Nursing Commons^™

Code Blue: Do You Know What To Do? Increasing Nurse Confidence And Readiness Through In-Situ Mock Code Simulation, Katelyn Nusser

Master's Projects and Capstones

An underprepared nurse is the most dangerous threat to patient survival in the intense and frightening environment of a code blue situation. With basic life support certification required on merely a biannual basis, it cannot be expected that nurses maintain the skills and knowledge without routine application. This quality improvement project proposed the following PICOT question: for medical-surgical nurses, how does in-situ mock code blue training between BLS recertification periods affect nurse readiness and confidence in a code blue situation? Mock code simulations were conducted over a three-week period with an emphasis on hands-on practice as well as teamwork and …

Implementing In-Situ Mini Mock Code Trainings For Medical-Surgical Nurses To Improve Nurse Readiness And Self-Confidence During A Code Blue, Allison Haley Jeong

Master's Projects and Capstones

Immediate, high-quality cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and early defibrillation are important in increasing survival rates during a cardiac arrest. At the Medical Center, which is part of an integrated healthcare system in a metropolitan area of the San Francisco Bay Area, a quality improvement project was implemented to increase readiness and self-confidence of medical-surgical nurses during a code blue situation. Nurse participants completed a pre- and post-intervention survey containing questions about their self-confidence in performing different skills relevant to a code blue, scored on a 5-point Likert scale from Strongly Disagree (1) to Strongly Agree (5). The intervention included an in-service …

Standardizing And Documenting Decision-To-Incision Intervals For Unscheduled Cesarean-Section Deliveries, Molly Bloom

Master's Projects and Capstones

The term decision-to-incision interval (DII) refers to the interval between when a laboring patient and their healthcare provider agree to an unscheduled surgical cesarean section (C/S) delivery and when the first incision is made in the operating room. The ideal length for this interval varies with the urgency of each case, and there is no international consensus regarding the timing. In an urban labor and delivery unit in a private hospital, examination of this interval revealed inconsistent documentation of the decision, as well as unclear guidelines on the DII for two of the three unscheduled C/S urgency levels. This quality …

Optimizing Mri Experience For Children Living With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Lyn Tran

Master's Theses

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) in pediatric patients living with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is often complicated by challenges. The child perceives the MRI environment as abnormal and uncertain of the implications of the procedure. The child may exhibit distress becoming anxious and frightened, reluctant to enter the scanner, and unable to remain still throughout the duration of the procedure. The issue lies within the child’s mental and behavioral challenges to understand and follow the task demands to ensure safety and accurate acquisition of image artifacts. After reviewing literature, observing MRI protocol for pediatric patients, and conducting multiple nursing staff surveys …

The Effect Of Alternative And Personalized Therapy In The Treatment Of Depression In Older Adults Living In Long-Term Care Facilities, Amber Davis, Olivia Gilbert, Kayla Kelley, Mitch Elliot, Deanna Hebert

Symposium of Student Scholars

Abstract

Title: The effect of alternative and personalized therapy in the treatment of depression in older adults living in long-term care facilities

Background: In older adults, depression can lead to changes in memory, physical pain, fatigue, sleep disturbances, and even suicidal ideations. Due to the shortage of healthcare workers in long-term care facilities, older adults have a difficult time receiving treatment. Therefore, alternative treatment methods and personalized therapy are becoming more important when treating patients in long-term care facilities.

Objectives: This systematic review set out to determine whether personalized therapy and alternative treatment methods may significantly reduce the symptoms of …

Preeclampsia In African America Women, Breanna Shoultz, Qweita Eastman, Taylor Maynor, Konstanz Ewing

Symposium of Student Scholars

Background: Every year in the U.S., there are 700 pregnancy related deaths that occur, with ⅔ of those deaths being preventable. African American women are 3-4% more likely to die of pregnancy related complications, mainly preeclampsia, than any other population. Preeclampsia is related to cardiovascular diseases such as high blood pressure, which Black women are more at risk for. Objective: This systematic review will explore how preventative techniques such as the use of diuretics and physical activity during pregnancy will decrease the risk for preeclampsia in African American women compared to untreated preeclampsia complications that affect mortality rates upon delivery. …

Methods Leading To Best Outcomes For Elderly Patients Presenting With Chest Pain In Emergency Departments., Philip Choo, Seth Bristol, Jacob Sharer, Hannah Wilson

Symposium of Student Scholars

Abstract

Background: Hospitals today currently face many health disparities among patients. There are many factors that contribute to these health disparities such as the decision-making process. Objective: The goal of this systematic review was to identify how computerized risk prediction models compared to a set of decision rules influence health outcomes during emergency room stay of older adult patients with chest pain.

Method: We searched databases such as, CINAHL, EBSCOHost, and PubMed to identify barriers influencing health outcomes of older adults with chest pain in the emergency department.

Results: There were seven articles included in the review indicating the effectiveness …

Effects Of Insulin Delivery Pumps On Diabetic Adherence To Treatment In Children And Adolescents, Bailey Brott, Aubrey Crawford, Kynley Swain, Ally Williams, Virattana Phravorachit

Symposium of Student Scholars

Abstract

Effects of Insulin Delivery Pumps on Diabetic Adherence to Treatment in Children and Adolescents

Background: Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is a chronic disease characterized by the inability of the body to create and release its own insulin to lower blood sugar. Automatic insulin delivery pumps are a substitute for glucose finger sticks and multiple daily injections to treat DM. These pumps measure patients' glucose levels and administer insulin as needed which may lead to better overall treatment adherence for children and adolescents diagnosed with DM.

Objective: This systematic review aimed to compare the effectiveness of insulin pumps on increased …

Educating Providers To Screen For Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Alyssa Fraino

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

Background: The purpose of this evidence-based change in practice is to increase the knowledge base of psychiatric providers in outpatient psychiatric settings, by educating clinicians regarding the significance of implementing a post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) screening tool during the initial evaluation of patients. This can help to identify patients with PTSD that may not have been identified on initial visit, and may otherwise go unrecognized or untreated for PTSD, without the inclusion of a PTSD screening tool.

Problem: Evidence suggests that PTSD is underreported and overlooked in most populations. However, there is no standardized practice surrounding the routine use of …

Utilizing Tracer Methodology To Evaluate The Effectiveness Of A Hospital Antimicrobial Stewardship Program, Christine Smyth

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

Antimicrobial resistant organisms are a growing threat in the United States and globally. It has become the expectation that healthcare institutions, including hospitals, contribute resources to create and maintain antimicrobial stewardship programs to decrease antimicrobial resistance, improve patient outcomes, and decrease the spread of multi-drug resistant organisms. The methods utilized to evaluate antimicrobial stewardship at hospitals often only evaluate outcome measures and fail to capture knowledge of the hospital antimicrobial stewardship program among prescribers, clinical pharmacists, and nurses, as well potential barriers to antimicrobial stewardship among healthcare providers. The purpose of this Doctor of Nursing project is to implement and …

Musculoskeletal Injuries In The Austere Setting: A Pilot Training For Student Nurses, Diego H. González

Student Works

Registered Nurses (RNs) make up the largest proportion of healthcare workers in the United States. As such, RNs are frequently involved in responding to emergencies in austere settings such as natural disasters and wilderness environments. Many injuries in the austere setting are categorized as musculoskeletal. Currently, nursing programs do not provide any curricular training on austere medicine. This leaves nurses unprepared to face the challenge of responding to emergencies in the austere environment.

Purpose: Create and pilot test an effective training for a nursing program at a private university in the Western United States on musculoskeletal injuries in the austere …

Understanding Older Adults Living In Medically Underserved Areas Perspectives Regarding Type 2 Diabetes Care Received, Christopher Rogers

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Older adults with type 2 diabetes living in medically underserved areas (MUAs) have unique health and social needs that must be taken into consideration when supporting their type 2 diabetes treatment and management care. Effective treatment and management of type 2 diabetes for older adults living in MUAs requires incorporating the preferences, desires, needs, values, and goals of the person at the center of the care into his/her care plan. Shifting care to be conducive to the treatment and management goals and plans co-created with older adults living in MUAs based on their individual physical, psychological, social, and spiritual preferences, …

Improving Surface Cleaning And Hand Hygiene Using Fluorescent Markers, Taryn Whitman

Master's Projects and Capstones

Problem: Compared to inpatient units, ambulatory care clinics have differences in staffing available and frequency to perform room turnover (RTO). Pre-intervention data revealed poor Hand hygiene (HH) and high-touch surface cleaning (HTSC) knowledge and low RTO compliance reliability. Currently, there is no process for objectively monitoring RTO compliance and staff self-evaluation of HH, HTSC, and RTO performance is incongruent with observations.

Context: HH and HTSC are a crucial component of preventing healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). Estimated loss of revenue for one northern California tertiary university hospital system (HCO) campus was nearly $1.8 million dollars in Medicare penalties for 2018.

Intervention: …

Optimizing Pediatric Experiences In Mri, Ryan Jann

Master's Projects and Capstones

Problem: Over the past decade, the prevalence of children with sensory processing disorders has had a steep upward trend. Youth with hyposensitivity and hypersensitivity conditions often develop enhanced stress and anxiety during the pre-operative admission process in preparation for MRI procedures.

Context: Specialized interventions and accommodations are a necessity for this population however, no preventative measures have been utilized within the outpatient surgical center.

Interventions: Resources were created to better prepare patients and guardians for their MRI visits including: a Social Story Video, Picture & Activity Book, as well as an MRI Toolkit. In addition, a one hour staff inservice …

Nurses' Perspectives On Pain Management In The Emergency Department, Elizabeth Fitzgerald

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Over 130 million people seek care in emergency departments (ED) in the United States annually. Most patients who seek treatment in emergency departments are experiencing a painful condition, and as such, ED nurses should have a deep understanding of pain management in the ED. There is limited qualitative research which explores pain management from the nurses’ perspective. The purpose of this study is to describe pain management from the nurse’s perspective. Thorne’s (2005) method of Interpretive Description guided this qualitative inquiry. New knowledge describing the nature of pain management in the ED provides insight into elements which support and impede …

Utilizing A Stress And Coping Model Into A Preventive Abusive Head Trauma Parent/Caregiver Educational Program, Camile Williams

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

Abusive head trauma (AHT) is a serious form of child maltreatment that is the primary cause of fatal head injuries in children younger than 24 months and is the cause for over 50% of severe or fatal traumatic brain injury incidences. These injuries can be caused by impact, shaking, or the combination of shaking and impact. These multi-factorial injuries can cause intracranial and spinal damage, retinal hemorrhages, and fractures of ribs and other bones. The age and severity of injuries will be used to assess the diagnosis of AHT. When AHT occurs, it is often tied to the behavior from …

Satisfaction And Willingness To Recommend: Patient Experience In A Southwestern Healthcare Organization, Judy A. Sanchez

Nursing ETDs

This descriptive study examined perceptions of hospital care in a minority majority state within adult Hispanic white, American Indian, and non-Hispanic white patients using the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) survey. This secondary analysis of de-identified 2016-2018 data involved 10,181 patients discharged from two urban and five rural hospitals. Demographic variables included: race/ethnicity, preferred language, and hospital location. HCAHPS variables included: overall satisfaction, willingness to recommend, nurse communication, physician communication, responsiveness of hospital staff, pain management, medication communication, cleanliness and quietness, discharge information, and transition of care. Chi-square and loglinear analyses demonstrated that Hispanic whites, and …

Family Caregivers’ Experiences And Changes In Caregiving Tasks During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Elliane Irani, Atsadaporn Niyomyart, Ronald L. Hickman

Faculty Scholarship

The purpose of this descriptive study was to describe family caregivers’ experiences and changes in caregiving tasks and approaches during the COVID-19 pandemic. Using web-based strategies, 69 family caregivers of adults with chronic or disabling conditions were recruited and completed an online survey about positive and negative caregiving experiences, and ways in which caregiving has changed. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics (structured questions) and conventional content analysis (open-ended responses). Participants reported concerns about their loved one’s physical and mental health, the limited access to other caregiving sources, and the limited opportunities to maintain personal well-being. Caregiving tasks completed more …

Eras Protocol For Lower Extremity Orthopedic Procedures, Tyler Mcdonald, Joshua Vaughn

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

The demand for total knee arthroplasty (TKA) and total hip arthroplasty (THA) will continue to rise as life expectancy increases. Coupling increased age with the increased prevalence of both obesity and osteoarthritis, the need for total joint arthroplasties is likely to increase (Oseka & Pecka, 2018). The frequency of arthroplasty procedures and the associated recovery period lead to heavy economic demands felt by most healthcare systems (Stowers et al., 2016). To address this burden, enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocols have been implemented at institutions and are designed to improve patient outcomes while simultaneously limiting cost and reducing readmission rates …

Introduction Of Incivility Strategies In The Empowerment Of Nursing Faculty And Students, Angela Wolf

Nursing Capstones

Incivility in nursing education is a growing occurrence that is shown to have profound negative effects on the entire nursing profession. This is a cycle that starts in nursing school and left unchecked carries forward into the workplace. Uncivil behavior is experienced by students, faculty, and peers. A thorough literature review was conducted to describe incivility that occurs in the classroom and possible interventions that allow for improved conditions for nurse educators and nursing students. One study conducted in the university setting using a mixed study design indicated various possible causes including students pay for their education, so this gives …

Addressing Lgbtq Student Population Diversity In Nursing Education, Charlene Ramirez

Nursing Capstones

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) nursing students often find that there is little to no education on health issues that directly affect them. Nursing organizations in the United States have continually made the recommendation to nursing programs to implement LGBTQ health issues in their curriculum, but there has been little to no compliance. This can be attributed to the uncertainty of nurse educators in being competent to provide this education. A thorough literature review was conducted to research how nursing programs incorporate education on LGBTQ health issues into their curricula. By incorporating culturally appropriate education into the nursing …

Enhancing Public Health And School Nurse Knowledge Around Bullying And Mental Health Issues In The Pediatric Population, Holly Bartels

Nursing Capstones

Childhood bullying within schools and the community can leave lasting short- and long-term consequences that can extend into adulthood if not identified early on. Both the bullies and victims of bullies can be impacted both mentally and physically because of bullying. With the increase of technology and social media in schools, cyberbullying has also become a concern. A comprehensive electronic literature search was completed to understand if enhancing public health and school nurse knowledge around bullying and mental health issues would reduce the prevalence of adverse outcomes associated with childhood bullying. Results of the literary search found school and public …

The Current State Of Nursing Education In The Context Of Covid-19, Kaitlyn Kelly

Nursing Capstones

The field of nursing education has undergone massive changes in the context of COVID-19. Healthcare systems shifted to take care of an influx of patients, personal protective equipment shortages arose, and fear of transmission of the virus contributed to many nursing programs quickly transitioning to online instruction. These quick shifts leave many questions about the quality of education nursing students are currently experiencing. Although data may not yet be available to examine the effects of COVID-19 on nursing education, much can be learned by reviewing relevant literature published since the pandemic’s onset. This literature review describes changes to nursing education …

Treatment Of Trichotillomania, Kelsey Schwehr

Nursing Capstones

No abstract provided.

Treatment Of Iatrogenic Hyperprolactinemia Caused By Antipsychotic Medications, Mckenzie Moor

Nursing Capstones

No abstract provided.

Enhancing Diversity In Nursing Education, Ellen Steidl

Nursing Capstones

Diversity in the nursing workforce lags behind the demographic of the national population; therefore, diversity of the student population must be enhanced in nursing education. While racial minority groups account for 40% and men account for 50% of the total population, only 20% of racial minority groups and 9% of men are represented in nursing. The Transcultural Nursing Theory serves as the theoretical framework for this study. A thorough review of the literature was conducted and analyzed. Several barriers to achieving diversity in nursing education exist including issues with recruitment and retention of diverse populations. Strategies for effective implementation techniques …

Trichotillomania Treatment In Children And Adolescents, Tim W. Horton

Nursing Capstones

No abstract provided.

The Critical Shortage Of Nurse Educators: Implications For The Nursing Workforce, Catherine Lassila

Nursing Capstones

The profession of nursing depends upon the work of dedicated, caring, and skilled nursing educators. Not only do they prepare those new to the profession at the prelicensure level, but also to train nurses continuing their education. Nursing education is itself facing severe shortages of educators, the impact of which directly affects the number of nurses that are in the workforce. Many accomplished nurse educators are retiring, while the education institutions simultaneously struggle to attract and retain new educators to the field. To combat this, educational institutions must address the reasons behind high attrition rates of new teachers and other …

Utilization Of Simulated Experiences To Replace In-Person Experiences For Bachelor Of Science Nursing Students, Margaret Loehrke

Nursing Capstones

The demand for nurses is growing throughout the United States, increasing the burden on nursing institutions to accept more students into their programs. Yet, schools are having difficulty keeping up with the need. Institutions have been replacing traditional, in-person clinical experiences with simulated clinical experiences. Although state boards of nursing allow for the utilization of clinical simulation hours, there is no consensus regarding the amount or percentage of hours that schools can replace or the types of experiences that lead to the best student outcomes. This paper thoroughly examines the contemporary literature to determine if simulated clinical education meets student …

Borderline Personality Disorder And Increased Aggression In Patients, Rory Connolly

Nursing Capstones

No abstract provided.