Other Nursing Commons^™

Impact Of Meaningful Recognition On Work Environment Perception Of Critical Care Nurses, Kristin Meinershagen

Dissertations

Problem: Absence of nursing staff recognition can lead to compassion fatigue, burnout, job dissatisfaction, and increased turnover rate resulting in high costs for hospitals. Meaningful recognition has been found to decrease compassion fatigue and reduce burnout. A meaningful recognition program was implemented over a 3-month period for staff nurses in an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at a large midwestern, metropolitan hospital to determine its effect on nurse’s perception of work environment and turnover rate in the ICU.

Methods: This was an observational, descriptive, cohort design utilizing the AACN Healthy Work EnvironmentSurvey instrument for assessing results before and after implementation …

How Do Student Nurses Of English Language Learner Populations Experience Nclex-Rn Style Questions?, Shawne Manies

Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore how student nurses of English Language Learner (ELL) populations experienced National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) style questions. Evidence has suggested difficulty in improving the nation’s diversified nursing workforce, resulting in concerns over minority nurse representation. Student nurses of ELL populations are more likely than non-English language learner student nurses to be out of sequence or released from a nursing program. The extant literature has shown that this population of students struggle with NCLEX-RN style questions and that they have significantly lower pass rates than their English-speaking counterparts. Literature …

Improving Access To Mental Health Care With Nurse Practitioners, Jessica Whelan

Dissertations

Problem: Over 40% of those with mental illness are untreated since the supply of psychiatrists does not meet the demand. The psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP) may be an adjunct in providing those services. The purpose of this quality assurance study was to evaluate outcomes of care between a PMHNP and a psychiatrist (medical doctor [MD]).

Methods: An observational, descriptive design with a retrospective medical record review of adult patients over a six-month period in a suburban, Midwestern, privately owned psychiatric practice.

Results: A total of 787 individual patients encountered at least one visit (N=787) although 3,679 …

Race-Based Trauma Care Training For Veteran’S Health Administration Nurse Practitioners, Vanessa Loyd

Dissertations

Abstract

Problem: Trauma informed care has become a priority for persons exposed to psychological, physiological, emotional consequences as a result of traumatic experiences. Veterans are from different cultures, including gender, race, religion, sexual orientation and other social groups. The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is responsible for the health of this culturally diverse patient population. Healthcare providers without any prior military experience may experience difficulty obtaining an accurate history and physical exam due to the military’s cross-cultural environment. The project aim was to increase confidence and competence in race-based trauma care by incorporating training into a new acute care fellowship …

Adult-Geriatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Fellowship For The Veterans Health Administration, Karen Scaglione

Dissertations

Problem: Nurse practitioner (NP) fellowship programs assist the novice NP in transitioning from a traditional nursing role to advanced practice. The Veteran’s Health Administration (VHA) utilizes a NP primary care fellowship program. An acute care fellowship may assist with role transition, confidence and competence for acute care NPs. The purpose of this evidence-based pilot project was to develop a transition to practice acute care fellowship program at a Midwestern VHA hospital.

Methods: A prospective, descriptive design utilizing a convenience sample of senior adult-geriatric nurse practitioner (AGNP) students during a pilot study of an acute care fellowship program. Outcome measures …

Management And Support Of Uninsured Patients With Diabetes Type Ii Within A Nurse Managed Clinic, Emma Spencer

Dissertations

The purpose of the project was to improve the quality of care for the uninsured, Type II Diabetics residing in a Midwestern urban underserved community. Community Health in Partnership Services (CHIPS) was a nurse-managed clinic, located in that area, that sought to lessen the burden of being uninsured. An annual fee of $35.00 allowed an uninsured community member access to a variety of different health care providers including specialists. In order to utilize this health care team efficiently, it was necessary to implement nurse-led care coordination for patients diagnosed with Type II Diabetes. This quality improvement project followed the Plan …

A Rural Telehealth Objective Structured Clinical Examination, Devon Schlottach

Dissertations

Problem Rural healthcare consumers experience increased health disparities, especially when accessing health care. The use of telehealth to improve access has become an essential competency for nurse practitioner (NP) students. This study evaluated NP students’ confidence and competence of rural social determinants of health (rSDOH) before and after a telehealth simulation.

Methods A descriptive, cohort design was used to review NP students’ pre- and post-surveys, written case studies, and a video-recorded telehealth OSCE for a patient living in a rural area.

Results Student self-rated knowledge of rural health care did not improve despite didactic learning and simulation (z = …

Reducing Cautis In A Neurological Icu, Claire Mckee

Dissertations

Catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) are the primary source of infection in patients with urinary catheters and are the fourth leading cause of healthcare-associated infection. Because indwelling urinary catheters are not completely avoidable in hospitalized patients, it is crucial to utilize evidence-based research to prevent CAUTIs. A urinary catheter maintenance bundle is one way to reduce CAUTI rates in hospitalized patients. This quality improvement project utilizes a catheter maintenance bundle with seven elements with the aim of reducing CAUTI rates. The project takes place in a 20-bed neurological intensive care unit (ICU) in a larger tertiary care medical center. Prior …

Human Trafficking Identification Among Nurse Practitioner Students During Objective Structured Clinical Examinations, Zoe Onyun

Dissertations

Problem: Human trafficking (HT) is a significant worldwide and domestic issue affecting all ages, races, and genders resulting in over 40 million victims globally. Nurse practitioners (NP) often unknowingly come into contact with victims of HT, however, few NP’s have had formal education on the topic and may fail to recognize signs and risk factors. The purpose of this study was to initiate HT training for NP students.

Methods: A quality improvement (QI) initiative for a university college of nursing (CON) utilizing a prospective, observational, descriptive, cohort design. A plan-do-study-act (PDSA) methodology was implemented. A written case study given …

Assessment Of Nursing Knowledge Before And After Implementation Of Educational Intervention On Heart Failure, Sarah Scott

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess the knowledge of nursing staff on a cardiology unit before and after the implementation of heart failure specific education. Methods: Forty staff nurses on a cardiology unit at a single institution were given The Nurses Knowledge of Heart Failure Education Principles Survey (NKHFEP), a validated tool to assess nursing knowledge of heart failure. A series of four educational sessions were given to the same forty nurses. They were then given the NKHFEP survey a second time to assess change in knowledge post educational intervention. Results: The mean of Pre-education (M = …

Evaluation Of Educating Registered Nurses Prior To Implementing New Evidence-Based Protocol: Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (Eras), Lisa Brooks

Dissertations

Evidence-based protocols promote standardization of care and patient safety. The inclusion of major stakeholders is imperative to the success of implementation of a new protocol. The “Enhanced Recovery After Surgery” (ERAS) protocol was implemented at the Veterans Administration Medical Center – St. Louis prior to formal education of direct-care registered nurses (RNs), a major stakeholder group. Due to the lack of knowledge, the RNs who were expected to implement and adhere to the ERAS protocol were not prepared and displayed a lack of confidence. Subsequently, an educational training intervention was designed and executed with thirty-five RN participants. Prior to this …

Predictors Of First Semester Baccalaureate Nursing Student Academic Success, Julie Twidwell

Dissertations

Accreditation standards, such as those of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education’s program indicators, require pre-licensure programs of nursing to report outcome metrics which includes program completion rates. In response to regulatory requirements and accreditation standards, pre-licensure programs of nursing have an interest in selecting applicants most likely to meet outcomes standards. Attrition is a serious issue with implications for students, pre-licensure programs of nursing, the nursing workforce, and populations requiring nursing care. Academic failure due to insufficient cognitive aptitude often contributes to the attrition rate. Pre-licensure programs of nursing may consider interviews, essays, …

A Functional Algorithm For Weight Loss And Obesity Practice: Guide For Clinical Decision-Making For Treating Women, Jennifer A. Tice Williams

Dissertations

ABSTRACT

Background

Overweight and obesity have significant impact and consequences on women leading to reduced quality of life, comorbid conditions and premature mortality. Many healthcare providers lack adequate training and the time to properly treat overweight and obesity. Algorithms have been shown to improve clinical knowledge and save time.

Objectives

To develop an algorithm for weight loss assessment and treatment to aid in the clinical decision-making process while improving the quality of care for overweight and obese clients in an efficient manner that can be replicated.

Methods

After an extensive literature review to identify best-practice guidelines for weight loss a …