Geriatric Nursing Commons^™

Initiating A Geriatric Clinical Practicum In The Midst Of A Pandemic, April Wood

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

No abstract provided.

Pressure Injury Documentation And Reporting: A Quality Gap, Mary Ann Laslo

Master's Projects and Capstones

Abstract

Problem: Inaccurate and incomplete pressure injury (PrI) assessment and documentation leads to inaccurate reporting of PrI quality reporting measures to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Inaccurate, incomplete documentation of pressure injuries and wounds adversely affects the quality of care, financial reimbursement, and hospital reputation as well as increasing the risk of litigation to medical providers. Barriers to accurate and complete documentation by the nurses were inaccuracy in identification of PrIs Stage 1 or greater and knowing what and where to document the information in the electronic medical record.

Context: This quality improvement project attempted to improve nurse …

Implementation Of Post Falls Huddles In Skilled Nursing Facility, Princess Lomax

Evidence-Based Practice Project Reports

The purpose of this paper is to discuss the quality improvement project, implementation of the post fall huddle in a long-term care facility. Falls are the most common problem in adults 65 years and older. Falls in this population can have devastating effects, often leading to significant changes in morbidity or death. Adults in long term care settings have an increased risk of falling and having a subsequent fall due to an acute illness, weakness, or confusion (CDC, 2015). At the skilled facility, there has been a significant increase in hospitalizations due to injuries sustained from falls. To address this …

A Compilation Of Written Instructional Practice Reflections On The Acue (Association Of College And University Educators) Course In Effective Teaching Practices, Sheryll Go

Q2S Enhancing Pedagogy

This is a compilation of written instructional practice reflections on The ACUE (Association of College and University Educators) Course in Effective Teaching Practices, from January – April 2020. This online course has prepared Nurse Educators like me in gaining a foundation in evidence-based teaching practices that increase student motivation, engagement, and learning. The attached assignment include reflections from completed modules.

Relations Amongst Power, Self-Health Patterning, And Quality Of Life In Older Adults With Chronic Illness, Philip J. Gimber

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

The aim of this study was to examine the relationships between power, self-health patterning, and quality of life in older adults with chronic illness using Rogers’ science of unitary human beings and Barrett’s theory of power. A cross-sectional, correlational design was used to examine the variables in a sample of approximately 100 older adults with chronic illness. This study revealed that power, self-health patterning, and quality of life are related to one another and that both power and self-health patterning are associated with enhanced quality of life.

An Interdisciplinary Framework For Impacting Older Adults Health And Physical Activity, Christopher J. Dondzila, Elaine Vandoren

Open Access Publishing Support Funded Articles

The exploration of feasible and cost-effective strategies is warranted to mitigate rising healthcare costs and lessen the impact of chronic diseases, functional decline, and disability in older adults. The overwhelming sedentariness of older adults is accompanied by a lack of expertise by healthcare professionals in exercise programming that acknowledge factors influencing physical activity (PA) patterns. We present a framework for a nursing/exercise science interdisciplinary effort to increase PA and improve health in older adults via the delivery of individually tailored exercise programming for an 8-week intervention. Results from this study will be integral in translating effective interdisciplinary efforts across diverse …

Older Adults’ Implementation Of Discharge Instructions Following An Acute Care Hospital Stay, Brenda Miller

Dissertations

Discharge instructions are a self-care guide for patients after discharge from an acute care hospitalization. The discharge process starts on admission to the hospital and continues until discharged. Many patients rely on informal caregivers to provide support after a discharge. However, it is often unclear whether the patients or caregivers completely understand instructions provided during the discharge process. Key concepts related to how discharge instructions were implemented following discharge to home have been understudied from the patient’s and informal caregivers’ perspectives. Developing effective discharge instructions based on study findings may assist in reducing 30-day hospital readmission rates.
This study was …

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 …

Nutrition Education To Improve Health Outcomes In Community Dwelling Older Adults, Sara Giessinger

Master's Projects and Capstones

Abstract

The proportion of people age 60 and over is growing faster than other age group, and will double by 2050 from approximately 605 million to 2 billion worldwide, in addition to the 80 and over population quadrupling by the same time. Non-communicable diseases such as obesity, cancer, coronary heart and lung disease, diabetes, hypertension, insulin resistance, and hyperlipidemia,represent 63% of deaths annually worldwide. Due to the immense contact nurses have with clients, they play a key role in screening, referrals and education to guide this demographic to improved health outcomes through nutrition and physical activity interventions (Xiaoyue, Parker, Ferguson, …

The Relationship Between Community Dwelling Older Adult’S Fall Risk And Beliefs Of Risk For Falling In Northwest Arkansas And Bolgatanga, Ghana., Natalie Gohman

The Eleanor Mann School of Nursing Undergraduate Honors Theses

Title: The Relationship Between Community Dwelling Older Adult’s Fall Risk and Beliefs of Risk for Falling in Northwest Arkansas and Bolgatanga, Ghana.

Gohman, N., Patton, S., Smith-Blair, N., Agana, C.: University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR

Background: Older adults worldwide live with comorbidities, physical and psychological changes associated with aging. Statistically, however, older adults are more likely to die as a result of falling. As the worldwide population of individuals over 65 rises, so will the possibility for injuries from falls. Much research has been published concerning fall risk prevention, but minimal research surrounding protocols and practices for protecting against falls …

A Clinical Nurse Leader Initiative: Promoting Mobility Among Long-Term Care Facility Residents, Ulyses Reamico

Master's Projects and Capstones

Maintenance of mobility during hospitalization or stay in long-term care facility result in improved patient outcomes including but not limited to decreased incidence of falls, non-pharmacological pain intervention, and prevention of further functional decline. In a 45-bed rehabilitation unit of a Veterans Affairs (VA) health care facility, a clinical nurse leader (CNL) initiative was done to promote mobility among the patients to mitigate functional decline. The patients, also referred to as clients or residents in long-term care facilities, were aged between 20s and 90s. The resident population consisted of patients admitted for physical rehabilitation after a stroke or surgical procedure, …

Risk Of Medication Errors In The Home: An Integrative Literature Review, Maria M. Crescenzi

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Regardless of the setting, medication errors are of great concern when associated with an individual’s health outcomes, along with the increased costs to society, healthcare institutions, and providers. Current research focuses on medication error data primarily in acute and extended care facilities. However, there is a paucity of research examining the causes of medication errors that occur post hospital discharge when individuals transition to the home. The purpose of this integrative literature review is to examine risk factors for medication errors outside of these settings, specifically in the home. A systematic literature search was conducted using multiple databases for relevant …

The Effect Of Heart Failure Education On Knowledge And Readmission, Sara A. Golden

Evidence-Based Practice Project Reports

Heart Failure (HF) is a chronic progressive disease affecting over 5 million individuals with an expected increase in incidence as the population ages (Yehle & Plake, 2010). The costs associated with managing HF continue to increase and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) have attempted to identify ways to improve patient management of HF to reduce the revolving door of hospital readmissions and decrease expenditures. According to 2006 data, as many as one fourth of the Medicare beneficiaries discharged from acute care to skilled nursing facilities (SNF) were readmitted to the hospital within 30 days and the majority …

Alumna's Dedication To Nursing Spans 50 Years

DePaul Magazine

2014 marked the 20th anniversary of Professional Healthcare Resources for founder and president Eileen DeCesare (LAS MS ’78). Her home health care, hospice and personal care services organization in Washington, D.C. that was one of a handful of agencies preapproved to take affected patients when a health care fraud crackdown in 2014 closed 10 agencies. DeCesare talks about her nursing career and the legacy she hopes to leave.

Improving Dental Care To The Elderly In A Nursing Home, Cara M. Licavoli

Master's Projects and Capstones

The project is about the collaboration between Peninsula Health Care District (PHCD) and Apple Tree Dental (ATD) in a team approach to address the current issues of improving dental care of frail and elderly patients in nursing home facilities. The specific aim is to improve dental care of clients at the San Mateo County nursing home facility by 100% by May, 2015. The methods use in this project was the adaptation and implementation of existing dental/oral health assessment tools, that is nurse driven for patient assessment upon admission to the nursing facility. The process includes staff education regarding the adapted …

The Effects Of 12 Weeks Of Instructor-Led Yoga Classes On Balance In Older Adults, Patricia C. Hart

Evidence-Based Practice Project Reports

Participation in a regular exercise program is an effective way to reduce and/or prevent a number of functional declines associated with aging (Chodzko-Zajo et al., 2009). Older adults are advised to participate in regular aerobic activity and practice muscle strengthening activities and exercise that maintains or improves balance (U.S. Department of Health and Human Service, [USDHHS], 2012). Less than one third of older adults engage in 30 minutes of low to moderate intense physical activity at least five days a week as recommended in current guidelines (USDHHS, 2012), and these guidelines fail to address losses in strength and flexibility seen …

The Relationship Between Stressors And Intent To Leave Nursing Homes Among Directors Of Nursing, Crystal R. Williamson

Journal of Sustainable Social Impact

According to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, some nursing homes have been ranked worst in the nation when rating the quality of resident care. The purpose of this study was to determine the relative strength of workplace stress, job satisfaction, organizational support, and personal data (number of years employed, age, highest education level) in predicting director of nursing (DON) intentions to leave the position. This information contributes to social change because it is important to know that DONs need to experience general satisfaction in order to maintain stable leadership that positively contributes to the quality of care in …

Relationships Among Uncertainty, Coping, And Psychological Distress In Older Adults With Mild Cognitive Impairment, Jennifer Sjostedt Avery

Dissertations (1934 -)

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) has an average prevalence of 18.9% and most often affects people 60 years of age or older. It is a cognitive stage between normal functioning and dementia (Petersen, 2003; Petersen, 2011; Petersen et al., 2014). MCI can be broken into two subtypes classified by the presence of memory impairment (amnestic MCI) or the lack thereof (nonamnestic MCI). Medical diagnostic criteria are commonly used to guide research with older adults with MCI. A theoretical framework that addresses the antecedents and consequences of MCI, specifically one examining the relationships among MCI, uncertainty, coping and psychological distress, is essential …

Results And Lessons Learned From A Nurse Practitioner-Guided Dementia Care Intervention For Primary Care Patients And Their Family Caregivers, Richard H. Fortinsky, Colleen Delaney, Ofer Harel, Karen Pasquale, Elena Schjavland, John Lynch, Alison Kleppinger, Suzanne Crumb

Articles - Patient Care

Older adults with dementia care needs often visit primary care physicians (PCPs), but PCP dementia care limitations are widely documented. This study tested the value of employing a nurse practitioner (NP) with geropsychiatric expertise to augment PCP care for newly and recently diagnosed patients and family caregivers. Twenty-one dyads received the NP intervention; 10 dyads were controls. Outcomes included patient neuropsychiatric symptom and quality of life changes, and caregiver depression, burden, and self-efficacy changes. Intervention acceptability by patients, caregivers, and PCPs was determined. No outcome differences were found; however, the NP intervention was deemed highly satisfactory by all stakeholders. Patients …

Advancing The Future Of Nursing: A Report By The Building Academic Geriatric Nursing, Jennifer L. Bellot, Dana Carthron, Melissa O'Connor, Karen Rose, Casey Shillam, Janet Van Cleave, Amy Vogelsmeier

College of Nursing Faculty Papers & Presentations

In the United States, the number of older adults will double during the next 25 years (United States Census Bureau, 2008). This dramatic demographic shift is changing the landscape of health care practice as more people live longer with multiple chronic conditions. To better prepare nurses to care for this future population, the John A. Hartford Foundation partnered with the American Academy of Nursing in 2000 to launch the Building Academic Geriatric Nursing Capacity (BAGNC) program. Since that time, 251 scholarships and fellowships have been awarded to nurses to advance geriatric nursing education, research, and practice. In 2009, …

Effectiveness Of A Pilot Gerontological Nursing Certification Preparation Support Program For Registered Nurses Working In Long Term Care, Gail B. Sprigler

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Capstones

Between 2000 and 2025 there will be a 30% increase in the prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) in Indiana (Alzheimer’s Association, 2010). Many individuals with AD and related dementia are cared for in long term care communities. Adequate knowledge and expertise of nurses caring for older adults, particularly those with dementia, is important for the delivery of quality care and the promotion of quality of life for residents living in long term care. This pilot project examined the benefit of a resource support program to encourage Gerontological Nursing certification for registered nurses in the long term care setting.

Nursing Satisfaction In Caring For Elders, Sarah L. Vlachos

Honors Theses and Capstones

Despite the increasing number of Americans who are over 65 years of age, little research exists about the satisfaction of nurses who care for this population. This qualitative descriptive study investigated the factors that influence the satisfaction of such nurses, and yielded five main themes. Registered Nurses (RNs) reported providing high-quality care, developing relationships, and making a difference to be rewarding components of geriatric nursing. The nurses also discussed challenges, which included caring for elders with dementia and being unable to deliver the high-quality care they felt patients deserve. Several of these finding were consistent with existing studies that addressed …

Two Cultures Of Caring: A Comparative Study, Lisa Armstrong, Chistina Polito

Honors Theses and Capstones

There is much that the UK and the US could and should learn from each other to understand the quality of end-of-life care, through comparison of practice, analysis of care patterns and via original research (Higginson, 2005, p.170). Although comparisons between end-of-life care in the United Kingdom and United States have demonstrated similarities and disparities in many contexts, there is little evidence of research that directly compares nursing perspectives between the two Atlantic partners. This research explores nurse’s perceptions and experiences of caring for people within a hospice context and identifies themes of commonalities and disparities in theory and practice, …

Reducing Inpatient Falls And Fall Related Injuries In Acute Care Settings, Channing Williams, Nikita Lewis, Victoria Thomas

McCabe Thesis Collection

Falls are a continually rising issue in today's healthcare. In acute care settings, patient falls make up 38% of all adverse events in which include physical injury, undesirable emotional and financial outcomes for the client (Angn, Mordiffi, Wong, Devi, & Evans, 2007). Falls in the hospitals lead to fear, pain, decreased healing, longer in-patient stays, further health-related complications. Falls may also cause patient discomfort and affect quality of life. Prevention of falls is an important goal of hospitals world-wide. Research has been conducted to determine the clinical effectiveness and implementation of a fall prevention. Although falls in hospitals cannot always …

Nurses’ Experience Of Leadership In Assisted Living: A Situational Analysis, Carole H. Bergeron

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

This study concentrates on the voice of registered nurses as they describe their experiences of leadership within the nontraditional, non-institutional, non-hospital environment of assisted living. It further expounds upon regulatory and corporate information as context for the nurses’ leadership experiences. The desire to hear nurses describe their personal experiences of leadership influenced the decision to use grounded theory as a methodological process. The belief that voice requires context to be most effectively understood influenced, in turn, the addition of a situational analysis approach to the grounded theory methodology. As a result, interviews and scrutiny of contextual elements form the core …