Nursing Commons^™

Implementation Of A Drive-Through Covid-19 Mass Vaccination Site: Experiences From Louvax–Broadbent In Louisville, Kentucky, Ruth Carrico, Sarah Beth Hartlage, Valenchia Brown Msn, Aprn, Fnp-C, Sarah M. Bishop, Luanne Didelot, William Hayden, Beverly Williams Coleman, Sarah Tan, Delanor Manson, Kellie Kane, Dawn Balcom, Paul Kern

The University of Louisville Journal of Respiratory Infections

Background: Response to the COVID-19 pandemic has required innovative approaches to vaccination, including methods to rapidly and safely immunize communities. A major challenge to such a response involved access to untapped healthcare worker resources. The Louisville, Kentucky, response involved the use of a large volunteer workforce to supplement local public health employees in planning and implementing a large-scale drive-through vaccination event. The objective of this manuscript was to outline processes involved in training a mass immunization workforce and implementating a large-scale COVID-19 community vaccination.

Approach: Competency-based and standardized training was provided for every volunteer before working their shift. Volunteers worked …

Empathy Development Among Undergraduate Nursing Students Through Intimate Partner Violence Simulation, Jennifer Benson, Peggy H. Anderson, Gaye L. Ray, Denise Cummins, Michael Thomas

Student Works

The purpose of this Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) education quality improvement project was to evaluate the effectiveness of an undergraduate Community Health Nursing course, IPV simulation and learning activities. This experiential learning activity offered participants an opportunity to temporarily view life from the perspective of actual IPV victims/survivors, and review and discuss IPV statistics, at-risk populations, and warning signs.

The quality improvement project was developed using a mixed-methods quality improvement design. A convenience sample of 35 participants allowed matched-sample statistical analysis of the Jefferson Scale of Empathy Health Professions student version (JSE-HPS version) scores. Pre-to-post JSE-HPS version empathy survey scores …

Fluid State And Diet Control In Patients With Acute Kidney Injury On Hemodialysis, Carolyn Evans-Howard

Master of Science in Nursing Theses and Projects

Prolonged hospitalization, high number of readmissions, and high mortality rates are associated with patients diagnosed with Acute Kidney Injury (AKI). The purpose of this quality improvement proposal is to address the need for more education for nurses caring for these patients. If the kidneys shut down temporarily due to acute illness or medication taken, fluid and toxins will build up in the body with no way of being released. It is proposed that if dietary and fluid restrictions are followed it may help the patient recover faster. The method proposed is to have nurses learn the necessary dietary and fluid …

Increasing Healthcare Provider Engagement With Adult Patients Regarding Organ Donation In The Primary Healthcare Setting, Evelyn Michelle Rainey

DNP Projects

Though 90% of the United States population supports organ donation, only 60% actually sign up as registered donors (Health Resources & Services Administration [HRSA], 2021). This 60% makes up approximately 169 million Americans, but the chances of actually becoming an organ donor are only 3 in 1,000 (Health Resources & Services Administration [HRSA], 2021). Simply put, the need for organs far outweighs the availability of those organs for transplant. Literature reviewed supports that a lack of knowledge regarding organ donation may contribute to the decreased number of registered organ donors and that Primary Care Providers (PCP) have been successful at …

The Implementation Of A Validated Csec Screening Tool For Youth Age 11 - 17 In A Pediatric Emergency Room, Julie Clark, Josie Doss, Krystal E. Canady, Yameika Head Md

Graduate Research Showcase

Abuse of children is a public health issue covering a range of inflicted harm from neglect to physical to sexual abuse. A severe form of child sexual abuse is the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (CSEC). This phenomenon involves sexual crimes against children, including exploitation for gain. High-risk indicators are noted throughout the literature to aid in identification, but some children are vulnerable because of their young age. Perpetrators can be family, friends, or acquaintances and choose their potential victims by recognizing a child’s vulnerabilities. Inevitable physical and mental health consequences are associated with CSEC involvement; hence these youth seek …

Bridging The Gap In Education For Patients On Oral Chemotherapy: A Qi Project, Lindsay Rodriguez

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Abstract

Oral chemotherapy and intravenous (IV) chemotherapy share many of the same side effects. However, at community General Hospital Medical Center oral chemotherapy patients were not receiving equitable monitoring and education like their IV chemotherapy counterparts. To bridge the gap, a quality improvement (QI) initiative to improve education, documentation and follow-up between visits was proposed to increase compliance and understanding. The QI project consisted of patients taking oral chemotherapy within the first 12 weeks of starting treatment. Patients were contacted weekly via nurse lead follow up calls and the Oral Chemotherapy Template was discussed with the patient to identify concerns …

Implementing Rapid Response And Medical Emergency Simulation Training For Medical-Surgical Nurses, Brandon Burnett

Master of Science in Nursing Theses and Projects

This project is based on the problem of nursing competence and confidence within medical emergency and rapid response scenarios. This problem affects all patients, but specifically the medical-surgical patient population of which rapid assessment and intervention can lead to a change in patient mortality. The goal of the project is to use simulation, a common tool in undergraduate nursing education, to improve nursing competence and confidence after participation. The nurses will be cycled through three simulated scenarios, followed by a debriefing, and then moved to the next simulation. The nurses’ performance will be evaluated using evaluator checklists for each of …

Information Literacy Data Group 1 And 2, Taralyn Mcmullan, Clista Clanton, Jo Ann Otts, Wilma Powell Stuart, Angela Rand

University Research Data and Datasets

Objective: This exploratory study examined perceived self-efficacy in information literacy skills in nursing students and discusses how collaborative relationships between nursing faculty and librarians can strengthen curricular efforts to support information literacy.

Methods: Using the Information Competency Assessment Instrument, a survey research design was used to determine student perceptions of their information literacy skills. Participants included nursing Baccalaureate, Master's and Doctoral students in each of these programs.

Results: The Information Competency Assessment Instrument identified low self-efficacy in the following categories: using an index, determining information needed for assignments, use of governmental documents, media sources, producers of information and citing sources. …

Improving Utilization Of Palliative Care For Heart Failure Patients, Devin Tilley

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

The purpose of this program was to educate providers regarding palliative care for heart failure patients. Palliative care is underutilized in conjunction with usual heart failure management despite proven benefits of decreased symptom burden, reduced hospitalizations, and improved overall quality of life. Provider education has the ability to improve provider knowledge of palliative care for heart failure patients. A brief education session was given to hospital providers in an acute care setting to evaluate the benefits of provider education on palliative care utilization for heart failure patients. Findings included improved provider confidence in referring heart failure patients to palliative care. …

Improving Parent/Guardian Awareness Of Kindergarten Entry Health Requirements, Paul Prince

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Ensuring students meet health requirements to enter Kindergarten is a time-consuming process. By improving education to parents to help them discern differences between PreK and Kindergarten requirements, the health of students can be optimized and the time burden for administrators and school nurses can be reduced. There is evidence that parents/guardians better respond to non-written material delivered through push notification or email. A 5-minute video presentation was distributed to 24 parents/guardians of PreK students. Project impact was measured through a pre/post survey evaluating levels of confidence in child readiness for Kindergarten. Results identified that parent/guardian confidence was increased after education. …

College Of Health And Human Service Faculty’S Confidence And Inclusion Of Lgbtq+ Health Content In Curriculum, Carley S. Kanter

Honors Theses and Capstones

In the health care system, those who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, (LGBTQ+) face discrimination and health disparities. Students who are better prepared in higher education to provide care for this population have higher levels of confidence in LGBTQ+ health content than those who have less exposure. Therefore, faculty who teach curriculum related to health and wellness have an opportunity to prepare students to provide high quality, patient centered care by teaching culturally competent care that is inclusive of LGBTQ+ populations. The aim of the study is to determine whether the degree of confidence in teaching LGBTQ+ health …

Healthcare Education Leaves The Hills: Frontier Nursing University’S Move From Appalachia, Hannah Haksgaard

Faculty Publications

Rural communities lack maternity and childbirth services, and access is getting worse. Despite the serious need for more rural-focused childbirth services, Frontier Nursing—the most famous rural-focused childbirth healthcare provider and educator—recently left the historic rural location it had called home since its inception nearly a century ago. Frontier Nursing, established in the Appalachian Mountains in 1925, initially provided nursing and midwifery care focused on the residents of Leslie County, Kentucky, and in 1939 established a school in Leslie County to train future rural nurse-midwives. Despite success over nearly 100 years deep in the remote and rural Appalachian foothills, Frontier Nursing …

Engaging Nurses In Public Policy, Carlene Ferrier

DNP Scholarly Projects

Background: Nurses have been engaged in public policy since the inception of the profession. Academicians and thought leaders recognize the importance of nurses engaging in public policy to improve health and healthcare. Nurses are also the largest healthcare group and the most trusted profession for twenty years, yet they are minimally represented in the state and federal legislature. Nurses possess a skill set that is directly transferable to the policy arena such as listening and communicating effectively, leading by inspiring a shared vision, applying evidence-based research, and collaborating and building relationships to achieve a common goal. Locally, the New Hampshire …

Improving The Process Of Pain Management By Implementing Best Practices In A Nursing Home, Sukhjit Dhillon

Doctoral Projects

Pain is often untreated or undertreated among older adults living in nursing homes. The lack of standardized pain management protocols makes it difficult to address pain in this population. Deficiencies in pain management and documentation were identified in a nursing home and a performance improvement project was implemented with the aim to improve pain management, pain documentation, and staff knowledge of pain management. A pre-and post-intervention study design was used, and data analysis included descriptive statistics and a paired samples t-test. Participants (n=12) included seven registered nurses and five licensed vocational nurses who provide direct care to the residents in …

Raising Awareness Of Second Victim Phenomenon And Supportingyou: A Quality And Safety Initiative, Megan Renee Bryant

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Current literature has established a need for practice change in management of healthcare-related critical incidents. Peer-support programs have been cited as the most impactful resource healthcare professionals request following a critical incident (Daniels & McCorkle, 2016). SupportingYOU, a peer-support program, is in the process of expansion at a large academic children’s hospital in northern West Virginia in anticipation for the opening of a new facility. The specific aim of this project was to raise awareness of second victim phenomenon (SVP), SupportingYOU, and perception of awareness of resiliency. Interventions included multi-formatted educational sessions on SVP and SupportingYOU via PowerPoints, brochures, flyers, …

Decreasing Delays Within The Perioperative Unit Caused By Cases Of Hypoglycemia Through Nursing Continuing Education: A Quality Improvement Project, Jesse Bardis

Master's Theses and Capstones

No abstract provided.

Ophthalmic Nursing Education: The Key To Unlocking Patient Access To Retina Services, Jacob P. Mcginnis

Master's Theses and Capstones

Background: Ophthalmology, the medical field dedicated to the human eye and visual system infrequently uses nurses due to a lack of nursing knowledge about ophthalmology.

Local Problem: An ophthalmic microsystem in the Northeastern United States is experiencing increased demand for services and decreased access to their retina section. The microsystem does not utilize nurses in the clinic because of education and training barriers. The specific aim of this quality improvement (QI) project is to increase nursing knowledge about ophthalmology from baseline to an overall passing score of 80%.

Methods: This QI project sought to see if registered nurses could …

Implementing Educational Initiatives To Decrease Contamination And Costs In The Blood Culture Specimen Collection Process, Hannah M. Mcguire

Master's Theses and Capstones

Background: The diagnosis of sepsis in a patient presenting with symptoms includes the collection of blood cultures which identifies the presence of specific infectious agents. The culture result will identify the organism as well as report sensitivity to various antimicrobial agents to allow the healthcare provider to determine the specific set of treatments, specifically antibiotics, that will be included in the medication regimen in combating the infection. When blood specimens become contaminated in the collection process, it hinders the success of rapidly treating these patients as repeat cultures will likely need to be completed for accurate treatment. This becomes a …

Increasing Staff Compliance With Routine Hcv Screening And Improving Linkage To Care Among Patients Testing Hepatitis C Positive In The Emergency Department, Carson G. Swartz

DNP Projects

Background: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a blood-borne pathogen that can cause severe liver disease, cancer, and death and is a significant source of morbidity and mortality in the United States. Several academic medical centers including University of Kentucky Healthcare have implemented routine HCV screening for patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) and have discovered a large viral burden amongst patients who are often symptomatic.

Purpose: The purpose of this doctoral project is to increase staff compliance, confidence, and education regarding the HCV screening process in an urban, Level I emergency department, as well as to evaluate whether an …

The Use Of A Pediatric Palliative And Hospice Education Module To Enhance The Knowledge And Practice Of Emergency Room Providers, Morgan Garrett

DNP Projects

Background: Palliative and hospice care resources are underutilized in pediatric patients with chronic and life-limiting illnesses. One contributing factor is the lack of formalized education for medical providers regarding the differences and scope of palliative and hospice care models. Without adequate education about these services, providers are not able to effectively utilize otherwise available resources to provide holistic care.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess the current perception of knowledge among providers pertaining to pediatric palliative and hospice care. The study investigated improvements in educational outcomes in ten categories after participation in a web-based training. A secondary …

Implementation Of Education And Use Of A Screening Tool To Assess Palliative Care Needs In The Critical Care Setting, Megan Stoeckinger

DNP Projects

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to measure palliative care knowledge, attitudes, perceived empowerment, and familiarity of the Supportive Palliative Care Indicators Tool (SPICT) among critical care nurses and advanced practice providers (APPs) before and after viewing a web-based educational video on an adult medicine intensive care unit (MICU).

Methods: This study was a one group pre- and post- implementation assessment using a web-based educational video and electronic surveys. The population included critical care nurses and advanced practice providers (APPs). This study spanned the timeframe between January 2022 and March 2022.

Results: Paired t-tests comparing pre-intervention …

Effects Of An Educational Module On Perceived Knowledge, Perceived Barriers, And Attitudes Related To Sleep-Promoting Practices Among Bedside Nursing Staff Within A Medical Intensive Care Unit, Arden Gross

DNP Projects

Background: Adult patients in the critical care setting are at risk for experiencing sleep disruption due to critical illness and environmental factors. The effects of disruption to the sleep/wake cycle has been associated with dysregulation of biological processes such as healing and immune system functioning. Current literature includes the use of sleep-promoting protocols that aim to reduce environmental disruptors of sleep in the critical care setting. However, there is a disconnect between the perceived importance of sleep and clinical practice. Additionally, there is a gap in literature exploring the effects of educational-modalities on nursing staff knowledge, perceptions, and attitudes related …

A Preoperative Intervention To Improve Glycemic Control In Surgical Patients With Diabetes, Kelsey L. Boyd

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Perioperative hyperglycemia is reported in 20-40% of patients undergoing general surgery and is an independent risk factor for negative surgical outcomes. Patients with diabetes presenting to a local community hospital are at risk for negative surgical outcomes due to the lack of strategies to prevent perioperative hyperglycemia. This project aimed to implement and evaluate the usefulness of succinct diabetes education for preoperative total joint surgical patients with diabetes. The intervention was a nurse-led, face-to-face diabetes education session provided to total joint surgical patients with diabetes during a preoperative evaluation appointment, compared to usual care (no preoperative diabetes education). This project …

Implementation Of An Advanced Training Program To Increase Nurses’ Knowledge Of Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy Management, Shane M. Brost

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Background: Continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) is a complex, life-preserving treatment for unstable patients who require hemodialysis in the intensive care unit (ICU). Nurses responsible for managing the CRRT machine in this large academic medical center’s cardiovascular ICU (CVICU) complete a one-hour basic training course focused on setting up the machine, responding to basic alarms, and changing out the CRRT circuit when necessary. Staff nurses, advanced practice providers (APPs), and nursing administrators agree that training is insufficient. Research evidence supports rigorous staff training as essential to improving the quality of CRRT delivery. Purpose: This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project …

Experiences Of Mechanical Circulatory Support Patients With Primary Implant Education, Dawn Michelle Christensen

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Advancement in mechanical circulatory support (MCS) device therapy has led to increased use in heart failure therapy and relies on optimized patient education for successful support. The purpose of this 3-manuscript study, guided by the Husserlian transcendental phenomenological method, was to explore the lived experiences of (a) patients with primary mechanical circulatory support education (PMCSE), (b) patients who undergo unplanned MCS implantation with PMCSE, and (c) patients who undergo planned MCS implantation with PMCSE. Eleven participants were recruited (eight planned, three unplanned) from MCS targeted social media sites and interviewed using a semistructured open-ended question format. Data were analyzed using …

The Effects Of Stress Reduction For Healthcare Workers On Covid Units, Rosita Cynthia Mctaggart

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The rise of the COVID pandemic was a surprise to many. Since Florence Nightingale, society has suffered from various epidemic infectious diseases. This specific educational project was developed because of the stress and the aftereffects experienced by many healthcare workers coping with the working conditions related to COVID. This educational project is important because according to the World Health Organization, a healthy environment is a place for physical, mental, and social well-being, which supports optimal health and safety. Healthcare workers should be provided an educational program to assist them in minimizing stress. Havelock’s and Lewin’s theory of change was chosen …

Beyond The Basics: Educating Nurses At The Bedside About Evidence-Based Practice, Katherine D. Simpson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The nursing profession is a large and dynamic part of the healthcare industry with the greatest percentage of nurses practicing at the bedside. An increase in nursing professionalism with evidence-based practice has emerged over the past several decades. However, evidence continues to support a lack of knowledge among registered nurses in implementing evidence-based patient care at the bedside and the need for education related to evidence-based practice. The analysis, design, development, implementation, and evaluation model of instructional design framed this Doctor of Nursing Practice project. The purpose of the project was to fill the practice gap through the planning, implementation, …

Physical Activity Assessment And Staff Education For Oncology Nurses, Laurie Jean Tyer

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Physical activity and mobility are key indicators of treatment and disease tolerance in cancer patients. Patients are living longer during and after cancer treatment, and staying active prevents many side effects of the disease and the treatment. Staying mobile also prevents some conditions from occurring including bone and muscle loss. A nursing educational platform was identified as a need in the facility site’s cancer center on the importance of patients staying physically active throughout cancer treatment. Nurses did not feel confident to coach patients on their activity levels which was an identified gap in their nursing practice. A nursing educational …

Staff Education Program: Increasing Nursing Knowledge Of Exclusive Breastfeeding, Leigh Anne Panek

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractIn the initial postpartum period, exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) improves women's and children's health status and outcomes. Gaps in nursing practice that decrease the rate of EBF during hospitalization at this site were identified by the lactation consultant using a standard chart audit during the last two years. The purpose of this Doctor of Nursing Practice education project was to provide a comprehensive education program that included the purpose, philosophy, nursing practice, and evaluation tools for increasing the EBF rates to meet the Joint Commission’s standard of improvement for perinatal care core measures. A formal educational program that included didactic and …

Palliative Care Experiences And Educational Needs Of Healthcare Interprofessionals In Jamaica: A Mixed Methods Study, Rebecca L. Edwards

All ETDs from UAB

Universal access to palliative care (PC) is a human right that much of the world has not accomplished and educating a PC workforce is critical to PC advancement. Higher PC disparities exist in low-and-middle income countries, such as Jamaica. The World Health Organization Public Health Model and the International PC Initiative’s PC roadmap emphasize the importance of PC education. The purpose of this mixed methods dissertation study was to investigate the PC experiences and educational needs of healthcare interprofessionals who provide care for patients with late-stage serious illnesses in Jamaica. Three specific aims incorporated quantitative investigation of physicians’, nurses’, and …