Nursing Commons^™

The Efficacy Of Psychological Interventions On Treating Post-Concussion Syndrome: An Integrative Review, Esther Smith

Senior Honors Theses

Post-concussion syndrome, which occurs when concussion symptoms last longer than 3 months, is an area not well researched and often misunderstood. Post-concussion syndrome lingers without research based, effective treatment options for full patient recovery. This review was conducted to find the efficacy of psychological treatment options for patients with post-concussion syndrome. Eight databases, libraries, a registry, and some grey literature were searched within the past five years. The search process was documented with the PRISMA flow diagram. Through the inclusion criteria, eleven articles were selected as the primary sources. These studies found that the psychological interventions tested showed small improvements …

Written Reminders For Mammogram Compliance, Kristine Cholly, Marcus Barksdale, Rachel Gates, Mabel Olaya, Laura Reed Dnp, Aprn, Fnp-Bc, Cne

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Purpose/Background

Breast cancer remains the second leading cause of cancer death among women in the United States, with a median age of mortality at 68 years old. Mammography has been shown to improve early detection and reduce mortality rates. Current United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends biennial mammograms for women aged 50-74. However, compliance with biennial mammogram screenings remains inconsistent. This project aims to evaluate the effectiveness of written reminder letters in improving mammogram compliance among women aged 50-74 years old. The study focuses on comparing mammogram adherence rates among patients who received reminder letters compared to those …

Be(D) Fast For Faster Screening, Allison Goshorn, Alaine Schauer

Articles, Abstracts, and Reports

No abstract provided.

Staff Education On Evidence-Based Educational Content For Patient Fall Prevention Measures, Ogochukwu Vera Nnakwe

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Patient falls continue to be a challenge due to the injury associated with them. They can be disabling, costly, and most often lead to increased morbidity and mortality. Falls at home lead to hospitalization of the patient and complication of other health issues and/or aggravation of preexisting health problems. The practice problem was that the clinic did not have patient education content in place for fall prevention measures to discuss with patient at discharge. The practice-focused question was, Will a staff education on evidence-based falls prevention measures result in an increase in staff knowledge on fall prevention? The purpose of …

An Exploration Of Potential Gaps Between The Expectations Formed In Local Nursing Programs And The Lived Work Experience Of Newly Licensed Nurses, Melissa Low

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Understanding how expectations formed while in nursing school affect one's successful transition as a newly licensed nurse allows educators to identify curriculum changes to align expectations between academic and healthcare settings to improve the transition to professional nursing. A descriptive-hermeneutic phenomenological study utilized interviews, observations, and journal activities to identify variances between student nurses' expectations and the professional nurse work environment. A purposeful, criterion-based sampling of newly licensed nurses within four and 12 months of orientation identified 11 individuals to interview, observe, and gather journal entries to detail specific gaps between their expectations formed in nursing school and their lived …

Improving Management Of Suicidality Within An Outpatient Eating Disorder Treatment Program Through Standardization Of A Suicide Rating Scale Among Clinical Staff Members: An Evidenced-Based Practice Project, Nicole Neale

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Standardization of suicide assessment protocols is essential for maintaining standards of care and optimizing patient safety. However, many healthcare organizations lack a universal protocol for suicide assessment, likely due to the absence of a gold-standard method or tool. This evidence- based practice project aims to enhance the accuracy and consistency of suicide assessments for individuals diagnosed with eating disorders as well as other mental health disorders, ultimately improving patient safety measures and outcomes within an eating disorder treatment center. This project includes a thorough literature review of suicide risk factors, assessment methods, and available tools, followed by the education and …

Lived Experiences Of Ukrainian Nursing Students In The Us: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study, Katherine E. Ferrell

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological was to explore the lived experiences of Ukrainian prelicensure nursing students at a midwestern nursing program. The theory guiding this study was Albert Bandura’s social learning theory as it explains how people learn through observing, imitating, and modeling. The second theory guiding this study was Madeleine Leininger’s transcultural nursing theory as it identifies that nursing faculty must understand and have knowledge of different cultures to provide meaningful care and education to their students. This study obtained IRB approval before beginning recruitment of 10 Ukrainian nursing students from a private, faith-based university in the midwestern …

Creating A Culture Of Transformational Leadership Through Implementation Of A Nursing Leadership Development Program, Gina Freeman Yost

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Nurse leaders are responsible for influencing frontline nurses in the delivery of high-quality, patient-centered care amid resource constraints and competing priorities. A growing body of evidence indicates that relation-based leadership styles, such as transformational leadership, improve quality and safety within the healthcare environment and positively impact patient, staff, and organizational outcomes. While a transformational leadership style has been proven to successfully drive all organization members to work together toward the organization’s vision, most organizations do not assess leadership style or provide formal training to promote growth in this important leadership facet. This scholarly project aimed to close the gap in …

A Descriptive Case Study: Exploring The Impact Of Practicing The Role Of The Registered Nurse Throughout A Simulation Curriculum From Graduates Of A Midwest Associate Degree Nursing Program, Mindy J. Ritter

Sabbatical Projects

The researcher sought to learn the impact of participating in a repetitive, immersive, high-fidelity simulation curriculum on graduates' nursing practice.

The literature has highlighted the gaps in graduates’ practice readiness and transition to practice. This gap is coupled with the decreased opportunities for students in the clinical setting, increased patient acuity, and rapid acceleration in the use of technology in healthcare organizations. The implementation of simulation pedagogy can help bridge these gaps; however, its implementation, frequency, and curricular integration vary across nursing academia.

This qualitative descriptive case study explored the perceptions of graduates from a midwest associate degree nursing program …

Student Expectations And Outcomes In Virtual Vs In-Person Interprofessional Simulations: A Qualitative Analysis, Padmavathy Ramaswamy, Abbey M Bachmann, Tiffany Champagne-Langabeer, Chasisty L Gilder, Samuel E Neher, Jennifer L Swails

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Health-related programs frequently integrate interprofessional education (IPE) into their training. The COVID-19 pandemic transitioned many IPE programs online, making it essential to assess student expectations and perceived learning outcomes across virtual simulations and in-person settings.

Methods: This qualitative study compared student expectations and self-reported outcomes across in-person and virtual case scenarios at a Texas health science center. Responses to open-ended questions from two data collection periods were analyzed using inductive coding and thematic analysis.

Results: Students from nursing, medicine, dentistry, public health, and informatics participated in each group. Three major themes emerged from this study: communication, teamwork, and …

Adverse Childhood Experiences And The Impact Of Resiliency On Child Behavior: A Quality Improvement Project, Macy Kraft

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Capstones

Background: Adverse Childhood Experiences can have a significant impact on a person’s future health and wellness. Therefore, it is necessary for healthcare professionals to increase their understanding of possible mediating factors to lessen the impact of these experiences should they occur.

Purpose: The purpose of this project was to evaluate the effectiveness of an evidence-based quality improvement initiative designed to enhance the formal behavioral assessments of pre-school children following the participation of their caregivers in an ACEs and resiliency educational intervention.

Methods: Implementation of a two-armed intervention; a brief educational session aimed at providing an introduction to ACEs and a …

Rethinking Systematic Review Assignment Design In Graduate Health Science Education: Librarians' Perspectives, Laura Lipke, Carrie Price Mls

Library Scholarship

Background: This article examines the problematic phenomenon of faculty assigning graduate health science students systematic reviews as semester-based assignments while expecting a health science librarian to be a willing support system for those students. Despite published conduct and reporting guidelines establishing that systematic reviews require a team, time, and methodological expertise, some faculty still turn to full systematic review assignments in the classroom. The authors propose applying cognitive load theory and chunking the systematic review process into manageable steps, allowing both faculty and students to better understand the required methodologies and to enhance educational outcomes.

Experience: The authors have often …

Using Ehr Reminders To Control Hypertension, Umme Kulsoom Ghous, Logan Mcculley, Danielle C. Hall, Linda Katherine Lambert, Laura Reed Dnp, Aprn, Fnp-Bc, Cne

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Purpose/Background

Hypertension is a significant risk factor for cardiovascular and kidney diseases but is often under-diagnosed and poorly managed. Electronic Health Records (EHR) can help by providing automated reminders to recheck elevated blood pressure (BP) readings, ensuring accurate measurements, and guiding clinical interventions. This study aims to determine if EHR-based reminders improve BP control in adult patients aged 21 and older, focusing on hypertension diagnosis accuracy and timely management.

Methods

After a literature review, the study took place in a primary care clinic and only included patients with an existing diagnosis of hypertension. Thirty patients were included in the study. …

An Exploration Of The Experiences Of Perinatal Depression And Anxiety Among Pregnant And Parenting Adolescents In The Tampa Bay Area Of Florida, Olajumoke Adetoun Ojeleye

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Perinatal depression (PND) and perinatal anxiety (PNA) are increasing among pregnant and parenting adolescents (PPAs), with PNA often underrecognized. This leads to significant socioeconomic costs and adverse maternal consequences if untreated. Hence, this dissertation explores the experiences of PND and PNA among PPAs, focusing on their knowledge gaps, perception, mental health needs, care preferences, and access to PMH care. The research employs a qualitative design (free-listing and in-depth interviews) to gather participant insights. Key findings reveal that many PPAs possess limited knowledge about PNA when compared to PND. Lack of support from partners, family, and peers emerged as the topmost …

The Benefits Of Implementing Medication Administration Simulation In The Undergraduate Nursing Pharmacology Course, Ogulbagt Narova

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

Medication administration is one of the most critical tasks for nurses. Yet, it can also be a source of anxiety and errors, especially for nursing students who are still building their skills. Many new nursing students struggle to feel confident and competent when administering medications in real clinical settings. Simulation-based learning offers a powerful way to address this challenge. Using realistic, hands-on scenarios, students can practice medication administration in a safe environment without harming patients. This approach helps students build critical skills, gain confidence, and reduce the likelihood of medication errors. Incorporating medication administration simulations into nursing pharmacology courses will …

Healthy Work Environments, Lisa Keck

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

Research has identified that healthy work environments in hospital settings improve job satisfaction, professional practice, staff retention and quality of patient care (Pereira et al., 2024). The purpose of this research is to compare a nursing unit’s work environment before and after implementation of American Association of Critical Care Nurses’ (AACN’), Healthy Work Environments (HWE) essential standards: Skilled Communication, True Collaboration, Effective Decision Making, Appropriate Staffing, Meaningful Recognition, Authentic Leadership (AACN Standards, n.d). A validated assessment survey for HWE will be administered in April 2025 (pre-survey). This survey will be analyzed and HWE Interventions will be implemented based on the …

“Leading For Peace, Equity, Sustainability, And Prosperity”: The Architecture Of Healing And Hope, Bro. Ignatius Perkins, O.P.

Faculty Conference Presentations

Presentation to the Leadership Academy Retreat, March 16, 2025, NLN/ Walden University College of Nursing, Institute for Social Determinants of Health and Social Change.

Respiratory Muscle Strength Training For Persistent Dyspnea In Individuals With Post-Covid-19, Sandra P. Morgan

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Severe acute respiratory syndrome 2 coronavirus has resulted in more than 775 million known cases and greater than seven million deaths globally. Up to 25% of patients experience ongoing symptoms three months after the acute illness, and up to 30% of these individuals report persistent dyspnea. The overall aims of this dissertation are to 1) examine the risk factors and predictors for developing persistent dyspnea, 2) measure the effects of respiratory muscle strength training on dyspnea, pulmonary symptoms, quality of life, pulmonary function, and functional capacity, and 3) compare the outcomes of two different respiratory muscle strength training interventions.

In …

Fall Prevention In An Acute Inpatient Crisis Stabilization Unit, Kerenge Ayuk Ako-Ebot

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Summary The type of project was a staff education designed to increase staff knowledge through the implementation of an evidence-based fall prevention program tailored to an acute inpatient crisis stabilization unit. The practice problem was a lack of standardization in fall prevention. The project question was the following: Does staff education on fall prevention measures increase staff knowledge in an acute crisis stabilization unit? A total of 22 health care professionals, including registered nurses, certified nursing assistants, mental health technicians, and physical and occupational therapists, participated in the educational presentation. Pretest and posttest data showed a significant improvement in staff …

Comparison Of Deep Learning And Traditional Machine Learning Models For Predicting Mild Cognitive Impairment Using Plasma Proteomic Biomarkers, Kesheng Wang Phd, Ma, Bs, Donald A. Adjeroh, Wei Fang, Suzy M. Walter, Danqing Xiao, Ubolrat Piamjariyakul, Chun Xu

Faculty Publications

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a clinical condition characterized by a decline in cognitive ability and progression of cognitive impairment. It is often considered a transitional stage between normal aging and Alzheimer’s disease (AD). This study aimed to compare deep learning (DL) and traditional machine learning (ML) methods in predicting MCI using plasma proteomic biomarkers. A total of 239 adults were selected from the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) cohort along with a pool of 146 plasma proteomic biomarkers. We evaluated seven traditional ML models (support vector machines (SVMs), logistic regression (LR), naïve Bayes (NB), random forest (RF), k-nearest neighbor …

Fostering Nurse Engagement Through A Symposium Viewing Party, Karis Pickett

Providence Nursing Research Conference 2023 – Present

No abstract provided.

Factors Related To Intent To Stay Among Acute Care Health Professionals, Alison Smock, Danell Stengem, Karen Colorafi

Providence Nursing Research Conference 2023 – Present

No abstract provided.

Addressing Nurses Burnout Through Zen Den Implementation, Wendy Vaquerano, Crystal Tribble, Kathleen Tubridy

Providence Nursing Research Conference 2023 – Present

No abstract provided.

Evidence-Based Practice Competencies, Beliefs, And Organizational Readiness: A Cross-Sectional Study, Rose Timmerman, Cara Gallegos, Trisha Saul, Frances Chu

Providence Nursing Research Conference 2023 – Present

No abstract provided.

Virtual Hospital Foll-Up: Effects On 30-Day Readmission And Patient Satisfaction, Lida Wiersum, Karen Valiyev, Kristin Wisegarver, Luca Hopkins

Providence Nursing Research Conference 2023 – Present

No abstract provided.

Let's Bundle Up! A Multimodal Approach In Reducing Cautis, Catherine Lin, Jennifer Michell, Jasmine Gill, Adhara Hanslee

Providence Nursing Research Conference 2023 – Present

No abstract provided.

Program Evaluation Of The Revamped Hapi Prevention Bundle Protocol In An Adult Non-Critical Inpatient Unit, Imari Santos

Providence Nursing Research Conference 2023 – Present

No abstract provided.

"We Got Your Back": Creating A Culture Of Safety For Safe Patient Handling And Mobility, Jerome Codilla, Joanna Felix-Mendez, Marinella Papa

Providence Nursing Research Conference 2023 – Present

No abstract provided.

"Be On The Lookout" (Bolo): A Multidisciplinary Call Button Responsiveness Program, Shawn Warren, Ronald Rosales, Gala Landry

Providence Nursing Research Conference 2023 – Present

No abstract provided.

Assessing And Addressing Distress For Informal Caregivers Caring For Oncology Patients, Megan Murphy, Carrie Ann Matyac (Project Chair)

Providence Nursing Research Conference 2023 – Present

No abstract provided.