Public Health and Community Nursing Commons^™

Increasing Hpv Vaccination Rates Using Social Marketing Strategies, Sharon Wilson Catledge

Doctoral Projects

The human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually-transmitted infection (STI). Approximately 20 million Americans between the ages of 15 and 49 years currently have HPV with > 6.2 million new HPV infections estimated to occur each year. Yet, HPV vaccination rates remain relatively low. More than 40 strains of HPV are transmitted through genital contact during vaginal, anal, or oral sex and can infect males and females. In addition to causing genital warts, HPV is associated with cervical, vulvar, vaginal, anus, penile, and oropharyngeal cancers. In women, the most prominent type of cancer is cervical with > 12,000 diagnoses each year …

Promoting Behavior Changes In Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Through Shared Medical Appointments, Shonda Lanette Williams

Doctoral Projects

Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is a chronic disease that affects many individuals in the United States. It was reported that a total of $245 billion is spent annually on both direct and indirect health care costs associated with the treatment of diabetes and diabetic related complications. Diabetes related complications can be prevented or delayed if proper education is done and individuals are willing to practice positive behavior changes and self-manage their disease. The purpose of this doctoral capstone project was to promote behavior changes in patients with diabetes through diabetes self-management education (DSME) in shared medical appointments (SMAs).

This project was …

An Evaluation Of The Effectiveness Of Providing Foot Care Education In A Rural Clinic Setting, Gloria Green-Morris

Doctoral Projects

Diabetes is one of the most frequently diagnosed metabolic disorders and is currently at pandemic magnitude. Approximately 1.4 million adults are diagnosed with diabetes each year. According to the American Diabetes Association (2011), the numbers of diagnoses will more than double by 2030. Because of the high prevalence of diabetes, the perceptions of risk factors and healthy behaviors are important. A good understanding of written and verbal healthcare instructions, healthcare accessibility, and socio-economic status have a direct effect on patient health outcomes and the overall health of the population (Jovic-Vranes, Bjegovic-Marinkovic & Marinkovic, 2009).

Diabetic foot complications are common concerns …

"Nursing Contamination: Wearing Scrubs In Public", Kemble Green

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Nurses are frequently seen in public in their “scrubs,” which could mean that contaminated clothing is being brought into the community, thereby posing an infection risk. The purpose of this study is to investigate if and which contaminants are present on the fabrics and the actions nurses are taking to eliminate contamination risks.

Eleven scrub tops were worn on hospital units over one twelve-hour shift. The contaminated scrubs and three control tops were then swabbed and used to inoculate agar plates. After incubation, colonies were counted, streaked onto nutrient and Mannitol-salt agar for isolation, and incubated. Using API Staph strips …

The Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative, Kathryn E. Brackett

Senior Honors Theses

Abstract

The Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) is a worldwide movement started by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) that is aimed at providing hospitals with a certification that guarantees the best possible patient-centered care for mothers and infants. It focuses on breastfeeding as optimal infant nutrition, and implements strategies to encourage and support mothers to breastfeed their infants exclusively for six months after birth. The Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding are a set of 10 simple, easy to understand guidelines developed by WHO and UNICEF for implementing this initiative in the hospital setting and …

Community-Campus Partnership Effectiveness For Nursing Faculty Curricula In Rural Virginia, Adriana Myers

VA Engage Journal

Nursing schools state that faculty shortages caused by low faculty salaries are a primary reason for nursing shortages. In a Shenandoah University graduate survey, many nurses wanted to teach but could not leave their higher-paying clinical jobs. Shenandoah University’s Graduate Program in Winchester, VA received funding from the Virginia Health Workforce Development Authority to use rural community-campus partnerships to plan a nursing faculty residency program to increase the number of nursing faculty. The program’s planning partners were economic development, business, academic, and philanthropic organization leaders in seven rural planning districts. Community Based Participatory Research was used to assess the effectiveness …

Perceptions Of A Dedicated Education Unit In The Mississippi Delta, Jacquelyn Felecia Brownlow

Doctoral Projects

The highest health care disparities in the country plague the Mississippi Delta. A weakened economy, minimal access to healthcare and an outdated traditional clinical learning environment place enormous strains on nursing education in this area to provide more nurses. The office of Nursing Workforce reported a 14% to 16% nursing turnover in the Delta compared to the national average of 13.5%. As a result, the health care organization has encountered high nurse turnover, increased staffing shortages, and a decrease in nursing quality indicators. As an effort to improve clinical education and bridge gaps between education and practice, several schools in …

Travesty Of Trust: A Critical Look At Racial And Ethnic Discrimination In The Healthcare Setting, Thea A. Beaty

Senior Honors Theses

The purpose of this thesis is to review the overarching purpose of healthcare, examine race-related disparities in minority patient outcomes within specific fields of medical practice, and discuss whether these disparities are the result of racial discrimination within the clinical setting, or are due at least partially to genetic and environmental factors, followed by an examination of how cross-cultural education for healthcare professionals can be improved to equip medical personnel with the attitudes, knowledge, and skills necessary to provide effective care to a culturally diverse patient populace. The benefits of recruiting a culturally and linguistically diverse team of healthcare providers …

Future Of Nursing: Advancing Health Through Interprofessional Collaboration, Margaret A. Hadinger Edd, Ms, Mary Ellen Miller Phd, Rn, Abby S. Letcher Md, Lucy Tuton Phd

Department of Education

No abstract provided.

A Social Controversy: Autism Spectrum Disorder's Correlation To The Measles-Mumps-Rubella Vaccination, Lindsay A. Frye

Senior Honors Theses

A 1998 research study lead by Dr. Andrew Wakefield linked the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccination as a probable cause to autism spectrum disorder. This publication has started a significant debate among healthcare professionals and instigated an anti-vaccination movement within the general population. This vaccination controversy was started by parents who readily accepted Wakefield’s findings as truth and frequently would choose to withdrawal the administration of vaccinations from their children’s care plans. There has also been disapproval by healthcare professionals over Wakefield’s study since numerous research teams have been unable to replicate his findings. This disagreement surrounding the MMR vaccination is likely …

Increasing Participation In The North Carolina Controlled Substances Reporting System Registration Among Western North Carolina Nurse Practitioners, Elizabeth Scism

Nursing Theses and Capstone Projects

The misuse of prescription drugs for non-medical purposes is a risk to public health and safety. The rates of misuse and diversion of prescription drugs have nearly doubled since the 1990s. This project explored the importance of educating Nurse Practitioners (NPs) in North Carolina (NC) regarding the registration and utilization of the North Carolina Controlled Substances Reporting System (NCCSRS). This reporting system was designed to identify and prevent diversion and to reduce morbidity and mortality of unintentional drug overdoses among primary care patients. A website was developed to showcase the multiple benefits and encourage registration and utilization of the NCCSRS …

Nurses' Knowledge Of Heart Failure Education Topics At A Regional Midwestern Hospital, Catherine Joy Standfuss

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

The purpose of this capstone project was to better understand Registered Nurses' knowledge level of commonly taught heart failure education topics. Heart failure is a large reason for hospital readmissions, and subsequently, a major contributor to rising health care costs. Research for this project was completed at a Regional Midwestern hospital using a questionnaire consisting of 20 knowledge questions. Registered nurses working on three separate units with high volumes of heart failure patients were invited to participate. Sixty-nine nurses responded to the survey and obtained an average score of 16.67 out of a possible 20, or 83%. Nurses work in …

The Nurse's Knowledge Of Blood Conservation As A Part Of Blood Management, Lindsey Putnam Austin

Nursing Theses and Capstone Projects

Medicine has historically regarded blood transfusion as an integral component of major surgery or illness. However, clinical studies have shown that allogeneic blood transfusions are associated with increased morbidity and decreased survival. Knowledge of this research and the concepts of blood conservation so as to avoid unnecessary blood transfusions is needed in order to deliver holistic care and serve as patient advocate. This knowledge reaches every specialty of nursing care.

This study of the nurse's knowledge of blood conservation as a part of blood management utilizes The Conservation Model developed by Myra E. Levine in 1973. Levine's work is a …

Educating Advanced Practice Nurses In Using Social Media In Rural Health Care, Carolyn M. Rutledge, Michelle Renaud, Laurel Shepherd, Michele Bordelon, Tina Haney, Donna Gregory, Paula Ayers

Ellmer School of Nursing Faculty Publications

Health care in the United States is facing a crisis in providing access to quality care for those in underserved and rural regions. Advanced practice nurses are at the forefront of addressing such issues, through modalities such as health care technology. Many nursing education programs are seeking strategies for better educating students on technology utilization. Health care technology includes electronic health records, telemedicine, and clinical decision support systems. However, little focus has been placed on the role of social media in health care. This paper describes an educational workshop using standardized patients and hands-on experiences to introduce advanced practice nurses …

Nursing Students Knowledge Of Factors Influencing Parent Satisfaction Of Pediatric Nursing Care, Carol L. Smith

Nursing Theses and Capstone Projects

Professional Pediatric Registered Nurses and parents of sick children share a common goal of returning the sick child to health. To the Pediatric Registered Nurse the means to achieving the goal of returning the child to wellness involves their knowledge of signs and symptoms of disease processes and their abilities to quickly respond to warning signs of impending illness. The knowledge and abilities of the Pediatric Registered Nurse is important to the parent of the ill child however to the parent there are many other elements of care delivery that can assist the Pediatric Registered Nurse and parent in achieving …

Interdisciplinary Education In Emergency Preparedness: Assuring The Safety Of Aging Populations, Linda L. Strong, Dori Taylor Sullivan

Nursing Faculty Publications

Aging is a global phenomenon. It impacts unequally, with this inequality attributable to such factors as gender, culture, education, socioeconomic status and access to primary and preventive care. Access to care and the quality of that care are significantly impacted by governmental support and regulations. Most elderly live in developed countries; however, for a significant number life is not free of stress and struggle to meet basic needs. Elders in developing countries face even more challenges. Natural and man-made disasters increase the vulnerability of these populations through potential disruption of critical services. Currently there is a paucity of health and …

Revisiting Vaccine Hesitancy, Barriers And Motivators To Obtaining A Flu Vaccine In A New Covid-19 Pandemic World, Ann M. Mayo Rn, Dnsc, Faan, Steffanie R. Cobler Np

School of Nursing and Health Science: Faculty Scholarship

Purpose

To describe and compare patient perceived barriers and motivators and decision-making conflict between two groups of hospitalized patients, those who receive flu vaccines and those who do not.

Data Sources

Data collection during 2003 included extracting data from databases and mailing two surveys to 436 discharged patients. One hundred eight (108) patients participated in the study.

Conclusions

Top barriers included fear of side effects from vaccine (35%) and fear of contracting the flu (30%). Top motivators for obtaining a flu vaccine included previous vaccination (93%) and provider recommendation (62%). Barriers, motivators and patient decisional conflict differed depending upon patient …

Ua61/6 Newsletter, Issue 1, Wku Institute For Rural Development

WKU Administration Documents

Newsletter created by and about the Institute for Rural Development. This issue contents:

• Mobile Health & Wellness Unit
• The New Hazard & Emergency Awareness Training (HEAT) Mobile Unit Arrives at WKU
• Gardner, Marilyn. Emergency Medical Services Monograph Coming
• A Nursing Student’s Perspective
• Enhancing Rural Student Postsecondary Decisions
• Lu, Ning & Richard Wilson. Kentuckian Socioecomic Status, Health Behavior, Access to Medical Care, & Health Status
• Austin, Lynn. School-based Dental Sealant Program
• The Institute for Rural Health Development & Research

From Welfare To What?: The Limitations Of Low-Income Work, Lande Ajose

New England Journal of Public Policy

The premise of the welfare law enacted by Congress is that people living in poverty could vastly improve their economic status if only they were employed. The author argues that economic security for welfare recipients will not be realized simply by increasing the labor-force attachment. Home health aides comprise an occupation that could absorb many of the large pool of workers expected to join the labor market because demand for their services is high and barriers to entry are low. However, as this survey shows, the home health field offers limited promise to welfare recipients because, significantly for women rolling …

Nursing: A New Day, A New Way, Lin Zhan, Jane Cloutterback

New England Journal of Public Policy

The U.S. health care environment is changing rapidly. Its structure, financing, and delivery are being reconfigured toward an integrated system based on managed care. Increasingly, national interest in health promotion and disease prevention is moving care away from a disease-oriented, institutionally based model to a population-focused, wellness-oriented, and community-based system. Health care consumers are diversifying in age, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status. The approach emerging from these changes and others requires nursing to rethink, redesign, and retool its workforce to meet new challenges. This article analyzes nursing education, practice, and operations. The authors discuss the dilemmas and complexity of developing an …