theses

The United States’ traditional health care system is unprepared to combat the growing rates of chronic illness in its population. With over 90% of those aged 66 years and older living with a chronic illness, an emphasis on preventative care must be enacted. Faith community nursing is a viable and effective option for long-term preventative management of chronic illnesses in the community. Faith community nursing fits both the mission of the Christian church and the needs of the healthcare community and greater awareness of this must be achieved in both the faith and healthcare sectors to bring about maximum results.

Embryo Adoption As An Ethical Option For Couples Faced With Infertility, Rachel M. Walters

Senior Honors Theses

Embryo adoption takes embryos that are still forming and introduces them into the uterus of a woman with whom they do not share any genetic material. If pregnancy does ensue and continues without complications, the child that will be born will not share any genes with the woman who carried him or her. In addition, if the child is born to parents who already have other children, the children in the adoptive family will share no biological link to the newborn. Essentially, the child will have two families—a biological family and an adoptive family. This thesis will explore and discuss …

Experiences Of Registered Nurses Who Were Not Initially Successful On The Nclex-Rn, Then Subsequently Passed, Tammy L. Kasprovich

Dissertations (1934 -)

In the past decade, there has been little research conducted regarding individuals’ stories about not initially being successful on the nursing licensure examination (NCLEX-RN). An unsuccessful licensure examination attempt may affect the individual personally and profoundly in ways that could influence their future success. Learning from registered nurses’ experiences may contribute to developing new strategies to promote graduate nurses’ initial success, which could help alleviate the nursing shortage. The purpose of this research study was to explore, using a narrative method, the experiences of registered nurses who were not initially successful the NCLEX-RN, then subsequently passed. Personal Construct Theory (PCT) …

Volume 08, Meghan Enzinna, Casey Dawn Gailey, Raven Collins, Chiara Enriquez, Amelia Mcconnell, Alexander Morton, Emma Beckett, Leah G. Parr, Briana Adhikusuma, Taylor Embrey, Rowan Davis, Danielle Sisson, Bianca Cherry, Melissa Cacho, Chloe Woodward, Catherine Rollins, Carson Reeher, Landon Cooper, Haley Vasquez, Marlisha Stewart, Eric Whitehead, Sabrina Walker, James Bates

Incite: The Journal of Undergraduate Scholarship

Introduction from Interim Dean Dr. Jennifer Apperson

Indigenous Peoples and the Modern Era by Meghan Enzinna

"Who Says": How Selena Gomez and the Scene Attempt to Subvert the Popular Standards of Beauty by Casey Dawn Gailey

Art by Raven Collins

Meltdown on Social Media: Amy's Baking Company Meets Kitchen Nightmares by Nathena Haddrill

Art by Chiara Enriquez

Design by Amelia Mcconnell

Worth More Than a Thousand Words: A Visual Rhetorical Discussion of Virtual Reality by Examining "Clouds Over Sidra" by Alexander Morton

Design by Emma Beckett

The Sonata: An Analysis of Piano Sonata No. 14 in C Minor, K. …

A Causal-Comparative Inquiry Into The Significance Of Implementing A Flipped Classroom Strategy In Nursing Education, Rhonda Faretta

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this causal-comparative design study was to examine the application of the theory of Vygotsky’s social constructivism (1978) and McMillan and Chavis’s (1986) definition of sense of classroom community in the context of a flipped classroom. The researcher aimed to determine if a pathophysiology course taught with the flipped classroom method would result in a statistically-significant difference in nursing students’ academic performance and sense of classroom community when compared to a pathophysiology course taught with the lecture classroom method. Two questions were addressed during this study: (a) Is there a statistically-significant difference in nursing students’ academic performance (as …

Breast Cancer Risk Perceptions Among Relatives Of Women With Uninformative Negative Brca1/2 Test Results: The Moderating Effect Of The Amount Of Shared Information, Deborah O. Himes Msn, Aprn-Bc, Margaret F. Clayton, Gary W. Donaldson, Lee Ellington, Saundra S. Buys, Anita Y. Kinney

Faculty Publications

The most common result of BRCA1/2 mutation testing when performed in a family without a previously identified mutation is an uninformative negative test result. Women in these families may have an increased risk for breast cancer because of mutations in non-BRCA breast cancer predisposition genes, including moderate- or low-risk genes, or shared environmental factors. Genetic counselors often encourage counselees to share information with family members, however it is unclear how much information counselees share and the impact that shared information may have on accuracy of risk perception in family members. We evaluated 85 sisters and daughters of women who received …

Intraspinal Drug Delivery Reservoir Refill Procedure By Non-Physician Clinicians: A Nation-Wide Survey Of Training, Pocket Fill Experience, And Life-Long Learning Behaviors, Gail Mcglothlen

Doctoral Projects

Intraspinal drug delivery (IDD) is a safe and efficacious method used to deliver medications for the treatment of chronic neurologic disease that requires periodic reservoir refills that can place patients at risk for a rare, accidental but potentially life-threatening, pocket fill. In the United States (US), non-physician clinicians perform this procedure. This study reports the results of a nationwide survey completed by 65 non-physician clinicians, obtained through social media, who performed the reservoir refill procedure. The results of the survey showed no standardized training was used, lack of attention to existing clinical practice guidelines in the training given, lack of …

Exploring The Needs And Preferences For A Diabetes Self-Management Program In Hispanics Living In The Central Valley Of California, Emily Lane Kimble

Doctoral Projects

Diabetes mellitus type 2 is an ever increasing threat to the health of people living in the United States, especially those of Hispanic ethnicity. This ethnic group is disproportionately afflicted with the chronic condition and is also more likely than non-Hispanic whites to suffer from serious complications of diabetes. This project examines this growing problem among Hispanics living in the Central Valley of California by exploring how best to structure diabetes self-management education in a network of community health centers.

The Social Cognitive Theory provides a theoretical basis for investigation into motivation for diabetes self-management. This needs assessment specifically explored …

Constructivist Learning Strategies In A Nurse Residency Program, Floyd M. Hammon Iii

Doctoral Projects

Nurses are knowledge workers in technologically advanced social environments providing care to patients with complex biopsychosocial health care needs. The Nurse Residency Program (NRP) is a transition to practice program designed to facilitate the professional socialization of the newly licensed registered nurse (NLRN) with the goal of developing competency in providing safe and quality patient-centered care. Constructivist learning strategies are an instructional framework that promotes social facilitated self-directed learning. The purpose of the project is to determine if using constructivist learning strategies are an effective learning method in a NRP as measured by the Casey-Fink Graduate Nurse Experience Survey.

The Effectiveness Of California Assembly Bill 2109: Personal Belief Exemptions For Kindergarten Immunizations, Lilli Shizuka Goishi-Bessey

Doctoral Projects

The numbers of vaccine preventable diseases (VPDs) in the United States has declined with the development, administration, and effectiveness of vaccines during the 1970s and 1980s. As the eminent threat of VPDs to the public began to wane, parents started questioning the safety and necessity of vaccines. When parents were given the option of selecting personal belief exemption (PBE) waivers for state mandated immunizations for their incoming kindergarten children, an increase in PBEs and the number of VPD outbreaks began to occur. To counter the growing trend of PBEs, and to prevent outbreaks of VPDs in school settings and communities, …

A Phenomenological Assessment Of Factors That Affect Medication Adherence Among Hypertensive Nigerian Immigrants, Beulah Iroegbu

Doctoral Projects

This qualitative study explored the perceptions that affect medication adherence among hypertensive Nigerian immigrants in Sacramento, California. The research questions focused on factors that influenced the adherence to hypertension medication; specifically, how the sample population explained the cause of hypertension and whether culture and religion impacted the cause and management of hypertension. A phenomenological approach was used to understand perceptions about medication adherence. A predefined group of 9 acted as a purposive sample and was given semi-structured individual interviews. Qualitative data analysis of the interviews was performed using Colaizzi's 7-step method. Results from the study found the cause of hypertension …

Racially And Ethnically Underrepresented Students’ Completion Of Rn Bsn Program: Factors Affecting Success, Patricia Ann Varga

Dissertations (1934 -)

Health care is becoming increasingly complex. This complexity requires the skills of a BSN or higher prepared nurse. The current nursing workforce does not mirror the population demographics of the United States. Because of this, underrepresented racial and ethnic groups are not likely to be cared for by a member of their diverse group. Satisfaction with care and outcomes of care are enhanced when members of underrepresented racial and ethnic groups are cared for by a member of their cultural group. This grounded theory study included 6 RN BSN students who were members of underrepresented racial and ethnic groups and …

Facilitators And Barriers To Type 2 Diabetes Self-Management Among Rural African American Adults, Dina Byers, Katy Garth, Dana Manley, Diane Chlebowy

Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify facilitators and barriers to self-management of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) among African American adults living in rural communities. Research indicates that African Americans experience higher rates of T2DM and diabetes-related complications than other ethnic groups. In Kentucky, diabetes is now the fourth leading cause of death by disease among African Americans.

Methods: Twenty-two African American adults with T2DM were recruited from three churches in rural communities in Kentucky. Three focus groups were conducted to identify factors that made managing diabetes easier (facilitators) and factors that made managing diabetes more …