Nursing Commons^™

The Effects Of Controlled Breathing And Physical Postures On Anxiety And Stress In Mental Health Patients, Kristen Killingsworth

DNP Research Projects

Objective: Anxiety and stress are debilitating disorders that have been on the rise in recent years following the COVID-19 pandemic. Medication alone has not been shown to be successful in mitigating the disorders, necessitating research into other alternatives for anxiety and stress management. The purpose of this project was to assess if a single complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) relaxation session had an impact on stress and anxiety levels. Method: A comprehensive literature review was conducted to identify strategies for reducing stress and anxiety. Guided by the Holistic Care Model of Self-Regulation, the nurse-led CAM relaxation session was developed. The …

Perception Of Students As Partners In Learning Among Students And Faculty Members Of Sonam Karachi, Pakistan, Anum Shiraz Gujrati

PhD-HS 2024

Background: Students as Partners (SaP) has emerged as a student-centred approach where students are taken as active partners in determining learning outcomes and pedagogies rather than being merely passive learners and consumers in Higher Education (HE). It shifts the focus from the teacher-centred to the student learning environment and from a product to process-orientated outcomes. There is still a need to explore the perception of students as partners in HE among undergraduate and graduate nursing students and faculty members.
Purpose: The purpose of the study is to explore the perception of students and faculty members regarding students as partners in …

Concept Of Health-Related Quality Of Life Among People With Heart Failure In Karachi, Pakistan, Anny Ashiq Ali

PhD-HS 2024

Background: Non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including cardiovascular diseases, are a leading cause of global mortality. The mortality rate for cardiovascular diseases is on the rise, with 80 % to 86 % of fatalities, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, including Pakistan. Among NCDs, heart failure (HF) is a condition for which there is no cure, and patients rely on supportive treatments to maintain their quality of life. HF not only affects physical well-being but also has far-reaching consequences on the emotional, social, and cognitive aspects of life. In the context of Pakistan, where unique healthcare, sociocultural, and economic factors prevail, the …

Creating A Centralized Immunization Resource Center, Teresa Nathan

Nursing Posters

To support clinic nurses in their knowledge & comfortability around immunizations, an Immunization Resource Center was created on SharePoint. Having resources and educational materials located in a single location can help ensure consistency across the clinic system in our work with immunizations.

Professional Development In Practice: Enhancing The Npd Role, Amy Stang

Nursing Posters

Inquiry:

The problem this project is addressing is a lack of knowledge related to NPD scope and standards in the organization. The education department is largely decentralized, with staff reporting to various leaders outside of NPD department. Some areas within the organization lack support and continuing education specific to NPD.

Standardized Orientation In A Multi-Site Clinic System, Cathrine Robak

Nursing Posters

There are over 50 clinics serving more than 8 counties in CentraCare. Managers and supervisors at each clinic lead orientation of new nursing employees. The ambulatory educator recognized a need for standard orientation tools and resources as clinic managers and supervisors shared that they were each completing orientation of new nursing employees in a different way.

Enhancing Patient Care: The Power Of The Endoscopy Checklist, Emily Obermiller

Nursing Posters

Endoscopy procedures start at 8:00 a.m., but inpatients are often unprepared when report is required at 7:00 a.m. This lack of patient readiness causes delays in endoscopy start times, creates safety concerns, and delays in care. Nurses who are well-informed about procedural preparation are more likely to have patients properly prepared, improve safety, and increase effective communication.

Healthy Eating & Shift Work, Lisa Kilgard

Nursing Posters

To provide knowledge and education to individuals who engage in shift work. Which may assist them in maintaining a healthier eating and lifestyle.

Implementation Of A Two-Person Urinary Catheter Insertion Practice Change, Brandy Berends, Elizabeth Kiffmeyer, Jenelle Overgaard, Amy Railson, Morgan Thiry

Nursing Posters

Decrease incidence of Catheter Associated Urinary Tract Infections (CAUTIs) for inpatients by implementing a two-person urinary catheter insertion practice change using a checklist.

Immunotherapy Serum Mixing: 2023 Best Practice Changes, Eyas Abla Md, Paul Faybusovich Do, Matthew Lies, Mallory Mondloch

Nursing Posters

Background Story:

CentraCare - Plaza Allergy & Asthma Clinic compounds immunotherapy serum with advanced training of licensed nurses. Effective November 1, 2023, USP (797) Pharmaceutical Compounding guidelines were updated and endorsed by the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAI). The Allergy Clinic completed a gap analysis to determine what process needed to change to comply with these latest guidelines.

Sticks And Stones May Break My Bones, But Words Can Hurt Me Too: Psychological Safety And Microaggressions, Theresa Reichert, Janelle Maciej, Julia Vang

Nursing Posters

To foster a healthy work environment, address reports of microaggressions, and improve psychosocial safety within the SCH Telemetry team

Technology Decreases Treatment Decision Times, Angela Moscho

Nursing Posters

Patients who experience a stroke while hospitalized have a higher mortality rate than those who present to the emergency department. Our plan is to utilize technology to allow the stroke provider to evaluate the patient while in their hospital room, instead of waiting until the patient is in the CT scanner. Utilizing technology of an iPad for inpatient code strokes will allow for quicker assessment of the patient, resulting in faster treatment decision for this population.

Perception Of Students As Partners In Learning Among Students And Faculty Members Of Sonam Karachi, Pakistan, Anum Shiraz Gujrati

MBE 2024

Background: Students as Partners (SaP) has emerged as a student-centred approach where students are taken as active partners in determining learning outcomes and pedagogies rather than being merely passive learners and consumers in Higher Education (HE). It shifts the focus from the teacher-centred to the student learning environment and from a product to process-orientated outcomes. There is still a need to explore the perception of students as partners in HE among undergraduate and graduate nursing students and faculty members.
Purpose: The purpose of the study is to explore the perception of students and faculty members regarding students as partners in …

Reducing Blood Culture Contamination In The Emergency Department: A Multi-Method Quality Improvement Projec, Daryn Brauner, Marlene Schmidt, Nikki Campbell, Keri Bill, April Alfano

Abstracts

Blood cultures are a diagnostic tool used to determine the presence of bacteremia. Blood culture contamination (BCC) can lead to inappropriate use of antibiotics, increased length of stay, and increased healthcare costs. Many hospitals should have benchmarked BCC rates of <3%. However, BCC rates or false positives are known to be highest in emergency departments and there has been limited research on integrating multi-method approaches to reduce BCC rates. Purpose: The aim of this quality improvement project was to reduce the monthly percentage of BCC in an academic emergency department through implementation of a robust multi-method intervention targeting nurses and patient care technicians who perform phlebotomy for blood cultures.

The intervention was implemented in four approaches beginning in June 2022: Focused Education, Dashboard Utilization, Campaign Initiatives, and Improvement to RN Workflow. Focused education consisted of numerous electronic and in-person trainings. Dashboard utilization involved consistently updating staff of real time metrics of BCC. Campaign Initiatives involved increased hand hygiene prior to BCC draws. Finally, workflow for RNs were improved by …

Research Makes A Difference: Changing Post Surgical Vital Signs, Elizabeth Plante, Sadie Seezs, Jennifer Burris, Tiffany Omann-Bidinger

Nursing Posters

Research Question:

Are reduced frequency of vital signs as effective in identifying patient deterioration in postoperative adult orthopedic and spine patients after a post anesthesia care unit stay with transfer to orthopedic and neuroscience spine units when compared to current practice?

Conclusions/Implications:

• Changing the frequency of post operative vital signs provides the same quality, not directly affecting an increased risk of death.
• Reduction in number of times vital signs needed completion, saving time for nurses to complete other duties.
• System wide change to routine post operative vital signs for floor level patients was implemented.
• Recommend future research for obstetric and …

Eye Code Protocol, Christina Anderson Md, Maiya Dietz, Kelsey Bade, Mallory Mondloch

Nursing Posters

Purpose of EYE CODE:

• Retinal artery occlusion (RAO) is a rare but detrimental adverse effect of cosmetic facial filler injections.
• Requires prompt treatment and reversal to avoid patient blindness.
• EYE CODE is a new protocol in place to avoid this complication.
• Assist staff during a high stress event. •Improve patient safety & staff confidence. Way to receive continuing education credits through the clinic.

Code Blue Debriefing, Micaela Herbst-Bialke

Nursing Posters

Situation and Assessment:

Opportunities to improve code blue events have been identified by comments received on code blue critiques and results from a survey completed by 120 code blue team members.

Background:

As referenced by the American Heart Association along with Get with the Guidelines, post code debriefing is a key element to promote continuous quality improvement in patient care. Post-event debriefings are a foundational behavior of high performing teams in improving individual and team performance.

What's The Plan? Give Me The Patient's Story, Holly Kockler, Amber Guzman

Nursing Posters

Plan:

The aim for this project was to improve staff satisfaction with care planning and bring the patient's plan of care to the forefront for all staff.

Key Drivers:

• Care Plan notes were difficult for care team to understand how the patient was progressing towards their goals.
• Care Plan lacked the ability to tell the patient's story and represent the interdisciplinary plan of care.

Gamification: Integrating Into The Perioperative Environment, Tammy Filippi, Nicole Helgeson, Jennifer Salzer, Courtney Van Vickle

Nursing Posters

What is Gamification?

• Using game attributes in a non-game context.
• Including game elements such as points, prizes, leaderboards, etc.
• Goal is education rather than entertainment.

Why Gamification?

• Increase staff engagement.
• Optimizes the learners' outcomes.
• Research has shown no negative outcomes.
• Improved learning behaviors and attitudes towards learning.

Progression Of Care/Discharge Delay Panel, Jennifer Burris, Jennifer Salzer, Leann Volkers

Nursing Posters

Plan:

• To reduce the number of patients with a length of stay (LOS) greater than or equal to 26 days by 25% (from 199 to 150).
• to reduce the average patient days for patients with a length of stay greater than or equal to 26 days by 25% (from 39.7 to 30).

Nurse's Knowledge On Mind Diet For Early-Onset Alzheimer's Disease, Audrey Marie Rafols

Nursing | Student Research Posters

Adults with Early Onset Alzheimer's Disease (EOAD), is the less common form of the neurodegenerative disease of Alzheimer's Disease (AD), where EOAD is found in adults younger than 65 years old (Alzheimer's Association, 2024). Characterized by a decline of memory, cognitive decline, loss of ability to perform daily tasks involving mobility and communication, EOAD does not have one significant cause. A combination of risk factors are genetics and lifestyle factors such as heart disease, history of stroke, and high blood pressure are associated with increasing the risk of EOAD (National Institute of Aging, 2024).

Since there is no cure for …

Clinical Breast Exam Training Using Tactually Accurate Computer Simulation Among Healthcare Providers In Ghana, Dannica Callies, Danielle Schievelbein, Cynthia Elverson, Judith Osae-Larbi

College of Nursing Faculty Publications

Background: The incidence and prevalence of breast cancer continue to grow each year in sub-Saharan Africa. With limited access to diagnostic testing in this resource-limited area, clinical breast exams are a priority. Di- versity in clinical breast exam skills contributes to misdiagnosis and delayed diagnosis of breast cancer. Computer-based simulation improves clinical breast exam skills and has the potential to improve patient outcomes.
Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of tactually accurate computer simulation on partici- pants’ clinical breast exam competence, confidence, and intent to perform clinical breast exams in their practice.
Methods: This was a retrospective study …

Er Staff & Burnout: Interventions For Stress Management, Sara Elizabeth Kerbow

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Nursing is one of the most difficult professions, not only physically exhausting but the mental and emotional toll can create havoc for the person’s life (Scala & Drummond, 2016). This DNP project, “Reset”, was founded on the concept of nursing burnout, compassion fatigue, and secondary trauma causing overwhelming stress related to the emergency room nurse and staff. The purpose of this project was to show how a 15-minute mental health reset can play an essential role in stress reduction. By using complementary health modalities such as lavender essential oil with diffuser, visual imagery, and massage while listening to soft calming …

Medication Reconciliation: Preventing Harm To The Senior Living Population, Charles (Chuck) Jennings

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

This project was designed to address the risk of medication errors occurring when geriatric adults return to a senior living setting following an acute care stay. In addition to a primary care physician (PCP), the health care of geriatric adults is often managed by medical specialists and subspecialists. The engagement of multiple providers poses significant communication challenges, as these providers often work in separate offices and are limited in their information sharing. Consequently, following a hospital discharge, reconciling medication orders amongst all providers can be challenging. This challenge is further complicated, as PCPs oftentimes do not interface with the specialists …

Promoting Parental Comfort To Facilitate Conversations On Adolescent Sexual Health And Behaviors, Angelina Jolie Banes, Lauren Liddell

Nursing | Senior Theses

This thesis proposal will investigate the impact of a comprehensive digital sexual health education program on the comfort levels of parents and teens when discussing sensitive topics such as pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). The research is guided by Orem’s Self-Care Deficit Nursing Theory, which emphasizes the need to assess and address individuals’ self-care deficits, including the ability to engage in safe and informed sexual behaviors. The research design is a quantitative, quasi-experimental study with a one-group pre and post-test design. The sample consists of 50 parents and 50 teens from Marin County, who will participate in an online …

Furry Friends & Brighter Futures: Enhancing The Life Skills Of Toddlers With Autism Through Animal Assisted Therapy, Abigail Rosales Tolentino

Nursing | Senior Theses

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) encompasses a broad spectrum of challenges that impact social interaction, communication, and behavior. While Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) stands as a common therapeutic approach, there is a growing recognition of the need for personalized interventions. Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) emerges as a promising avenue for enhancing social interactions. This study focuses on the utilization of dogs in AAT for toddlers aged 12 to 36 months with confirmed ASD diagnoses. The experimental group will undergo a combined intervention involving standard ABA therapy alongside weekly AAT sessions, whereas the control group will receive standard ABA therapy alone. Pre- …

Icu Nurse Mental Health: Telehealth Versus In-Person Therapy Effectiveness, Ariel Mach

Nursing | Senior Theses

Background Nurses working within high-stress specialties, such as Intensive Care Units (ICUs), often face a lack of resources aimed at supporting their mental health. The expectation for the nurses is to independently manage their psychological well-being based on their knowledge and educational background. However, many times it is difficult to manage persistent stress, anxiety, or depression and this could adversely affect the quality of patient care and eventually lead to burnout. Telehealth therapy has become more readily available and used since the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to two forms of treatment delivery. Currently, there is limited research on the effectiveness of …

Pediatric Vaccination Adherence: Enhancing Compliance Among First-Generation Asian American Parents, Katelyn Leong

Nursing | Senior Theses

Background: Vaccine adherence in the pediatric population refers to receiving vaccines as per the recommended schedule, which significantly reduces vaccine-preventable diseases and enhances community immunity. Vaccine hesitancy, driven by concerns such as safety, misinformation, or cultural beliefs can affect adherence. National coverage of state-mandated vaccines among kindergarteners declined from 95% to around 93% between 2019 and 2022, varying across different vaccines. Objective: This research proposal’s focus is to determine if an educational intervention targeting first-generation Asian Americans, who have adopted their immigrant parents' misinformation about vaccines, will effectively increase vaccination rates among their children. The study aims to assess the …

The Impact Of Nursing Education On The Implementation Of Kangaroo Care: Neurodevelopment Outcomes In Preterm Infants, Giana Usac

Nursing | Senior Theses

Preterm birth poses a significant risk to the normal trajectory of brain development, particularly in the cortex, which is responsible for higher cognitive functions, motor control, and socio-emotional processing. However, Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) has emerged as an important early intervention capable of improving neurodevelopmental outcomes in preterm newborns. This quantitative research proposal aims to assess the influence of nurse education on KMC practices, identifying pivotal periods in infancy when KMC has the most significant impact on neurodevelopment outcomes in preterm infants. The literature critique focuses on the efficacy of nursing education, the optimization of KMC regarding duration and frequency, …

Religious Influences Upon Blood Transfusion Therapy: Best Practices For Nursing Care During Ethical Dilemmas Regarding Treatment Refusal Among Jehovah’S Witnesses, Abigail Aranda, Leonard Tabas

Nursing | Senior Theses

Blood transfusion therapy is a vital medical intervention that can be life-saving in numerous clinical scenarios. However, the ethical dilemmas that surround this procedure become evident when religious beliefs begin to interfere with healthcare decisions, specifically those of Jehovah’s Witnesses. This proposal discusses the best practices for nursing care during these dilemmas involving blood transfusion therapy with a direct focus on the Jehovah’s Witness community and pediatric patients whose parents affiliate with these beliefs. These practices incorporate a comprehensive approach to patient care, which employs collaborative decision-making between patients, their families, and healthcare professionals as well as open communication and …