Nursing Commons^™

Enhancing Readiness Of Novice Nurse Educators To Use Concept Mapping As An Active Learning Strategy, Kaitlyn Dutch

MSN Student Capstones

No abstract provided.

Nursing Faculty Attitudes Toward Artificial Intelligence: A Quantitative Causal-Comparative Cross-Sectional Study, Micaela Mcspadden

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The rapid growth of artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare has highlighted the importance of understanding how nursing faculty perceive this technology. Although prior studies have explored public views, nurses’ perceptions, and faculty attitudes toward technology and curriculum change, limited research has focused on nursing faculty perspectives toward AI. Through the lens of the Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA) and the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), this study examined factors that influence nursing faculty attitudes toward AI in nursing education. This study used a quantitative, causal-comparative, cross-sectional design with 263 nursing faculty participants from undergraduate pre-licensure programs in the United States. Participants …

Charting The Course: Improving Psychotropic Medication Documentation Through Staff Education To Promote Patient Safety And Cms Compliance, Anne J. Bertram Rn

Master's Projects and Capstones

The University of San Francisco master’s level nursing program culminates with a clinical nurse leader (CNL) quality improvement project. The objective of this project is to reinforce the program’s didactic CNL classes by allowing students the opportunity to design, implement, and analyze a quality improvement project in a microsystem. SETTING: Skilled nursing facilities often prescribe psychotropic medications to help manage residents’ behavioral and psychological symptoms. Due to the possibility of side effects and increased sedation, there are concerns for patient safety and quality of life. Inadequate management of these patients and symptoms compromises patient safety and breaches state and federal …

The Impact Of High-Fidelity Simulation On Graduate Nursing Students’ Knowledge And Confidence In Septic Shock Management, Shaden Mustafa

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

The purpose of this quality improvement (QI) Doctorate of Nursing (DNP) project was to create and evaluate the impact of high-fidelity simulation-based training (SBT) on graduate nursing students’ knowledge and confidence in diagnosing and treating septic shock. Outcomes were measured with pre- and post-simulation tests featuring competency questions and Likert-scale confidence ratings.

Accordingly, the two research questions guiding this project were: (1) How effective is high-fidelity simulation training in improving students’ knowledge and competence in managing septic shock? (2) How effective is high-fidelity simulation training in enhancing students’ confidence when caring for patients with septic shock?

Septic shock was selected …

The Effects Of Escape Room Simulations On Stress Levels Of Sophomore Baccalaureate Nursing Students: An Experimental Study, Bethany L. Mcfann

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative experimental pretest -posttest design using an experimental and control group was to determine if gaming escape room simulation will decrease BSN nursing students' stress in high fidelity simulation (HFS). The sample size of 64 students had 32 students randomly assigned to each group, the control and the experimental group. The first-year sophomore Bachelor of Science in nursing (BSN) students at a state university were randomly assigned to either traditional or escape room simulation scenarios. Stress levels of each group were measured using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) tool before and after the simulations with statistical …

A Quality Improvement Project: Faculty Education On Diversity, Equity, And Inclusion Principles, Ashley Mcdoulett

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

According to the literature, social injustices, inequities, and implicit bias influence health outcomes in marginalized populations. To eliminate health disparities, nurses should be prepared to provide care that addresses these issues, and faculty should be able to effectively integrate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) principles into the nursing curriculum. A literature review suggests the integration of DEI into nursing education is lacking, and by offering an educational session for faculty on best practices for curriculum incorporation, this project aimed to address that gap. The Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, Maintenance (RE-AIM) model guided this project. RE-AIM emphasizes targeting a population to …

Quality Improvement Project, Communicating With The Dying Patient: A Simulation Experience For Nursing Students, Jason Weger

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Effective communication with patients near the end of life is a crucial yet often underdeveloped skill among nursing students. Previous research highlights a persistent gap in training for end-of-life communication in nursing schools. This quality improvement project implemented a simulation-based educational intervention to improve end-of-life communication skills among first-semester nursing students at a community college in Oklahoma. A needs assessment identified significant gaps in students' readiness for emotionally charged patient interactions. Guided by Prosci’s Change Model and Jeffries Simulation Theory, the project used a faculty-led simulation experience to teach evidence-based communication strategies, including appropriate word choice, therapeutic presence, and active …

Establishing Nursing Excellence: A Quality Improvement Approach To Nursing Administration Evaluation Using Frontline Feedback, Meredith Sykora

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

In the increasingly complex environment of nursing education, leadership quality and responsiveness significantly influence workplace culture, faculty satisfaction, professional development, and student outcomes. Despite these realities, many academic nursing programs, including the Division of Nursing at a community college in Arkansas, lack formal structures for bidirectional leadership evaluation. This gap limits frontline faculty’s ability to provide formative feedback to program leaders, weakening shared governance and transparency. The purpose of this quality improvement project was to evaluate leadership effectiveness following the implementation of a structured bidirectional feedback process between nursing faculty and program leaders. Guided by Kouzes and Posner’s Leadership Practices …

Quality Improvement Project: Educating Nursing Faculty On Medication Administration Labs To Improve Student Competency, Chelsea Pacheco

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Medication administration errors are a leading cause of preventable harm in healthcare. Faculty play a critical role in ensuring nursing students develop the knowledge and confidence to give medications safely. A needs assessment at the project site revealed that only course coordinators were teaching medication administration and dosage calculation, leaving other faculty uncertain about how to teach these skills. This quality improvement project aimed to strengthen faculty confidence and create consistency in first-year instruction through a recorded educational video. Constructivist Learning Theory provided the foundation for active, experience-based learning. Lewin’s Change Theory guided the structured implementation process to support adoption …

The Role Of Forgiveness In Health And Healthcare: Perspectives From Graduate Nursing Students And Faculty At A Private Faith-Based University In The United State[S], Rachel A. Joseph, Shanna W. Akers, Jichan J. Kim

Faculty Publications and Presentations

No abstract provided.

Shared Decision Making In Women's Health: A Quality Improvement Project, Brittney Butler

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Shared decision-making (SDM) is the best practice in contraceptive counseling, yet it remains underutilized in primary care, particularly within underserved communities. Limited SDM use reduces patient autonomy, weakens satisfaction, and contributes to inconsistent documentation. This quality improvement (QI) project aimed to evaluate whether an educational intervention on SDM for contraceptive counseling improved provider self-efficacy and the electronic medical record (EMR) documentation of SDM practices. Guided by Bandura’s Social Cognitive Theory and Lewin’s Change Management Model, the project sought to enhance provider confidence and foster sustainable behavioral change. A quasi-experimental, one-group pretest–posttest design was implemented at a rural Federally Qualified Health …

Quality Improvement Project: Nursing Education In Relation To The Use And Effect Of Neuromuscular Blockade Agents, Lauren Danielle Bowen

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Neuromuscular blockade agents are a medication class that requires education and knowledge to ensure protocols, assessments, and tools are utilized in acute care facilities. Quality improvement (QI) project focused on the use of neuromuscular blockage agents to ensure nursing staff, who have direct patient contact, received proper education. A quasi-experimental, pre-post project intervention design was used to evaluate evidence-based practice interventions with a literature review, assessment, and tools used by the population studied. Aim and purpose of the QI project was to increase nursing staff educational knowledge on the use of neuromuscular blockade agents in patients who are sedated requiring …

Assessing Community Readiness And Benefits Of A Nursing Program: Implications For Healthcare And Education, Mary Anne Frances D. Reyes, Aaron A. Funa, Robert Jamisola, Ma. Joahna D. Perdigon, Jerica D. Latonero

Jurnal Keperawatan Indonesia

In response to recent policy shifts allowing the establishment of new nursing programs in the Philippines, this study assesses the perceived readiness of Sorsogon, a geographically underserved province, to implement a bachelor of science in nursing program. It also explores the anticipated benefits that such a program may offer to students and the local community. A cross-sectional survey of 375 stakeholders, selected through purposive sampling, was conducted using a validated instrument developed through expert consultation. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, while qualitative responses were examined through thematic analysis. The findings reveal widespread support for the proposed program, emphasizing …

Quality Improvement Project: Effects Of Ongoing Clinical Education Training On Nursing Faculty’S Self-Efficacy In Clinical Education, Sarah Ferguson

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Clinical education is essential for bridging theory and practice in nursing education, yet many clinical instructors transition from expert bedside nurses to novice educators without adequate orientation and training. This quality improvement project examined the effects of ongoing clinical education training on nursing faculty self-efficacy at a satellite nursing school in North Texas. This project, guided by Patricia Benner’s Novice to Expert framework and Lewin’s change model, aimed to determine whether continuous professional development throughout the term would increase clinical faculty confidence compared to standard onboarding alone. A descriptive pre/post design was used, with the Clinical Nursing Teacher Self-Efficacy Scale …

Competency Talk Is Cheap: Rethinking Global Standards In Nursing Education, Adrianna Lorraine Watson, Carmel Bond, Debra Jackson

Faculty Publications

Competency has become one of the most frequently invoked concepts in nursing education. Across curricula, accreditation standards, and scholarly discourse, it is presented as a solution to concerns about graduate readiness. Yet despite the proliferation of frameworks, the meaning, assessment, and application of competency remain inconsistent and unevenly applied. This commentary critiques the contemporary emphasis on competency, arguing that the lack of coherence in definition and implementation risks reducing it to rhetoric rather than reality. The COVID-19 pandemic exposed the fragility of these frameworks. Despite years of discourse, few nursing programs had embedded pandemic-ready preparation. Nurses across both high- and …

Nursing Students As Advocates: Addressing Social Determinants Of Health Through Service-Learning, Rebekah Mullins

Nursing Theses and Dissertations

Advocacy is at the heart of nursing practice, and advocating for the social determinants of health (SDOH) is crucial when providing care to patients from vulnerable populations. Service-learning is a strategy that can be used to teach students advocacy skills. Chapter 2 of this dissertation portfolio presents a concept analysis that explores the definition of advocacy using the Walker and Avant method (2019). The concept analysis informed the development of the case study presented in Chapter 3 and the research study presented in Chapter 4. The portfolio includes original, qualitative research that was guided by the interpretive descriptive method. The …

Quality Improvement Project Step Into Serenity: How Walking Can Ease Stress For Nursing Faculty, Stefanie Martinez

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

This quality improvement project explored whether incorporating scheduled walk breaks could help reduce perceived stress among accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) faculty. High levels of stress and burnout continue to affect nursing educators and contribute to faculty turnover and workforce shortages. The goal of this project was to promote physical activity as a simple and accessible approach to supporting well-being and fostering a healthier work environment. Grounded in George Engel’s Biopsychosocial Model of Health, this project introduced an educational session on faculty stress, burnout, and the benefits of walking. Participants completed the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) before and …

Experiences Of A Simulated Medical Malpractice Lawsuit On Nursing Students' Documentation Practices: A Transcendental Phenomenological Approach, Heide Thorne

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative, transcendental phenomenological study is to understand the perspectives of first semester nursing students participating in a simulated medical malpractice lawsuit and documentation practices. The theory guiding this study is Kolb’s experiential learning theory (ELT), as it explains the relationship of learning and knowledge transfer through a simulation-based learning activity (SBL). Data collection approaches included observations, anonymous reflective journals, and individual interviews or questionnaire capturing students’ personal experiences and emerging themes. Bracketing enhanced reflexivity, reduced bias, and strengthened the study’s credibility and dependability. Results of the study support the efficacy of a specific, powerful SBL activity …

Quality Improvement Project: The Impact Of A Dedicated Education Unit On The Self-Efficacy Of First-Year Associate Degree Nursing Students, Danita Broussard

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Nursing education continues to face challenges in preparing students to meet the complex demands of modern healthcare, particularly due to limited clinical placements and faculty shortages. This quality improvement project addressed the gap between classroom instruction and clinical practice by implementing a Dedicated Education Unit (DEU) model designed to impact students' self-efficacy. The purpose of this Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project was to determine whether participation in a DEU impacted the self-efficacy of the first-year associate degree nursing students compared to the traditional clinical model. Guided by Bandura’s Self-Efficacy Theory and grounded in Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) principles, the project …

Artificial Intelligence And Academic Integrity In Nursing Education: A Mixed Methods Study On Usage, Perceptions, And Institutional Implications, Maggie Zgambo, Martina Costello, Melanie Buhlmann, Justine Maldon, Edah Anyango, Esther Adama

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) use in higher education has generated substantial debate among academics and students, given the potential for students to engage in academic misconduct through the misuse of AI. Academics argue that AI poses a serious threat to the foundational development of nurses through the questionable integrity of AI-generated academic work and by undermining the development of critical thinking skills essential for professional practice. However, there is limited research on nursing students' integration of AI technologies in their studies.

Method: This study utilised a convergent parallel mixed methods approach to develop a multiphase approach with …

Quality Improvement Project Providing Accessible Evidence-Based Education To Nurses Throughout A National Healthcare System, Bailey Wells

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

The pursuit of ongoing professional development and learning is crucial to ensure nurses remain well-informed about healthcare trends and have access to the most up-to-date evidence-based materials. This quality improvement project aimed to implement a monthly educational series for nursing personnel within the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) through expansion of the Veterans Administration (VA) – Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes (ECHO) program. Using Bandura’s Self-Efficacy Theory of Motivation in Psychology, participants’ previous knowledge was linked to continued professional development. The plan, do, study, act (PDSA) framework provided structure for the project, with the awareness, desire, knowledge, ability, and reinforcement (ADKAR) …

Quality Improvement Project Unlocking Critical Thinking: The Use Of Guided Reflection In Nursing Education, Alissa Wheat

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Nursing education is at a crossroads as the demand for practice-ready nurses increases in a rapidly evolving healthcare environment. Despite high licensure pass rates, graduates often demonstrate gaps in clinical judgment and critical thinking, key competencies for safe nursing practice. This project addressed the problem of limited structured strategies to develop these competencies among pre-licensure nursing students in a Houston-based nursing program. The purpose was to evaluate guided reflection, implemented as a competency-based education (CBE) tool, to determine its effect on faculty perceptions of supporting critical thinking and clinical judgment. A quasi-experimental, one-group pretest–posttest design was conducted with clinical faculty …

Quality Improvement Project Simulation Orientation For Nursing Faculty, Emily Harvey

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Many nursing faculty are expected to teach using SIM without adequate preparation, which can limit competence in SIM-based teaching. A university-level school of nursing identified this gap and initiated a quality improvement project to strengthen faculty readiness through a structured online orientation. The intervention used the Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) Essentials in Clinical SIMs Across the Health Professions and was guided by Benner’s Novice to Expert Model, Lewin’s Change Theory, and the Plan-Do-Study-Act cycle. A quasi-experimental pretest–posttest quantitative design was conducted with nursing faculty participants. The Facilitator Competency Rubric (FCR) assessed competence across five domains: preparation, prebriefing, facilitation, debriefing, …

The Lived Experiences Of Micu Nurses During The Covid-19 Pandemic: A Qualitative Study, Thomas Hopkins

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of MICU nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic and how these experiences may inform disaster preparedness in the nursing curriculum. This research is guided by Watson’s (1979) theory of human caring. The theory emphasizes the importance of interpersonal relationships and emotional support in nursing practice, and how these elements can be integrated into disaster preparedness training. Using interpretive phenomenological analysis, data were collected through semi-structured interviews, field notes, and guided journaling. The interviews were conducted via digital conferencing software over the internet. Field notes were recorded during the interviews. …

Leveraging Artificial Intelligence (Ai) For Competency-Based Course Design: A Quality Improvement Project In Nursing Education, Lesslie Bull

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

This quality improvement project addressed inefficient, manual course design processes contributing to faculty workload and declining National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) pass rates at a rural Texas university’s baccalaureate nursing program. Guided by the Roy Adaptation Model and the Plan-Do-Study-Act framework, the project evaluated the effect of integrating artificial intelligence (AI) tools on faculty perceptions of technology adoption, specifically perceived usefulness (PU), perceived ease of use (PEOU), and behavioral intention (BI). Using a quasi-experimental pre-/post-intervention design, twelve faculty members completed a one-hour, evidence-based training using the Generative AI for Instructional Development and Education (GAIDE) framework, and eight faculty participated in …

Integrating Artificial Intelligence And Evidence-Based Guidelines Into Nursing Education, Allyson Kornahrens, Kerriann Latten

International Journal of Transformative Teaching and Learning in Higher Education

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and emerging technologies are transforming the healthcare system and patient care delivery. Due to this, there is an essential need for faculty to incorporate AI into the nursing curriculum to educate students about its use and improve preparation for clinical practice. This practice-based article addresses the integration of AI into nursing education for students using AI-driven academic learning activities. These activities, created in alignment with the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) Essentials, explore clinical decision-making by comparing AI recommendations to evidence-based guidelines. Students are tasked with reflecting on AI’s accuracy and the ethical implications of …

Quality Improvement Project Implementing Test Anxiety-Reducing Methods In Senior-Level Nursing Students, Ashley Brooke Gray

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Test anxiety is a common occurrence among university students, particularly nursing students. The purpose of this Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) quality improvement project was to address the problem of test anxiety among senior-level nursing students and the lack of faculty intervention in a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program. This DNP project aimed to increase awareness of test anxiety among nursing students and provide faculty development training on identifying symptoms, utilizing the Westside Test Anxiety Scale (WTAS), and implementing test anxiety-reducing measures in the classroom. The DNP student provided training to senior-level nursing faculty in integrating relaxation methods, …

Nursing Education Leadership Succession Planning: Utilization Of Career Mapping For Professional Development, Reba L. Carethers

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Project Abstract

PURPOSE The focus of this quality improvement project was to identify potential future leaders in the Nursing Professional Development (NPD) department at a large hospital system using a succession planning model, strategy organizations use to cultivate individuals with the potential to assume future leadership roles.

BACKGROUND A gap existed in deliberate career planning within the NPD department. A quality improvement project was developed utilizing evidence-based interventions including development of professional objectives, professional development opportunities, and identification of aspiring leaders in nursing education.

METHODOLOGY Participants developed a career map to outline career goals, created an action plan for their professional development …

Quality Improvement Project: Faculty Education On Clinical Evaluation Tool Utilization For Outcome-Based Assessment And Readiness In Clinical Competency Evaluation, Catherine Odom

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) quality improvement initiative addressed the lack of consistency and subjectivity in clinical evaluations of nursing faculty at a community college in the southern United States. The intervention was a structured faculty development program spanning eight weeks, focusing on Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs) and performance rubrics. The project was guided by the IOWA Model of Evidence-Based Practice and the Kotter Change Management Framework, aiming to boost faculty confidence and inter-rater reliability in clinical assessment. The PICOT question was whether a structured educational intervention would enhance self-reported faculty confidence in clinical assessments relative to no …

Exploring Available Admission Criteria For A Bachelor Of Science In Nursing/Midwifery: A Scoping Review, Jackline Estomihi Kiwelu, Aminieli Usiri, Gadiel Ketto, Tumbwene Mwansisya, Eunice Pallangyo

Libraries

Background: Nursing and midwifery are crucial professions in healthcare systems, and the availability of well-trained professionals in these fields contributes to achieving global and national health goals. The process of equipping nurses and midwives with professional knowledge and skills starts with selecting candidates that are suitable for the profession, and able to complete nursing/midwifery education and become lifelong learners.

Objective: This study aimed to identify and document currently available admission criteria for a Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Nursing/Midwifery.

Methods: This scoping review used Arksey and O’Malley’s five-stage framework to explore admission criteria for BSc in Nursing/Midwifery …