Public Health and Community Nursing Commons^™

Maine's Breastfeeding Gap: How Initiation And Duration Differ By Socioeconomic Status, Zoe Miller

Thinking Matters Symposium Archive

The preventive health benefits of breastfeeding for both mothers and children are widely recognized. Leading health authorities recommend exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life.

Though breastfeeding rates in the United States have been increasing for the past decade, significant disparities continue across race and socioeconomic status.

Childhood Obesity In School-Aged Children: A Public Health Crisis, Carrie St. Hilaire (Class Of 2015)

SHU Undergraduate Works

Childhood obesity is a public and community health problem with real and serious consequences. Public health (school) nurses are in prime positions to advance change by promoting healthy food choices, encouraging an active and healthy lifestyle, and educating children, families, and communities as to the benefits of these choices. Our children are our future, and by making lifestyle changes together we can move forward toward a healthier future for all.

An Evaluation Of Patient Satisfaction With Telephone Follow-Up In An Urgent Care, Audia L. Ellis

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

Telephone follow-up (TFU) is a very valuable innovation. It is a service that is found to be desirable by both patients and health care professionals. It has been utilized successfully in a variety of settings, however, evidence of its use or evaluation of its use in the urgent care setting has not been found. Through evaluation of patient satisfaction (PS) with use of the protocol, new cost and labor effective interventions were constructed and implemented with the goal of meeting patients’ needs.

This study utilized mixed method methodology and employed a descriptive design. Convenience sampling was utilized and a sample …

Sexually Transmitted Disease Education And Effects On Condom Use In College Students, Patricia Alvarez

Doctoral Projects

In the United States, nearly 50% of the sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) reported each year occur in adolescents and young adults ages 15-24. An IRB approved, exploratory mix method research study was conducted in a California Community College to investigate participants' opinions on STD education tools, effectiveness, and to rank preferred instructional methods used in 51h-12'h grades. One hundred and thirteen students participated and reported use of variety of educational tools with the lecture technique selected by almost 80% surveyed. Demonstration of condom application had highest percent ranked as number one for the preferred educational tool; yet had the least …

Sternal Precautions: Is It Necessary To Restrict Our Patients?, Lauren Belyea

Honors College Theses

This paper is based on the inquiry about the effects of sternal precautions as part of a patient’s recovery following a sternotomy. It is important to explore this because nurses should always be asking themselves “why am I doing what I am doing with my patients?” “Which of my practices are evidence based and which do not have any evidence to support them?” (MeInyk, 2009). If sternal precautions are indeed overly restrictive and preventing patients from achieving the best possible recovery outcomes, it is the job of the nurse and other healthcare providers to make changes to the current practice.

The Benefits Of Breastfeeding, Helen L. Byers

Senior Honors Theses

It is important to educate women of childbearing age, their families, and society of the benefits that breastfeeding has over bottle-feeding and formula-feeding. The benefits of breastfeeding are in three main categories. First, the developmental, physical, emotional, and spiritual benefits of the baby will be discussed. Then the physical, emotional, and spiritual benefits for the mother will be talked about along with possible contraindications or difficulties. Finally, the financial benefits of breastfeeding over feeding an infant from the bottle will be discussed as it relates to the family and government. The goal is to persuade that breastfeeding is a superior …

The Youth Health Summit, North Carolina: A University-Community Partnership To Promote Health Among Rural Youth, Janie Canty-Mitchell Ph.D., R.N., Musarrat Nahid M.Sc.

National Youth Advocacy & Resilience Conference

Learn how to build partnership with educators, researchers, and practitioners in order to develop educational programs, such as, the Youth Health Summit- a university initiated program undertaken in collaboration with schools and healthcare organizations to promote mental and physical health and create awareness about HIV/AIDS, substance abuse, teen pregnancy, and other hazards among rural middle school students in North Carolina.

Connecting Gender, Race, Class, And Immigration Status To Disease Management, Marie-Anne S. Rosemberg Phd, Mn, Rn, Jenny Hsin-Chun Tsai Phd, Arnp, Pmhcns-Bc

Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice

Objective: Chronic diseases are the leading causes of death in the United States. Chronic disease management occurs within all aspects of an individual’s life, including the workplace. Though the social constructs of gender, race, class, and immigration status within the workplace have been considered, their connection to disease management among workers has been less explicitly explored. Using a sample of immigrant hotel housekeepers, we explored the connections between these four social constructs and hypertension management.

Methods: This qualitative research study was guided by critical ethnography methodology. Twenty-seven hotel room cleaners and four housemen were recruited (N = 31) and …

The Impact Of Dentures On The Nutritional Health Of The Elderly, Michelle Gellar, Daniel Alter

Publications and Research

No abstract provided.

Parents Knowledge Of Child Passenger Safety Laws And Use Of Safety Restraints, Tracy Bell

Nursing Theses and Capstone Projects

The purpose of this study was to determine if there was an association between the parent’s knowledge of child passenger safety laws and the use of child passenger safety restraints. A review of current literature demonstrates barriers to incorrect use of child passenger safety seats. The literature demonstrated that multiple factors that are involved in inappropriate use of child passenger safety seats. The research was guided by Nola Pender’s framework for Health Promotion Model. The study was comprised of a convenience sample of 34 parents and caregivers from a child development center. Data was collected using the Child Passenger Safety …

A Grounded Theory Study Of How Parents Made The Decision About Residential Group Home Placement For Their Adult Child With Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities, Laura A. Prager Phd, Msn, Rn, Cddn, Cdcp

Faculty of Nursing Publications

Abstract Background: The parent caregivers of a child with an Intellectual Disability/Developmental Disability (ID/DD) face lifelong challenges that may at some point involve the decision about residential group home placement of the adult child. In the course of the child’s lifetime, the parents who have provided care may need to consider a safe alternative. The decision about residential group home placement of the adult child can be the result of numerous factors. Objective: The purpose of this qualitative inquiry was to investigate the phenomenon of how the parent caregivers made the decision for residential group home placement for their adult …

Mobile Nurse Practitioner: A Pilot Program To Address Service Gaps Experienced By Homeless Individuals, Joan Alviar Fraino

Nursing and Health Professions Student Research and Publications

An estimated 2.3 to 3.5 million individuals are homeless in the United States, many of whom have chronic medical and mental illnesses. Underserved individuals who are homeless experience gaps in services, resulting in poor health care outcomes and readmission to the hospital setting, often presenting in crisis through the emergency department. The financial state of hospitals is negatively impacted by the burden of patients returning to the hospital due to unresolved issues. The current article presents the role of a psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner as part of a pilot program, Opportunity Village Mobile Health, that provides a comprehensive approach to …

The Effect Of Community Education On Osteoporosis Knowledge, Avis O. Morrow

Nursing Theses and Capstone Projects

Osteoporosis is a metabolic disorder characterized by the loss of bone mass, increased bone fragility, and the increased risk of fractures. Bone loss is accelerated when the diet is deficient in vitamin D and calcium. The National Osteoporosis Foundation estimates that 57 million Americans are at risk for this disorder. The risk depends on the amount of bone mass achieved between ages 25-35 and how much bone loss occurs after that age. Bone loss increases after menopause. Lifestyle modifications needed include knowledge of vitamin D, calcium, and exercise recommendations.

Perceived Patient Satisfaction With Hospital Services And Interventions, Marietta Abernathy

Nursing Theses and Capstone Projects

The patient and family voice should be heard in the healthcare setting. Gaining knowledge and insight from a parent of a pediatric patient will allow hospital staff and administrators to see the hospital experience from the vantage point of a patient and family member (Uhl, Fisher, Docherty, & Brandon, 2013). It is important to continually review feedback and suggestions from families of pediatric patients to improve the care of future patients. Ultimately, this will improve patient satisfaction scores, but most importantly, it will improve the experience of pediatric patients (Creating patient and family advisory councils, 2010). The investigator interviewed ten …

Utilizing Motivational Interviewing To Promote Condom Use Self-Efficacy, Ann Maria Bell

Nursing Theses and Capstone Projects

Condom use is one of the most important preventive mechanisms available to combat sexually transmitted diseases and unintended pregnancies, yet over 70% of adolescents and young adults lack education on the proper use of condoms. Lack of education and confidence in using condoms contributes to a decrease in condom usage, resulting in increased rates of sexually transmitted diseases and unintended pregnancies. The purpose of Project Motivate was to determine if motivational interviewing significantly improves self-efficacy related to condom use among patients presenting for screening of sexually transmitted diseases. The project sought to determine if motivational interviewing is an effective intervention …

Rural Healthcare Providers' Behavioral Intentions With Hospice Referrals: Attitudes, Knowledge, Beliefs, Benefits And Barriers, Meki Jacobs Graham

Nursing Theses and Capstone Projects

As hospice programs gain recognition, hospice referrals are gaining momentum. Yet for multiple reasons hospice referrals are challenging amongst rural healthcare providers (HCPs). For rural healthcare providers, lack of knowledge about hospice services and care contributes to a decrease in hospice referrals. The purpose of this capstone project was to develop an intervention to improve rural health care providers' behavioral intention to make hospice referral. The study sought to determine if an educational intervention would improve behavioral intentions to make a hospice referral resulting in increased hospice referral rates. Outcome data was based on utilizing a pretest/posttest survey design. An …

Developing A Workplace Sexual Violence Framework Related To Women Truck Drivers, Kim Bourne

Nursing Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Mine Workers, Heat Related Illnesses, And The Role Of The Occupational Health Nurse, Kim Bourne

Nursing Faculty Publications

Across the United States, workers in m any occupations face weather and related extreme conditions on a daily basis. Hot weather and manual labor increase a person’s core body temperature. This heat gain comes from a combination of environmental and self-generated (or internal) heat. Environmental heat is both weather related and man-made, and internal heat is produced from metabolic processes (Xiang, Bi, Pisaniello, & Hansen, 2014). But, it’s just not the heat that causes problems; it’s the humidity, too. E ach year thousands of workers suffer heat related illnesses as a result of becoming overheated. Between June, 2013 and July, …

Scaled-Up Mobile Phone Intervention For Hiv Care And Treatment: Protocol For A Facility Randomized Controlled Trial, Kelly L'Engle, K Green, S M. Succop, A Laar, S Wambugu

Nursing and Health Professions Faculty Research and Publications

Background: Adherence to prevention, care, and treatment recommendations among people living with HIV (PLHIV) is a critical challenge. Yet good clinical outcomes depend on consistent, high adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) regimens. Mobile phones offer a promising means to improve patient adherence and health outcomes. However, limited information exists on the impact that mobile phones for health (mHealth) programs have on ART adherence or the behavior change processes through which such interventions may improve patient health, particularly among ongoing clients enrolled in large public sector HIV service delivery programs and key populations such as men who have sex with men …

Patient Centered Medical Home: Creating A Blueprint For Quality Healthcare Through Illustrative Simulation, Brenda Helen Sheingold, Deborah W. Chapa, Esther Emard

Nursing Faculty Publications

The advent of healthcare reform in the U.S. presents an unprecedented challenge to academic institutions that are striving to prepare a workforce to interact with individuals needing care in a variety of new practice settings. Patient-centered care is a core objective of these evolving settings which enhance access to a variety professionals and services in one location. This study was conducted over a period of three years and describes how illustrative simulation can be employed as a learning intervention to prepare graduate students for the expanded scope of practice necessary to function in the Patient Centered Medical Home healthcare delivery …

Quest For Health: An Early Beginning To A Lifelong Journey, Kerry P. Appleton

Theses and Graduate Projects

Childhood obesity has been cited as a modern day public health crisis. Despite the creation of many health education programs and interventions, the prevalence of childhood obesity remains largely unchanged. In response to this growing epidemic, nurses have been called to action to help mitigate health education disparities. The purpose of this project is to pool existing community resources to impact the general health of school-age children while influencing the health norms of their surrounding communities. A partnership between local school districts and a non-profit children's hospital has been created to provide health education to school age children in the …

Exploring The Relationships Between Mindfulness And Biobehavioral Factors Associated With Cvd In Women, Susan Ghodrat, Jo Lynne W. Robins

UROP Posters

Purpose: This study examined the relationship between mindfulness and specific biobehavioral factors associated with increased cardiovascular disease risk in women. Design: A secondary data analysis was conducted on baseline data collected in a larger study examining the effects of tai chi on cardiovascular disease risk in women. Subjects: 96 women aged 35-50 years with increased waist circumference and a family history of cardiovascular disease. Measures: Biological measures included: fasting glucose, insulin and lipids, as well as C-reactive protein and cytokines. Behavioral measures included: mindfulness, fatigue, perceived stress, depressive symptoms, social support, self-compassion and spiritual thoughts and behaviors. Results: Mindfulness was …

"A Compromise To Help The Community": Rural Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner Experiences, Rebecca R. Gonnering

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Victims of sexual assault require specialized medical care when they report to hospital emergency departments including physical examination, evidence collection, and emotional support. Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANEs) are medical professionals trained to complete the examination and evidence collection in a prompt and sensitive manner. In fact, where SANE programs exist, emergency room waiting times are shorter, evidence collection improves, and revictimization from untrained staff is reduced. Unfortunately, SANEs are not widely available, particularly in rural areas. This lack of trained examiners employed at local hospitals creates a gap in access to proper care, often resulting in long waits as …

Relationship Between Nurses' Job Satisfaction And Quality Of Healthcare They Deliver, Samuel Aron

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

The purpose of this study was to examine nurses’ perception of the relationship between job satisfaction and quality of care they deliver, and barriers to a quality care. Data for this cross-sectional study was collected using a paper survey developed by the researcher. This 28-item questionnaire assessed nurses’ perception of the relationship between job satisfaction and the quality of care they deliver, and factors that affect the delivery of a quality care and job satisfaction. The questionnaire was distributed to 80 nurses (RNs, LPNs, and nursing assistants) who work in direct patient care at a small Minnesota hospital. Analysis included …

An Assessment Of Knowledge And Attitude Towards Stock Epinephrine Among Kentucky School Nurses, Brandi M. Duran

DNP Projects

This cross-sectional, pre-post intervention study was designed to gather information on Kentucky School Nurses attitude and knowledge toward non-prescribed epinephrine auto injectors in Kentucky Schools. All 500 members of the Kentucky Schools Nurses Association received a link to the pretest, educational intervention and posttest via email. Of those, 75 nurses responded and 72 were eligible to participate in the study. The data was analyzed through a paired t-test using SPSS. The results showed an increase in level of comfort with epinephrine, although it was not statistically significant. There was a statistical significance between the pretest and posttest when school nurses …

The Balanced Counseling Strategy Plus: A Toolkit For Family Planning Service Providers Working In High Hiv/Sti Prevalence Settings (Supplemental Material In French), Population Council

Reproductive Health

The Balanced Counseling Strategy Plus (BCS+) toolkit, developed and tested in Kenya and South Africa, provides information and materials that healthcare providers need to offer complete, high-quality family planning counseling to clients living in areas with high rates of HIV and STIs. Content is in accordance with the 2015 WHO Medical Eligibility Criteria. The BCS+ provides evidence on clinical indications for the provision of family planning methods, counseling cards, instructions for providers, and guidance for supplemental counseling and services that family planning clients may need. The BCS+ includes user's guide, trainer's guide, algorithm, method brochures, and counseling cards. This publication …

The Balanced Counseling Strategy Plus: A Toolkit For Family Planning Service Providers Working In High Hiv/Sti Prevalence Settings, Population Council

Reproductive Health

The Balanced Counseling Strategy Plus (BCS+) toolkit, developed and tested in Kenya and South Africa, provides information and materials that healthcare providers need to offer complete, high-quality family planning counseling to clients living in areas with high rates of HIV and STIs. Content is in accordance with the 2015 WHO Medical Eligibility Criteria. The BCS+ provides evidence on clinical indications for the provision of family planning methods, counseling cards, instructions for providers, and guidance for supplemental counseling and services that family planning clients may need. This publication is the English language version of the user's guide, trainer's guide, algorithm, method …

The Balanced Counseling Strategy Plus: A Toolkit For Family Planning Service Providers Working In High Hiv/Sti Prevalence Settings (With Zika Information), Population Council

Reproductive Health

The Balanced Counseling Strategy Plus (BCS+) toolkit, developed and tested in Kenya and South Africa, provides information and materials that healthcare providers need to offer complete, high-quality family planning counseling to clients living in areas with high rates of HIV and STIs. Content is in accordance with the 2015 WHO Medical Eligibility Criteria. The BCS+ provides evidence on clinical indications for the provision of family planning methods, counseling cards, instructions for providers, and guidance for supplemental counseling and services that family planning clients may need. This publication is the English language version with Zika information of the user's guide, trainer's …

The Balanced Counseling Strategy Plus: A Toolkit For Family Planning Service Providers Working In High Hiv/Sti Prevalence Settings (Supplemental Material In Dari), Population Council

Reproductive Health

The Balanced Counseling Strategy Plus (BCS+) toolkit, developed and tested in Kenya and South Africa, provides information and materials that healthcare providers need to offer complete, high-quality family planning counseling to clients living in areas with high rates of HIV and STIs. Content is in accordance with the 2015 WHO Medical Eligibility Criteria. The BCS+ provides evidence on clinical indications for the provision of family planning methods, counseling cards, instructions for providers, and guidance for supplemental counseling and services that family planning clients may need. The BCS+ includes user's guide, trainer's guide, algorithm, method brochures, and counseling cards. This publication …

The Balanced Counseling Strategy Plus: A Toolkit For Family Planning Service Providers Working In High Hiv/Sti Prevalence Settings (Spanish Translation), Population Council

Reproductive Health

The Balanced Counseling Strategy Plus (BCS+) toolkit, developed and tested in Kenya and South Africa, provides information and materials that healthcare providers need to offer complete, high-quality family planning counseling to clients living in areas with high rates of HIV and STIs. Content is in accordance with the 2015 WHO Medical Eligibility Criteria. The BCS+ provides evidence on clinical indications for the provision of family planning methods, counseling cards, instructions for providers, and guidance for supplemental counseling and services that family planning clients may need. This publication is the Spanish language version of the user's guide, trainer's guide, algorithm, method …