Public Health and Community Nursing Commons^™

Adolescent Mental Health Training For Middle School Educators, Sarah Minton

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

Abstract

Background: Adolescent mental health disorders are an increasing concern in the United States. School systems, specifically educators, are in the unique role to aid in early identification of mental health disorders, as well to intervene in mental health distress. However, mental health training for educators is lacking, leaving educators unprepared to manage mental health concerns within their classroom.

Purpose: The purpose was to utilize an evidence-based training, the “Teacher Knowledge Update Guide” from TeenMentalHealth.org to train middle school educators on the signs and symptoms of mental health conditions in the adolescent population with the intent to increase awareness, knowledge, …

Food Safety And Risk Of Foodborne Illness At A Food Center Extension: Toolkit For Front-Line Volunteers, Sara Anderson

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

Background: Foodborne illness is a serious public health issue. One in six Americans has an episode of foodborne illness each year and over 50,000 are hospitalized. Food distribution centers are instrumental in decreasing food insecurity, however, some of the food donated is expired or may be damaged leading to increased risk of foodborne illness.

Purpose: The purpose of this project was to educate front-line volunteers at a local food center regarding food safety.

Methods: A toolkit was developed to teach food safety to the front-line volunteers. Seven classes were given to front-line volunteers including a pre and post intervention …

Quality Improvement: Intimate Partner Violence Screen In Nurse Home Visit Program, Masayo Nishiyama

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

Purpose: Women are disproportionately impacted from intimate partner violence (IPV). Their children also experience long-term adverse consequences. Effective IPV prevention and intervention efforts are vital. This quality improvement project addressed the lack of an evidence-based IPV training and protocol in a nurse home visit program.

Methods: Stakeholder engagement and an evidence-based practice intervention were implemented. Training effectiveness was examined by the pre-post-training assessments; completed by 17 nurses. To measure the IPV practice change, 196 pre- and 107 post-intervention charts were reviewed.

Results: The training significantly increased nurse knowledge and comfort (t=5.9, p< .001). Only 22% of those referred due to recent IPV history were screened before the intervention; 65% after the intervention. Multivariate analysis of screening rates was performed; predictors included county, mental health status, education, subprogram, and IPV referral reason. Due to low power, a one-tail test was employed. One county was 14 times less likely to screen than the other county (p= .023). 93% of those referred due to IPV history were enrolled in the crisis response subprogram, only offered by the other county. Those referred due to IPV history were three times more likely to be screened (p=.042) than those referred for other reasons. There was no significant change observed on IPV disclosure and intervention practice.

Conclusions: The adoption of an evidence-based IPV training …

Program Evaluation Of An Easy Access Clinic For Effective Contraception For U.S. Active Duty Women In Okinawa, Japan, Cynthia Kuehner

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

Background: Unintended pregnancy in the United States (U.S.) is a significant health problem that takes on additional magnitude in the context of military service. Young, active duty women have higher unintended pregnancy rates compared to the general population, secondary to non-use of contraception or selection and use of the least effective methods (condoms and oral contraceptive pills). The literature validates the problem, identifies access barriers to highest-efficacy contraception options in primary care settings, and offers evidence-based, best practice opportunities to impact this public health challenge.

Purpose: The purpose of this project was to evaluate access, utilization, effectiveness, and patient satisfaction …

Measuring The Impact: A Re-Aim Framework For Evaluation Of A Needle Exchange Program, Lindsay Novacek

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

Background: Needle exchange programs (NEPs) have been widely documented over the past three decades as an effective and economic approach to controlling human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). As of July 1st, 2016, these programs have been legalized in North Carolina. Purpose: To perform stage 1 of an evaluation of a needle exchange program in North Carolina by utilizing a public health framework: the Reach, Efficacy, Adoption, Implementation, and Maintenance (RE-AIM). Methods: First, the RE-AIM framework was used to create a plan for a program evaluation of a local NEP. Then, the first stage of the evaluation was completed. NEP program participants …

Delivering Culturally Competent Care To The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, And Transgender (Lgbt) Population, Evan M. Mcewing

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

Purpose: To this day, the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) communities still experience negative health outcomes due to social stigma and discrimination. Additionally, nursing has lagged behind other health professions in the promotion of culturally competent care to members of this minority group. Several national authorities on LGBT health have proposed guidelines for providing such care to the LGBT population; however, many nursing schools are not integrating these recommendations into their curricula. Methods: Using these national guidelines, an educational program was developed for BSN students at a large south Florida university to improve competency in providing care for LGBT …

Improving Hpv Vaccination Initiation And Completion Rates: A Qi Project, Princy M. Varughese

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a common sexually transmitted infection in the United States and is the cause of most cervical cancers in women, as well as anogenital cancers, oropharyngeal cancer, and genital warts in both men and women (Centers for Disease Control [CDC], 2014b). The HPV vaccine is recommended for preteen girls and boys to protect against HPV infections (CDC, 2011). In line with the goal of Healthy People 2020, the purpose of this evidence-based quality improvement (QI) project was to implement a text message reminder system, and calculate the completion rate of the 3-dose HPV vaccination series among adolescents …

Copd Dyspnea Palliation Project: Dyspnea Palliation In End-Stage Copd Patients, Kaveri M. Roy

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

Chronic Pulmonary Obstructive Disease (COPD) is a chronic and incurable disease that affects over 12 million Americans. The number of people with COPD is rising, and it is the third leading cause of death in the United States. Management and palliation of COPD symptoms has become a public health issue. The capstone project, the COPD Palliation Project, was a pilot study that combined nursing case management and patient education to provide optimal patient dyspnea palliation and self-efficacy of dyspnea management to end-stage COPD hospice patients. For the intervention, end-stage COPD patients were taught to use a dyspnea algorithm to palliate …

Program Evaluation For Tdap Immunization Standing Orders In A Birthing Hospital, Helen Crean Taugher

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

Newborn infants are vulnerable to pertussis infections. Although the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends that babies begin their diphtheria, tetanus and acellular pertussis (DTaP) immunization series at two months of age, the minimum age for administration of the vaccine is six weeks of age (Centers for Disease Control [CDC], 2008). Young infants are at risk for whooping cough infection transmitted from parents, siblings and care-givers during the pre-vaccination period in the first two months of life, particularly pertussis transmitted from their mothers. Since the licensure of adult/adolescent formulations of tetanus, diphtheria and acellular pertussis (Tdap) vaccine in 2005, …