Nursing Commons^™

Benchmark Project Cryotherapy To Prevent Chemo Induced Peripheral Neuropathy, Stephanie Davis

MSN Capstone Projects

As a nurse working in chemotherapy infusion, I have a direct role in symptom management. For patients receiving Taxanes, the most common adverse effect reported by patients is peripheral neuropathy. According to one meta-analysis, Taxane-induced peripheral neuropathy (TIPN) has very high incidence ranging from 11 to 87% and severely impairs patients’ quality of life (Jia et al., 2021). Patients may experience pain, weakness, loss of sensation, decrease in ability to perform ADLs, increased falls among many other impairments as a result. We understand the importance of performance status in oncology patients. This can lead to dose reductions or held treatments …

The Use Of Active Coping Compared To Self-Distraction To Reduce Perceived Stress In Upper Division Nursing Students, Grace Elizabeth Kimbro

Honors Capstone Projects and Theses

No abstract provided.

Safe Patient Handling And Mobility Olympics, Johnny R. Cortez

MSN Capstone Projects

The focus of this study is the implementation of a Safe Patient Handling and Mobility (SPHM) program titled SPHM Olympics. The study reviews the necessary components and background necessary to implement the project as well as evaluation tools to monitor the impact of the program on the safety of culture at Houston Methodist West (HMW). The program originated from the SPHM committee’s need to improve the utilization of SPHM equipment and techniques by clinical staff throughout the hospital as evidenced by the substantial number of clinical staff suffering from musculoskeletal disorders and HMW clinical staff’s current views that SPHM techniques …

Appointment Reminder System Benchmark Study, Anthony Rawlinson

MSN Capstone Projects

The average appointment “no-show” rate is 23% across 105 studies (Dantas et al., 2018). These “no-shows” cost an estimated 150 billion dollars a year to the American healthcare industry (Ruiz-Hernandez et al., 2020). Previous estimates place the cost of one no-show event at a primary office in the range of $125 to $274 (Aysola et al., 2020). These missed appointments not only cause a loss in office revenue, but also harm the patients missing the appointment (Marbouh et al., 2020). Some of the repercussions patients suffer from are longer wait times for appointments, higher Emergency Room (ER) admission rates, and …

Health Literacy In Acute Care Benchmark Study, Micah Duke

MSN Capstone Projects

Poor health literacy levels directly correlate to poor patient discharge adherence and to an increase in repeat emergency department visits and healthcare costs. In addition, poor health literacy levels are directly correlated to a decrease in patient health outcomes. Studies clearly demonstrate that determining patient health literacy levels can be used to develop appropriate discharge instructions and education that will improve patient adherence and health outcomes, thus reducing emergency department readmissions and healthcare costs.

The purpose of this benchmark project is to implement procedures for consistently obtaining patient health literacy levels, along with language preferences, using the HLS-SF12 and to …

Supporting Nurse Residency Programs By Determining Nurse Residency Value, Byron Carlisle

MSN Capstone Projects

There is a strong influence on retention of the new graduate nurse during the first year of a nurse residency program. A positive correlation between nurse residency programs and return on investment were found. The retention of the new graduate nurse is influenced on precepting and mentoring of the new graduate nurse. Standardizing the reporting of interventions should be the focus on future studies as there are many interventions in regards to precepting and mentoring that influence retention.

Resuscitation Of Hypovolemic Trauma Patients: Controlled /Hypotensive Resuscitation Vs. Conventional Resuscitation, Pamala D. Mcgowan

MSN Capstone Projects

The manner in which clinicians have used to resuscitate hemorrhagic trauma patients has been a continuous repetitive cycle over time. The cycle has gone from “run the fluids wide open in the patient” to “less is more in the patient”. As more evidence-based practice (EBP) emerges, reasons for ‘less is more’ become acutely evident. Large fluid volume resuscitation is highly suspicious for the exacerbation of the lethal triad of trauma: hypothermia, acidosis, and coagulopathy, thereby increasing bleeding and mortality (Cotton et al., 2006). The increased risk of bleeding also worsens the complications associated with trauma resuscitation. This all creates a …

Central Line Maintenance Team, Lauren Spears

MSN Capstone Projects

Background: CLASBI infections increase morbidity and mortality rates in intensive care units. Studies have shown that line teams can reduce CLASBI rates by 65% (Cuccaro et al., 2020).

Objective: This narrative review aims to determine if initiation of central line maintenance teams will help reduce CLASBI rates in the ICU.

Summary Databases including CINAHL, PubMed, and Cochrane were searched for randomized control trials (RCT), systemic, qualitative and case control studies to find research study evidence to determine if a dedicated central line maintenance team, specifically for insertion and dressing changes, will help reduce CLASBI rates in the ICU setting. The …

Using Simulation To Develop Clinical Judgment In New-To-Practice Emergency Department Nurses: An Evidence-Based Benchmark Project, Moreno Divine Comiskey

MSN Capstone Projects

In the past 6 months, the Emergency Department at the George Washington University Hospital has onboarded over twice as many new-to-practice nurses as experienced emergency nurses. Studies suggest that these new-to-practice nurses often are deficient in clinical judgment, and our observations at our hospital support these findings. Researchers have found that onboarding programs that include simulation have success in improving clinical judgment, and advocate for its use. Simulation gives another angle to the onboarding program in addition to preceptorship and classroom learning, and allows participants to bridge the gap between theory and practice safely and without fear of harming a …

The Use Of Standardized Patients To Improve Communication Skills: A Benchmark Study, Baylee A. Azbell

MSN Capstone Projects

Effective communication is an important skill set for all nurses to withhold. In the medical field, poor communication skills have been associated with negative patient outcomes, increase in patient dissatisfaction and complaints, faulty treatment adherence, inadequate patient education, malpractice claims and poor patient and healthcare team relationships (Lin et al., 2013). Communication is a learned skill and needs to be taught from the very beginning of nursing school. Nursing schools need to be proactive and prepare their nursing students in promoting clear communication skills to ensure patient safety and satisfaction in care. This issue led to the benchmark project that …

Change Of Policy Regarding Evidence Based Practice Interventions In Postpartum Hemorrhages And Promotion Of Standardization Of Care, Danielle Fulton

MSN Capstone Projects

Postpartum Hemorrhages are occurring at a devastating rate and require intervention, as postpartum women can die from hemorrhages. This project aims to establish interventions that should be a set policy, to help decrease the rate in which postpartum hemorrhages occur and the morbidity rate.

The Impact Of An Innovative Simulation On Prelicensure Nursing Student Empathy Levels, Annie Harrison

Articles, Abstracts, and Reports

Empathy is the ability to see oneself in the situation of another and to take actions on behalf of that individual based on that perception. However, empathy has been shown to decrease in nursing education and continues to do so in nursing practice. Importantly, aspects of empathy have been shown to be teachable. This scholarly practice project examined whether an innovative simulation would increase empathy in prelicensure nursing students. This study, guided by self-determination theory (SDT) and designed according to the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) change model, used a mixed-methods design. The instrument for quantitative data collection was the Toronto Empathy Questionnaire …

Technology Methods In The Bariatric Postoperative Follow-Up Phase Benchmark Study, Haley Rogers

MSN Capstone Projects

Diet and exercise seem to be the safer option for weight loss, but many individuals struggle to achieve maximum weight loss with these methods. Bariatric surgery has become a growing trend to help combat the obesity epidemic that society is now facing. A large increase in sleeve gastrectomy has been utilized and in 2013, there was a documented 468, 609 cases of bariatric surgery performed worldwide (Sherf Dagan et al., 2017). Bariatric surgery has been shown to provide the greatest level of weight loss when compared to traditional methods that include diet and exercise (Khan, 2016). Weight regain has been …

To Use Or Not To Use Oxygen For Mi Benchmark Study, Alexia Celaya

MSN Capstone Projects

It is a common practice for emergency personnel to administer oxygen for a patient diagnosed with a myocardial infarction. It is a well-known practice to place the patient on supplemental oxygen even if they are not hypoxic. The use of supplemental oxygen has been a cornerstone in the treatment of myocardial infarction. The rationale behind the administration of oxygen therapy is to increase oxygen delivery to the myocardium, therefore limiting the infarct size and future complications (Hofmann et al., 2017). The use of supplemental oxygen on normoxic patients has been challenged due to the possibility of causing further injury to …

Osteoporosis In Postmenopausal Women, Lindsay Vazquez, Destiny Struble, Laura Wyne, Hadas Cohen, Lizzy Ryan, Modupe Adewuyi

Symposium of Student Scholars

Abstract

Background: Osteoporosis is a skeletal system disease that causes bone fragility due to low bone mineral density (BMD). BMD decreases with age and lack of estrogen production. Thus, post-menopausal women are prone to osteoporosis and have an elevated risk of bone fractures. Non-pharmaceutical interventions have the potential to increase BMD and lower osteoporosis patients' risk for bone fractures.

Objective: To compare published evidence on the effects of vitamin D, calcium supplements, and performing weight-bearing exercises in increasing BMD and lowering the risk for bone fractures among post-menopausal women.

Methods: In accordance with PRISMA guidelines. we conducted a systematic search …

Cannabis And Opioids In Chronic Pain Management, Estefan Tsegaye, Clara Kathryn Pollard, Emilie Tate, Justin White, Raphaela Woods

Symposium of Student Scholars

Background: Many adults suffer from chronic pain. Opioids are commonly prescribed to treat chronic pain, though they can produce adverse side effects and carry the potential for abuse and addiction. The introduction of cannabis in medicine has provided a possible alternative to opioids in chronic pain management. Objective: This systematic literature review aims to synthesize evidence from published studies to answer the following research question in the PICOT format: In adults over the age of 18 with chronic pain (P), how does prescribed cannabis therapy (I) compare with prescribed opioid therapy (C) in affecting perceived pain levels and quality of …

Heavy Eyes, Medication Errors, And Night-Shift Nursing, Mackenzie Hull, Doonya Mereby, Randolph Rich, Kat Wallace

Symposium of Student Scholars

Heavy Eyes, Medication Errors, and Night-shift Nursing

Recorded Video Upload

Undergraduate Student(s): Kat Wallace, Doonya Mereby, Randolph Rich, Mackenzie Hull

Research Mentor(s): Karen Armstrong

Background: Medication errors occur in every hospital setting, but the question is always how can they be avoided? Night shift and day shift differences play a significant role in medication errors. Further research is needed to delineate specific causes of medical errors between the two types of nursing work shift types. This study aims to identify whether night shift nurses working 12-hour shifts (7pm-7am) experience more medication errors than their day shift counterparts (7am-7pm), as well …

The Effects Of Nursing Overtime Work Hours On Medication Errors And Patient Safety, Camilla Byrd, Halle Borgel, Mykayla Stephens, Jena Killian, Mya Kinney

Symposium of Student Scholars

Abstract

Background: The recent global pandemic has uncovered health care inequities among nursing professionals. The nursing shortage has placed pressure on overworked nurses to perform higher level critical care under dire and unsafe conditions. The stress of overworked nurses is a culprit for medical errors that affect the quality and effectiveness of patient care. Methods: Kennesaw State Library, PubMed, 35 articles screened. After thorough screening of various articles addressing this topic, we examined the quantitative and qualitative studies performed in all areas of nursing. Results: Research suggests that nurses working overtime versus full-time hours experience physical, mental, and emotional exhaustion …

Indications And Outcomes Of Or Circulators Continually Leaving The Room During Surgery, Kelly Mckay

Symposium of Student Scholars

Abstract

Surgical inefficiencies are a major concern for hospitals due to the fact that they can cause extended OR time, increased costs, and a decrease in patient safety. The primary goal of this research is to understand how operating room circulators leaving the room continuously for missing or needed items can be minimized. In turn, that will increase the efficiency and safety of the surgery. The research will identify and evaluate factors that influence the duration of time in which the circulator is out of the room and how to improve them. The AORN Position Statement states that one perioperative …

Post-Operative Delirium: Can Retraining On The Cam-Icu Tool Increase Nurses’ Confidence In Patient Assessment?, Alison Farraher

Symposium of Student Scholars

Background: Delirium is defined as an acute condition consisting of confusion, altered mental status, and disorganized thought processes. Patients who develop delirium have higher mortality rates, increased lengths of stay in the hospital, worse clinical outcomes, and place a higher burden on hospital staff. Affecting up to fifty percent of cardiac surgery patients, delirium is recognized as a major post-operative complication highlighting the importance of early detection. The Confusion Assessment Method for the ICU (CAM-ICU) is a widely accepted screening tool used to detect delirium in the ICU setting. Despite being clinically validated, many nurses lack adequate training on how …

Monthly Debriefing Sessions For Critical Care Nurses: Evaluating Nurse Burnout And Retention, Emilei Ison

Symposium of Student Scholars

Nurse burnout and retention is an ongoing issue in the trauma/surgery ICU, especially following COVID-19. Critical Care Societies Collaborative (CCSC) recently held a summit to address the issue of burnout among critical care professionals and call for action to implement change and promote research. Studies have shown that increased burnout amongst nurses is associated with increased healthcare associated infections, increased patient mortality, and decreased perceived quality of teamwork. With the cost of turnover being 1.2 to 1.3 times an RN’s salary, preventing burnout is a major issue for healthcare organizations. The purpose of this evidence-based practice project is to address …

A Better Way To Non-Invasively Measure Bilirubin Levels To Protect Infant Health, Kristen Mackeil

Symposium of Student Scholars

Background: Jaundice screening using transcutaneous bilirubin(TcB) monitors often produce inaccurately low results for lighter skin tone newborns and inaccurately high results for darker skin tone newborns. While high jaundice levels for lighter skin tone newborns risk going undetected, darker skin tone newborns receive unnecessary follow up heel sticks for serum bilirubin determination. This is a problem because dangerous jaundice levels may be under or over reported. Additionally, unnecessary heel sticks for darker skin tone newborns increase the risk of complications from puncture and increase newborn discomfort. Performing the heel stick and processing the blood sample also cost nurses and …

A Project Proposal: The Effects Of Standard Protocols During Cpr On Hospital-Acquired Infections Of Post-Open-Heart Surgery Patients In The Cvicu, Jessica Monahan

Symposium of Student Scholars

Abstract

A Project Proposal: The Effects of Standard Protocols during CPR on Hospital-Acquired Infections of Post-Open-Heart Surgery Patients in the CVICU

Background: Hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) are one of the most common complications post-cardiac surgeries and are associated with longer hospitalizations, elevated use of healthcare resources, and increased morbidity and mortality. The effects of HAIs after cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in recent post-open-heart surgery patients remains largely unexplored. Therefore, the purpose of this project was to determine, in the CVICU does implementing standard protocols during CPR on recent post-open-heart surgery patients reduce HAIs?

Literature Review: HAIs during CPR can be acquired through …

The Continual Prevalence Of Hiv/Aids Within The African American Gay Male Population, Kayla Bartell, Crystal Darby, Julia Wozniacki, Jasmin Cabeza

Symposium of Student Scholars

Background: Black/African American males that identify as gay or bisexual are more affected than any other ethnicity. Countless amounts of young adults who have contracted HIV have below standard medication adherence.

Aim: The purpose of this study is to explore accessibility and adherence to pre-exposure prophylactic medications for young African American gay adults who have contracted HIV.

Methods: The Johns Hopkins Evidence-Based Practice Model and Guidelines were used in the literature review, critical analysis, leveling of evidence, and quality rating. The PRISMA flow diagram was used to map out the number of records for inclusion and exclusion. PubMed, …

Gynecological Care For Transgender Men As Compared To Cisgender Women, Mary Daniel, April Schlinkert, Corinne Fielder, Loan Tran, Serena Mercado

Symposium of Student Scholars

Background: A large majority of the transgender male population experiences unequal healthcare especially in gynecological care. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to answer the question: In transgender men, how does gynecological healthcare compared with cisgender women’s gynecological care affect the outcome of the transgender man’s health? This presentation will discuss the differences in gynecological care for transgender men as compared to cisgender women. Methods: Data was collected using scholarly articles and past studies to support the research. Results: In comparison to cisgender women’s gynecological care, transgender men receive unequal care and less care overall. The lack of …

Reducing Catheter-Associated Infections Through A Two-Nurse Protocol, Jennifer Balagani

Symposium of Student Scholars

Catheter-associated infections related to Foley catheter insertion and maintenance is a current problem in my practicum unit and across the United States. Although we are only in the third month of 2022, my practicum unit has already documented three cases of catheter associated infections occurring this year. Unfortunately, these cases are not outside of the norm, in the United States, catheter-associated infections are the second most common hospital acquired infection (Zurmehly, 2018). The purpose of this project is to propose trial interventions at Kennestone Hospital that have been effective in other hospitals like the Shepherd Center to reduce the occurrence …

The Effects Of E-Cigarettes Versus Traditional Cigarettes On The Health Of Young Adults, Taylor Arnett, Sami Johnson, Victoria Leggett, Miranda Susman

Symposium of Student Scholars

Background: Electronic cigarettes, more commonly referred to as e-cigarettes, were initially designed as a less harmful alternative to traditional cigarette users. Although there are some benefits to transitioning to e-cigarettes, the benefits do not outweigh the health risks both cause to the cardiovascular and pulmonary system. Objective: This study was designed to better understand the consequences that traditional cigarettes and e-cigarettes have on young adults' health. Method: Research was conducted using CINAHL, EBSCO, and PubMed. The commonly used phrases to find search results include “traditional versus e-cigarettes effects on cardiovascular system” and “traditional versus e-cigarettes effects on respiratory system.” Boolean …

Demonstrating That Labor Induction Of At-Risk-Pregnant Women At Kennestone Hospital Leads To Better Health Outcomes, Raissa Ekwalla Moungang

Symposium of Student Scholars

Background: The process of labor induction involves the artificial initiation of labor/stimulation of uterine contractions in pregnant women, through mechanical methods or medication use. The purpose of this research is to show that while spontaneous labor is preferred by most patients, labor induction for certain indications, not only leads to better patient outcomes but also the avoidance of C-sections. Brief literature: Historically, women dying during childbirth or postpartum was common, but with technological and scientific advancements, it is now a rare occurrence. Care at Kennestone Hospital doesn’t just involve mitigating damages inflicted by illness, trauma, or others, but also focuses …

Preventative Interventions To Support Decreasing Compassion Fatigue Among Critical Care Nurses, Vanessa Otamendi

Symposium of Student Scholars

Title: Preventative Interventions to Support Decreasing Compassion Fatigue Among Critical Care Nurses

Background:

Nurses who are subjected to traumatic situations like difficult patient situations and a lack of support can experience compassion fatigue. Compassion fatigue is a problem throughout the healthcare field, especially in critical care where there are complex patients and high-pressure situations. Early forms of interventions such as workshops are important to offer in hopes of nurses becoming aware of and avoiding compassion fatigue.

Brief Literature Review:

This study aimed to synthesize existing interventions that focused on hospital nurses in a critical care capacity which focused on preventing …

Nursing Students' Attitude Towards People Living With Dementia During Covid-19 Pandemic., Jakira D. Usry, Janya Wilson

Symposium of Student Scholars

Background: The current global prevalence of dementia is estimated to increase from 55.2 million to 78 million in 2030 and 139 million in 2050. Prelicensure student nurses must be educated to have knowledge and skills in providing dementia care as well as positive attitudes.

Aim: To assess prelicensure nursing students' attitudes towards people living with dementia during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: This is secondary data analysis of the data collected in an ongoing Mixed-Methods study investigating the impact of clinical experiential learning on prelicensure nursing students' dementia knowledge, attitudes, and skills during the COVID-19 pandemic. The data was collected via …