Exploring Policy Change To Support Early Diagnosis Of Congenital Heart Defects (Chd) In New Mexico, Kelsey Carson Leibenhaut

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

Congenital heart disease (CHD) is not a new or rare problem; it has likely always been a leading cause of childhood morbidity and mortality and clocks in today as the most frequently occurring birth defect, affecting an estimated 1 in 100 newborns (CDC, 2025). Prior to the middle of the 20th century, there was little to be done about CHD, as no treatments existed. Everything changed with the advancement of options for surgical repair of CHDs, significantly prolonging lifespans and improving quality of life for affected individuals. Despite these incredible advancements, babies are born with CHD every day, leading to …

A Planetary Health Approach To Address Food Insecurities In New Mexico, Mariah Kennell

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

Food insecurity remains a persistent public health concern throughout New Mexico, impacting both rural and urban populations and contributing to significant health disparities. Limited access to affordable, locally sourced fresh foods exacerbates chronic disease burden and undermines community health. The purpose of this Doctor of Nursing Practice project was to conduct a comprehensive policy analysis to identify feasible state-level strategies to improve food access through strengthening local food systems. Using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention POLARIS policy analysis framework, a structured evaluation of existing and potential state and community-level policies was conducted. The analysis incorporated stakeholder interviews with …

Ambient Air Pollution In New Mexico: Nurse Practitioner Awareness, Mckenzie Hemmes, Grayson Kemp

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

Ambient air pollution is a significant public health concern in New Mexico and contributes to respiratory disease, cardiovascular illness, and adverse pregnancy outcomes (Dominski et al., 2021; Di et al., 2022). Despite well-established evidence linking environmental exposures to health outcomes, environmental exposure screening is not routinely incorporated into clinical practice. The purpose of this Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project was to improve environmental health literacy (EHL) among advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) in New Mexico and to increase their intention to integrate ambient air pollution exposure screening and mitigation counseling into routine clinical practice. A virtual educational intervention guided …

Improving Identification And Referral Of Xylazine‑Associated Wounds In Homeless Healthcare, Ramon A. Gambino

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

Background: Xylazine-adulterated fentanyl is linked to distinctive necrotic wounds and complex care needs in unsheltered populations. This quality improvement (QI) project implemented a brief survey and referral log at Albuquerque Health Care for the Homeless (AHCH) to track suspected xylazine-associated wounds and referrals to advanced care. Methods: Final data were exported from Qualtrics, cleaned to retain finished responses, standardized categories, and de-identified. The analytic sample included 18 encounters. Results: Results showed that 55.6% (n = 10) documented suspected xylazine-associated wounds; 5.6% (n = 1) reported no suspicion; 38.9% (n = 7) were uncertain. Referrals were rarely documented overall at AHCH …

Community Health Workers: Key To Decreasing Food Insecurity In Pregnant Individuals, Linda Waggener Dnp

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

Objectives: Food insecurity (FI) in pregnant individuals (PI)s is a global threat to birthing individuals and fetuses with potential immediate and intergenerational impacts on family and community. Community Health Workers (CHWs) facilitate support including food resources for FIPIs. The Family Fresh Rx (FFRx) program, within Food as Medicine (FaM) model provides fresh fruits and vegetables, optimize nutrition, and mitigates threats to health. This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Quality Improvement (QI) project’s two objectives were CHWs’ FFRx program and referral process satisfaction evaluation through a pre, post, and four-week post refresher presentation (RP) modified System Usability Scale (mSUS) …

Improving Health Literacy Related To Hypertension In A Minority Faith-Based Population, Kasaundra M. Beverly-Marshall, Kasaundra M. Beverly-Marshall

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

Background: Insufficient research on health literacy related to cardiovascular disease highlights a gap in healthcare. Healthy People 2030 and local community health programs acknowledge gaps in research with future goals to improve health literacy.

Local Problem: The health literacy rate for Winnebago County, IL (41%) is higher than both the State of Illinois and national health literacy rates, which aligns with the results of a community needs assessment survey.

Methods: A community-based health promotion project using a pre-post study design uses the health promotion model to engage participants in advancing cardiovascular health outcomes.

Interventions: DNP student assisted participants in creating …

Optimizing Advance Care Planning: Leveraging An Electronic Medical Record Prompt To Impact Advance Directive Documentation, Annette L. Meares

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

Abstract

Background: Advance Directives (ADs) support patient-centered care by documenting preferences for future medical treatment. While the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) incentivizes AD documentation through billing codes, national adoption remains low.

Local Problem: A rural Northern Illinois primary care practice had electronic referral capabilities for ACP; however, referrals remained low and inconsistent during Medicare Annual Wellness Visits (AWVs), limiting opportunities for AD completion.

Methods: This quality improvement project targeted Medicare AWV patients without ADs documented in the electronic medical record (EMR). During a 10-week pre-intervention period, baseline data were collected. In the subsequent 10-week intervention phase, an …

Implementing Universal Adult Depression Screening In A Rural Maine Free Medical Clinic, Karen Hussion

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Depression in adults is a leading cause of disability, morbidity and mortality worldwide with an estimated prevalence of 20% in the US population. Despite estimates that one out of every five Americans suffers from depression, less than 50% of adult primary care patients with depression are identified, and less than 5% of all adult primary care patients are screened. To increase early detection and management of depression, the United States Protective Service Task Force (USPSTF) recommends routine depression screening for adults older than 18 years in primary care settings.

LOCAL PROBLEM: This project site was a rural, free, …

Implementation Of The Stop The Bleed Program At A Local Park District, Emily J. Minerva

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

Background: Fifty percent of people who suffer from an acute bleeding event die before arriving to the hospital due to lack of receiving care in a timely manner.

Local Problem: Increased emergency response times could prove fatal to someone experiencing a large bleed, highlighting the need for increased emergency preparedness in the community.

Methodology: This implementation pilot project utilized quantitative tools (pre- and post-multiple-choice test and Likert scales) and a qualitative narrative approach (inductive content analysis).

Interventions: A certified Stop the Bleed instructor provided Stop the Bleed education with an animated presentation, hands-on skills training session, and a …

Full Plate Living-Teaching Kitchen: A Sustainable Approach To Employee Health, Amy M. Daniel

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

Abstract

Insufficient fiber intake is a key contributor to diet-related chronic diseases (DRCD) such as obesity, hypertension, and diabetes. This evidence-based health promotion program evaluated integrating a teaching kitchen with the Full Plate Living Plan (FPL-TK) to increase daily fiber intake. Grounded in the Social Cognitive Theory, the 8-week employee health promotion program included hands-on culinary demonstrations, a structured FPL nutrition curriculum, and fiber tracking tools to help participants engage and participate in weekly health and wellness changes. The program successfully achieved high engagement rates, with 80% of participants reporting high satisfaction with the program and 100% of participants stating …

Implementation Of A Protocol To Improve The Intake Assessment And Treatment With Suboxone Among Patients’ Dependent On Opioids On Two Mental Health Crisis Units, Maeghan Dillon

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

Abstract

Background: In 2021,106,699 people died from a drug overdose and of these deaths, over 75% were related to illicit or prescription opioids (Centers for Disease Control, 2023). At two in-patient community crisis stabilization units for psychiatric care, many patients have a comorbid diagnosis of a substance use disorder and another mental illness. Treatment with Buprenorphine/naloxone (Suboxone) is associated with decreased opioid overdoses and related deaths; however, Suboxone inductions have not been a part of admission treatment.

Methods: This quality improvement (QI) project initiated a Suboxone protocol for eligible patients on two crisis in-patient stabilization units. The outcomes …

Implementation Of A Decision Aid To Increase The Rate Of Routine Breast Cancer Screening Among Women Between 50 To 74 Years Old At A Federally Qualified Health Center, Dana Mars

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

Background: Breast cancer is the most prevalent form of cancer in the U.S. Cancer screenings can result in prompt treatments and positive health outcomes. Disparities in screening rates are prevalent among vulnerable populations. At a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC), where the project occurred, the rate of breast cancer screening in 2021 (64%) was lower than the target set by the Healthy People 2030 (77%). This quality improvement project aimed to increase the rate of routine breast cancer screening among women aged 50-74 years old in the FQHC.

Methods: Previous studies have reported that decision aids on breast cancer screening …

Introduction Of Hiv Point-Of-Care Testing In Adolescent Primary Care: A Quality Improvement Project, Jennifer Quinn Belfry

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

BACKGROUND: HIV, first identified in 1981, remains a persistent public health problem affecting 1.1 million Americans today. Detection is a critical first step to ending the HIV epidemic and the CDC recommends universal HIV screening for all patients 13-64 years of age regardless of risk factors. HIV screening rates are suboptimal especially in adolescent and young adult populations who face unique barriers to screening. The aim of this project was to improve HIV screening rates in adolescent and young adult patients at a large, urban FQHC.

LOCAL PROBLEM: In the state of Rhode Island, 1 in 10 persons living with …

Ohio Forensic Nurse Examiners: Readiness To Care For Victims Of Sexual Assault With Disability, Deanna Nicole Smith

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

Forensic nurse examiners (FNEs) care for crime victims in acute care settings. These nurses are specifically trained in trauma-informed care and evidence collection in cases of sexual assault, domestic violence, abuse, and human trafficking (RAINN, 2022). The scholarly project focuses on the care of victims of sexual assault living with disability, as this population is three times more likely to be victimized than any other population (NSVRC, 2022). The project literature review reveals a lack of data on preparation standards for FNEs on caring for victims with disability and providing accommodations during forensic examination. Currently, it is unknown if FNEs …

Do-Not-Hospitalize Orders In Assisted Living Facilities: Perspectives From Direct Care Workers, Alanna Kates Dancis Dr.

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

Context: Do-not-hospitalize (DNH) orders in assisted living facilities (ALFs) are often misunderstood, ignored, or countermanded by direct care workers (DCWs), potentially leading to residents being sent to the hospital against their wishes.

Objectives: The primary purpose of this study was to gather sufficient qualitative data to create an intervention that would help prevent DCWs from sending residents with DNH orders to the hospital against their wishes. To accomplish this goal, the study centered on three research objectives: 1) to understand more fully how DCWs interpret DNH orders; 2) to determine if carrying out DNH orders causes moral distress for DCWs; …

Effects Of Education On Correcting Misconceptions And Acceptance Of The Influenza Vaccination Among A College Campus, Travis E. Fairbanks

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

Educating patients on the influenza vaccination is an important goal for health care providers. It fosters a working relationship between provider and patient and allows patients to make an informed decision on their health care needs. The percentage of individuals who receive the influenza vaccine in the United States has been consistently below goals set by the committee for Healthy People 2020. This DNP scholarly project aimed to determine whether the introduction of education was effective at increasing individuals’ choice to vaccinate against the influenza virus among college campus students. The study was a non-experimental, non-randomized control trial that utilized …

Implementing Faculty Development Modules To Increase Readiness For Addressing Social Determinants Of Health, Implicit Bias And Equity In Course Content, Claudia Ngafeeson

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

Implicit bias is viewed as an unconscious and involuntary attitude that lies below the surface of consciousness but can influence behavior, and cognitive processes (Maina et al., 2018). Social determinants of health are considered to be the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work, and age; these circumstances are usually shaped by the distribution of money, power, and resources at global, national, and local levels, which in turns determines the distribution of the value of medical care. Existing literature on implicit bias has been fragmented in different fields such as; cognitive psychology, business ethics, and higher education, but …

Does Nurses Confidence Improve After Attending A Training For Teaching Home Infusion Patients?, Carol Menorah Young Dnp

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

Discharge can be a difficult step for patients and their families and a challenging task for nurses. Poor instructions have a negative impact on the patient population. In addition, improper and incomplete discharge information negatively affects the posthospital recovery period and may cause the patient to return to the hospital for the same episode of care. Returning to the hospital emergency room or readmission for the same episode of care will increase the dangers to the patient’s health and recovery plan and increase the cost of individual healthcare. The patient population ranks the quality of discharge information via their responses …

The Use Of Appreciative Inquiry In Identifying Pueblo Core Values, Kristyn N. Yepa

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

This study used appreciative inquiry to identify core values or concepts essential to the Jemez Pueblo community to inform an evaluation framework used by community strength-based programs in Jemez Pueblo. Key informant interviews and a focus group were conducted in Jemez Pueblo with key program staff and tribal leaders. The audio recordings were transcribed and analyzed using inductive reasoning to identify core values. In addition, grounded theory was used to develop a conceptual model from the themes generated from the analysis. The PICOT question was, "Can the Appreciative Inquiry method help uncover core values of a Pueblo community?"

Using The Whole School, Whole Child, Whole Community Approach To Improve An Urban Early Learning Center Students’ Social, Emotional, And Physical Health And Wellness, Joelle Chateauneuf

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

Background: Integrating school-based health education and models of healthy lifestyles in early childhood provides a foundation for lifelong health learning. Many chronic may be prevented or mitigated through early childhood health education. Early learning centers (ELCs) may be a perfect setting to enable young children to achieve their full potential.

Problem: In Boston, Massachusetts, there are differences in health experience across population groups. Children of color and lower socioeconomic challenges experience higher rates of chronic conditions.

Available Knowledge: Search of literature showed that school-based healthy lifestyle interventions improve healthy behaviors and can be taught to children as young as preschool. …

Health Equity & Obesity Management: An Improvement Project In A Federally Qualified Healthcare Center In Central Harlem, Brianna Bouchez

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

Description of the problem: Obesity is a growing healthcare problem worldwide with extraordinary costs to the individual's health and the healthcare system. Individuals most affected by obesity include socioeconomically disadvantaged individuals, often with limited resources to seek specialized care.

Available knowledge: Various weight-loss interventions exist but access and success rates vary. Weight loss is often modest and additional factors such as social determinants of health, health literacy, and patient motivation are all factors important to the success of an intervention.

Specific Aims: The purpose of this quality improvement project was to improve self-regulatory weight loss behaviors and increase weight loss …

Trauma Center Development Improved New Mexico Trauma System By Decreasing Inappropriate Air Medical Transport And Increasing System Revenue, Nikki L. May

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

Before 2016 in southern New Mexico, the closest trauma center for patients was El Paso, Texas. Las Cruces, New Mexico, in Doña Ana County began developing its first trauma center in 2016 and became designated in 2017. The development of this trauma center changed trauma triage destination protocols for trauma patients. The improved collaboration and teamwork with prehospital personnel, surrounding hospitals, and existing trauma centers led to the development of trauma triage and transport guidelines. These protocols categorized trauma patients and constituted a guide for emergency personnel. Developing a trauma center in Doña Ana County improved the New Mexico Trauma …

Comparing An Evidence-Based Screening Tool To Standard Substance Abuse Screening Questions In Identifying Pregnant Women At Risk For Substance Abuse, Nicole Y. Romero

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

The purpose of the study project was to compare a nonspecific substance screening questionnaire with a well validated, evidence-based substance screening tool designed specifically for the pregnant population Evidence has shown use of an evidence-based screening tool improves maternal and fetal outcomes and reduces the risk of missed cases, stereotyping, and stigma. This study project utilized the social learning theory model, which defines human behavior as a reciprocal, continuous interaction among cognitive, behavioral, and environmental determinants. A pilot observational study project was conducted within a focal organization in a specified women’s health clinic over a 12-week period comparing their currently …

The Impact Of Early Goal Directed Sepsis Bundle Sets In The Emergency Department And The Impact Of Sep-1 Compliance Rates, Christie L. Ferrari

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

Sepsis is a medical emergency that is prevalent throughout hospitals everywhere. Due to the growing crisis, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) in collaboration with the Surviving Sepsis Campaign (SSC) adopted core measures for sepsis (SEP-1) which aim at improving overall compliance of evidence-based treatment standards for sepsis. The purpose of this Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project was to determine if incorporating early goal directed sepsis bundles in a rural Midwestern ED was effective in increasing compliance with SEP-1 rates. The secondary purpose evaluated how nursing knowledge, awareness, and compliance with sepsis bundles affects SEP-1 compliance rates. …

Eastern European Orthodox Christian Immigrant Women: A Pilot Study And Needs Assessment, Kimberly A. Babich-Speck

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

The healthcare perceptions of the Eastern European Orthodox Christian immigrant women (EEOCIW) to the United States (U.S.) are under-represented in the literature. Although they appear similar to Americans, their cultural and religious traditions are outside the mainstream American culture. This pilot study and health needs assessment examines the women’s healthcare perceptions of 14 EEOCIW and identifies similarities and differences with 25 U.S. born Orthodox Christian women (USOCW). Between September and November 2020, interviews were conducted with Orthodox Christian immigrant women from Eastern Europe and Orthodox Christian women born in the U.S. Questions covered the perceptions of women’s healthcare, factors influencing …

Evaluating Va Nurse Acceptance Of Virtual Healthcare Technology During The Coronavirus Outbreak, Francesca Bryan-Couch

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

At a regional Veterans Administration (VA) hospital, nurses performing case management were unable to perform face-to-face visits with patients due to coronavirus. Care coordination and discharge planning efforts occurred through telephonic case management to preserve personal protective equipment and reduce transmission rates through social distancing. Trust and rapport between patients and nurses were reduced without personal contact. Peplau’s theory of interpersonal relations described six nurse roles and three phases of relationship development required to create therapeutic nurse-patient relationships. Connectedness was a key concept considered to be the path to a successful meaningful therapeutic nurse-patient relationship (Hrabe, 2005).

To evaluate current …

Report: Creating And Piloting A Survey To Determine Readiness In Rural Populations In Ohio, Annie Bowen, Kay Ball

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

In 2015, the Affordable Care Act and Medicaid expansion allowed over 700,000 Ohioans to gain access to healthcare insurance, but having health insurance did not improve access to healthcare providers. In rural populations in Ohio, there are several counties in which less than five healthcare providers are available for the entire county with little or no specialists available for patients. People in rural areas of Ohio may have significant travel time and distance to see a provider which decreases preventative health visits. Telehealth is the next big wave of technology and advancement for healthcare, but most rural populations in Ohio …

Poster: Creating And Piloting A Survey To Determine Readiness In Rural Populations In Ohio, Annie Bowen, Kay Ball

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

In 2015, the Affordable Care Act and Medicaid expansion allowed over 700,000 Ohioans to gain access to healthcare insurance, but having health insurance did not improve access to healthcare providers. In rural populations in Ohio, there are several counties in which less than five healthcare providers are available for the entire county with little or no specialists available for patients. People in rural areas of Ohio may have significant travel time and distance to see a provider which decreases preventative health visits. Telehealth is the next big wave of technology and advancement for healthcare, but most rural populations in Ohio …

Poster: The Opioid Epidemic: Assessment Of Primary Prevention Interventions In Muskingum County Public Schools, Terra Armstead

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

Understanding that the Opioid epidemic is much greater than an epidemic of mortality is critically important. This epidemic is also an epidemic of dependence, addiction, disability, and other severe adverse events affecting millions of people in the U.S. (Franklin, Sabel, Jones, Mai, & Baumgarter, 2015). The opiod epidemic is complex and can be considered a man made epidemic.

The Opioid Epidemic: Assessment Of Primary Prevention Interventions In Muskingum County Public Schools, Terra Armstead

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

Understanding that the Opioid epidemic is much greater than an epidemic of mortality is critically important. This epidemic is also an epidemic of dependence, addiction, disability, and other severe adverse events affecting millions of people in the U.S. (Franklin, Sabel, Jones, Mai, & Baumgarter, 2015). The opiod epidemic is complex and can be considered a man made epidemic.