Nursing Commons^™

St. Cloud Hospital Hand Hygiene Achievers, Patricia Dumonceaux, Sara Maciej, Jessica Reed, Tamara Welle

Nursing Posters

Develop and adopt a culture change to increase hand hygiene compliance across all St. Cloud Hospital (SCH) inpatient and outpatient departments

• Hand hygiene is the best method to prevent the spread of infection (CDC, 2017).
• Historical data for SCH indicated below desired goal of 95% compliance with hand hygiene practices and continued identification of hospital associated infections.
• Employee engagement best achieved through promoting culture of safety supporting hand hygiene best practices (Piras et al., 2018).
• Educating staff on the WHO 5 Moments of Hand Hygiene, developing monitoring process for assessing opportunities to complete moments of hand hygiene, and providing detailed …

Evaluation Of The Kenton Hardin County Family Bike Program, Jamie Hunsicker

Nursing Faculty Scholarship

Problem: With growing evidence of the benefits of physical activity and risks associated with physical inactivity, there has been increased focus on implementation of policy, standards, and evidence-based interventions to promote physical activity of Americans. In response to Hardin County physical activity statistics, national health goals, and as part of the Ohio Maternal Child Health (MCH) activity/nutrition grant, an innovative family bike program was developed and implemented in Summer 2018. Providing education and practice on safe biking, bike maintenance, and nutrition as well as providing safe bike equipment may decrease barriers to biking and increase rates of bicycling and, subsequently, …

Molecular Genetic Cancer Screening: Role Of Prediction Of Colorectal Disease In The Clinic Setting, Samantha Spinks

DNP Research Projects

Colorectal Cancer is the third most common cancer in men and women and the second leading cause of cancer related deaths (ACS, 2019). Colonoscopy screening can prevent colon cancer by early detection and removal of adenomatous colon polyps. The ACS has been lowered from age 50 to 45 due to an increase in the prevalence of colon cancer in people below the age of 50 years of age. Molecular genetic screening is a tool that providers can use to identify patients who are at risk for premature adenomas. People who have a genetic variant are more likely to develop adenomas …

Predictors And Outcomes Of Invasive Mechanical Ventilation, Ailin Puckett

DNP Research Projects

Objective: Invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) is lifesaving and one of the most common interventions implemented in the intensive care unit (ICU). More than half of the patients in the ICU require IMV within the first 24 hours after ICU admission. This project aimed to evaluate and predict the mortality rate of hospitalized patients on IMV by examining their risk factors, such as patient demographic characteristics, disease status, social environment, and discharge status.

Methods: The National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database 2016 was used to identify patients requiring IMV. Mortality was the dependent variable. Independent variables had four major categories. First, patients’ …

Barriers To Care Among Uninsured Patients With Chronic Disease In A Free Clinic: A Quantitative Study, Stephanie Jinright

DNP Research Projects

No abstract provided.

The Observational Investigation Of Vitamin D And The Effect On Hypertension (Oiveh) Study, Warren Burke

DNP Research Projects

Background

It is uncertain if vitamin D supplementation improves cardiovascular health, more specifically, the systolic and diastolic blood pressures, and the data from previous trials investigating supplementation and the effects on the blood pressure are limited.

Methods

The following scholarly project was a retrospective observational study, examining randomly selected participants with chronic kidney disease and hypertension from a local nephrology practice. The Student’s t-test, Pearson’s r correlation, and ANOVA statistical tests were utilized to determine if vitamin D supplementation improved the systolic and diastolic blood pressures.

Results

A total of 260 participants were examined. The mean systolic blood pressure …

Breastfeeding Issues Leading To Early Cessation, Brandy Kirstein

DNP Research Projects

Breastfeeding has come to the forefront in modern research as a necessary and important phenomenon to understand and address due to the vast amount of evidence revealing its health benefits for both Mom and baby. Disparities exist related to socioeconomic status, education level, poverty, young age, obesity, alcohol use, smoking, and living in rural areas. This project aims to discover the areas that need the most awareness and change specific to the state of Tennessee to increase the prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding for six months (EBF6) creating healthier future generations and society. This project was a non-experimental, retrospective, correlational design, …

Reducing Hypertension Through Faith Community Nursing, Michelle White

DNP Research Projects

Hypertension affects approximately 31.1% of adults (1.39 million) worldwide. It continues to be a significant risk factor for cardiovascular disease and strokes, the leading causes of death in the United States (Mills, Stefanescu, & He, 2020). Hypertension is expected to increase due to the aging population and unhealthy lifestyle choices of the American people (American Heart Association [AHA], 2018a). Therefore, effective strategies are required to manage hypertension in order to decrease stroke and cardiovascular events that can save the lives of many Americans. National programs such as Healthy People 2020 are working to achieve blood pressure control within the United …

Implementation Of An Anxiety Screening And Treatment Protocol In Primary Care, Danielle E. Garcia

Student Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Background: Anxiety is a prevalent problem frequently presenting in the primary care setting in the United States. The lack of routine anxiety screening and evidence-based treatment protocols in the adult primary care setting causes physical, social, and economic consequences.

Purpose: The purpose of this Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) evidence-based practice (EBP) quality improvement project was to implement an EBP anxiety screening and treatment protocol for adults in a primary care clinic to increase early identification and improve management of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD).

Theoretical Framework: W. Edwards Deming’s Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycle framework was utilized for this project. The PDSA …

Critical Care Nurses’ Perceptions Of Safety Related To Using Complex Medical Devices In Daily Nursing Practice, Violet Rhagnanan-Kramer

Student Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Background: Medical errors are the third leading cause of death in America. Over 10,000 medical errors occur daily, with an estimated financial impact of preventable mistakes is 20 billion dollars annually. Increasing the use of multifarious sophisticated medical technologies in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) poses a risk of medical errors and unintentional harm to patients. However, limited empirical evidence exists regarding ICU nurses’ perspectives.

Purpose: This study aimed to elucidate ICU nurses’ perceptions of their use of complex medical devices.

Framework: The Conceptual Model for Technology, Nursing, and Patient Safety provide the framework for this study.

Sample: Using purposive, …

The Lived Experience Of Novice Senior Nurse Leaders During Organizational Role Transitions, Sharon Kauffman

Student Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The qualitative interpretive phenomenological study investigates the lived experiences of novice senior nurse leaders, who have transitioned to new organizational roles within a single healthcare organization in the Southeast United States. Senior nurse leaders have complex responsibilities but may not have training adequate to lead masterfully at new organizational levels. This phenomenon is poorly understood. Senior nurse leaders who do not develop the appropriate interpersonal skills and systems thinking may experience a sense of role insufficiency. Yet, strong leadership among senior nurses is vital to the successful performance of healthcare organizations, given the current landscape of change and the rapidity …

Decreasing Nurses’ Stress In The Emergency Room Utilizing Mindfulness Meditation, Andrea L. Entus

Student Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Background: Emergency Room (ER) nurses are challenged both physically and emotionally, and are repeatedly exposed to severe occupational stress (d'Ettorre & Greco, 2016; Duffy et al., 2015). For example, some stressors are demands from patients and physicians, long hours, complex diagnoses, and a fast pace (Hunsaker et al., 2015). A considerable number of nurses experience work-related interpersonal conflict, secondary traumatic stress, and other stress disorders, which negatively affects the quality of patient care they deliver (Westphal et al., 2015). Purpose: The purpose of this evidence-based practice project was to implement a mindfulness meditation intervention to decrease emergency room nurses’ stress. …

Enacting Narrative Pedagogy: The Lived Experience Of Prelicensure Baccalaureate Nursing Faculty, Suzanne Wurster

Student Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Background. Prelicensure baccalaureate nursing faculty manage up to five generations in the classroom. Each generation has its own unique educational needs and learning styles, which present pedagogical challenges for nursing faculty. Students need to be prepared to provide care for complex patients in a changing healthcare environment. Research-based pedagogies, such as narrative pedagogy, enable faculty to use teaching and learning approaches in which students can translate knowledge acquired in the classroom to their clinical practice. Purpose. The purpose of this study was to understand the lived experience of prelicensure nursing faculty as they implemented narrative pedagogy in the classroom or …

Examining Factors Associated With Failure To Fail In The Clinical Setting, Dee A. Adkins

Student Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Clinical nursing faculties struggle to assign failing grades to underperforming students in the clinical setting; this is known as failure to fail. Qualitative literature has revealed common factors for failure to fail; however, quantitative studies are required to determine the extent to which those factors affect the faculty’s decision-making process. The purpose of the study is to explore the relationship between face-implicating factors and the faculty’s likelihood of failing students in the clinical setting who do not meet the passing criteria. What is the relationship between face-implicating factors and the nursing faculty’s likelihood of passing students in the clinical setting …

The Lived Experiences Of Thriving Nursing Students, Nicole M. Mentag

Student Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

As the demand for qualified nurses increases, nursing education is responsible for preparing students for healthcare challenges. Nursing education focuses on academic success measures, including licensure examination passage, graduation rates, and grade point average. Though these outcomes are important, they fail to capture the complexities of student success. Thriving, the conceptual framework for this study, is a phenomenon within higher education that expands on the traditional measures of success and integrates cognitive and psychological aspects of the college experience. This study utilized interpretive phenomenology to understand the meanings of the lived experiences of thriving undergraduate nursing students. Semi-structured interviews were …

Comparison Of Pre-Licensure Bsn Student Outcomes Between Team-Based And Traditional Learning Methods, Tressa Jane Pedroff

Student Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Background: The increased complexity of healthcare systems requires nurses to have a different skillset, largely not provided in today’s nursing curricula. Team-based learning is one possible teaching strategy believed to increase nurses’ critical thinking and teamwork self-efficacy. Currently, there is insufficient objective data available that demonstrates improved academic performance and perceptions of teamwork skills in pre-licensure Bachelor of Science in Nursing students. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to compare the effects of team-based learning and traditional lecture-format teaching strategies among pre-licensure Bachelor of Science in Nursing students in a Foundations of Nursing Practice course. Theoretical Framework: Vygotsky’s social …

Post Procedural Care Of Patients Receiving Percutaneous Transhepatic Biliary Drainage Catheter Placement, Erin Pacelli, Jennifer Almeda, Christina Graham, Malcolm Sydnor, Kunal Patel

VCU Health Nursing

A recent review of patients undergoing transhepatic biliary drainage catheter placement showed a 30-day readmission rate of 28%. New post-procedural processes were created to standardize the care of this patient population to decrease readmission rates and improve patient satisfaction.

Improving Access To Care In Virginia: Reaching Nurse Practitioner Training Capacity Through Preceptor Incentives, Debra Barksdale, Christine Kennedy, Shelly Smith

Translational Research Fellows Policy Briefs

Workforce data reinforces the notion that educating nurse practitioners in Virginia is critical in helping to improve access to care in the Commonwealth, particularly in underserved communities. Six of Virginia’s thirty-nine state funded colleges and universities offer nurse practitioner programs. All of these universities report their capacity to train nurse practitioners is not limited by qualified applicants but rather by a shortage of clinical preceptors. This paper provides a summary of public policy initiatives that support preceptors as an example for Virginia to consider.

Debriefing Emergency Department Nurses During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Jessica Hailstock

Master of Science in Nursing Theses and Projects

This study examined the consequences of increased stress experienced by emergency department nurses related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The goal was to acknowledge that this particular population of nurses already experience high levels of stress and that being on the frontlines of healthcare during a pandemic exacerbates the issue. Nursing leaders within the emergency department must acknowledge and monitor the nurses’ stress. Findings suggest that debriefing led by qualified individuals is a powerful intervention to combat the negative effects of stress.

Raising Awareness Of Eating Disorders In The High School System: A Community Program Project, Dara Puryear

Master of Science in Nursing Theses and Projects

No abstract available

Examining Relationships Between Resilience Protective Factors And Moral Distress Among Nursing Students, Lorretta Krautscheid,, Laura Mood, Susan M. Mclennon, Taylor C. Mossman, Marie Wagner, Jessica Wode

Faculty Publications - College of Nursing

A correlation pilot study was conducted to examine relationships between resilience protective factors and moral distress associated with clinical practica in nursing students. Aggregate moral distress rating was x = 3.67. Two of four resilience protective factor subcategories demonstrated significant inverse correlations with moral distress rating. Inverse correlations were found between social support and moral distress (r = −.27, p < .05) and between goal efficacy and moral distress (r = −.37, p < .01). The findings should help educators prioritize resilience-enhancing educational strategies.

The Incidence Of Chemotherapy Extravasation In The Inpatient And Ambulatory Infusion Areas Of A Community Cancer Center, Nancy Ehmke Mn, Rn, Aocn

Nursing Active Studies

Few studies have been conducted in non-National Cancer Institute (non-NCI) designated cancer centers and even less have included both the inpatient and outpatient settings. This study is being conducted in order to establish a benchmark for the incidence of chemotherapy extravasation in an inpatient oncology unit and outpatient infusion center at a non-NCI-designated community cancer center. This retrospective review is to determine the common chemotherapy agents involved in extravasation, patient factors contributing to the extravasation, and severity of extravasations.

PI: Nancy Ehmke MN, RN, AOCN

Contact: [email protected]

Does Nurse Awareness Of Sepsis Increase By Participating In An Interactive Sepsis On-Line Education Program?, Jennifer Rechter Msn, Rn-Bc, Agcns-Bc

Nursing Active Studies

This study is to evaluate if there is an increase in knowledge gain and competence in sepsis among Parkview Health Caregivers after completion of sepsis course/s offered by Apex Innovations. This includes aligning sepsis care based on Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) core measures and regulatory requirements to improve patient outcomes through early recognition and initiation of treatment.

Implementing Feno Testing Protocol In A Pulmonary Clinic: A Dnp Project, Herbert "Allen" Nolan

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Airway inflammation is a common condition seen in the pulmonary clinic and can be present in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, chronic cough and asthma chronic obstructive overlap syndrome. Utilization of fractional exhaled nitric oxide testing is a quick means of identifying airway inflammation in patients who visit the pulmonary clinic with the diagnoses listed above. Fractional Exhaled Nitric Oxide testing along with Asthma Control Testing were used in the pulmonary clinic to aid in the identification of airway inflammation along with traditional spirometry testing. The results reflected an increase in the identification of patients with airway inflammation …

The Impact Of Nursing Staff Responsiveness On Patient Satisfaction: A Pilot Project, Lisa Wallace

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Timeliness of healthcare staff responsiveness to patient requests is multifactorial. Inadequate responsiveness to patient requests may lead to increased patient injury, increased cost, and patient dissatisfaction which may impact stakeholders and profit margin. Evidence supports that proactive, timely, staff responsiveness to patient requests and call lights may lead to improved patient safety, higher patient satisfaction, and better healthcare outcomes. Bundled staff responsiveness interventions may be implemented to improve patient safety, patient and staff satisfaction. Examples of interventions include engaging staff project buy-in with formation of a patient experience team, hardwiring hourly safety rounding, providing staff education on the importance of …

A Diabetes Crash Course In A Primary Care Setting To Improve Diabetes Self-Care: A Pilot Project, Michelle L. Macdonald

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Diabetes (DM) is a deadly disease affecting millions. Lack of proper DM self-care management can lead to numerous complications and even death. The American Diabetes Association (ADA) recommends lifestyle change as a first-line treatment along with diabetes self-management education (DSME). However, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) only a fraction of those diagnosed attend. The purpose of this project was to improve DM self-management behaviors following a patient focused unique DMSE designed to meet community needs. A customized crash course style DM educational session was offered to all DM patients in a rural primary care clinic. …

Checklist Utilization To Reduce Cauti Rates: A Dnp Project, Christina Jah

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) are preventable events with significant ramifications for both patients and hospitals. Proper training on evidence-based practices for catheter management is a vital component of preventing and decreasing CAUTIs. Following a review of the literature, evidence supports that CAUTI education with the use of a standard urinary catheter checklist for registered nurses (RNs) has the potential to ensure that knowledge is applied, thus decrease CAUTIs. This doctoral project developed, implemented, and evaluated an educational program and checklist to reduce CAUTI among patients at a Veterans Administration (VA) hospital. This project utilized a mixed-method data collection with …

Age And Functional Outcomes Post-Neurologic Insult In Patients Attending Inpatient Rehabilitation, Jonathan Bowman Spt, Elena Crooks Pt, Dpt, Phd, Doug Weeks Phd, Kimberly Honn Phd

2020 Symposium Posters

Introduction

Neurologic insults such as strokes and traumatic brain injuries (TBI) affect over 1 million Americans every year. The lack of current knowledge informing accurate prognoses causes victims and their loved ones distress, and is a focus of much research. The purpose of this study was to determine whether patient age at time of insult could predict change in functional outcomes during inpatient rehabilitation.

Methods

Subjects were patients of an inpatient rehabilitation facility (IRF) post-stroke or TBI. The Functional Independence Measure (FIM) assessed functional independence and cognitive status at admission and discharge from the IRF. The Montebello Rehabilitation Factor Score …

Implementation Of An Educational “Boot Camp” To Increase Nurses’ Confidence, Knowledge And Use Of Evidence-Based Practice In A Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Anita S. Dahl

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Evidence-based practice (EBP) can be used to promote quality patient care, improve population health, decrease healthcare costs, improve work-life balance of health care professionals, increase job satisfaction, and decrease staff turnover. Barriers to implementing EBP include perceived lack of autonomy and authority to change patient care processes; and knowledge deficits related to EBP implementation. Limited access to research materials and inadequate leadership support also stifles implementation of EBP. The purpose of this project was to increase confidence, knowledge, and use of EBP by nurses through implementation of an intense, structured educational “Boot Camp”. A convenience sample of 27 nurses participated …

An Organizational Readiness Assessment And Patient Survey For Adoption Of An Opioid De-Escalation Protocol In Curative Oncology Patients, Adria Myers

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Since 2012, statistics illustrate an explosion in the number of Americans admittedly misusing prescription opioids which increase the risk of long-term adverse effects. By 2016, individuals admitting to taking opioids for non medical reasons exceeded eleven million and 1.9 million of these individuals met the mental health guidelines for opioid abuse. Oncology patients represent a target population with an unmet met need for opioid reduction. Goals for de-escalation or tapering opioids for non-cancer pain have gained increasing attention across healthcare. Evidence-based opioid de-escalation guidelines specific for curative oncology patients are lacking in the literature. The aim of this DNP project …