Family Practice Nursing Commons^™

Pilot Study: Avoiding Readmissions Of Heart Failure Patients Across Transitions Of Care, Analiza Baldonado

Doctoral Projects

Background: A major problem facing the U.S. healthcare system is avoidable hospital readmissions. Patients with Heart Failure (HF) face variety of barriers to health care and are at higher risk for readmissions. To address this problem, evidence-based interventions focused on safe transition from hospital to home are needed.

Methods: A quality improvement pilot project was implemented to evaluate the feasibility of evidence based interventions in preventing avoidable readmissions. The project setting was in a 900 bed health care system. The descriptive statistical methods were means and frequencies. The Transition Coordinator (TC) enrolled a convenience sample of 30 participants. The evidence …

Novel Oral Anticoagulants: Bedrest And Bleeding In Patients Undergoing Atrial Fibrillation Catheter Ablation, Lynn Mcwhirter

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Atrial fibrillation (AF), the most common cardiac arrhythmia in persons over age 65, is associated with an increased stroke risk necessitating the need for long-term oral anticoagulation for risk reduction. With the introduction of direct thrombin and factor Xa inhibitors in the US since 2010, these novel oral anticoagulants (NOACs) are increasingly being prescribed, replacing the use of warfarin, a vitamin K antagonist. AF catheter ablation (CA), an elective procedure requiring femoral vascular access is a treatment for drug refractory and persistent AF. Bedrest, limb immobilization, and limited head of bed elevation are nursing measures utilized following femoral venous, and …