Nursing Commons^™

Interventions To Reduce The Effects Of Nicu Noise In Preterm Neonates, Rebecca L. Manske

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Exposure to excessive noise during a neonates stay in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) can create both immediate and long term health problems such as, hearing loss, neurological deficits, and sleep pattern disturbances. The use of earmuffs or earplugs to decrease the neonate’s exposure to noise can create a more stable environment to facilitate improved growth and development. The purpose of this research was to examine the use of earmuffs or earplugs to reduce the impact of noise on neonates. A systematic review of literature was conducted using online databases including CINAHL, ERIC, Ebsco Host, Medline, and PsychINFO. The …

Nurse Perceived Barriers To Effective Nurse-Client Communication, Sara J. Brandenburg

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Successful client care depends on effective nurse-client communication. It is essential in meeting clients' needs, providing quality care, and maximizing positive client outcomes. The intent of this thesis was to explore nurse perceived barriers to effective nurse-client communication. A literature review was conducted and nine articles were identified as addressing nurse perceived barriers to communication. Four major barriers were identified: nurse comfort and knowledge, environment, time, and culture and language. Research on interventions to address nurses' perceptions of barriers to effective nurse-client communication may provide a better understanding of communication barriers and address issues created by ineffective communication with clients.

The Use Of Herbal Supplements On Minimizing The Clinical Manifestations Of Alzheimer's Disease, Delayna L. Donohue

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) affects over 5 million individuals in the United States annually. By the year 2050, the number of individuals living with AD is projected to triple (Latest Alzheimer’s Facts and Figures, 2016). Although there is no cure for AD, there are many prescriptive pharmacologic agents used to help manage the clinical manifestations of the disease. Complementary and alternative medicines (CAM) and herbal supplements are also used in the treatment of AD, however indications for their use and effectiveness during the progression of AD have not been examined. The purpose of this study was to examine the use of …

Nurse Practitioner Student Knowledge And Attitudes Towards Skin Cancer Assessments, Ryan Woodmansee

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Background: Skin cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer each year in the United States. With skin cancer and the demand for nurse practitioners (NPs) in primary care both on the rise, an accurate assessment of how well NP students are being prepared to perform skin cancer assessments is needed. Patient outcomes are directly linked to early detection and treatment which is essential for all types of skin cancer, especially melanoma. Nurse Practitioners need to be able to recognize the early stages of malignancy versus benign skin lesions and perform accurate skin examinations. The ability to assess practitioners’ knowledge while …

Exploring The Relationship Between Symptom Management And Distress In Pediatric Oncology Nurses, Amanda M. Schultz

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Pediatric oncology is known to be a stressful work environment due to the difficult aspects regarding patient care. This known stress related to work and caring for pediatric oncology patients can negatively impact nurses, patients, and families. The purpose of this study is to examine: relationships between patient symptom management and nurse distress; strategies used by nurses to manage symptoms in pediatric patients with cancer; nurse perceptions of the effectiveness of non-pharmacologic or nursing interventions; and nurse distress related to managing symptoms in pediatric patients with cancer. Registered nurses (N=13) at a local children’s hospital participated in an online survey. …

Oral Hygiene Practices In Non-Ventilated Intensive Care Unit Patients, Kimberly P. Emery

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Introduction: Oral hygiene is a significant aspect of nursing care. Endocarditis, stroke, lung cancer, and hypertension have been associated with poor oral hygiene. Research exploring oral care practices for mechanically ventilated patients is well documented. In contrast, oral hygiene for the non-mechanically ventilated acute care population remains underestimated. The purpose of this study was to establish a baseline of the type, frequency, and consistency of oral hygiene being performed on non-mechanically ventilated ICU patients and explore how the oral care provided was documented.

Methodology: A literature search was conducted and reported as a literature review. The databases CINAHL Plus with …

Reach Out And Read Program: Incorporating Early Literacy Promotion Into Practice, Melanie Miller

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Practice Innovation Projects

Purpose: The purpose of this project was to increase the number of days per week parents read to their children ages six months to five years in order to increase literacy, brain and language development, and improve parent-child relationships and health outcomes.
Review of Literature: Between birth and age five, 90% of a child’s brain development occurs (Theriot et al., 2003). The Reach Out and Read© program is an evidence-based program incorporating books into well-child visits by primary care providers ages 6 months to 5 years (Reach Out and Read©, 2014). After being introduced to literacy programs, frequency of shared …

Attitude Towards Gender Roles And Violence Against Women And Girls (Vawg): Baseline Findings From An Rct Of 1752 Youths In Pakistan, Tazeen S. Ali, Rozina Karmaliani, Judith Mcfarlane, Hussain M. A. Khuwaja, Yasmeen Somani, Esnat D. Chirwa, Rachel Jewkes

School of Nursing & Midwifery

Background: Violence against women is driven by gender norms that normalize and justify gender inequality and violence. Gender norms are substantially shaped during adolescence. Programs offered through schools offer an opportunity to influence gender attitudes toward gender equity if we understand these to be partly shaped by peers and the school environment.
Objective: We present an analysis of the baseline research conducted for a randomized controlled trial with 1752 grade 6 boys and girls and their attitudes toward gender roles, VAWG, and associated factors.
Methods: We used baseline data from a cluster randomised control study. Interviews were …

Cultural Practices Of Rearing Preterm Infants: A Qualitative Study In A Tertiary Care Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan, Salima Sulaiman Gulamani, Ambreen Tharani, Sharifa Bashir Lalani, Kiran Shaikh

School of Nursing & Midwifery

The research work explores the cultural practices of feeding and hygiene of preterm infants in the Pakistani context. A Qualitative descriptive-exploratory design has been used. Purposive sampling was utilized to recruit 17 mothers, who met inclusion criteria from a largest government tertiary care hospital in Karachi, Pakistan. The semi-structured interview was used to collect the data, which lasted for approximately 45-60 minutes. Thematic analysis was conducted to analyze the key findings of the study. Welcoming newborn with 'honey' and herbal remedies were reported as a common ritual among mothers. Findings revealed differences in the time period of initial bath given …

Association Of Awareness About Hepatitis C Infection With Patterns Of Health Seeking Behavior Among Hepatitis C Patients In Karachi, Pakistan, Shahina S. Pirani, Saleema Allana, Tazeen S. Ali, Faisal Wasim Ismail

School of Nursing & Midwifery

Background: Hepatitis C infection is one of the significant causes of morbidity and mortality throughout the world. In Pakistan, hepatitis C infection rate is 4.8%, which is the second highest prevalence rate among all developing countries. This study aimed to identify the association between awareness about hepatitis C infection and pattern of health seeking behavior among patients living with hepatitis C in Karachi, Pakistan.
Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted among 250 hepatitis C patients who were recruited from the Aga Khan University Hospital and the Civil Hospital Karachi, Pakistan between March and May 2013. Data were …

Exploring The Impact Of Gender Inequities On The Promotion Of Cardiovascular Health Of Women In Pakistan, Rubina Barolia, Alexander M. Clark, Gina M. Higginbottom

School of Nursing & Midwifery

Cardiovascular disease exerts an enormous burden on women's health. The intake of a healthy diet may reduce this burden. However, social norms and economic constraints are often factors that restrain women from paying attention to their diet. Underpinned by critical realism, this study explores how gender/sex influences decision-making regarding food consumption among women of low socioeconomic status (SES). The study was carried out at two cardiac facilities in Karachi, Pakistan, on 24 participants (male and female from different ethnic backgrounds), who had received health education. Using an interpretive descriptive approach, the study identified major barriers to a healthy diet: proscribed …

Retention And Attrition In Bariatric Surgery Research: A Qualitative Study, William F. Gourash

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Problem: Longitudinal bariatric surgical research studies often lack information on retention and attrition of study participants and the strategies utilized to optimize these. The potential for attrition bias with adverse effects on validity, reliability, and generalizability increases over time. The many factors potentially affecting retention and attrition in research, have been under studied.

Purpose: The purpose was to explore factors affecting research participation of bariatric surgical patients who are subjects in the Longitudinal Assessment of Bariatric Surgery (LABS) study. The research questions explored research participants’ perceptions, motivations, and attitudes concerning participation in the study, specifically participation in annual in-person visits …

Targeted Educational Interventions To Increase Knowledge And Influence Attitudes About Nutritional Concepts In School-Aged Children, Chelsea Weaks, Ashley Montoya, Angela Nelson, Shivanee Sathia, Rachael Evans, Jessica Siechman, Caroline Crilley

OUR Journal: ODU Undergraduate Research Journal

Good nutritional habits have been linked to increased overall health and wellness, therefore working with children has the greatest impact on their overall lifestyle and lifelong habits. Nutritional interventions decrease the risk of future health complications that can result in premature death. This study aims to evaluate the knowledge base of school-aged children sampled from an existing after-school nutrition education program and measure the efficacy of an additional two-step intervention. Our two-step intervention includes a content knowledge educational intervention on day one and a play-based learning intervention on day two to allow for knowledge acquisition and subsequent application of knowledge …

The Effect Of A Drinking Water Education Program On The Threat Perception Of Nitrate Contaminated Water By Pregnant Women, Beatrice Asomani, Yedda Descalo, Meliss Dillard, Brandy Hudgins, Caitlin Niblick, Kristina Wall

OUR Journal: ODU Undergraduate Research Journal

The purpose of this study is to determine the effects of a drinking water education program in a rural community on the perceived threat of nitrate-contaminated water by pregnant women. The proposed study aims to reach out to at least 120 pregnant women in their first trimester. Data will be collected using a Protection Motivation Theory (PMT) scale pretest and posttest that will gauge pregnant women’s perceived threat of nitrate-contaminated drinking water before and after the education program. The data will be analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. A paired sample t-test will be used to determine the effects of …

Hearing Loss: A Silent Health Disparity, Katherine Valek

Senior Honors Theses and Projects

This paper presents an analysis of various aspects of hearing loss and its connection to healthcare settings, particularly nursing. Normal hearing is defined, followed by the definition of hearing loss and deafness. Cultural Deafness is then explained, followed by ways to prevent hearing loss. Additionally, healthcare experiences of individuals with hearing loss will be presented. The project will conclude with recommendations for healthcare professionals in regard to caring for their patients with hearing loss. The main population focus of the paper are Deaf and Hard of Hearing (HOH) individuals. Specifically, their unique experiences in healthcare encounters will be evaluated. Interactions …

It Is Always The Monkey On My Back: The Diagnosis Of Cirrhosis, Mary Tiberg

Dissertations

Mary Tiberg

Loyola University Chicago

IT IS ALWAYS THE MONKEY ON MY BACK: THE DIAGNOSIS OF CIRRHOSIS

A significant current challenge in health care today is meeting the needs of a population that has chronic disease, especially for those that have a health condition with a life threatening long -term outcome (Falkenstern, et al., 2005). In these health illness transitions, when there are no secure expectations, there are the additional burdens of enduring emotional unease, facing the closing stages of physical stamina, and confronting an indeterminate future. The objective of this study was to explore and describe the experience of …

Ergonomics Programs In Kentucky's Nursing Homes, David Stumbo

Online Theses and Dissertations

This study sought to determine how many nursing homes had implemented ergonomics programs, and how closely these programs followed the NIOSH/OSHA model. It also sought to investigate relationships that might exist between ergonomics programs and MSD rates occurring among direct care workers engaged in moving and physically assisting residents. Findings suggest a high percentage of Kentucky"s nursing homes have ergonomics programs in place for their direct care workers, and that these programs appear to follow the model. In addition, findings indicate a significant relationship between ergonomics programs and MSD rates.

Improving Compliance With Evidence-Based Practice Guidelines For Bipolar I Depression Treatment By Mental Health Clinicians, Ket Davis

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Scholarly Projects - Archive

Background: A large body of literature describes poor compliance among mental health providers with evidence-based practice (EBP) guidelines for Bipolar Disorder (BD) I depression treatment. Poor compliance to EBP guidelines has been linked to unfavorable patient outcomes. Specifically, the use of antidepressants (AD) in the treatment of BD has been linked to flares of mania and hypomania. Despite the ineffectiveness of these drugs, clinicians continue to use them. At one mental health primary care site, a lack of compliance with EBP guidelines for AD use in BD I depression was found. The purpose of this project was to implement a …

Evaluating Knowledge Of And Adherence To Chronic Kidney Disease Early Detection Guidelines: Education Intervention For Healthcare Providers In An Acute Care Setting, Hedrine Nana

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Scholarly Projects - Archive

Purpose: The purpose of the scholarly project was to evaluate the effect of an education intervention to increase healthcare providers' knowledge and adherence to Kidney Disease I Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) 2012 guidelines for CKD early detection in an adult population admitted to an Emergency Department (ED) observation unit in a tertiary hospital. Design: Through chart audits, a descriptive pre- and posttest design of two independent groups of patients admitted to ED observation status was used to determine healthcare providers' adherence to KDIGO CKD early detection. An education intervention using an investigator developed Identify-Detect-Intervene algorithm and survey were conducted prior …

What Are The Most Commonly Used Tools To Screen Depression In Hiv-Infected Gay And Bisexual Men?, Michael Isner

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Gay and bisexual men infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) comprise a sizable, medically vulnerable population. Depression is the most commonly experienced mental health disorder affecting this group of people, lending itself to a host of risks associated with depression. As screening of depression in this population can be challenging, it is vital that clinicians have the best available tools and guidelines to detect depressive symptomology. This focused, comprehensive review of the literature examined current data describing the clinical instruments used to detect depressive symptoms in HIV-infected gay and bisexual men. The aim of this analysis was to seek out …

Defining A Person: The Nurse At Risk For Compassion Fatigue, Ellen Johnston

Honors Undergraduate Theses

The intent of this thesis was to examine compassion fatigue in nurses through analysis of research studies conducted within the past five years in an effort to identify predisposing factors to the experience of compassion fatigue. Individual and institutional factors were identified as well as current strategies to assist with management of compassion fatigue. Findings indicated that being new to practice, having a trait negative affect, being younger in age, having a history of exposure to trauma and working in high emotionally stressful units predisposed individuals to the experience of compassion fatigue. Institutional factors included a lack of managerial support, …

Caring Minds, Uthealth Cizik School Of Nursing

Caring Minds

No abstract provided.

Journey To Preventing Hospital Onset Clostridium Difficile Infection On Our Patients, Rowena Chin, Lynne Orlins

Articles, Abstracts, and Reports

No abstract provided.

The Nursing Community Apgar Questionnaire In Rural Australia: An Evidence Based Approach To Recruiting And Retaining Nurses, Molly Prengaman, Daniel R. Terry, David Schmitz, Ed Baker

Nursing Faculty Publications and Presentations

Purpose: To date, the Nursing Community Apgar Questionnaire (NCAQ) has been effectivly utlized to quantify resources and capabilities of a rural Idaho communities to recruit and retain nurses. As such, the NCAQ was used in a rural Australian context to examine its efficacy as an evidence-based tool to better inform nursing recruitment and retention.

Sample: The sample included nursing administrators, senior nurses and other nurses from six health facilities who were familiar with the community and knowledgeable with health facility recruitment and retention history. Participants were registered nurses and/or directly involved in nursing recruitment.

Method: The 50 factor NCAQ was …

Increasing Primary Care Hepatitis C Screening In The 1945-1965 Birth Cohort, Maria M. Shimizu

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Background: Over 3.2 million American citizens have been infected with the Hepatitis C virus (HCV). It is estimated three fourths of this population are from the birth cohort born between 1945 and 1965, otherwise known as Baby Boomers. Despite the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC; 2014) recommendations to screen this population at least one-time regardless of risk factors, screening practices in the primary care setting have been suboptimal (American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases [AASLD], 2015).

Aim: The aim of this project was to identify barriers to HCV screening of the Baby Boomer population in the …

Bsn Students’ Satisfaction And Self-Confidence In Simulation-Based Learning, Aubrey Winum

Undergraduate Honors Theses

As nurse educators prepare students to enter the real world, they are challenged to create learning methods that develop confident and competent nurses. While new graduate nurses have much to learn, they are expected to be able to work as a team, think critically, and provide a safe environment for patients. A nursing program at a small, liberal arts college in the Foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains utilized simulation-based learning experiences to prepare students for the many situations they may face as a future nurse. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact these experiences had on …

Efficacy Of Elder Support And Education On Measles Vaccination Rates In Amish Communities, Amber Porter, Alfaro Mariateresa, Lan Marietta, Kristen Schriver, Michelle Douglas, Bonnie Lozy, Emily Burgos

OUR Journal: ODU Undergraduate Research Journal

Background: Proposed study within Amish community to increase measles vaccinations and education about measles: etiology and transmission, aseptic techniques, and quarantine/isolation.

Significance: The majority of Amish people are unvaccinated. Massive outbreaks of measles (363 cases in Ohio) within Amish communities.

Method: Non-random, convenience sampling of participants in two Amish communities: Indiana and Illinois.

Analysis: Closed-ended questions with nominal data. Biological measurements with integral data. Qualitative analysis, chi square and statistical analysis used to determine outcome and results.

Drug Court Versus Incarceration: Which Is More Effective?, Erin Alexander, Kathryn Apperson, Megan Flannigan, Sarah Jean, Lintag Rosalina, Jennifer Lynch, Ethan Schwartz

OUR Journal: ODU Undergraduate Research Journal

Aim: This study explores the affect drug court treatment programs have on the sobriety and employment status of the participants.

Background: Drug addiction has been an ongoing issue nationwide, and with addiction comes drug related crimes. Currently the preferred solution to this epidemic is to impose longer and longer lengths of incarceration for every incurred infraction. Methods: A descriptive correlational design will be used for this research study to evaluate the effectiveness of drug court compared to incarceration. The participants will be chosen by a random sampling of 100 residents of the Hampton Roads area of Virginia--50 …

Effects Of Peer Support Group On Rates Of Suicide Attempts, Suicidal Thoughts, And Incidences Of Self-Harm For Sexual-Minority High School Students, Samantha Fleming, Rebecca O'Neill, Allyson Jett, Haley Mann, Ashlee Peters, Deja Dixon

OUR Journal: ODU Undergraduate Research Journal

The torment sexual minority youth experience can take a psychological toll without access to a support system. The purpose of this proposal is to determine whether an after-school peer support group for sexual minority youth could decrease incidences of suicidal thoughts, attempts, and/or self-inflicted injuries.

The Effect Of An Interprofessional Registered Nurse-Physical Therapist Team On Reducing Prescribed Opioid Dependence In Patients With Chronic Lower Back Pain, Amber Chesney, Stephanie Jan, Amanda Pedrazoli, Brandon Simmons, Kaylene Woods, Nicole Yeats

OUR Journal: ODU Undergraduate Research Journal

Long-term prescribed opioid use for chronic pain is shown to reduce recovery potential and increase risk for dependence, which is contributing to the nationwide opioid crisis. There is a need for an innovative, multidisciplinary approach to address prescription opioid dependence. We propose implementation of a community-based interprofessional registered nurse-physical therapist team (IRNPTT) focused on reduction of opioid dependence in adult patients with chronic lower back pain.