Mouth Matters: Impact Of Therapeutic Communication On Inpatient Oral Hygiene Practices In Medical-Surgical Units, Duncan Macleod Rn, Terence Olds Rn, Acadia Birk Rn

Nurse Residency

PICOT Question: In adults over 18 years of age on a medical-surgical floor(P), how can therapeutic communication strategies be implemented to encourage oral hygiene practices(I), compare to providing the resources without therapeutic communication(C), in maintenance of daily oral hygiene practices(O), during length of hospital stay(T).

Take 3 For Me: Coping With Occupational Stress In Pediatric Oncology Nursing: Quality Improvement., Alexys Nadeau

Doctor of Nursing Practice Papers

Background: High acuity oncology patients increase RN emotional demands, worsening RN compassion fatigue. RNs are more prone to occupational stress/burnout. Maximizing coping self-efficacy can help nurses deal with occupational stress and burnout.

Environment: Implemented at a hospital caring for a pediatrics in a medium-sized Southeastern US city on the hematology/oncology unit, which serves bi-state counties.

Purpose: This QI project uses a Plan-Do-Study-Act framework to assess the levels of stress experienced, implement a stress management program, reassess the stress levels, and evaluate the program’s effectiveness in improving coping self-efficacy.

Procedures: Nurses received education flyers and emails regarding Take3forMe. Then asked to …

A Quality Improvement Project To Improve Touch Exposures In The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit., Jeremi Tricia Braga

Doctor of Nursing Practice Papers

Introduction: Premature infants in the NICU are exposed to many noxious stimuli that could cause negative effects on development. The SENSE® program has been developed to provide developmentally appropriate sensory stimulation for neonates. This project will focus on sense of touch primarily with KC or also referred to as skin-to-skin.

Environment: This QI project took place in to a Level III NICU at a tertiary medical center in Louisville, Kentucky. The facility has a total of 421 beds including the NICU that is licensed for 34 beds and caring for infants born prematurely as early as 22 weeks to term …

Enhancing Nurse Competence And Self-Efficacy In Delivery Of Medication Education At Discharge: A Quality Improvement Project Using The Teach-Back Method., Quinesia James

Doctor of Nursing Practice Papers

Medication nonadherence in pediatric psychiatric care contributes to worsening symptoms, delayed developmental progress, and increased hospitalizations. Adherence rates remain as low as 30–60%, accounting for up to $300 billion in avoidable healthcare costs annually. Low health literacy and inconsistent education strategies further complicate adherence. This quality improvement project took place on the child and adolescent psychiatric units at the project site, a large teaching hospital in a metropolitan area in the south-central United States, which serves patients aged 5–17 with complex mental health needs. The initiative aimed to improve nurses’ competence, self-efficacy, and time efficiency in delivering medication discharge education …

Improving Collaboration With Hospital Security And Nursing Staff, When Treating Patients In Acute Crisis, By Implementing A Modified Sbar Card., Yuna Choi

Doctor of Nursing Practice Papers

Inpatient psychiatric units provide assistance to patients experiencing acute mental health crises such as psychosis or suicidal ideation. Patients experiencing acute mental health crises can sometimes become agitated or aggressive towards staff, themselves, or other patients, which can pose a significant risk to everyone’s safety. The purpose of the project is to improve staff satisfaction and collaboration by standardizing the interdisciplinary communication between hospital security and nursing staff. Over a period of two weeks, the facilitator educated security and unit staff on a SBAR card during shift huddle to implement on the unit in the event of an acute mental …

A Program Evaluation Of The Pet Therapy Program At Norton Children’S Hospital’S Ackerly Child Psychiatric Unit., Michael Brockman, Michael Brockman

Doctor of Nursing Practice Papers

Pet therapy is an increasingly utilized intervention in psychiatric care, particularly among adolescents. Within the inpatient adolescent psychiatric setting, pet therapy has been linked to reduced anxiety, enhanced emotional regulation, and improved patient engagement. At Norton Children’s Hospital’s Ackerly Child Psychiatric Unit, pet therapy sessions are offered weekly but had not been formally evaluated. The absence of structured evaluation raised concerns about sustainability, consistency, and the program’s therapeutic impact. This project aimed to take a deeper look at the program by conducting a program evaluation of the existing pet therapy initiative at the Ackerly Unit. The evaluation focused on identifying …

Implementation And Rvaluation Of A Mindfulness-Based Intervention On Compassion Fatigue And Depressive Symptoms In Perioperative Nurses: Quality Improvement, Felicia R. Preston

Doctor of Nursing Practice Papers

Background: Compassion fatigue (CF) and depressive symptoms (DS) impair the well-being of nurses worldwide, contributing to mental health conditions, poor patient care, absenteeism and turnover. Perioperative nurses are vulnerable to developing CF and DS due to demanding working environments, continually managing postsurgical pain, complications, and emotionally intensive procedures. Mindfulness-based interventions (MBI) may enhance a nurse's resourcefulness and offer coping strategies against CF and DS.

Purpose: The purpose of this quality improvement (QI) project was to implement the Three Minute Breathing Space (3MBS), a mindfulness-based intervention (MBI) and to evaluate its effects on CF and DS among perioperative nurses.

Methods: …

Reducing Inpatient Falls On A Cardiac Progressive Care Unit: A Quality Improvement Project., Danielle R. Turner

Doctor of Nursing Practice Papers

Background: Inpatient falls are harmful to patients and to the healthcare organization. Fall prevention interventions and strategies are necessary in the acute setting to reduce the number of falls and increase patient safety.

Environment: This quality improvement project will take place at a Midwest acute care hospital on a cardiac PCU. This is a 38-bed unit where there has been an increased number of patient falls.

Purpose: The John Hopkins Evidence Based Practice Model was used to design, implement, and assess a nurse-driven, bedside, visual tool to reduce the number of inpatient falls on a cardiac progressive care unit.

Methods: …

Time Reduction Or Waste Production?, Katryna Smith, Brittany Grannell, Cheri Geurtin

Nurse Residency

PICOT Question: In adult patients arriving at the Emergency Department, does proactively conducting standard laboratory tests prior to provider assessment, as opposed to waiting for provider instructions, lead to a reduction in the overall length of stay during a single visit?

From Harm To Healing: Centering Towards Black And Ethnic Minority In Birth Equality, Jodiann Coleman, Ikesha Green

Nurse Residency

PICOT Question: In ethnic minority pregnant individuals, does anti racism training for healthcare providers improve the birthing experience compared to standard care?

Dementia- Friendly Interventions In The Hospital Setting And Positive Patient Outcomes, Breanna Wenger

Nurse Residency

PICOT Question: In patients with dementia, what impact does a “dementia-friendly” hospital have on their outcomes in comparison to hospitals that do not employ dementia-friendly practices during their stay?

Factors Informing Referral Of Adult Patients To Palliative Care Services In A Tertiary Facility In Kenya: Physicians' Perspective, Donnah A. Opiyo

Master of Medicine in Family Medicine

Background The growing burden of chronic diseases underscores the urgent need for palliative care integration into healthcare systems worldwide. Despite its benefits, palliative care remains underutilized due to various barriers, including health system limitations, institutional challenges, infrastructure gaps, and individual provider factors. However, limited research has explored the specific factors influencing physicians' decisions to refer patients to palliative care. This study sought to fill that gap by examining the key determinants shaping referral practices in a tertiary facility in Kenya.

Design and Methods This exploratory qualitative study examined 22 physician specialists from five departments at Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi. …

Improving Antipsychotic Compliance By Addressing Client Experience Of Metabolic Syndrome, Lurinda N. Paulsen

Doctor of Nursing Practice

Abstract

Purpose: This project was undertaken to increase medication adherence in clients diagnosed with mental illnesses that necessitate the use of antipsychotic (second generation, atypical or first generation, typical) medications.

Background: Medication compliance in the treatment of schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, and bipolar disorder is essential to ensure consistent medication levels and symptom stabilization. There are many reasons clients stop taking their medications, and symptoms of metabolic syndrome are often a cause for self-discontinuation. Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of symptoms including obesity, hypertension, hyperglycemia, hypoalphalipoproteinemia, and/or hypertriglyceridemia, which increases risk for cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

Methods: This project was completed …

Navigating Childhood Asthma Care In Kenya: Barriers Identified By Children And Their Caregivers, Joan Ahimbisibwe, Roselyter Riang’A, Angela Migowa, Samuel Otido

Paediatrics and Child Health, East Africa

Background: Asthma is one of the most common chronic conditions in children, with significant morbidity and mortality, especially in Africa. Achieving adequate asthma control in children remains challenging because of gaps between standard recommended management strategies and actual treatment practices. This study explored barriers to asthma management as perceived by children and their caregivers in a private tertiary care setting in Kenya.

Methods: An exploratory phenomenological qualitative study was conducted at Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH), Nairobi. Children aged 6–18 years with a confirmed diagnosis of asthma and their caregivers were recruited. The participants had been receiving treatment for at …

Resonant Disruptions: Understanding Canadian Nurses’ Practice With Youth Survivors Of Sexual Exploitation, Danielle E. Giebelhaus, Andrew Estefan Phd, Rpn

Dignity: A Journal of Analysis of Exploitation and Violence

The sexual exploitation of youth is a global concern. Youth survivors of sexual exploitation present to and require healthcare services, but most nurses do not feel effectively equipped to care for this population. There is currently little nursing literature to guide nurses in their practice with youth survivors. In this article, we report on a qualitative, hermeneutic study undertaken to explore nursing practice with youth survivors of sexual exploitation. Hermeneutics is concerned with understanding, and is a helpful way to conduct research when little is known about a topic. In this study, we asked the research question, “How might we …

The Lived Experiences Of Fathers With Postpartum Depression: A Qualitative Study, Rachael Elizabeth Schmitz

Nursing and Health Sciences

Background:

Although parents may joyfully anticipate the birth of a child, it's impossible for them to know ahead of time just how profoundly their lives will change. Postpartum depression (PPD) can result. While there is a substantial body of research regarding maternal PPD, paternal PPD has received far less attention and is neither adequately understood nor diagnosed. This is exacerbated by outdated but persistent sociocultural masculinity norms and the stigmas around mental health issues.

Purpose:

This study sought to explore the lived experiences of new fathers with PPD in order to provide greater insight into their experiences.

Methods:

This qualitative …

Do Hospitalized Patients' Quality Of Life Benefit From Alternative Lighting Practices?, Daniel Singer

Nurse Residency

PICOT Question: In hospitalized patients, does exposure to alternative lighting interventions, as opposed to standard lighting practices, improve quality of life and/or recovery outcomes during their hospital stay?

Turning Patients, Saving Skin, Anna Atkins

Nurse Residency

PICOT Question: Do Turn Teams Beat Standard Nursing Care?

Improving The Screening And Management Process For Mental Health Disorders And Health Risk Behaviors In College-Age Students: A Quality Improvement Project, Brooke L. Styslinger

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Manuscripts

Establishing a standardized electronic screening process for mental health disorders and health risk behaviors is crucial for early identification and intervention before poor outcomes occur. This quality improvement project addresses a gap in care relating to screening practices in a college health services office which primarily relied on a provider-based interview screening processes in students reporting for care. Pre-implementation data showed providers most often screened for Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), alcohol use, and drug use, with inconsistent screening for Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) or tobacco/vaping use. Follow-up screening form administration was also inconsistent, only given 3.3% of the time for …

Analyzing The Impact Of Interactive Home Monitoring On Congestive Heart Failure Readmissions: A Program Evaluation, Josh C. Riggs

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Manuscripts

Hospital readmissions are described as a situation in which a patient is admitted to a hospital within 30-days of being discharged from an earlier inpatient stay and is a critical indicator of care, contributing heavily to the rising healthcare costs in the United States. Heart failure is one of the leading contributors to 30-day hospital readmissions, prompting healthcare organizations to develop and implement policies aimed at reducing these occurrences. This program evaluation examined the effectiveness of the University of Virginia’s (UVA) Interactive Home Monitoring (IHM) program at reducing 30-day hospital readmission rates among patients diagnosed with heart failure (HF). Utilizing …

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 …

Evaluating What Works: A Comparison Of Five Diabetes Prevention Programs For Latino Children, Ruchi Patel

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Project Abstract

Background: Children in the Rio Grande Valley (RGV) are at increased risk of diabetes due to limited access to effective, culturally appropriate prevention programs. Existing programs are often time-intensive, require transportation, and lack cultural relevance, reducing participation and impacting outcomes. This project aimed to evaluate diabetes prevention programs (DPPs) in the literature and identify five that may benefit children in the RGV by reducing diabetes risk.

Methodology: The Eightfold Path policy analysis approach guided this project. A literature review identified DPPs for children, and the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) was used to assess study quality. Limitations included difficulty finding …

Quality Improvement Project Advancing Success In Nursing Education: An Evidence-Based Approach To Remediation, Jessica Wilson

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Nursing education requires intense academic work, which creates specific obstacles for learner achievement. The improvement of academic results in BSN 346 and similar high-stakes courses remains essential for maintaining learner retention, graduation success, and practice readiness. This quality improvement project assessed how evidence-based remediation with structured implementation compared to traditional voluntary remediation methods. The research investigated whether faculty-led evidence-based remediation meetings would enhance BSN 346 learner success through concept map score assessment. A retrospective pre-/post-intervention study analyzed concept map performance between two learner groups from Spring 2025, who received standard remediation, and Summer 2025, who received structured remediation. The researchers …

Anxiety During Perimenopause: A Narrative Qualitative Study Of The Women’S Lived Experiences, Kayla Mcelhany

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Abstract

Objectives: Perimenopause has been associated with increased anxiety symptoms. However, data is lacking regarding the experiences of women with perimenopausal anxiety and the contributing factors to worsening anxiety symptoms. We explored the experiences of women with self-reported new onset or worsening of anxiety symptoms during perimenopause to better understand contributing factors.

Study design: Twenty women participated in one-on-one interviews to explore experiences of perimenopausal anxiety in the context of their daily lives and perimenopausal physical changes. Inductive thematic analysis was used to develop codes and themes from the transcribed interview data. Analysis was done using MAXQDA software.

Main …

Dominican Republic Medical Mission Trip 2025, Julianna Wolff, Carla Kosorog

HLTHS 1800 Global Healthcare Initiatives: Dominican Republic 2025 Documents

This medical mission trip was located within the Dominican Republic in the

La Ciénaga area.

- The predominant language spoken is Dominican Spanish. However, many

students learn a combination of French and English throughout their

schooling.

- As explained throughout this presentation, access to healthcare ranges

from minimal to none within this region of the Dominican Republic.

Reducing Suicide Ideation Through Healthcare Provider Training In The Use Of The Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-Ssrs) In A Rural Community Mental Health Clinic, Lashunda R. Lewis

Doctoral Projects

This doctoral project aimed to address the inconsistent and inadequate assessment of suicide risk by healthcare professionals in a Rural Community Clinic. Staff members do not comprehensively understand the Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale and vary in how they screen patients before the intervention. When we looked at the baseline, we found that only 45% of charts contained suicide risk screening, and C-SSRS was used in only 5% of cases. Some of the main obstacles reported were not properly training staff and keeping patients from sharing their thoughts on this subject.

The main objective of the doctoral project was to test …

Titer-First Vaccination Protocol In An Employee Health Clinic, Obehi Dickson

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Project Abstract

Purpose:

The purpose of this project was to evaluate the clinical and financial outcomes of implementing a titer-first vaccination protocol for new employees at an Employee Health Clinic. This project sought to improve cost-effectiveness and reduce unnecessary vaccinations.

Background:

This project was conducted at a large healthcare organization in Houston, Texas, to address the cost burden of traditional vaccination protocols. Pre-vaccination serologic testing helps identify existing immunity, reducing unnecessary vaccinations and overall clinic costs.

Methodology:

The titer-first vaccination protocol includes serologic testing for measles, mumps, rubella (MMR), varicella, and hepatitis B, followed by vaccine administration for those without immunity. Data …

An Evaluation Of Training Strategies Among Healthcare Professionals During The Covid-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Survey Study, Darshani D. Singh

Theses & Dissertations

Background: During Spring 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic temporarily displaced healthcare workers from suspended clinical work areas to inpatient critical care areas. Nurses were rapidly uptrained for unfamiliar roles in critical care using a variety of instructional formats.

Purpose: The purpose of this survey study was to evaluate the effectiveness of eight training strategies on healthcare workers' perceived competence, confidence, and satisfaction during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: This cross-sectional, retrospective, investigator-developed survey study examined the effectiveness of eight training strategies used during the COVID-19 pandemic on three outcomes for professional registered nurses. The three outcomes were self-reports …

Culturally Centered, Primary Care Interventions For Effective Weight Management Goals In Hispanic/Latino Children, Remigio Acevedo

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Project Abstract

PURPOSE To implement and evaluate the effectiveness of a clinic-based childhood obesity intervention program for Hispanic/Latino children.

BACKGROUND From 1975 to 2016, childhood obesity rates have more than quadrupled, affecting Hispanic/Latino families the most. Growing evidence suggests that incorporating the family unit and utilizing culturally centered weight management interventions can be cost-effective and pragmatic compared to a standard, generic approach.

METHODOOLOGY A quality improvement project was initiated to provide information on the degree of success of a clinic-based childhood obesity program for Hispanic/Latino children and their parents. The intervention focused on delivering a culturally centered health promotion message based on …

Measuring The Impact Of The Australian National Placement Evaluation Centre To Enhance Nursing And Midwifery Student Clinical Placements: A Multimodal Evaluation, Colleen Ryan, Robyn Cant, Areum Hyun, Debbie Procter, Louise Alexander, Dianne Bloxsome, Lynda Hughes, Fiona Bogossian, Simon Cooper

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Aim: To evaluate the early impact of the Centre. Background: The educational quality of nursing and midwifery student clinical placement learning varies. The National Placement Evaluation Centre has a pivotal role in quality improvement by systematically collecting student and supervisor feedback on placement experiences. Design: Multimodal impact evaluation. Methods: Data were collected from website analytics and a survey shared via stakeholder registration emails and social media. The Impact Management Planning and Evaluation Ladder model was used to understand impact. Data were analysed using a sequential, hybrid inductive/deductive approach. Descriptive statistics summarised participant characteristics and qualitative data were themed. Results: Website …