Nursing Commons^™

Impact Of Expedited Partner Therapy, Sutha M. Fernando

Cohort X

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae, have reached record high rates in the United States. Sexually transmitted infections disproportionately affect reproductive-aged males and females 15–44 years of age, who account for 65% and 42% of the total reported C. trachomatis and N. gonorrhoeae cases, respectively. These infections are the most common treatable sexually transmitted infections in the United States. The purpose of this evidence-based practice project was to decrease the rates of recurrence of STIs in males and females older than 17 years at a private family practice clinic in Carrollton, Texas, in the Dallas metropolitan …

Silver Alloy-Coated Urinary Catheters: Preventing Urinary Tract Infection, Assumpta I. Iwe

Cohort X

Background: A urinary tract infection (UTI) involves any part of the urinary system, including the urethra, ureter, kidney, and bladder. Urinary tract infections are the most common healthcare-associated infection reported to National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN). A UTI is also the second most frequent infection in long-term care (LTAC) facilities, making it the most common cause of bacterial infection or sepsis and hospitalization. Patients with urinary catheters are at an increased risk of infection, and standard catheters reduce the body’s natural ability to cleanse the urinary tract of microorganisms. Bacteria can colonize into biofilms that attach themselves to the catheter …

Type 2 Diabetes: Motivational Interviewing Improving Clients’ Dieting And Exercise, Azeb Lema

Cohort X

Background: Type 2 diabetes continues to be a prevalent chronic disease in the world, leading to increased rates of mortality and morbidity. In context of type 2 diabetes (T2D) management, patient empowerment is broadly investigated in the medical literature to date. This concept emphasizes patient autonomy and an individual approach to patient care. In turn, motivational interviewing (MI) is a patient-centered approach that aims to modify patients’ behaviors. The effectiveness of MI in modifying patients’ behaviors diagnosed with T2D has been documented in many sources. MI aims to reduce patients’ internal resistance to change health and lifestyle habits and provide …

Basal-Plus Insulin Regimen: Helping Patients With Diabetes Mellitus Type 2 To Maintain Blood Glucose Levels During Hospitalization, Marcia Watts Hammons

Cohort X

Diabetes mellitus type 2 (DM2) patients are at risk of episodes of fluctuating blood glucose levels when in the hospital. On admission at the target practice site, the home dose of oral hypoglycemic medication is typically stopped and replaced with sliding-scale insulin therapy. Hyperglycemia among the hospital population of DM2 patients is common, causing delayed healing times, increased length of stay, increased costs, and other medical detrimental factors. A doctor of nursing practice project was based on the findings from a randomized controlled trial of a basal-plus insulin protocol that lowered the mean blood glucose level for noncritically ill hospitalized …

Management Of Uncontrolled Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus With Combination Therapy With Metformin And/Or Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists/ Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter-2 Inhibitors, Bertha L. Contreras

Cohort X

The management of chronic medical conditions in a primary care practice requires knowledge and commitment, particularly when providing services for the underserved. Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a complex and difficult condition that can result in complications that affect multiple organ systems. Numerous studies have described GLP-1RAs and SGLT-2is as complementary agents that can be used to prevent the multi-organ complications associated with T2DM. The purpose of this Quality Improvement (QI) Project is to introduce combination therapy with metformin and GLP-1RAs or SGLT-2is as part of an overall effort to address hyperglycemia in patients with uncontrolled T2DM. The foundations …

The Use Of Valium In Alcohol Withdrawal, Holly Powers

Cohort X

Background: Benzodiazepines are the primary medical intervention used in the hospital for inpatients suspected of acute alcohol withdrawal during their admission. Per Shu et al. (2015) a study completed in the 1960 compared Librium with placebo as well as other drugs which showed the therapeutic efficacy of benzodiazepines in alcohol withdrawal. “Alcoholism has been reported in 20% to 50% of hospitalized medical patients” (Maldonado, 2012), moreover, the data indicate that 39% of ICU admission are alcohol-related (Muzyk et al., 2011). This is noted in an inpatient unit where alcohol withdrawal is common, Ativan is the benzodiazepine of choice along with …

Implementation Of An Evidence-Based Screening And Treatment Algorithm For Chronic Constipation In A Skilled Nursing Facility, Lucia Belleza De La Paz

Cohort X

This quality improvement (QI) project was an evidence-based screening and treatment algorithm for chronic constipation at a skilled nursing facility. The project aimed to decrease the occurrence of constipation using an evidence-based screening tool, Rome IV criteria for chronic constipation, and a modified algorithm for managing chronic constipation in a skilled nursing facility population setting. The project will provide skilled nursing facilities with a practical and straightforward management algorithm for patients with chronic constipation as described by Rome IV criteria.

Background During a review of bowel movement records from a 129-bed capacity nursing home with post-acute care subspecialty hospital, the …

Prophylactic Bioimpedance Spectroscopy For Breast Cancer-Related Lymphedema, Maria M. Marquez

Cohort X

The purpose of this quality improvement project was to implement the standardized use of Bioimpedance Spectroscopy (BIS) for the early detection and management of breast cancerrelated lymphedema (BCRL). BCRL is a common complication of breast cancer treatments resulting from damage to the lymphatic system. While three of every four patients that develop lymphedema typically do so within the first three years after treatment, this complication can develop at any time during or after therapeutic intervention. The National Comprehensive Cancer Network® Clinical Practice Guidelines and others suggest that bilateral baseline limb measurements should be performed on patients at high risk for …

Use Of A Structured Clinical Interview To Eliminate Unspecified Psychiatric Diagnoses, Gabriela Mimbela

Cohort X

Background: A definitive psychiatric diagnosis can provide significant direction to patient treatment strategies and will facilitate the identification of potential risks and qualification for supportive resources. Psychiatric research programs that were initiated in the 1950s led to the classification framework known as the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) of Mental Disorders. These guidelines provide physicians with the information that they need for the appropriate diagnosis of major psychiatric conditions. While the DSM has had a large impact on the practice of psychiatry, there are still no biological markers of these diseases. This has led to the development of diverse assessment …

College Of Nursing, Spring 2022, Matt Schmidt, Colette Gannon, Dave Graves, Micayla Standish

College of Nursing Magazine

COLLEGE NEWS
[Page] 2 Healthcare Simulation Center opens
[Page] 6 Naming event honors alumna
[Page] 8 Warne receives honor
[Page] 10 Rapid City site offers accelerated program
[Page] 11 Changes coming to Rapid City site
[Page] 12 Engineering students continue work
[Page] 14 Welcome new hires
[Page] 16 Scholarly work
[Page] 18 Mitchell honored
[Page] 19 Grant helps NANEC work
[Page] 20 Ray receives DAISY
[Page] 21 Distinguished Service winner
[Page] 22 Teacher of the Year
[Page] 24 IMPACT RNS
[Page] 26 Want to be a Nurse? winner graduates
ALUMNI NEWS
[Page] 28 Monument Health employees awarded
[Page] 29 From …

A Scaffolded Simulation Curriculum: Trnaslating Simulation With Standardized Patient Encounters Into Clinical Practice, Amy Graham, Andrea Knopp, Sarah Stowell, Carolyn Schubert

School of Nursing - Faculty Scholarship

No abstract provided.

A Pilot Program To Improve Patient And Family Experience Scores And Quality Of Care Of The Hispanic Population In An Urban Pediatric Emergency Department., David C. Kruger

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Problem Description: Emergency Department (ED) patients express decreased patient and family experience (PFE) scores when they feel disrespected (such as experiencing long wait times), experience ineffective communication, or have difficulty accessing care. These issues could lead to inequalities and adverse health care outcomes, especially among those of different races and ethnic backgrounds. The goal of this quality improvement (QI) project was to evaluate the PFE scores and the quality of care of the Hispanic population at a thirty-five-bed emergency department within a freestanding pediatric, academic medical center located in a large urban area.

Rationale: The theoretical framework guiding this QI …

Full Practice Authority: Determining Readiness Among Nurse Practitioner Students In Mississippi, Betty Hoffman

Doctoral Projects

Full practice authority has been granted to nurse practitioners by many states. These practitioners are educated and trained as full primary providers of health care. Full practice authority for nurse practitioners is not granted in Mississippi, which currently ranks in the lowest positions for health care in the United States. The low ranking can be attributed to a lack of providers and access to services.

This project seeks to explore attitudes and understanding of nurse practitioner students in the State of Mississippi regarding full practice authority. A survey will be electronically distributed to determine what is already known and understood …

The Impact Of Student Trauma: A Quantitative Investigation On Secondary Traumatic Stress And It's Effects On Nursing Faculty, Devon L. Luthens

Education Doctorate Dissertations

The increase in student trauma and mental illness is putting direct care professionals such as educators at risk of secondary traumatic stress. The purpose of this quantitative survey method research was to explore how nursing faculty within the Minnesota State system were affected by their work with traumatized students and if they experienced significant distress or impairment. The theoretical framework guiding this dissertation was the McCann and Pearlman’s Constructivist Self Development (CSD) theory. There were two research questions that led this study: Does the amount of exposure to student trauma relate to the level of secondary traumatic stress experienced by …

Predictive Factors In Nurse Retention: The Association Of Authentic Leadership, Nurse Leader Caring Behaviors, And Burnout In Novice Nurse Retention, April M. Novotny

PhD in Organizational Leadership

The demand for healthcare services in the United States is expected to dramatically increase in the coming decades. To meet the growing demand, a healthy workforce of nurses is necessary. In response to the identified problem of novice nurse retention, the researcher examined the concepts of authentic leadership, leadership caring behaviors, and burnout to determine the impact of these factors on intent to stay within an organization for novice nurses with less than 1 year of experience at a large community hospital. The study findings demonstrate a statistically significant correlation between the factors of authentic leadership, leader caring behaviors, burnout, …

Strategies To Improve Communication In Healthcare: An Integrative Review, Tracy Lynn Macdonald

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this integrative review is to research, analyze, critique, and synthesize current literature to determine current practice of communication within healthcare. Communication errors continue to have a negative impact on patient outcomes, so this literature review will consider current strategies to improve communication, and thus improve patient outcomes. Several themes were identified as strategies to improve communication. Although there is abundant research on the topic of communication in healthcare, there is still a need for further adoption and implementation of various communication strategies, as well as a need for further evaluation to determine if these strategies do improve …

The Effect Of Provider-Patient Racial Concordance On Student Health Services, Sophia B. Gilliam

Senior Theses

Objective: This research aimed to evaluate the effect of provider-patient racial concordance on perceived care received by University of South Carolina students at Student Health Services.

Methods: A total of 173 students at the University of South Carolina Columbia campus who have received care from Student Health Services within the past 2 years participated in the study. Participants were questioned about their experience with Student Health Services using an adaptation of the CAHPS® Clinician & Group Survey Version 3.0. Independent samples t-tests and descriptive analyses were used for comparisons between the 25 non-white respondents and a randomly selected proportionate group …

Knowledge And Practices Regarding Standard Precautions For Infection Control Among Nurses Working At A Public, Tertiary Care Hospital Islamabad, Pakistan, Samina Yasmeen, Tazeen Saeed Ali, Wardah Khalid, Zohra Kurji, Shair Muhammad Hazara, Shahzad Bashir

School of Nursing & Midwifery

Introduction: To protect patients and healthcare providers from healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), standard precautions have been promoted universally. Nurses are the forefront force in patient care; therefore, evidence-based and up to date knowledge and practices can play a vital role in helping nurses apply standard precautions (SPs).
Methods: The analytical cross-sectional study design was used. Through purposive sampling, the data were collected from 320 nurses, via, a self-administered questionnaire, from April to May 2017, from a public tertiary level hospital in Islamabad. The validity and reliability of each section was established. Mean and standard deviation were computed for continuous variables’ whereas; …

Urinary Incontinence: Understanding The Silent Plight Of Women, Yasmin Nadeem Parpio, Anmol Minaz, Sonia Ijaz Haider

School of Nursing & Midwifery

Urinary incontinence (UI) is defined as the complaint of involuntary loss of urine. UI affects both men and women but is more common in women. It has been identified as a World Health Organization priority. The burden related to UI at local, national, and global levels is huge and its impact in terms of physical, social, mental, and financial aspects makes it a concerning issue. However, there exist several barriers in terms of knowledge and attitude in seeking healthcare among women experiencing UI. This calls upon a multi-disciplinary approach involving professionals from different disciplines and tackling it with collaborative and …

Implementation Of A Zone Of Silence During Administration Of Breastmilk To Decrease Nurses’ Distractions In A Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: Quality Improvement Project, Lauren Crociata

DNP Projects

Introduction: In the NICU, breastmilk is handled and administered as safely and carefully as a medication. Administration errors occur when incorrect breastmilk is administered to the wrong patient. This can lead to the transmission of infectious disease and create the loss of trust between families and the healthcare team during a neonate’s NICU stay. Nurses are often faced with interruptions and distractions during administration, and evidence shows that interventions to reduce nurses’ distractions lead to reduction of administration errors in inpatient settings. This quality improvement project took place in a level III NICU. It implemented an evidence-based zone of silence …

Mindfulness Bundle Impact On Nurse Burnout Study, Gisele Nicole Bazan, Jamie Roney, Kelsey Sawyer, Tiffany Patterson, Michelle Bradberry, Deborah Wambui Kamau, Cynthia L. Grissman, Sahar Mihandoust, Randall Stennett, Joann D. Long

Articles, Abstracts, and Reports

Purpose:

Nurse burnout is a widespread problem globally. Nurse burnout is not only exacerbating nurses’ physical and mental health, but also affects patient satisfaction as well as hospital performance. Due to negative outcomes of nurse burnout, high turnover rates, and excessive costs of hiring nurses, there is a growing body of literature about factors leading to burnout and interventions to control and reduce nurse burnout. Nurses working in Intensive Care Units (ICU) designated for SARS-CoV-2 infected patients during the height of the 2020 pandemic reported experiencing higher than usual levels of emotional exhaustion (EE), depersonalization (DP), physiological signs of stress …

Using An Existing Clinical Practice Guideline To Develop And Implement An Adult Ecmo Program During A Global Pandemic, Brandy Pitts, Midge Vaughan, Jamie Roney

Articles, Abstracts, and Reports

Background: COVID-19 extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) specific treatment guidelines were released by the National Institute for Health and the World Health Organization in 2020 for adults with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). With 42% of COVID‐19 infected patients developing ARDS pneumonia, medical centers increased ECMO treatment capacity to meet pandemic-related demand. The rising treatment demands in adult populations led organizations to implement strategies to increase ECMO treatment availability in adult intensive care units.

Purpose: The purpose of this project was to deploy an evidence-based adult ECMO program in a surgical intensive care unit (SICU) by March 2020.

Methods/Approach: This …

Developing A Standardized Process For An Effective, Evidence-Based Fall Management Program To Reduce Falls In A Nursing Home Setting, Katrina K. Little

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Background: Falls among the elderly population, aged 65 years and older, are a significantly growing public health problem. For elderly people residing in residential care facilities and facility administrators, falls are of great concern due to the post-fall associated consequences. Preventing resident falls in long-term care is a priority to reduce injuries and associated costs.

Project Design: This evidence-based quality improvement (EBQI) pilot project focused on fall prevention and was conducted on 1 unit (3 long-term care hallways) at a facility that provides both long-term care (LTC) and short-term rehabilitation services in Utah County, Utah. Interventions chosen for the Falls …

Implementing Sexual Health Education For At-Risk High School Students In A Faith-Based Setting: A Pilot Project, Neva R. Fuentes

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Background: Sexually transmitted infections (STI) are a global issue that persist, causing significant negative health outcomes like cancer, adverse reproductive issues including infertility, and death (CDC, 2019a; Office of Women’s Health [OWH], 2019; WHO, 2019). In the United States, youth ages 15-24 years old make up 50% of the more than 20 million newly diagnosed STI’s each year (CDC, 2019a). Young women, adolescents (Slater & Robinson, 2014), minority populations (Mermelstein & Plax, 2016), and high school dropouts (Anderson & Pörtner, 2014) are even more disproportionately affected. Access to comprehensive health information and vaccines are well documented effective STI prevention methods …

Adolescent Mothers And Kangaroo Mother Care: A Scoping Review, Genna K. Rivers, Robin B. Dail Phd, Rn, Faan, Robin Dawson Phd, Rn, Cpnp-Pc

Senior Theses

Kangaroo mother care (KMC), the practice in which mothers hold their infants skin-to-skin against their bare chest, can increase bonding and attachment between mothers and their infants. However, there is not much research on the benefits of KMC within the adolescent or teen mother population (13-19 years old). The purpose of this scoping review was to identify how common KMC is within the teen mother population, determine how KMC varies based on social determinants of health and race/ethnicity within the adolescent mother population, and how KMC impacts adolescent mothers’ maternal attachment and bonding with their infants. PubMed and CINAHL databases …

El Impacto De La Pandemia En La Formación De Los Hábitos De Alimentación En Niñes Pequeñes En La Villa 21-24 En Barracas, Buenos Aires / The Impact Of The Pandemic In The Creation Of Nutritional Habits In Young Children In Villa 21-24 In Barracas, Buenos Aires, Hannah Seewald

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Durante la Pandemia COVID-19 en Argentina, la inflación aumentó, y el desempleo aumentó especialmente entre los trabajadores informales, lo que dejó a muchos de ellos dependientes de los comedores comunitarios y de la ayuda nutricional para alimentar a sus familias. La violencia doméstica y la pobreza aumentaron aún más. Problemas estructurales como la falta de agua potable y los cortes de luz, situaciones que suelen enfrentar los habitantes de la Villa 21-24, Barracas, Buenos Aires, continuaron. Las escuelas se cerraron y la instrucción presencial se suspendió, en ese contexto los grupos comunitarios trabajaron para alcanzar los suministros adecuados de alimentos. …

Analysis Of Clinical Outcomes And Cost-Effectiveness Of Neuromuscular Blocking Drug Reversal In Patients With Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Samantha Kinglsey, Aaron "Mitch" Corn

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

Non-depolarizing neuromuscular blockers are used during many surgical procedures to induce muscle relaxation for tracheal intubation and improve surgical conditions for surgeons. The use of these medications requires an agent to be given to fully reverse the effects of the neuromuscular blocking drug. Historically, neostigmine has widely been used as the primary reversal agent. However, sugammadex, a recently FDA approved drug, is also available for the reversal of common neuromuscular blocking drugs, rocuronium and vecuronium. In the literature, sugammadex is widely regarded as a clinically superior reversal agent. But its use is commonly limited to emergent situations due to the …

How Early Education And Pet Therapy May Help Nurses With Compassion Fatigue, Katie E. Clark

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Abstract

Although there is a great deal of research on the causes of compassion fatigue, there is little research on prevention techniques or ways to combat compassion fatigue. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to discover if nurses are prepared to cope with occupational stress and compassion fatigue. A secondary purpose was to examine the perceived benefit that pet therapy can have as a possible stress reduction technique to decrease the effects of compassion fatigue. This research was conducted by gathering data via semistructured interviews. The researcher interviewed nurses who were currently practicing patient care and scored as …

Improving Mental Health Among Undergraduate Nursing Students: Increasing Resilience In Nursing School, Hannah Hilliard

Senior Honors Theses

Nursing students face a unique set of obstacles during their time in school. Beyond the normal stressors of college life, they are required to spend several hours in the hospital per week, study for exams, and complete high acuity simulations, and they struggle with coping with these new demands. Undergraduate nursing students need to be supported in their mental health and coping strategies to improve their resilience in nursing school and, hence, their ability to function as a nurse in the future. This study has ascertained what students believe is helpful in supporting their mental health while in nursing school. …

Communicating Comfort In Crisis: A Literature Review On Overcoming The Emergency Room Environment To Foster The Nurse-Patient Relationship, Faith G. Davenport

Senior Honors Theses

The average emergency room patient is not receiving the compassionate nurse-patient communication that patients experience on other hospital floors. Fewer positive nurse-patient interactions prompt patients to state that they feel uncomforted and dissatisfied on hospital exit surveys, inciting hospital management to investigate how to reverse this trend to retain their federal funding. Emergency room nurses cite multiple barriers inherent in their work environment that prevent them from building rapport with their patients, including a layout not conducive to private conversations, strict time constraints, and a fluctuating workload. Working for a prolonged period under these conditions is driving many nurses to …