Occupational and Environmental Health Nursing Commons^™

A Chronic Pain Self-Management Quality Improvement Bundle For Veterans, Srijana D. Baniya

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Scholarly Projects

Introduction: Veterans often face challenges accessing care services due to limited awareness of available resources for support, Self-care, and mental health (Harding et al., 2019; Patel et al., 2024). Given the high prevalence of Chronic pain and opioid use in this population, Self-management (SM) education and non-pharmacologic interventions are required to address the biological, psychological, and social effects of pain (Bair et al., 2015; Mumba et al., 2024; Nahin, 2017; Higgins et al., 2020). This Quality improvement project aims to determine whether implementing an evidence-based SM bundle for chronic pain improved Pain severity scores and increased understanding of SM strategies. …

Implementation Of A Pressure Injury Prevention Bundle To Reduce Hospital-Acquired Pressure Injuries In The Intensive Care Unit, Xibo Lan

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Project Abstract

Purpose

The goal of this quality improvement project was to utilize the SKINSAFE pressure injury prevention bundle during 12 weeks of implementation to increase evidence-based pressure injury prevention practices adherence and decrease risk of hospital-acquired pressure injury (HAPI) in the intensive care units (ICU).

Background

ICU patients experience high risk for hospital acquired pressure injuries (HAPIs) secondary to immobility and device related pressure. Initial adherence to SKINSAFE bundle was 55-56%. There was inconsistent use of heel offloading devices, wound photography and documentation. Prevention bundles were affected by staffing fluctuations and leadership turnovers.

Methodology

The Plan-Do-Study-Act cycle for this project included …

Enhancing Clinical Judgement In Pre-Licensure Nursing Students Through Active Learning Strategies Of Unfolding Case Studies And Simulations For Postpartum Hemorrhage, Lisa M. Alley

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

New graduate nurses lack the appropriate clinical judgement to provide optimal, safe, quality care, as evidenced by the report of errors in health care (Rodziewicz et al., 2024). The purpose of this project was to provide an evidence-based intervention that used an unfolding case study and simulation to further develop clinical judgement among undergraduate nursing students in a rural ADN program. The project used a pre-test and post-test to measure students' improvement prior to versus after the learning experience and debrief. This project also introduced a DASH tool, which is a debriefing assessment for simulations in healthcare, to help students …

The Impact Of A Social Wellness Intervention On The Perception Of Social Support Among Working Adults, Jannysse Gray

DNP Research Projects

Abstract 

Objective: Social isolation and loneliness have detrimental effects on physical and mental health. For working adults, these experiences may impact work attendance, performance, satisfaction, and retention, leading to burnout, fatigue, grief, and disengagement. Barriers to developing and nurturing healthy relationships, such as competing work and family responsibilities, or a lack of resources or energy, can contribute to this problem; therefore, this group was chosen for the intervention. This project aimed to raise awareness of the importance of social connections and to analyze whether an online educational intervention was associated with improved perceptions of social support among working adults. Methods: …

Enhancing Client Intake Efficiency In The Removal Defense Program: A Nursing-Led Quality Improvement Initiative, Johnny Linares, Julia Tran Ngo, Daniel Orea, Atheana Yadira Lopez

Master's Projects and Capstones

This quality improvement project focuses on optimizing the intake process for the Removal Defense Program at a nonprofit immigration legal office serving asylum-seeking clients. The existing intake relied on unstructured, phone-call-based intake interviews that gathered incomplete information, leading to inconsistent documentation, reduced efficiency, and significant client processing delays. A structured, multilingual, and multiplatform new-client admission protocol coupled with the implementation of a client-facing resource guide for waitlist clients were co-developed and implemented using the Lippitt Change Theory framework. Utilizing a mixed methods approach, the study involved staff interviews and observational assessments with staff members from the program. Baseline intake process …

Reducing Appointment No-Shows In An Occupational Medicine Clinic: A Quality Improvement Project, Diana S. Torres, Cynthia D. Linkes

Nursing Faculty Publications

Abstract

Background: Appointment no-shows in occupational medicine delay recovery, disrupt workers’ compensation processes, and undermine employer trust. A South Texas clinic reported an average 11% no-show rate over 16 months—above the ≤8% benchmark—resulting in an estimated $379,406 in lost revenue. Contributing factors included inconsistent reminder practices, unverified contact information, and language barriers within a predominantly Spanish-speaking population.

Objective/Project Aim: This project aimed to reduce no-shows to ≤8% by implementing a structured, bilingual, multimodal reminder system that improved patient adherence and operational efficiency without increasing staff workload.

Methods: Guided by the “Getting To Outcomes” 10-Step framework, interventions included …

Stakeholder Involvement And Systematic Review Of Elements That Determine A Successful Return To Work For Injured Workers: A Scoping Review, Sundip Kaur Khosa, Wilma Jelley Professor

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Introduction: A healthy and sustainable return to work (RTW) for a worker after injury or illness has benefits for the worker, their family, the employer, and society.¹ For this research we used the following definition of RTW success; return to positive and meaningful work in a position or occupation not necessarily including all the aspects of the worker’s pre-injury or pre-illness functions or tasks. Purpose: The question behind this survey-based research was, What elements are perceived as essential, to ensure return to employment of injured or ill workers, by stakeholders with experience in the RTW process? Methods: A 32 …

Outpatient Fall Prevention In Ambulatory Adults 65 Years Old And Over, Dorothy L. Osborne-White

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Scholarly Projects - Archive

Background: In the United States (U.S.), falls are the leading cause of injury among adults 65 and over, resulting in 36 million falls yearly (Moreland et al., 2020). According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC, 2023), one in four older adults experiences a fall each year. Falls are the world's second most prominent cause of accidental deaths (World Health Organization [WHO], 2021). Falls are the leading cause of both fatal and non-fatal injuries among older adults (Moreland et al., 2020).

Methods: A quality improvement project that included a fall bundle was implemented in a primary clinic. A …

Environmental Sustainability, Healthcare Workers And Healthcare Students: A Literature Review Of Attitudes And Learning Approaches, Pamela R. Mccauley, Kavita Mathur, Reza Kamali Miab, Nina Cohen, Kedena Henriques-Thompson, Jyo Gopinath

Health Professions Education

Purpose: Today, increased attention has been placed on the healthcare industry and its workers in the wake of the global COVID-19 pandemic. Increases in facemask production, personal protective equipment, and the number of patients admitted into hospitals have resulted in a sharp rise in medical waste and environmental concerns. This has led to a greater interest by the research community to study the type of training and education that healthcare workers and students receive which could facilitate the implementation of sustainability activities during their work.

Design/Methodology: We have conducted a literature review (2010 to 2024) on healthcare worker …

Increasing Healthy Lifestyle Behaviors In Cargo Drivers, Ronda L. Bell

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this project was to examine the extent to which lifestyle behaviors of transportation drivers in North Texas can be improved with health education. This research study was conducted to examine the health behaviors of transportation drivers as a result of an educational partnership between nursing and the transportation industry. The goal was to improve healthy lifestyles through education to decrease chronic illness and comorbid conditions of a significantly at-risk occupational population. The impact of this education was immediate and verified with quantitative measurement and statistical analysis. Results demonstrated that after nurse-led health education, transportation drivers reported significant …

Coaching Nurse Leaders In Conflict Management And Team Building To Improve Retention, Jeanette Black

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

Abstract

Problem: Retention of assistant nurse managers (ANMs) was identified as a concern from interviews with executive leadership and ANMs employed at a large hospital within a Northern California integrated health system. The nurse leader orientation training was reviewed, with gaps identified in conflict management and team building.

Context: The attrition rate of U.S. nurse managers in 2010 was 8.3%, higher than executive nurse leaders, with replacement costs equal to 75% - 125% of a nurse manager’s salary (Loveridge, 2017). Employee turnover and dissatisfaction due to conflict can have detrimental effects on retention, productivity, morale, and quality of patient care. …

The Clinical Nurse Leader As Outcomes Manager: Optimizing Screening Mammography In An Outpatient Breast Center, Yao Luo

Master's Projects and Capstones

The Clinical Nurse Leader as Outcomes Manager: Optimizing Screening Mammography in an Outpatient Breast Center

Abstract

This clinical nurse leader (CNL) practice improvement project was conducted in an outpatient breast center that is part of a community safety-net hospital. The patient population consists of a large proportion of disadvantaged, low income, low English literacy, and high-risk women over 445 years of age. Recent observations and baseline data from the breast center and the mobile mammography van indicated that five to eight radiologic views were taken during a routine mammogram in a subset of screening patients which exceeds the standard set …

Clearing The Pathway To Chemotherapy Certification For Inpatient Nurses, Shari Lee Kellen Rn, Ocn, Onn

Master's Projects and Capstones

Abstract

A clinical nurse leader (CNL) project was conducted, in a medical-surgical oncology unit in a community-based hospital, to evaluate and improve upon the decreasing number of chemotherapy certified nurses. A Likert survey of the nurses provided a self-assessment of competency in handling chemotherapy patients, and perceived barriers to achieving chemotherapy certification. The surveys revealed that nurses felt fearful of exposure to hazardous medications, that chemotherapy assignments were too stressful, and that there was minimal chemotherapy competency amongst leadership. An education program was implemented, covering proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE) and safe handling, practicing resilience to mitigate stress, …

The Use Of An Unfolding Case Study To Enhance Self-Efficacy In Nursing Students, Hettie V. Peele

Nursing Theses and Capstone Projects

Nurse educators are challenged with preparing new nurse graduates that can function in the current healthcare practice environment of high patient acuity, morbidities, and information technology while maintaining patient safety and quality care management (Cronenwett et al., 2007). Therefore, nurse educators are amenable to exploring alternative teaching pedagogies that provide students with engaging learning opportunities that simulate real-life clinical scenarios they may encounter in professional nursing practice. This study explored the use of an unfolding case study as an innovative teaching strategy to enhance the perception of student self-efficacy. A one-group pretest-posttest descriptive design with a convenience sample of 17 …

Interprofessional Simulations: Student Attitudes And Effects On Sbar Performance, Michele A. Pfaff

Nursing Theses and Capstone Projects

National healthcare organizations recommend innovative educational initiatives and fundamental changes in the way healthcare providers are educated. Educational strategies that incorporate collaboration have been shown to impact professional behaviors and competency. Improved student attitudes toward collaboration and increased understanding of professional roles are impacted by exposure to simulation and interprofessional education. The purpose of the Interprofessional Simulation Project was to determine whether the type of clinical simulation experience (traditional versus interprofessional) influences nursing students' knowledge and performance of skilled communication. Additionally, the project investigated attitudes toward collaboration in an educational setting. A quantitative pretest and posttest design was utilized to …

Evaluating The Relationship Between Preadmission Assessment Examination Scores And First-Time Nclex-Rn Success, Elizabeth Pyatte Payne

Nursing Theses and Capstone Projects

The relationship between preadmission assessment composite and reading scores and first-time National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) success was evaluated in this study. Following an extensive literature review, the researcher hypothesized that students who score at or above the national average on the Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) composite score and/or reading score are more likely to be successful on the first attempt of the NCLEX-RN examination. Utilizing archived student records from a rural community college in western North Carolina, a convenience sample of 59 graduates from May 2012 and 2013 was used. Findings of this study …

Medication Safety: Improving Faculty Knowledge And Confidence, Sharon S. Cherry

Nursing Theses and Capstone Projects

The purpose of this capstone project was to increase knowledge and confidence among nursing faculty assisting pre-licensure nursing students with the medication administration process. The project administrator designed a one day Safe Medication Practices seminar that included a Medication Administration Toolkit to increase knowledge and confidence in faculty members about safety and efficiency in giving medications with multiple students on any clinical day. This toolkit included high-fidelity simulation medication scenario case examples as a teaching pedagogy, as well as other teaching strategies to utilize in the clinical environment. Bandura's Social Learning theory provided the framework for this capstone project. The …

A Structured Orientation Development System For Nursing Faculty, Dana R. Mangum

Nursing Theses and Capstone Projects

A national nursing shortage is nearing its crest. The Baby Boomer generation is beginning to retire in record numbers. Healthcare technology is continually evolving and the topography of nursing education is changing. In order to acquire, develop, and retain excellent nursing faculty to meet the ever changing demands, nursing faculty need to be streamlined into the world of academia. A Structured Orientation Development System (SODS) was developed to aid nursing faculty into the transition from expert bedside nurse to expert nursing faculty. A literature review found no evidence of a structured type nursing faculty orientation system. The purpose of this …

The Impact Of Simulation-Based Learning Experience On Critical Thinking Acquisition, Candice Rome

Nursing Theses and Capstone Projects

The purpose of this comparative experimental project was to compare the impact of simulation-based learning experiences to traditional clinical rotations on critical thinking acquisition of associate nursing students within a maternal-child course. Innovative pedagogies have been integrated in nursing programs to augment inadequate clinical placement and instructor availabilities. A longitudinal convenience sample of 45 second year associate level nursing students enrolled in a maternal-child course was utilized. Four experimental groups, 24 students were exposed to an eight-hour simulation-based learning experience in place of one clinical rotation. During the eight hour simulation day, students participated in three various maternal-child centered simulations. …

Effectiveness Of An Evidence-Based Curriculum Module In Nursing Schools: Targeting Safe Patient Handling And Movement, Nancy Menzel, Audrey L. Nelson, Thomas R. Waters, Nancy Hughes, Pamela C. Hagan, Gail Powell-Cope, Viviam Thompson

Nursing Faculty Research

Nursing schools in the United States have not been teaching evidence-based practices for safe patient handling, putting their graduates at risk for musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). The specific aim of this study was to translate research related to safe patient handling into the curricula of nursing schools and evaluate the impact on nurse educators and students' intentions to use safe patient handling techniques. Nurse educators at 26 nursing schools received curricular materials and training; nursing students received the evidence-based curriculum module. There were three control sites. Questionnaires were used to collect data on knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs about safe patient handling …

Unlv Magazine, Carol C. Harter, Karen Sharp, Gian Galassi, Tony Allen, Jennifer Lawson, Shane Bevell, Lori Bachand, Regina Vaccari, Pete Codella, Cate Weeks, Erin O'Donnell, Diane Russell, Phil Hagen

UNLV Magazine

No abstract provided.