Nursing Commons^™

Graduating Associate Degree Nursing Students: Keeping Students On Track, Marisa Ellen Greer

Online Theses and Dissertations

The national job outlook for registered nurses, according to a News Release for Employment Projections 2012-2022 from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2013), will continue to increase in job growth from 2012 to 2022 by 19.4%. This increase will result in an additional 526,800 registered nursing positions that will be available nationwide by 2022. This qualitative dissertation investigated associate degree nursing students and the strategies they employed to be successful and graduate from their respective nursing program. According to a report entitled The Registered Nurse Population by the US Department of Health and Human Services (2008), associate degree nursing programs …

Exploring Test Anxiety In Bsn Nursing Students, Annette Marie Keller

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

Test anxiety is a phenomenon that was identified through research in the domains of education and psychology during the 1950s – 1960s. As test anxiety and its effects have been identified and addressed in nursing programs, the same treatment modalities have been applied without evidence that nursing students experience test anxiety in the same manner as other students. The purpose of this study was to describe test anxiety as experienced by BSN nursing students using the sequential explanatory mixed methods design in an effort to gain insight into the anxiety experience of nursing students. A sample of 73 junior and …

The Relationship Between Stress And Social Support In Baccalaureate Nursing Students, Hannah M. Greczanik, Vincent A. Lupico

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Nursing students experience high levels of stress throughout their college career. When it comes to managing this stress, the use of social support as a coping mechanism may be a factor. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between social support and stress in undergraduate baccalaureate nursing students and to compare social support and stress across levels of education. The study was guided by the Transactional Model of Stress and Coping. This study used a non-experimental descriptive design and a cross-sectional data collection with an online survey. The sample was a convenience sample of second, third, and …

Improving Capstone Papers For Baccalaureate Nursing Students: With An Evidence-Based Partnership Between A Health Sciences Librarian And A Nurse Educator, Xan Goodman, Cheryl Perna, Pamela Marie Juniel, Rachelle Weigel

Library Faculty Presentations

This presentation will describe a partnership between a nursing faculty member and a health sciences librarian to improve capstone papers submitted by Baccalaureate Nursing students in the last semester of their program.

Academic health sciences librarians will find the description of partnering and applying evidence-based librarianship in the classroom informative, specifically for academic librarians who struggle with the question of, should librarians teach APA? This project involved: an instruction intervention, developing a rubric, scoring capstone papers and developing supplementary materials to support the capstone assignment.

The nursing faculty member noticed that the APA errors in capstone papers were egregious. To …

Increased Risk Factors For Substance Abuse And Attitudes Regarding Substance Use Among Nursing And Non-Nursing Students, Carolyn Sue Britt

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Nonmedical prescription drug (NMPD) use is a well-documented problem among college students, but few studies have examined nursing students' attitudes regarding NMPD. The purpose of this study was to compare nursing and non-nursing students' attitudes, risk factors, and current substance use. This descriptive, comparative design utilized a convenience sampling and social media to reach students over 18 years of age and enrolled in a Midwestern university. Twenty-nine students, 14 non-nursing and 15 nursing students, participated in this online survey. Substance use attitudes were measured using the Drug Attitude Scale (DAS). Risk factors for substance use were used as demographic questions …

The Impact Of Technology-Enhanced Learning Activities On Nursing Student Engagement In The Classroom, Alicia A. Stone

Theses & Dissertations

Educating student nurses in the present environment requires professors to stay current with new methodologies as well as innovations in technology. The question is how to address both the impact of technology and the skills of clinical reasoning, and keep the students involved in the material. If there can be integration of each aspect through the use of technology-enhanced learning activities on the internet and preparation to approach the issue, then perhaps this can increase success. This is a quasi-experimental intervention study that explored the impact of a case study blogging assignment on the engagement of students enrolled in a …

Content Validity Of A Tool Measuring Medication Errors., Nishat Tabassum, Saleema Allana, Tanveer Saeed, Jacqueline Maria Dias

School of Nursing & Midwifery

The objective of this study was to determine content and face validity of a tool measuring medication errors among nursing students in baccalaureate nursing education. Data was collected from the Aga Khan University School of Nursing and Midwifery (AKUSoNaM), Karachi, from March to August 2014. The tool was developed utilizing literature and the expertise of the team members, expert in different areas. The developed tool was then sent to five experts from all over Karachi for ensuring the content validity of the tool, which was measured on relevance and clarity of the questions. The Scale Content Validity Index (S-CVI) for …

Empathy In Nursing Students: The Impact Of A Poverty Simulation, Kristen Hamblin, Gaye Ray

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Empathy is an essential characteristic in nursing. In fact, the skill of empathy, the ability to understand the feelings or situation of another, is of paramount importance to the nurse-patient relationship. Additionally, empathetic interactions often lead to increased patient satisfaction, compliance, and overall quality of life. Empathetic nurses are more able to identify patient needs and provide high quality care and service.

A National Study Of Nursing Students’ Recommendations Regarding End Of Life Content In Nursing Education Curricula, Danielle Shkapich, Barbara Heise

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The purpose of this qualitative study was to analyze the recommendations of nursing students nationwide who have experienced a patient death while in nursing school regarding end-of-life (EOL) curricula. Many nursing students are not adequately instructed on how to perceive and react to death. For registered nurses, dealing with death is an evitable part of their careers. Without adequate instruction, student nurses are less prepared to deal with such circumstances in their future practice. While many studies regarding the benefits of EOL training have been published, this study takes the next step in determining, on a national basis, what students …

Perceptions Of Incivility In Nursing Education: A Survey Of Associate And Baccalaureate Program Nursing Students, Kim Elaine Young Vickous

Dissertations

This study explored differences of nursing students’ perceptions of student and faculty incivility, measured using the Incivility in Nursing Education survey, across semesters and between Associate and Baccalaureate of Science nursing students. A sample of 262 Associate and Baccalaureate of Science nursing program students enrolled in second, third, and fourth semesters from a state university located in the mid-south participated in the study. Descriptive statistics, Analysis of Variance, and Independent t-tests were conducted to examine the research questions. These questions explored what student and faculty behaviors were perceived as uncivil and most frequently occurring (disruptive and threatening) uncivil behavior in …

Live Model Simulation: Improving Nursing Students' Attitudes And Knowledge Of Alzheimer's Disease, Teresa Maharaj

Nursing Theses and Dissertations

Our country's older adult population (those 65 and older) continues to grow at unprecedented rates yet few nurses are prepared to safely and competently care for them with their challenging needs, especially those with Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias (ADRD). Research focused on teaching strategies that influenced students' preconceived attitudes and improved knowledge toward older adults with or without Alzheimer's disease (AD) is limited. This study examined whether a live-model simulation used as a teaching modality could improve student attitudes and knowledge of AD. Findings indicated that within the group of students who participated in the AD lecture and AD …

Nurse Managers' Hiring Selection Of Newly Licensed Rns: A Grounded Theory Approach, Susan Adamek

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The purpose of this research study was to construct a substantive grounded theory regarding how acute care nurse managers select the newly licensed RNs (NLRNs) they hire. This is important because a good selection process can reduce expensive employee turnover and improve teamwork on units. There has been extensive research regarding interventions that improve the retention of NLRNs after they are hired, such as residency programs, preceptors, mentors and support groups, but there is very little in the literature about the processes or preferences nurse managers use to select the right candidates to be hired. A constructivist grounded theory approach …

Survival Of The Fittest: The Role Of Linguistic Modification In Nursing Education, Brenda Strauch Moore

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

This project’s long term goal was to improve English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) nursing student retention. Improving the quality of multiple choice exams is a first crucial step. ESL students find multiple-choice exams to be one of the most challenging aspects of nursing school. One reason for this is the presence of linguistic errors in exam questions. Linguistic errors include: irrelevant question content, poor sentence structure, and culturally biased words or phrases. Non-ESL students are less affected because exams are written in their native language. Linguistic modification, as part of best practices in item writing, removes these types of errors. The U.S. Department …

My Patient Died: A National Study Of Nursing Students Perceptions After Experiencing A Patient Death, Barabara Heise, Debra Wing

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The purpose of this national study was to answer the following questions:

1. What is the prevalence of nursing students encountering death in the clinical setting?
2. What are the perceptions of nursing student’s first clinical encounter with death?
3. What are the students’ perceptions of their knowledge and communication abilities to manage patient situations at end-of-life (EOL)?
4. What actions by nurse educators might mitigate this potentially stressful situation according to students?

Development Of Clinical Judgement For Hispanic And Non-Hispanic Nursing Students: A Comparison Of Traditional And Simulated Clinical Experiences, Eve Marie Rodriguez

Nursing Theses and Dissertations

A mixed method design evaluating for differences in students development of clinical judgment based on clinical experiences. Traditional, combination, and high fidelity simulation clinical experiences were compared. Weekly evaluations based on the Lasater Clinical Judgment Rubric were compared. Students participated in focus interviews at the completion of the study to determine perceptions of the clinical experience in terms of clinical judgment development. There were no differences based on qualitative and quantitative measures. Students in all three groups increased in clinical judgment scores and reported satisfaction in the individual clinical experience.

Student Perceptions Of Quality And Safety Competencies, Heidi A. Mennenga, Lois Tschetter, Lily Sanjaya

College of Nursing Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

The Effect Of In Situ Simulation On Teamwork Attitudes In Nursing Students, Janice Kaye Fuson

Nursing Theses and Capstone Projects

Nursing students are not adequately trained in teamwork principles. Positive teamwork has been identified by governmental and accrediting bodies of healthcare to be an essential element in patient safety. TeamSTEPPS© is a program developed by the Department of Defense adapted to healthcare as a cost effective method to change the culture of healthcare organizations. A capstone project that implemented in situ simulation using a TeamSTEPPS© tool was conducted in a rural North Carolina nursing program. Eighteen students participated in the simulation and completed a pre and post TeamSTEPPS© Teamwork Attitude Questionnaire. Mean scores were noted to be considerably lower post …

Evaluating Chain-Of-Command Self-Efficacy Through High Fidelity, Student-Directed, Obstetrical Simulation, Michelle Mcewen-Campbell

Nursing Theses and Capstone Projects

The purpose of this quasi-experimental capstone project was to evaluate the impact of high fidelity, student-directed, obstetrical simulation upon chain-of-command self-efficacy of baccalaureate nursing students. The convenience sample, composed of 48 junior nursing students, was randomly divided into four simulation groups, and then further randomly divided into active or observational status. Active participants planned interventions and participated in high fidelity obstetrical simulations related to patient safety and chain-of-command initiation. Active and observational students participated in a combined debriefing session. A pretest posttest design utilizing the General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES) was utilized to measure chain-of-command self-efficacy in relation to both active …

Final Semester Associate Degree Nursing Student Stress And Comprehensive Nclex-Rn® Predictor Exam Results, Brittany Hudgins

Nursing Theses and Capstone Projects

This study assessed perceived stress among graduating nursing students and explored the relationship between perceived stress and scores on a comprehensive NCLEX-RN® predictor exam. The goal was to provide data for educators to examine the correlation between student stress levels and comprehensive NCLEX-RN® predictor exam scores. Findings indicated that nursing students had higher than average stress levels based on established averages reported for the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) three weeks prior to graduation. No relationship was found in regards to stress and ATI Comprehensive Predictor Scores administered two days after students completed the PSS questionnaire. Implications for nurse educators based …

Improving Attitudes Toward Interdisciplinary Collaboration Between Nursing And Medical Students In Simulation, Kristy H. Williams

Nursing Theses and Capstone Projects

This capstone project assessed whether a curriculum change for senior nursing students could have an impact on improving attitudes toward physician-nurse collaboration. A convenience sample of 60 senior level nursing students and eight residents were enrolled in the study. The nursing students and residents participated in a high-fidelity simulation scenario, and were given a pretest and posttest using the Jefferson Scale of Attitudes Toward Physician-Nurse Collaboration. There was strong evidence (t= -1.971, p=.05) that the attitudes of physician-nurse collaboration improved for nursing students through a simulation based scenario with residents. The confidence interval for the difference was (-0.22, 0.002). Although …

The Effect Of Personal Contact On Attitudes Toward Mental Illness In Baccalaureate Nursing Students, Jessica Ashe

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Many people who suffer from serious mental illness also suffer from the stigma associated with such illness. Because nurses frequently come into contact with the mentally ill, it is important that they do not stigmatize these individuals. The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of a guest lecture by an individual with a serious mental illness on attitudes about mental illness in a sample of baccalaureate nursing students. The theoretical framework that guides this study is Goffman’s (1963) theory of social stigma. The sample used for this research is a convenience sample of 50 junior level nursing …

Relationship Between Stages Of Change And Hpv Vaccine Attitudes And Beliefs In Baccalaureate Nursing Students, Megan M. Stein, Michael Sabo, Julia Caverly

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

The purpose of this study was to: (a) determine if there is a relationship between attitudes/beliefs about Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination and stages of change and (b) investigate gender differences in attitudes/beliefs and stages of change in undergraduate baccalaureate nursing students. The study employs a cross-sectional and descriptive correlational design and it was guided by the Trans-theoretical Model of Change (TMC). The convenience sample was comprised of 131 participants at a large urban public university in Midwest United States. Data were collected with online surveys distributed via university email. A positive, moderate relationship was found between HPV vaccination attitudes/beliefs and …

Nursing Students' And Novice Clinical Instructors' Experiences With Clinical Instruction And Assessment, Bridgett Alveta Jackson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Adjunct faculty members make up a growing proportion of nursing school clinical faculty in the United States due to a nurse educator shortage in higher education. Many of the nurses hired as clinical faculty members have years of experience providing patient care, but they lack experience in clinical instruction and assessment. At a state community college in the southeastern United States, nursing students have expressed dissatisfaction in their course evaluations with inexperienced faculty in clinical programs. The experiences of both nursing students under the guidance of novice clinical instructors and clinical faculty were examined in this case study. The National …

A Cross Sectional Exploration Of Emotional Intelligence In Us Baccalaureate Nursing Students, Marcianna Nosek

Nursing and Health Professions Faculty Research and Publications

Objective: New nurses may be vulnerable to bullying as they often lack confidence or do not have the skills or maturity to communicate their needs or those of their patients. Increasing emotional intelligence particularly in at-risk nursing students may be one way to foster resiliency. This exploratory cross sectional study aimed to exam the overall level and specific components of emotional intelligence as well as associations with age, ethnicity, gender, or academic standing in baccalaureate nursing students.

Methods: A cross sectional analytical study was conducted using a paper demographic survey and an online emotional intelligence (EI) instrument, the …

The Lived Experience Of Nursing Students During Their Psychiatric Nursing Education: Does It Influence View Of Psychiatric Nursing As A Career Choice?, Lisa Mcconlogue

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Using a van Manen phenomenological approach combined with a Colaizzi step-wise data analysis procedure, this study seeks to describe the lived experience of recent nursing school graduates during their psychiatric didactic and clinical education and how the experience influenced their view of psychiatric nursing as a specialty choice.

Inclusion criteria for participants were registered nurses (RN) who graduated from their entry level nursing program within the last three years; graduated from a United States RN program; and are currently working as an RN in an inpatient setting. Two groups of participants were selected; one group of nurses who chose psychiatric …

Teaching Communication And Therapeutic Relationship Skills To Baccalaureate Nursing Students: A Peer Mentorship Simulation Approach, Leslie Miles, Linda Mabey, Sarah Leggett, Katie Stansfield

Faculty Publications

The literature on techniques for improving student competency in therapeutic communication and interpersonal skills is limited. A simulation approach to enhance the learning of communication skills was developed to address these issues. Second-semester and senior nursing students participated in videorecorded standardized patient simulations, with senior students portraying the patient. Following simulated interactions, senior students provided feedback to junior students on their use of communication skills and other therapeutic factors. To integrate the learning experience, junior students completed a written assignment, in which they identified effective and noneffective communication; personal strengths and weaknesses; and use of genuineness, empathy, and positive regard. …

Emotional Intelligence And Spiritual Well-Being, Audrey M. Beauvais, Julie G. Stewart, Susan M. Denisco

Nursing Faculty Publications

Understanding factors that influence spiritual well-being may improve nurses’ spiritual caregiving. This study examined relationships between emotional intelligence (EI) and spiritual well-being (SWB) in undergraduate and graduate nursing students. Using the Mayer–Salovey–Caruso Emotional Intelligence Test (MSCEIT) and the Spiritual Well-Being Scale (SWBS), relationships were found between managing emotion and spiritual well-being, and managing emotion and existential well-being. Implications for education and practice are discussed.

Factors Related To Academic Success Among Nursing Students: A Descriptive Correlational Research Study, Audrey M. Beauvais, Julie G. Stewart Dnp, Mph, Susan M. Denisco, John E. Beauvais

Nursing Faculty Publications

Background:The current rise in employment is improving forecasts for the future supply of registered nurses; however sizeable shortages are still projected. With the intention of improving academic success in nursing students, related factors need to be better understood.

Objectives: The purpose of the correlational study was to describe the relationship between emotional intelligence, psychological empowerment, resilience, spiritual well-being, and academic success in undergraduate and graduate nursing students.

Design/setting: A descriptive correlational design was utilized. The study was set in a private Catholic university.

Participants: There were 124 participants. There were 59% undergraduate and 41% graduate students.

Methods: Background data, in …

Electronic Medical Record In The Simulation Hospital: Does It Improve Accuracy In Charting Vital Signs, Intake, And Output?, Carel M. Mountain

Doctoral Projects

The introduction of electronic health records has created a shift in the way nursing care is delivered (McBride, Delaney, & Tietze, 2012; Furukawa, Raghu, & Shao, 2010). A factor which heavily influences a nurse’s ability to navigate and utilize EMR is adequate education in the use of computerized documentation (McBride, et al., 2012). There is an increased risk for error at the bedside without the correct knowledge and skills regarding EMR documentation (Kelly, Brandon, & Docherty, 2011). This skill should be introduced during the pre-licensure education of the nurse.

Two groups of associate degree nursing students attending a small community …

What Do Nursing Students Know About Quality And Safety? A Pilot Study, Arlene S. N. Johnston, Dr. Katreena Collette Merrill

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Quality and patient safety has become a strong focus in the hospitals. However, academic institutions vary in their approach to preparing student nurses in the areas of quality and patient safety. Quality and Safety Education in Nursing (QSEN) was initiated in 2007 with the charge to prepare student nurses with the knowledge, skills and attitudes (KSAs) necessary to improve healthcare quality and patient safety. Six QSEN competencies were developed. These QSEN competencies are patient centered care, teamwork and collaboration, evidence-based practice, quality improvement, informatics, and safety. These QSEN competencies are beginning to be implemented across nursing curriculums. Emphasis has been …