Cultural Education Interventions Impact On Cultural Competence, Kaylie V. Griffin Ms

ONU Student Research Colloquium

Problem: In the United States, there is a substantial increase in diversity. This increase in diversity poses multiple challenges for healthcare workers and healthcare systems. Because nurses care for patients with various cultural backgrounds, health beliefs and practices, and languages, cultural competency plays a pivotal role in providing patient-centered care. There is a need to enhance cultural education for healthcare workers to ensure that healthcare workers have the skills and knowledge to effectively engage with all patient populations. Implementing cultural education interventions seeks to increase healthcare workers' competency, communication, and patient outcomes. Purpose: The purpose of this research question is …

Reducing Care Companion Utilization In Medical-Surgical And Telemetry Units, Mary Jane B. Sagabaen

Master's Projects and Capstones

Abstract

Problem: The facility highly utilized sitters or care companions, negatively impacting the staffing plan, budget, and productivity. An average of 56 hours of care companions were used daily. This greatly exceeded the budget of 33 hours a day. Reassigning Patient Care Technicians (PCT) as care companions resulted in inadequate nurse support for patient care and increased cost for additional staffing needs. Despite this, the fall rate remained higher than the target.

Context: The patient population is mainly 65 years old and above, sometimes with confusion, dementia, delirium, and at high risk for falls and elopement. The culture included promptly …

The Effects Of Non-Pharmacological Interventions For Behavior And Psychological Symptoms Of Dementia: A Benchmark Study, Rachel R. Williams

MSN Capstone Projects

The management of behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) in patients who reside in nursing homes can be challenging. These neuropsychiatric behaviors can include but are not limited to aggression, agitation, delirium, depression, and psychosis (Cloak & Al Khalili, 2022). Patients with BPSD often have difficulty expressing their needs due to the disease process, resulting in further complexity when managing behaviors. There are no psychotropic medications to treat BPSD specifically, but many are often prescribed to treat the symptoms or behaviors exhibited by patients. The use of psychotropics, especially long-term can cause a myriad of adverse effects and should …

Targeting Loneliness In Older Adults With Weekly Socialization, Tanja Johnson

Dissertations

Problem: Loneliness related to social isolation among the older adult population has become an increasing health concern with few interventions available for the general population. Loneliness has been directly associated with depression, poorer physical health outcomes, and overall quality of life.

Methods: The purpose of this study is to evaluate loneliness in the older adult population residing in a senior living community in an urban area in Missouri. Weekly one-on-one socialization, ranging from 45-60 minutes, will be implemented over 6 weeks, with pre and post-intervention screening for loneliness with the 28-item Visit-A-Bit (VAB) screening tool. Approval was received by both …

The Addition Of Nature To The Patient's Healing Regimen, Katelyn Lewis, Audrey Henry

Scholars Week

Through our scholarly research, we have found many benefits to the use of nature to help facilitate healing within patients. Our project aims to spread awareness of the positive aspects of nature during the healing process. Specifically, our research focuses on healing gardens and outside therapy for patients. Our presentation is based upon Nightingales' theory of the environment. Our hope is that facilities will implement the addition of nature to the patient's plan of care.

Nursing Care Of Family Caregivers: Interventions And Considerations Regarding Current Issues Facing Family Caregivers Of Persons With Dementia Relevant To Nursing Practice, Alayna Kent

Senior Honors Theses

There are an estimated 6.5 million Americans age 65 and older who are currently living with Alzheimer’s dementia. A large majority of these individuals receive care from a nonprofessional family caregiver, typically in the home setting. It is well documented that family caregivers of dementia patients experience many unique challenges. These challenges provide valuable opportunities for nurses to provide helpful interventions to aid this vulnerable population. An integrated review of the recent literature was conducted, and articles were chosen by a method modeled after the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) flowsheet. The research was then analyzed …

Effectiveness Of Non-Pharmacological Interventions In Managing Inpatient Dementia, Jester West, Maddie Faulkner

Non-Thesis Student Work

When caring for dementia patients as inpatients at the hospital, the methods by which you treat the patient and manage their symptoms are varied. Often there are two methods of treating exacerbations and agitation: pharmacological and non-pharmacological. This literature review sought to examine the effect of including supplemental non-pharmacological techniques in managing inpatient dementia related behaviors. A literature search was conducted using CINAHL and NRCP using the following terms: inpait*, dement*, alzehei*, nonpharm*, interventions. Initial results resulted in 15 articles. After review, results were filtered to be within the past six years and a total of 12 articles met inclusion …

Delirium And Staff Injury, John Olague Jr

Master's Projects and Capstones

Abstract

Problem: From April 2021 to January 2022 there were 17 cases of reported patient aggression and staff injury due to patients in the hyperactive state of delirium. In a stroke/tele unit, diagnosis of delirium was delayed due to subjective assessment from the confusion assessment method (CAM) tool. This delay allowed patients to reach the hyperactive state of delirium which poses a threat to patient and staff safety. An objective form of assessment for delirium was needed on this stroke/tele unit.

Context: Through a microsystem assessment and strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) analysis, stakeholders in this performance improvement plan …

Impact Of Montessori-Based Dementia Programming On Engagement And Affect Of Older Adults With Dementia, Meredith S. Sheppard

Master's Projects and Capstones

The COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly impacted the Adult Day Services program and Adult Day programs across the country. As the Adult Day Services program transitions to an in-person format, goals within the organization include developing appropriate programming, increasing group size, and keeping clients entertained. The framework guiding this quality improvement project is Montessori-Based Dementia Programming ® (MBDP). This project aims to increase client engagement, decrease client anxiety, and decrease staff workload. This will be measured by a self-developed staff workload survey, the Menorah-Park Engagement, and the Affect rating scale. Implementation of MBDP at the Adult Day Center did not meet …

Uncovering The Benefits Of Naturalistic Blue-Depleted Lighting In Hospitals: A Qualitative Study, Sam P. Cotton

Symposium of Student Scholars

With exponential technological advances, hospitals are tasked with prioritizing which expensive innovations truly impact as many patients as possible to give them the greatest chance of recovering and discharge them earlier. It is no surprise that most of the attention is focussed on pharmaceutical drugs and a variety of different equipment and machinery, but hospital facilities should look into simpler additions that can aid every patient admitted. The use of naturalistic blue-wavelength lighting is something that can benefit each patient’s recovery immensely. Multiple studies have proven positive effects that blue-depleted lighting compared to standard indoor fluorescent lighting has lowered stress …

Improving Hypertension Self Management In African American Men, Elizabeth C. Felix

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Hypertension is a cardiopulmonary condition linked to genetic, environmental, and social factors. Left untreated, it can lead to fatal conditions such as heart disease. In the United States, African Americans experience disproportionately high rates of hypertension, earlier onset of symptoms, greater severity, and higher related mortality rates. African Americans also statistically have more difficulty self-managing their hypertension than other demographics. The aim of this project was (a) to identify, define, and measure perceived barriers to self-management of hypertension among African American men and (b) to target these barriers and increase patient engagement through personalized intervention plans. The researcher recruited 24 …

Addressing Anxiety In Hospitalized Adults Using A Music Intervention, Raina M. Rochon

Student Scholarly Projects

Practice Problem: The practice problem is anxiety related to hospitalization among adults in an acute care setting. Increased anxiety can lead to other issues while hospitalized including disruptive behaviors.

PICOT: The PICOT question that guided this project was: In hospitalized medical-surgical adults (P), how does the implementation of a music intervention as an adjunct to standard distraction techniques (I) compared to standard care (C) affect symptoms of anxiety as observed by the rate of behavior de-escalation team calls (O) within eight weeks (T)?

Evidence: There were five systematic reviews, four systematic reviews with meta-analysis with high level of …

Evaluating Mindfulness On Loneliness In An Older Adult Population, Jessica Tieskoetter

Dissertations

Problem: Loneliness is a widespread public health concern and has negatively impacted mortality and health outcomes among older adults. This quality improvement project’s purpose was to evaluate mindfulness on loneliness and quality of life among adults aged 65 years and older, participating in a weekly befriending socialization program.

Methods: A descriptive cohort design was utilized to assess loneliness pre-and post-implementation of a mindfulness telephone line over three months. A convenience sample of 22 older adults enrolled in a befriending socialization program was used. The Iowa Model of Evidence-Based Practice framework was applied to guide the implementation of a practice change …

Implementation Of A Primary Care Toolkit To Improve Dementia Diagnosis And Management In A Rural Setting, Meredith George-Wieland

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

BACKGROUND: There are six million people with dementia living in the United States and this number is expected to rise exponentially due to the aging population. In the United States, it is estimated that only two thirds of dementia cases are recorded during primary care visits and an estimated, one third of cases have been either missed or disregarded.

LOCAL PROBLEM: In a remote primary care clinic on Kodiak Island, off the southeastern coast of Alaska, there is a lack of dementia and related cognitive diagnoses in the primary care setting due to patients’ and families lack access to the …

Implementing Systematic Sexual Orientation And Gender Identity (Sogi Data) Collection At An Inpatient Hospital Located In The Southern Region Of The United States, Shawn Malugin

Epsilon Sigma at-Large Research Conference

Purpose

LGBTQ patients experience marginalization and discrimination when seeking healthcare in the Southern Region of the United States. As a result, they experience negative healthcare outcomes. Collecting sexual orientation/gender identity (SOGI data) is vital in decreasing health disparities and improving hospitalized LGBTQ patients’ quality of care. Providers cannot adequately assess health risk factors or deliver culturally competent care without SOGI data knowledge.

Aims

The aim is to collect SOGI data during intake to implement a standard of care to promote LGBTQ health outcomes and decrease marginalization.

Processes

To understand how to provide high-quality care to LGBTQ patients, providers receive instruction …

Lgbt Community And Mental Health, Danielle Schleeter

Epsilon Sigma at-Large Research Conference

Introduction and Background: Today, in 2022, there is a community that receives discrimination, lack of acceptance, and lack of equality. This is the LGBTQ community. They suffer from the indifferences of the way they express themselves resulting in a rise of mental health issues and overall health disparities.

Purpose Statement: The purpose of this review is to explore the disparities in mental health for the LGBT community including young adolescents and older adults. The question that drives this review is how does being a member of the LGBT community effect mental health.

Literature Review: This literature review utilized search engines …

Sleep Deprivation And Delirium Development In The Icu, Cynthia Howell Msn Fnp-Bc, Stacy Murillo Msn Fnp-Bc, Amy Wilson Msn Fnp-Bc, Tracy Mcclinton Dnp, Ag-Acnp-Bc

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Purpose/Background Delirium is an acute syndrome characterized by disturbances in cognition occurring in critically ill patients, particularly those over 65 in the intensive care unit (ICU). Numerous risk factors are associated with delirium development, with sleep being a modifiable factor. This review explores existing literature regarding the relationship between sleep deprivation and delirium development while evaluating the effectiveness of a sleep promotion protocol to decrease the incident of delirium in those ICU patients 65 years or older.

Method A literature review of peer-reviewed studies from PubMed and additional search engines was completed. Articles reviewed were published within the last five …

The Resilience Vaccine, Sara Horton-Deutch T. Duffy

Master's Projects and Capstones

Healthcare workers have been working in unprecedented circumstances since the declaration of the COVID-19 pandemic. Caregivers have been taxed with burnout. A large healthcare organization’s 26-bed, medical-surgical, telemetry, COVID-19 overflow unit was significantly impacted. Many healthcare organizations have adopted advocacy for attaining joy in work as an extra dimension of the Institute for Health Improvement’s Triple Aim. Adding this fourth aim supports averting caregiver burnout (CBO) while promoting joy in work.

This quality improvement project examined nurse leaders’ interventions that address CBO, promote healthy work environments, and promote joy in work. From June through August 2021, an 8-week resilience program …

A Performance Improvement Project To Improve Hand-Off Communication Documentation Within The Surgical Services Department, Bobbie J. Wich, Millie Escalona, Judy E. Bowling, Ana L. Santos

Nursing & Health Sciences Research Journal

Over 80% of adverse events in healthcare are due to miscommunication. To improve patient safety, The Joint Commission recommended the use of standardized hand-off communication tools in 2012. One acute care hospital in Southeast Florida implemented standardized handoff reports in 2014 with few revisions since that time. The COVID-19 pandemic brought to light additional critical information was needed to keep patients and staff safe, such as laboratory results indicating the need for isolation precautions. The nurses within the surgical services noticed this critical information was not sufficiently included in the handoff report. The lack of this information led to unnecessary …

Bedside Shift Reporting: A Benchmark Project, Clydea C. Hale

MSN Capstone Projects

Patient care is forever changing to improve satisfaction, safety, and overall treatment. Over the past few years, patients and their families are more invested in their overall care in the hospital and expect to be informed every step of the way. A common complaint from patients or their families is that one nurse or staff did not know the individuals care or treatment plan, there were no shift goals to work toward discharge, and the nurse did not update the patient/family with changes in care. All of these complaints along with the patient satisfaction scores and communication between the treatment …

Loneliness, Social Isolation, And Their Connection To Overall Health Across The Lifespan, Paige Miller

Senior Honors Theses

Due to recent circumstances, the incidence of loneliness and social isolation has skyrocketed. Fortunately, there have already been countless studies examining the longer-term implications of these two factors on health. Loneliness and social isolation have been found to impact cardiovascular health, stress response, immune function, resilience, mental health, attachment, spiritual health, and many other determinants of health. A variety of research was examined outlining the psychological implications of loneliness and social isolation. These factors also influence physiological processes and can exacerbate a variety of diseases. After presentation of this evidence, a collection of possible interventions will be discussed, and their …

The Effect Of Alternative And Personalized Therapy In The Treatment Of Depression In Older Adults Living In Long-Term Care Facilities, Amber Davis, Olivia Gilbert, Kayla Kelley, Mitch Elliot, Deanna Hebert

Symposium of Student Scholars

Abstract

Title: The effect of alternative and personalized therapy in the treatment of depression in older adults living in long-term care facilities

Background: In older adults, depression can lead to changes in memory, physical pain, fatigue, sleep disturbances, and even suicidal ideations. Due to the shortage of healthcare workers in long-term care facilities, older adults have a difficult time receiving treatment. Therefore, alternative treatment methods and personalized therapy are becoming more important when treating patients in long-term care facilities.

Objectives: This systematic review set out to determine whether personalized therapy and alternative treatment methods may significantly reduce the symptoms of …

The Changing Face In The Workplace: The Arrival Of The Millennial Generation, Sarah Clonch

The Eleanor Mann School of Nursing Undergraduate Honors Theses

The entrance of the Millennial generation into the nursing workforce signifies a bright future for the nursing profession and the nursing workforce. This study began with a current review of available research that identified the Millennial generation and their views toward job satisfaction and work engagement, as compared with Baby Boomer and Generation X nurses.

PubMed, CINAHL Complete, and Google Scholar databases were employed to find 15 peer-reviewed articles for evaluation. The research findings suggest that Millennial nurses have lower rates of job satisfaction and work engagement, compared to nurses of older generations. Overall, the extracted data results were significant …

Letters Against Loneliness: The Effect Of A Pen Pal Program Uniting Older Adults And College Students On Perceived Loneliness, Allyson Miriani, Caroline Crawford

The Eleanor Mann School of Nursing Undergraduate Honors Theses

Surveys within years and particularly the COVID-19 pandemic have revealed increasing rates of loneliness. More research is also emerging linking loneliness with a myriad of negative health outcomes as well as reduced quality of life. There is little research about effective interventions addressing loneliness. This paper reviews the available literature on the topic and proposes a pen pal program for college students and older adults developed based on available evidence.

Do Young Adults With Close Family Experiencing Alzheimer's Have Higher Depression Rates, Ali Sullivan

Chancellor’s Honors Program Projects

No abstract provided.

A Descriptive Study Of Health-Related Risks And Outcome Differences By Loneliness Status In A Sample Of Older Veterans, Rachael Beard

Dissertations

There is a need to understand the influences and outcomes related to loneliness in veterans living with complex illness. Patients require self-care to manage complications and exacerbations associated with complex illness. Deficits in self-care result in negative health outcomes and drive resource utilization upward. The identification of potential factors related to self-care is important. Loneliness may be one factor that influences patients’ ability and desire to care for themselves. Descriptive correlational design was used to evaluate loneliness both as a predictor and outcome in veterans admitted to the hospital for three complex respiratory illnesses (heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, …

Assisting Nursing Students In Their Development Of Empathy: A Guide To Fostering Requisite Skills For The Art Of Empathetic Communication, Susan Mee

Open Educational Resources

This 7-week lesson plan is designed for use in clinical nursing courses. It is designed specifically for use by Nursing faculty teaching in the absence of state required patient facing clinical opportunity due to COVID restrictions. The lesson plan describes pedagogical techniques and provides video and education OER resources designed to help support the development of empathetic communication skills over 7 weeks. Refection and video debriefing techniques will be employed. Role play will culminate in the group presentation project of a brief video modeling effective therapeutic empathetic communication.

Addressing Psychosocial Outcomes Of Social Isolation In Older Adults, Megan Friesen, Madeline M. Christensen

Nursing DNP Projects

Purpose and Rationale

The aim of the evidence-based practice (EBP) project is to improve psychological outcomes for socially isolated older adults enrolled in a Homebound Program (HP) through the implementation of an EBP intervention. Social isolation has a multitude of negative consequences, including impacting the psychological health (e.g. depression, loneliness, anxiety) of the older adult population.

Synthesis of Evidence

Meta-analyses, systematic reviews, and randomized controlled trials addressing the clinical problem of social isolation were identified. Through critical appraisal of the evidence, physical activity, psychotherapy, and socialization interventions have shown to decrease depression and loneliness in older adults. There were mixed …

Implementation Of Cognitive Testing Via Video-Telemedicine, Lindsay Mills Holland, Rosemary Dale, Mary Val Palumbo

College of Nursing and Health Sciences Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Project Publications

Background: Early diagnosis and timely follow-up of cognitive decline are essential to preserve individual function and memory, improve quality of life, and decrease healthcare costs. Many barriers to in-person assessment exist, the most recent one being COVID-19. Video-telemedicine has been studied as a solution with promising results. Most notably, research shows that the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) administered via video-telemedicine has comparable results to in-person assessment.

Purpose: The purpose of this project was to implement cognitive testing via video-telemedicine for follow-up management of cognitive impairment and dementia.

Methods: A protocol for conducting the MMSE via Zoom was developed. Next, …

Standardizing Patient Handoffs In The Icu – Implementing The “I Put Patients First” Tool., Wislande Joseph

Master's Projects and Capstones

Abstract

Background. Ineffective patient handoff can result in poor nurse communication, increasing the likelihood of adverse events including medication and documentation errors.

Context/Problem. In one 20-bed ICU unit in a northern California community hospital, 48 patient handoffs were observed over 2 weeks. Only 29% occurred at the patient’s bedside; 39.5% used a standardized handoff tool; and 54% included the patient and/or family. These findings indicate significant quality gaps in the unit’s ICU patient handoff processes.

Intervention. The educational intervention consisted of one introductory and two follow-up teaching sessions related to best practices for handoff processes followed by implementation …