Nursing Commons^™

Staff Education To Increase Knowledge Of Safe And Effective Prescription Of Opioids For Pain Management For Patients With Illicit Drug Use, Kenny Adeshola Fagbamila Amanze

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Opioid misuse and overdose continue to pose a significant public health crisis in the United States, particularly among patients with a history of substance use disorder (SUD). This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project aimed to improve healthcare staff knowledge regarding the safe and effective prescribing of opioids for pain management in patients with a history of illicit drug use. A staff education program was implemented at an outpatient clinic and evaluated using a pretest/posttest design with ten participants. The average knowledge score improved from 46% pre-intervention to 86% post-intervention, indicating a substantial increase in staff competence. The project supports …

Preventing Errors With Two-Component Pediatric Vaccines, Angela C. Clarke

MSN Student Capstones

No abstract provided.

Massive Transfusion Done Right In The Emergency Room, Angela Sams

MSN Student Capstones

No abstract provided.

Effective Multidisciplinary Communication For Critical Access Hospitals During Obstetric Emergencies, Beverly D. Carpenter

MSN Student Capstones

No abstract provided.

The Effectiveness Of Gad-7 Screening In High School Students, Tamara L. Smith, Allison Darnell, Margaret Harvey, Phd, Acnp-Bc, Chfn, Jacqueline Sharp Dnp, Aprn, Pmhp-Bc

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Purpose/Background

Adolescent mental health is a growing concern, with anxiety disorders being particularly prevalent among high school students. Left untreated, anxiety can significantly impact academic performance, social functioning, and long-term mental health. The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated these challenges, highlighting the critical need for effective screening and intervention strategies. The Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item scale (GAD-7) is a validated tool for identifying anxiety disorders, yet its application in high school settings is limited. This scoping review explores the effectiveness of GAD-7 in increasing mental health referrals and improving anxiety outcomes in high school students.

Methods

A comprehensive search was conducted across …

The Cruciality Of Early Recognition Of Postpartum Depression In Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (Nicu) Mothers, Shelby Clark

Scholars Week

Postpartum depression is a serious complication of childbirth that is largely dismissed by society for a variety of reasons. Unfortunately, the condition is intensified for NICU mothers. If left untreated, postpartum depression can have detrimental effects. This quality-improvement project focused on early recognition of postpartum depression symptoms in mothers of infants admitted to a neonatal intensive care unit in Western Kentucky. The goal of the project was education for and recognition of postpartum depression in NICU mothers. Methodology for the project included utilizing the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale to determine the severity of symptoms of postpartum depression for NICU mothers. …

Perceived Risk And Hpv Vaccination Awareness Among Women In Rural And Underserved Communities In The State Of Louisiana, Deborah Gurgel Smith, Emily M. Dantes, Robbie Beyl, Yanna X. De Koter, Margaret Bourg, Corey D. Smith, Gelinia Jackson, Justin Brown, Jerry W. Mclarty

School of Nursing Faculty Publications

Despite the availability of effective preventive measures, women in rural and underserved communities of Louisiana face health disparities regarding human papillomavirus infections. This study explores how perceived risk and socioeconomic factors, such as income, influence HPV vaccine awareness and attitudes toward HPV risk. A cross-sectional study was conducted among women in rural and underserved areas of Louisiana from November 2022 to December 2023. Participants were eligible to be included in the study if they were adult females aged 25 to 64 with no history of hysterectomy and no history of cervical cancer. We used convenience sampling through a mobile health …

The Impact Of Covid-19 On Nurses' Feelings, Stress, Coping, And Motivation In Palestinian Treatment Centers Of Corona, † Wafaa Menawi, Shatha Mari, Ahmad Adel Hanani

An-Najah University Journal for Research - B (Humanities)

Background: Frontline nurses of COVID-19 found themselves in an unfamiliar new disease work environment, fighting to adapt and control the stress while working at covid-19 centers in Palestine. Aim: To investigate the impact of COVID-19 on nurses' feelings, stress, coping, and motivation in COVID-19 Palestinian treatment Centers. Method: A descriptive cross-sectional design was conducted between Mid of July to the end of October 2021 by recruiting a purposive sample of 390 nurses who worked at the Ministry of Health during COVID-19 pandemic treatment centers. The nurses filled out the COVID-19 Health Personnel Questionnaire with Cronbach's Alpha > 0.9. Results: Palestinian frontline …

Aprn Transition To Primary Care Practice Program: A Quality Improvement Project, Melissa R. Baker

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Capstones

Transitioning to independent practice presents challenges for advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) new to primary care. This quality improvement project addressed gaps in training and support through a structured Transition to Primary Care Practice (TTPCP) program across multiple primary care clinics in the southeastern United States. Over 12 months, the program provided weekly didactic sessions, monthly specialty rotations, and bi-weekly feedback. Guided by the Plan-Do-Study-Act framework, the initiative tracked structure, process, and outcome measures. Among 20 participants, attendance and schedule ramp-up reached 100%. Knowledge scores improved by 44%, and self-assessments increased by 23%. All assessed participants were rated Proficient or …

Culturally Appropriate Mental Health Awareness To Reduce Mental Health Stigmatization And Improve Quality Of Life Among People Of African Descent., Nicoline Frinwie

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Staff Education To Improve Hand Hygiene Among Inpatient Behavioral Health Staff., Folashade Abosede Fadairo

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In this staff education project, I addressed the critical need to improve hand hygiene compliance among healthcare workers in behavioral health settings. Poor adherence to hand hygiene protocols is directly linked to increased healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), patient morbidity, and higher healthcare costs in behavioral health environments. The practice-focused question was: How does a hand hygiene intervention program, grounded in the theoretical domains framework, impact hand hygiene compliance among behavioral healthcare workers in inpatient psychiatric units? The purpose of the project was to evaluate the effect of a hand hygiene intervention program on compliance rates among behavioral healthcare workers in inpatient …

Implementation Of Virtual Nursing, Kennedy Van Beek, Lydia Zink, Gabrielle Johnson, Brieannah Brands, Madison Naig, Pam Hulstein

Celebration of Research

A literature review was conducted between the months of August 2024 and November 2024 to explore how virtual nursing can improve quality of care. Ten articles focusing on the implementation of virtual nursing were reviewed and analyzed. The purpose of this review is to assist Spencer Hospital in their goals of decreasing the number of staff onsite and offloading the tasks of medication checks, admissions, and documentation to virtual nurses. In the literature review below, we compile resources to explore how virtual nursing influences workflow, patient safety, finances, and satisfaction of both patients and providers. Although many benefits regarding the …

Screening Resources And Interventions For Postpartum Depression, Gianna Escalera, Emma Haley, Nicholas Helderop, Stella Umphreys, Samantha Vermeer, Pam Hulstein

Celebration of Research

A literature review was conducted between the months of August 2024-November 2024 to explore screening, diagnosis and intervention for patients experiencing PPD. 10 articles focusing on these three topics were reviewed. The purpose of this project was to examine current research regarding PPD screening, diagnosis, and intervention and to suggest evidence-based modifications to the current practice at Sioux Center Health. The following literature review provides several alterations to current practice regarding time of screening, education of providers, and interventions offered, to produce best outcomes for PPD patients.

Keywords: Postpartum Depression, Postpartum, Perinatal, Prenatal, Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale

Delaying The Newborn Bath For Twenty-Four Hours, Ashley Hellewell, Grace Radcliffe, Kendyl Ruschy, Breelle Van Zee, Pam Hulstein

Celebration of Research

Delaying newborn bathing beyond 24 hours aligns with the WHO guidelines on newborn care, and is beneficial to neonatal outcomes:

• Potential to improve several key outcomes of extrauterine stabilization and breastfeeding.
• Reduces neonatal hypothermia and hypoglycemia.
• Increases prevalence of breastfeeding rates.

Studies reported mixed results regarding the significance of these outcomes; however, data favors the practice of delayed infant bathing. Further research is warranted to address limitations and gaps in research.

By implementing delayed newborn bathing, healthcare providers have the potential to improve the overall health outcomes of the infant and support wellbeing.

Hypoglycemic Predictive Modeling Tool, Zoe Bruflat, Pam Hulstein

Celebration of Research

Introduction: This evidence-based practice (EBP) project aims to improve patient safety and outcomes through the implementation of a predictive modeling tool (XGBoost) to predict and prevent hypoglycemic events in hospitalized adults at Sanford Health. Hypoglycemia continues to be a major safety concern, and early prediction can prevent complications

Methods: The project involved a literature review of articles to identify and recommend a hypoglycemic predictive modeling tool for Sanford Health. Included articles were published between 2019 and 2024 and selected through keywords like inpatients, hypoglycemia, glucose prediction, and predictive modeling. Searches across databases, including PubMed, JAMA, JIML, …

Mobile Health Interventions In Diabetic Care In Times Of Environmental Crisis, Sarah Weisbrod, Makenzie Snyder, Maren Nerem, Katrina Hopkins, Pam Hulstein

Celebration of Research

A literature review was conducted between the months of August 2024 - November 2024 to explore the impact that the environmental effects of flooding have on those with diabetes mellitus (DM) and how the implementation of multiple forms of mobile health (mHealth) can aid in recovery and preparedness. Ten articles focusing on the various impacts that flooding and other natural disasters have on diabetic individuals, as well as the positive health outcomes tied to mobile applications and SMS messaging systems were reviewed. The purpose of this review was to examine current research regarding the treatment, education, and preparedness of diabetic …

Subcutaneous Infusions For Hydration And Nutrition, Bryn Hoekman, Kelsie Dulmes, Laci Van Hauen, Megan Vankalsbeek, Mikayla Johnson, Pam Hulstein

Celebration of Research

Subcutaneous (SC) infusions deliver fluids or medications into the body's fatty tissue using small needles. They are cost-effective, easy to use, comfortable, and carry a low risk of serious complications like infections. In hospital settings, IV access can be challenging, and oral fluid intake may be insufficient for proper hydration. Spencer Hospital was interested in the potential benefits of SC infusions and what population would benefit most. The purpose of this project was to examine SC infusions as an alternative for hydration when IV access is unavailable, focusing on pediatric, geriatric, and palliative population. It compared Hydration, nutrition status, and …

Evaluating The Efficacy Of Predischarge Referrals In Preventing Emergency Mental Health Hospital Readmissions: A Scoping Review, Pretia Carpenter Bsn, Rn, Stephanie Mays Bsn, Rn, Jacqueline Sharp Dnp, Aprn, Pmhp-Bc, Sharon H. Little, Dnp, Fnp-Bc, Aprn

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Background

Emergency mental health hospital readmissions present significant challenges to healthcare systems, often resulting in increased costs, prolonged hospital stays, and poor patient outcomes. Continuity of care through predischarge referrals to outpatient mental health services, psychosocial support, and community resources has been proposed as a strategy to reduce readmissions. However, the effectiveness of these interventions remains inconsistent across different populations and settings.

Objective

This scoping review aims to evaluate the effectiveness of predischarge referrals in reducing 30-day emergency mental health hospital readmissions, identify key components of successful programs, and assess the influence of demographic factors on readmission rates.

Methods

A …

Staff Education Program On Pressure Ulcer Prevention, Khadijah Y. Ndiaye

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This staff education program was aimed at improving pressure ulcer prevention practices in long-term care settings by increasing staff knowledge. Pressure ulcers remain a significant issue in long-term care facilities, leading to adverse patient outcomes and increased healthcare costs. Addressing this problem is critical within nursing practice to ensure patient safety, enhance quality care, and reduce preventable harm. The practice-focused question was: What is the effectiveness of a staff education program on pressure ulcer prevention in increasing staff knowledge in long-term care settings? The purpose of this doctoral project is to design and evaluate a comprehensive staff education intervention, incorporating …

Assessing Various Methods Of Social Media Use To Combat Vaccine Hesitancy, Jeremy Abe, Janelle Angelo, Emily Martin, Braden Prillwitz

NURS 464: Evidence-Based Nursing Capstone

Science is no stranger to skeptics, and vaccine technology has proven no exception to being immune from detractors since the inception of inoculation (Lanzarotta, 2024). At first, people questioned vaccine safety and efficacy, fearing contraction of disease. Public trust in vaccination gained traction with such successes as the polio vaccine, but the Wakefield article published in 1998 falsely linked the MMR vaccine to autism, arguably launching modern vaccine skepticism (Motta & Stecula, 2021). It was retracted twelve years after publication following refutation by evidence-based research, but not before increasing internet speeds allowed for the dissemination and proliferation of vaccine misinformation. …

Connecting Through Activities: How Social Engagement Impacts Isolated Older Adults, Lekisha Wilde

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Executive Summary

Problem Description: Loneliness and social isolation are associated with higher rates of depression and contribute to a variety of mental and physical conditions. In socially isolated older adults, managing depression and chronic medical conditions can lead to negative outcomes that include poor quality of life, increased disability and morbidity leading to higher healthcare costs, and elevated mortality rates.

Setting: Project took place in a community behavioral health clinic in the Pacific Northwest.

Rationale: This project is guided by the Iowa Model. The model was tailored to assist in identifying the problem, gathering and evaluating relevant evidence from the …

A Scoping Review Protocol: Hispanic Individuals’ Influences For Pursuing Nursing Education Prior To Nursing School Admission, Katherine R. Luecke, Orcid Id : 0009-0003-8013-821x

College of Nursing Reviews and Protocols

In the United States, a major contributing factor to health outcome disparities in minoritized populations is a lack of diversity in the healthcare setting. Nursing has intentionally sought to recruit individuals from minority backgrounds into the workforce to negate these disparities and have greater community representation. The purpose of this scoping review was to systematically explore literature on the influences of Hispanic individuals when pursuing nursing education prior to nursing school admission.
A scoping review methodology was utilized following the nine-step process described by the Joanna Briggs Institute and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analysis guideline utilizing …

The Growth Of African American Nurses

The Civil Rights Movement (HIS/BLS 347) Zine Project

No abstract provided.

Thoughts From The Frontline - April 2025, Tennessee Center For Nursing Advancement, East Tennessee State University

Thoughts from the Frontline Newsletter

No abstract provided.

The Succession Plan: Using Competency-Based Curriculums To Educate A New Generation Of Nurse Leaders, Cheryl Green, Evelyn Jacovino Msn, Rn, Cmsnl, Beth Boyd Dnp, Rn, Cne, Amy Ashman Msn, Rn, John Cooper Rn, Michele Velush Bsn, Rn, Pccn

Posters

Framework:

The guiding framework for this study was Mentoring Up (Hale & Phillips, 2019), a grounded theory of nurse-to-nurse mentoring. The Mentoring Up Theory identifies five phases of mentoring: seeding, opening, laddering, equalizing, and reframing.

Provider-Nurse Rounding Checklist: A Qi Project, Danielle Ursone Rn, Bsn, Jennifer O'Neil Bsn, Rn, Ccrn, Susan Penque Ph.D, Anp-Bc, Ne-Bc, Nc-C

Posters

• Communication between healthcare providers and nurses is an essential component for a good working relationship.
• Increased collaboration has been shown to improve staff attitudes and job satisfaction.
• Interprofessional rounds with a rounding checklist provide an organized way to perform rounds to increase satisfaction with teamwork and decrease miscommunication.
• At the DNP project site, a rounding checklist is not being used, resulting in a disconnect between the nurses and healthcare providers.

Closing The Wellness Gap: Distribution Of Health & Wellness Resources To Families Of High School Students During Summer Break, Danielle Harvey

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Closing the Wellness Gap

Background: During summer break, when schools are closed, students in K-12 schools lose critical resources to support their social, emotional, and physical wellbeing. This project addresses the critical gap in rural Southeastern Washington, where schools act as the primary support system by providing activities, food security, and wellness services.

Aim: Increase families’ awareness and confidence accessing resources to support students when schools are closed.

Methods: To identify key resources a Community Resource Gap Questionnaire was distributed to families. Eight weekly community resource guides were shared electronically with families based on the top priorities identified in the …

Palliative Care Education To Heart Failure Patients, Lindsay Thompson, Emily Lydiatt, Madison Thramer

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects: College of Nursing

Purpose: This project aims to increase heart failure patients' knowledge of the benefits of palliative care for improved quality of life, advance understanding of the difference between palliative and hospice care, promote attendance at heart chat classes, and increase referrals to outpatient palliative care clinics.

Methods: This quality improvement project used a one-group, descriptive, exploratory design with pre-and post-testing. The study was conducted on a cardiac unit at a large urban medical center, involving heart failure patients. A tailored educational pamphlet and heart chat class were provided to promote understanding and attendance, along with pre-and post-tests to measure changes in …

The Spiritual Call Of Nursing: Supporting Patients In Spiritual Distress, Cheryl Green, Lauren Thayer, Eliza Dickerson Rn

Posters

Nursing has historically been associated with the spiritual. Referred to “anamcara,” a soul friend in Celtic writings (Groves & Klauser, 2005), nurses accompany those in need, and the ill, from birth to end-of-life. The purpose of this project was to increase awareness of nurses in the identification of patients’ Spiritual Distress, a NANDA diagnosis.

Addressing Organizational Factors Contributing To The Underreporting Of Workplace Violence In Nursing, Jason K. Blomquist

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Background: Nurses routinely face threats, verbal abuse, and physical violence, yet widespread underreporting obscures the full scale of the problem, hindering efforts to address workplace culture and protect nurses.

Aim: Through leadership engagement and targeted staff education, this quality improvement project sought to increase workplace violence reporting rates on a 35-bed medical/surgical unit.

Methods: Over eight weeks, a three-phase intervention was implemented. Phase one equipped charge nurses with uniquely designed training (DIVER framework) to strengthen leadership support. In phase two, staff received micro-education through established communication channels. Phase three reinforced learning via interactive staff meetings. Pre- and post-intervention surveys assessed …