Other Nursing Commons^™

Improving Pediatric Oral-Systemic Health Through Motivational Interviewing: An Interprofessional Training Intervention, Oksana Prodan

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

Introduction: In response to the prevalence of early childhood carries (ECC) in the United States, recommendations were established for pediatric primary care providers to routinely incorporate oral-systemic health promotion services into clinical practice. An interprofessional education project was developed between Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) and dentistry students in San Francisco to assist trainees in the effective delivery of oral systemic health promotion services. Improving health promotion communication skills was identified as an area of need for both sets of learners. Therefore, the IPE activity was designed to incorporate Motivational Interviewing (MI) into the training along with pediatric oral …

Reducing Inter-Unit Patient Report Delays And Transfer Times, Natalya Marinov

Master's Projects and Capstones

Inter-unit coordination is essential in preventing a bottleneck in patient flow and its resultant stresses to staff, hindering quality patient care, and wasting time. The Medical-Surgical Unit (MSU) and Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) struggle to establish efficient patient report times and transfers. Preliminary data demonstrated report delays attributed to an arduous workload and overburdened MSU nursing staff. The project’s objective focuses on reducing nurse-related report time delays by 10%, increasing understanding and teamwork, promoting proactive thinking to manage workflow efficiently, improving patient flow, and improving the inter-unit relationship between MSU and PACU. Increasing awareness and reducing transfer times are …

Considering Stress In A Nursing Student Context: Pre-Admission To Pre-Graduation, Daniel M. Regner

Honors Undergraduate Theses

In moderation, stress is a normal response to a perceived challenge which can motivate an individual to perform at their best. Nursing students consistently report a significant amount of stress which has been found to be greater than their non-nursing peers. The purpose of this study is to assess the level of stress reported by second-semester freshman and sophomore students who have declared nursing as a major, compared with the level of stress experienced by junior and senior students who are enrolled in the university's nursing program. Through this comparison, a conclusion can be drawn as to the level of …

Nurse Perspectives On The Work Impacts Of Decentralized Nursing Unit Design, Susan Mcdevitt

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated nurse perspectives on the work impacts of a decentralized inpatient unit model. The study involved two rural acute-care hospitals in rural Nebraska that moved from a centralized to a decentralized inpatient unit design. The researcher conducted focus group discussions with staff and nursing management at both facilities with a total of 28 participants. In addition, the participants completed a 12-item questionnaire using a five-point Likert scale for responding. Focus group discussion and questionnaire were designed to investigate the areas of quality of care, communication, documentation, stress and wellbeing, and transition. Data gathered revealed that on all survey …

A Whooping Cough Education Module For Wic Clients In Utah, Karlen E. Luthy, Alicia Anderson, Janelle L. B. Macintosh, Renea L. Beckstrand, Lacey M. Eden, Ryan Amy, Christopher I. Macintosh

Faculty Publications

Background: Clients in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) are required to complete education modules quarterly to maintain eligibility. The purposes of this project were to: (1) create a whooping cough vaccination education module for WIC clients; (2) evaluate baseline perceptions of WIC clients on the whooping cough vaccine and disease; and (3) evaluate whooping cough knowledge following completion of the module. Problem: A decline in vaccination rates among infants and children using WIC services was reported by a local WIC program director who requested whooping cough vaccination education materials. This quality improvement project included …

Improving Communication And Satisfaction Through Hourly Rounds, Karen E. Sondeno

Master's Projects and Capstones

The focus of this CNL project is quality improvement using high quality hourly rounds to achieve improved patient satisfaction and communication with nurses. It was determined by reviewing survey results that patient satisfaction and nurse communication is below National levels. Data shows that rounds are not being done well on a medical unit before the improvement project. It is proven that patients receive and perceive higher quality care and communication with increased nurse presence at the bedside. The population of the medical unit has high numbers of confused/dementia, and dual-diagnosis patients. It was determined that the unit would benefit from …

I’M A Big Kid Now: Enhancing Transition Rn Residents’ Confidence During Pediatric Patient Care, Emily W. Lam

Master's Projects and Capstones

The title of the clinical nurse leader project is “I’m a Big Kid Now: Enhancing Transition RN Residents’ Confidence During Pediatric Patient Care”. The project aims to improve the support components for Transition RN residents during their Transition RN Residency at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. The clinical leadership theme that correlates to this project is communication. The clinical nurse leader’s role is to act as an educator and a facilitator throughout this project. In examining the clinical nurse leader competencies, competencies “use performance measures to assess and improve the delivery of evidence-based practices and promote outcomes that demonstrate delivery of …

The Application Of Grounded Theory: An Example From Nursing Workforce Research, Latoya J. Lewis-Pierre 4572586, Joann Kovacich, Linda Amankwaa

The Qualitative Report

The application of grounded theory was the conduit to theory development in this study. The intent was to explore nurse manager, educator, preceptor, and new graduates’ perceptions of workplace readiness for new graduates entering an Intensive Care Unit. Research participants were drawn from five different ICUs: Medical, Coronary Care, Surgical, Neuroscience, and Trauma. One-on-one interviews were conducted to collect participants’ perspectives on readiness to practice in the ICU. Using grounded theory, four themes emerged giving rise to the novice nurse embracing the ICU theory (NNEIT). Reflections on the type of grounded theory used, reasons for the selection, challenges faced in …

Effective Coping Mechanisms For Nurses Following Patient Death, Tiffany Gagliardo

Senior Honors Projects

The loss of a loved one affects family and friends but also the nurses and health care providers. At the time of death, nurses are at the bedside providing comfort and words of support. But who is there to support the nurses when the patient dies? The objective of this research project is to identify positive coping mechanisms that nurses can use on a daily basis through an extensive analysis of the literature and individual nurse interviews.

Unfortunately, patient death may be more common for nurses who work on Intensive Care Units (ICU) and Hospice agencies. With the daily requirements …

Improved Satisfaction On Postpartum Unit By Implementing A Discharge Nurse Role, Nicole Ware Rn, Msn

Master's Projects and Capstones

A three-month time period was used to develop a postpartum education program change by designing a discharge nurse role on the postpartum unit at University of North Carolina Women’s Hospital. The goal of the education change is to increase patient satisfaction scores of discharged post-natal mothers on the postpartum unit by having HCAPS and Press Ganey to improve up to10% over the next 6 months.

An observational assessment revealed a fragmented and antiquated discharge process. This process was paper based and difficult to complete in light of the short stay and high volume patient population. Informal nurse feedback as well …

Just Sit For A Bit: A Moment Of Caring, Gabrielle M. Malouf

Master's Projects and Capstones

Background: Research shows that time spent sitting at the bedside promotes trust, which ultimately improves nurse satisfaction, patient satisfaction and patient outcomes. Patient satisfaction scores have been below benchmark for several months on an adult medical unit at an academic medical center.

Overview: The purpose of this project was to improve patient satisfaction in the areas of nursing courtesy, friendliness, and listening. Nurses were asked to sit down for at least 5 minutes per shift with each patient, engaging in a “moment of caring”. Nurse surveys were given and both pre and post implementation. These surveys assessed whether or not …

Advanced Practice Care Model In A Midwestern Allergy Clinic, Bernie Theobald

Theses and Graduate Projects

Health care organizations are creating innovative patient care models to deal with the rapidly changing healthcare environment. Implementation of the Affordable Care Act has led to reduced revenue for healthcare organizations and placed an impetus on quality. For healthcare providers to continue to practice, they must change their model of care. An allergy clinic in a large Midwestern healthcare organization created a care model which capitalizes on the unique skillset that nurses possess. Nurses in the care model contact the patient before their visit, assess patient needs, and follow-up with the patient in a post- consult nurse visit. The care …