Geriatric Nursing Commons^™

Correlation Between Myostatin And Lean Muscle Mass In Older Adults, Mishann Luedders

The Eleanor Mann School of Nursing Undergraduate Honors Theses

Correlation Between Myostatin and Lean Muscle Mass in Older Adults.

Luedders, M., Gray, M., Patton, S., Washington, T., Binns, A. Exercise Science Research Center, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR.

Background: Our older adult population is growing exponentially and with it, the number of falls and debilitating injuries that afflict their population grows as well. A fall brings with it many possible injuries, healthcare costs, fear and increased mortality. There seems to be a lack of preventative measures in our healthcare system to help protect our elders. One possible measure is a simple blood test that looks at the level of …

Increasing Adult's Awareness Of The Importance Of End-Of-Life Care Discussions, Taylor Gardner

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

For many American families, end-of-life care is often not discussed, until advanced illness or injury has fully disrupted everyday life. There are many benefits to discussing end-of-life care prior to any medical complications. Research has shown that individuals who plan their end-of-life processes with a hospice service provider and family members report a higher quality of death than individuals receiving common health care during their final six months of life. In order to make families and friends more comfortable with end-of-life discussions, I will conduct two one-hour educational sessions to students at California State University, Monterey Bay.

A Retrospective Chart Review Pilot Study Of Fall Prevention Through A New And Innovative Care Model, Lydia Smith

Doctoral Projects

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), falls are the leading cause of injury-related mortality in the geriatric population, and they are the most common cause of brain injury and hip fracture. The prevalence for falls is 30% in patients over 65 in the United States who experience a fall annually, and the prevalence in dementia patients can be up to 80% annually; the consequences of falls can include injury, reduction in mobility, depression and decreased socialization with peers (CDC, 2015). The purpose of this retrospective chart review pilot study is to examine the number of falls …

Effects Of Therapeutic Music On Improving Depressive Symptoms Among Long-Term Care Facility Residents, Yi Jin

Evidence-Based Practice Project Reports

Depression is a common mental disorder that can contribute to both physical and psychological suffering (Skinner, 2014). The prevalence rate of depression is especially high among long-term care facility residents (CounsultGeri, 2018; Lolk & Andersen, 2015). The purpose of this EBP project was to establish a protocol incorporating therapeutic music as an adjunct therapy for managing depressive symptoms among residents of a long-term care facility in the Midwest. Roy adaptation model (Roy, 2009) was utilized as the theoretical framework, and the model for evidence-based practice change (Rosswurm & Larrabee, 2009) guided the project implementation. A total of 13 subjects were …

A Multi-Component Education, Skill, And Resource Evidence-Based Practice Intervention For The Alzheimer’S Caregiver, Cheryl Garmon

DNP Final Reports

Abstract

Dementia caregiving is expensive, stressful, and consumes all facets of the caregiver’s (CGs) life. The purpose of this project is to introduce the evidence-based practice (EBP) interventions most helpful in decreasing stress and burden in those who are in-home caregivers for Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) individuals.

The three primary intervention domains of the EBP studies that results in a positive impact are; providing education about the terminal course of the disease, introducing communication and caregiving skills, and furnishing resource and social network information.

The methodology included a convenient and voluntary population of CGs who sought service at …

Quality Improvement: Developing A Hospital Program To Reduce Staff Injury Associated With The Care Of The Patient With Dementia, Kimiko Krutz

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Problem Description

Hospital clinical staff injuries can occur while caring for patients with dementia. Clinician injury is a concern because it can be career-ending for the clinician and costly to the hospital ($80,000) to replace a nurse. A reliable estimate of the numbers of staff injuries by patients does not exist in the academic literature. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) now require hospitals to provide data on clinician injuries related to patient care. This project explored the use of dementia patient-centered care education to increase clinician self-efficacy to ultimately decrease clinician injury.

Intervention

This quality improvement project provided 20 …

Early Identification Of Frailty Predictors In A Vowed Religious Community Of Catholic Men: A Strategy For Successful Aging In Place, Julia Senn-Reeves

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Capstones

Background: The population in the United States is aging and experiencing age- and disease-related changes, leading to increased frailty, as well as increased disability, morbidity, and mortality. Timely recognition of these vulnerabilities, and intervention implementation, are crucial to prevent adverse outcomes and to support successful aging in place. Purpose: The purpose of this project is to develop and implement a multifaceted assessment process to identify early predictors of frailty among members of a vowed religious community of Catholic men to ultimately support successful aging in place. Participants: A single vowed religious community of Catholic men in the United States, living …

The Decision Of Families And Hospice Nurses On Use Of Oxygen Therapy At End Of Life, Mary Gathoni, Janis Schiefelbein

Posters

Minimal research efforts have focused on why family members make the decision to use oxygen therapy for their loved one at end of life, and the thoughts of hospice nurses who recommend the use of oxygen. Many families and nurses believe the use of oxygen therapy in palliative care is a practice endorsed by the medical community. However, this is inconsistent with existing knowledge that oxygen use at end of life contributes to comfort and decreases breathlessness or dyspnea. Dyspnea, the sensation of breathlessness or inadequate breathing, is common for patients with end of life illnesses. Dyspnea occurs when an …

Improving Advance Care Planning Documentation In A Home Based Primary Care Program, Emily Radtke

Doctoral Projects

Advance care planning (ACP) is an importance process of reflection and communication regarding one’s preferences for future health care (Hagen et al., 2015). Findings from research indicate that advance care planning supports patient autonomy, improves quality of end-of-life, and increases patient and provider satisfaction (Bischoff at al., 2013; Brinkman-Stoppelenburg et al., 2014). To promote advance care planning discussion, the Centers for Medicare and Medicare Services (2016) made a decision to compensate health care providers for face-to-face conversations regarding future treatment associated with serious illness, offering two new current procedural terminology billing codes for ACP. The Plan-Do-Study-Act model (AHRQ, 2018) was …

Increasing Prevention And Recognition Of Delirium In A Non-Icu Acute Care Population, Anne Gembrowski

Doctoral Projects

Delirium is associated with increased mortality, nosocomial complications, increased length of hospital stay, and greater chance of readmission, increased hospital costs, and a need for skilled nursing aid after discharge from the hospital. In a hospital, delirium can affect up to 50 percent of older patient 65. The solution is to prevent delirium from occurring and to regularly screen for its presence. The purpose of this paper is to explore the best prevention strategies and screening tool for delirium and to successfully implement a delirium bundle on a medical surgical unit. The question this paper attempts to answer is if …

Implementation Of An Evidence Based Screening Protocol To Improve The Diagnosis Of Dementia In A Home-Based Primary Care Setting, Lauren Liesbeth Sutton

Doctoral Projects

Dementia is a major public health concern that is both debilitating and deleterious to those afflicted with its various forms. The number of those living with dementia is increasing exponentially as the population continues to rise, with 46.8 million people worldwide currently afflicted with dementia (Chow et al., 2018). Dementia causes cognitive impairment that is severe enough to affect everyday function (Chow et al., 2018). The impairment and disability resulting from dementia indicates a significant health problem in primary care. Findings from research studies indicate that prophylactic and periodic screening for dementia can heighten provider suspicion and translate into earlier …

Caregiver Outcomes Of A Dementia Care Program, Leslie Chang Evertson

Doctoral Projects

The University of California, Los Angeles Alzheimer’s and Dementia Care (ADC) program enrolls people with dementia (PWD) and their family caregivers as dyads to work with nurse practitioner dementia care specialists to provide coordinated dementia care. At one year, despite disease progression, the PWDs’ behavioral and depressive symptoms improved. In addition, at one-year, caregiver depression, distress related to behavioral symptoms, and caregiver strain also improved. Not all dyads enrolled in the ADC program appear to experience benefit. Although strain and distress remained stable or decreased for the majority of caregivers, a portion reported an increase in both. Semi-structured interviewed were …

Exercises For Older Adults With Knee And Hip Pain, Neil E. Peterson, Kay D. Osterloh, M. Nichole Graff

Faculty Publications

Half of all older adults report knee and/or hip pain. Obesity and sedentary lifestyle contribute to the incidence and prevalence of painful knee and hip conditions. Weight loss should be a priority in overweight or obese patients. Improving joint function over time requires a balance of rest and usage. Practitioners should assess joint disorders and recommend exercises for reducing knee and hip pain with patients when appropriate. Instruction should include a combination of 1) stretching and flexibility, 2) strength training, and 3) endurance conditioning exercises. Even small improvements in exercise can make meaningful improvements in pain, movement, endurance, and quality …

Engaging Older Adults With Parkinson’S Disease In Physical Activity Using Technology: A Feasibility Study, Melinda Hermanns, Barbara K. Haas

Nursing Faculty Publications and Presentations

Parkinson’s disease (PD), a progressive neurodegenerative disorder, presents unique and daily challenges. Living with PD may limit one’s physical activity and negatively affect quality of life (QOL). No studies were identified that utilized online technology to promote health in this population. The purposes of this study were to (a) assess the feasibility of an intervention that requires wearing a physical activity tracker and participating in an online support group, and (b) examine the effect of this intervention on the self-efficacy for physical activity and QOL of older adults with PD. A 12-week longitudinal pretest/posttest design was used to assess physical …

Identifying Gaps In Care In The Geriatric Trauma Patient With Rib Fractures, Kathy A. Crystal

Doctoral Projects

Introduction: Rib fractures in the geriatric patient can be life altering. Across the country trauma centers are caring for an increased volume of geriatric patients aged 65 years and older (Ali-Osman et al., 2018). The geriatric patient with thoracic injury has the second highest mortality rate among the trauma population in the United States (Mentzer et al., 2017). The assessment of the patient is key to identify critical changes due to high risk of adverse events from rib fractures. Despite efforts to standardize the assessment and care provided to the patient with rib fractures, a lot of variation occurs. Research …

The Lived Experience Of Spiritual Well-Being Amongst Informal Caregivers Of Persons With Dementia On Palliative Care Living At Home, Michael Baumgardner

Dissertations

Title. The Lived Experience of Spiritual Well-Being Amongst Informal Caregivers of Persons with Dementia on Palliative Care Living at Home.

Purpose.This study explored the lived experience of spiritual well-being amongst informal caregivers of a person with dementia who were living at home and enrolled in palliative care.

Background. Patients with dementia comprise the third leading diagnosis in palliative care patients and many receive informal care from family members. Palliative care improves quality of life in patients and their informal caregivers. However, little is known about spiritual well-being in the setting of caregiving of persons with dementia on palliative care. …

Pathophysiology Of Osteoarthritis, Lara Stover

Nursing Student Class Projects (Formerly MSN)

Osteoarthritis (OA) is one of the most common joint diseases worldwide, and especially in the United States. This disease can cause chronic pain and disability, and can impair a patient’s quality of life and ability to perform activities of daily living. There are many different factors that can contribute to the development, progression, and severity of OA. Chronic inflammation and the inflammatory response is the primary pathological process that contributes to the development of OA. With the number of cases of OA expected to increase in the United States, it is important that primary care providers have an understanding of …

Teaching Nursing Students To Communicate With Older Adults, Lena Moffitt Mceachern

Nursing Theses and Capstone Projects

Student nurses have difficulty communicating effectively with older adults. Nurses willing to work with this age groups are in high demand due to the growing population. Lack of knowledge and preconceived ideas deter students from a willingness to work in geriatrics. Improving communication skills by increasing knowledge and decreasing bias in the clinical setting will benefit students and the community. The focus of this project was to discover if instruction, practice through role playing, and completion of a simulation with standardized patients prepare students for communicating effectively with older adults and increase the desire to work with this population. The …

Nursing Students' Willingness To Care For Older Adults, Insun Jang, Younglee Kim, Phoebe (Yeon) S. Kim

Nursing Faculty Publications

The older adult population has increased and is projected to grow. This population usually has chronic disorders that need continuous care. However, it has been reported nurses and nursing students have negative attitude towards older adults. This descriptive study aimed at investigating factors influencing nursing students’ willingness to care for older adults. This study was conducted among 270 nursing students at the university in the United States from February 1 to February 28, 2017. Study participants answered the survey about quality and frequency of contact with older adults, anxiety about aging, empathy, attitude, and willingness to care for older adults. …

Ua66/13/2 Ogden College Of Science & Engineering Public Health Centers, Wku Archives

WKU Archives Collection Inventories

Records related to Public Health Centers.

The Impact On Cost, Quality, And Patient Satisfaction When Delivering Care To Acutely Ill Adults In An At-Home Care Model Versus An Inpatient Hospital Setting., Franchesca M. Adams

Honors Theses and Capstones

The impact on cost, quality, and patient satisfaction when delivering care to acutely ill adults in an at-home care model versus an inpatient hospital setting. Hospital level care for certain acute conditions can be safely delivered in the patient’s home while lowering the cost per episode of care, maintaining or improving patient experience, and improving safety and patient/care giver education as well as care coordination, at the Critical Access Hospital (CAH) level.

Implementation Of Safe Patient Toileting To Decrease Patient Falls On Medical-Surgical Unit, Kimberly A. Goldsborough

DNP Scholarly Projects

BACKGROUND: Patient falls are a serious safety concern in the hospital setting throughout the country. Falls are one of the most challenging patient safety events to prevent, as there are many contributing factors with toileting activities producing the highest incidence. Fall prevention bundles are used to minimize and reduce these such events although multifaceted. The project was conducted with an academic medical center on an acute inpatient medical-surgical unit primarily housing burn wound patients. Nursing leaders and front-line nursing staff participated.

METHODS: Literature review to determine the gap in knowledge of interventions to prevent acute inpatient falls was completed. Concepts …

The Effects Of Post-Discharge Phone Calls On 30-Day Readmission Rates In The Older Adult Population, Amy Salyer

DNP Projects

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of the project is to develop a specialized and evidenced-based transitional care program including post-discharge phone calls for the older adult population within the University of Kentucky Good Samaritan Hospital system.

Background: Problems in the post-discharge period such as failure to communicate/understand discharge instructions appropriately and lack of timely follow-up appointment with primary care physician lead to increased readmission rates. Utilizing post-discharge phone calls will facilitate prompt communication with the patient after discharge ensuring full understanding of the plan of care.

Aim: Assess the readmission rates of those who received post-discharge phone calls compared to those …

Change In Falls And Sitter Cost Post Implementation Of Remote Centralized Video Monitoring In Hospitalized Adult Patients, April Nicole Dougherty

DNP Projects

PURPOSE: Falls are the leading cause of injury in hospitalized patients. Patient sitter programs are proven to be an effective way to reduce falls in hospitalized patients. Innovative technologies have been examined that provide a safe and cost-effective way to reduce sitter costs and prevent falls. An innovative technology option is a remote centralized video monitoring system containing one video monitoring technician watching and verbally redirecting multiple patients at one time using mobile cameras. The purpose of this project is to evaluate the implementation of a remote centralized video monitoring system for adult patients in the acute care hospital setting. …

Fall Risk Assessment In Community- Dwelling Older Adults: An Explanatory Sequential Mixed Methods Study, Maryann Dool

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Abstract

Aims: 1) To determine fall risk assessment using subjective and objective measures; 2) To understand older adults' perception on fall risk assessment.

Methodology: An explanatory sequential mixed methods design was used and consisted of two phases. Phase 1, the quantitative data was collected from nineteen older adults at an independent living facility in Orlando, Florida. Phase 2, the qualitative data was collected from three participants of Phase 1. After obtaining Institutional Review Board approval, the study was conducted at Lutheran Towers an independent living facility located in the downtown area of Orlando, Florida. Three measurement tools were used: demographic …

Fear Of Falling Assessment And Interventions In Community-Dwelling Older Adults: A Mixed Methods Case Study, Amanda S. Cappleman

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Background: Fear of falling has significant adverse physical and psychological effects for the community-dwelling older adult. Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess fear of falling in community-dwelling older adults and explore participant perceptions of fear of falling assessments and interventions. Methods: A mixed methods case study was utilized to gain an in-depth understanding of older adults' perceptions. It consisted of quantitative data collection by objective measures and qualitative data collection by four individual in-depth interviews. A sample of four community-dwelling adults aged 65 years and older and living in Orlando, Florida, completed the study in their home …

A Video Decision Aid To Influence Advance Care Planning, Angela Petry

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The best mechanism to achieve successful advance care planning has yet to be identified. A randomized, controlled, experimental study was performed with a sample of 54 men and women who met inclusion criteria and were randomized into the intervention versus the control group in an outpatient clinical setting in rural West Virginia (WV) from December 2018 to March 2019. Participant mean age was 72.4 years. For those who chose to participate (n=42), the intervention group received the usual standard of care, which was a face to face advance care planning (ACP) discussion with the new intervention of a video decision …