Occupational and Environmental Health Nursing Commons^™

Nursing Retention In Critical Care, Jeannine A. Eckman

Nursing Theses and Capstone Projects

The purpose of the study was to examine anticipated turnover in critical care nurses and if having previous nursing experience prior to working in critical care affects that turnover. Using the Anticipated Turnover Scale (ATS) by Hinson and Atwood, nurses that had been employed in the critical care areas five years or less were asked to participate. They were asked to complete the ATS and answer the question relating to previous nursing experience. Findings of the study indicated that the nurses with previous nursing experience before working in critical care had a higher ATS score than the nurses with no …

Knowledge Of The Risks Of Heart Disease In Uninsured And Insured Persons With Diabetes In A Rural Community In Southeastern United States, Lisa S. Howard

Nursing Theses and Capstone Projects

Diabetes and heart disease are chronic illnesses affecting many lives in the United States. Both diseases have complications, and when coupled together, the mortality rate and risk of complications increase. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in most countries across the world, and the majority of individuals diagnosed with diabetes die of a heart disease complication. Literature review reveals a plethora of research regarding the relationship between diabetes and heart disease, but limited research was found regarding health disparities with diabetes and heart disease awareness. No research was found assessing the knowledge base regarding diabetes and heart disease …

Interprofessional Simulations: Student Attitudes And Effects On Sbar Performance, Michele A. Pfaff

Nursing Theses and Capstone Projects

National healthcare organizations recommend innovative educational initiatives and fundamental changes in the way healthcare providers are educated. Educational strategies that incorporate collaboration have been shown to impact professional behaviors and competency. Improved student attitudes toward collaboration and increased understanding of professional roles are impacted by exposure to simulation and interprofessional education. The purpose of the Interprofessional Simulation Project was to determine whether the type of clinical simulation experience (traditional versus interprofessional) influences nursing students' knowledge and performance of skilled communication. Additionally, the project investigated attitudes toward collaboration in an educational setting. A quantitative pretest and posttest design was utilized to …

Evaluating The Relationship Between Preadmission Assessment Examination Scores And First-Time Nclex-Rn Success, Elizabeth Pyatte Payne

Nursing Theses and Capstone Projects

The relationship between preadmission assessment composite and reading scores and first-time National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) success was evaluated in this study. Following an extensive literature review, the researcher hypothesized that students who score at or above the national average on the Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) composite score and/or reading score are more likely to be successful on the first attempt of the NCLEX-RN examination. Utilizing archived student records from a rural community college in western North Carolina, a convenience sample of 59 graduates from May 2012 and 2013 was used. Findings of this study …

Job Satisfaction And Retention Of Registered Nurses At A Small Rural Hospital In Southeastern United States, Rachael M. Drake

Nursing Theses and Capstone Projects

This research project embarked upon an investigation related to the retention of nurses at a small hospital in the Southeastern United States. The research question that guided this study asked, `what were the factors affecting nurse satisfaction at this health care facility? Many variables were explored as answers sought through surveys and documented reviews emerged. From a sample of 65 (n=65) respondents to a survey it was discovered that salary, vacation, opportunities to work straight days, compensation for working weekends, weekends off, nursing peers, physician the nurse works with, opportunities to interact professionally with other disciplines, recognition of work from …

Non-Pharmacological Interventions Project: Treatment For Dementia, Mandy Richards

Nursing Theses and Capstone Projects

In response to the Office of Inspector General's research report on atypical antipsychotic off label treatment of elderly dementia residents in long-term care, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services developed a non-pharmacological intervention known as the Hand In Hand training tool. This projects focus was on training the direct care nursing staff with the Hand In Hand tool and evaluating for decrease in behavior and psychological symptoms in their patients. A retrospective chart review was utilized for the Minimum Data Sets tool Brief Interview of Mental Status (BIMS) and Mood interview. Pre training and post training scores were analyzed …

Utilizing Early Simulation To Increase Clinical Confidence In Novice Nursing Students, Dana R. Martin

Nursing Theses and Capstone Projects

The purpose of this project was to determine if early simulation would increase the clinical confidence of novice nursing students. A convenience sample of 20 junior nursing students in their first semester of a baccalaureate nursing program within a small, rural university participated in the project prior to their first clinical experience. The students were administered the Confidence Scale as a pre-test prior to the early simulation experience which consisted of a scenario comparable to what the students would experience in the clinical setting. After the simulation, the primary investigator facilitated a debriefing exercise and then administered the Confidence Scale …

The Effect Of Virtual-Learning On The Cultural Awareness Of Nursing Students, Nicole Waters

Nursing Theses and Capstone Projects

This Capstone Project examined the effect of virtual-learning on the cultural awareness of nursing students. A convenience sample of 125 students enrolled in the advanced health assessment course in the Registered Nurse to Bachelor in Science in Nursing (RN to BSN) Program were included in the sample for this project. Of the 125 students, 53 completed pre-test surveys were submitted, resulting in a response rate of 42%, and 43 completed post-test surveys were submitted, resulting in a response rate of 34%. Descriptive statistics and measures of central tendencies were used to compare the overall mean score for the responses of …

Nurse Manager Role Perception In An Acute Care Facility, H. Gale Waters

Nursing Theses and Capstone Projects

The Nurse Manager role is a crucial part of the healthcare delivery system in an acute care facility, particularly in the current wave of healthcare reform. These are unprecedented times for nursing leadership as they develop and move in a new direction. The role of Nurse Manager is complex with numerous studies including: past roles, characteristics, innovation, outcome, education, and advancement. This study observed the role through the point of view of the Nurse Manager. The Nurse Managers participated in a survey in which they ranked themselves on a one to five scale, with one being a novice in the …

Adaptation Of Kenyan-Born Registered Nurses Into The American Healthcare System, Emily Tangwar

Nursing Theses and Capstone Projects

Kenyan-born nurses (KBNs) continue to be an important part of the nursing workforce in the United States of America (USA). They bring their skills, knowledge, and experience to their new areas of nursing practice. Even though it may be challenging to adapt, Kenyan Nurse's skills, knowledge, and experiences may be enhanced by successfully integrating them in the American healthcare system. Some of these challenges include socio-cultural difference; structure of healthcare systems; technology; language such as abbreviations, expressions, and phrases; and new environment. This study will be conducted using a quantitative research method and purposeful survey of 20 KBNs using Cross …

The Effects Of Oral Pain Medication Being Administered In Phase I As Compared To Oral Pain Medications Administered In Phase Ii, Dana Jones

Nursing Theses and Capstone Projects

Healthcare and the provision of care are ever-changing as governing bodies over-see and regulate the way institutions provide care for patients. Pain assessment, reassessment, and pain management are a focus nationally and healthcare providers are held accountable for how pain is managed for patients. One piece to this broad topic is the use of oral pain medications, more specifically in the ambulatory surgical patient. The purpose of this project was to compare the length of stay, reported pain scores, and total amount of IV medications administered between patients who receive the first dose of oral pain medications in Phase I …

Impact Of Nurse Managers' Leadership Styles On Staff Nurses' Intent To Turnover, Joseph Warren L. Perez

Nursing Theses and Capstone Projects

Nurse Managers have the unenviable responsibility of ensuring that nursing staff are engaged and perform their duties to the best of their abilities. Maintaining an environment conducive to maximizing nurses' potentials resulting in retention may be a by-product of an effective leadership style. The purpose of this study was to determine whether nurse managers' leadership styles have an impact on nurses' intent to turnover. Nurse Managers with more than one year of management experience were asked to complete the Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire (MLQ-5X). The 45-item questionnaire rates the participant's leadership style based on the answers provided. Results were then compared …

South Carolina School Nurses' Knowledge, Opinions, Perceptions, And Practice Measures Regarding Childhood Obesity, Logan Camp

Nursing Theses and Capstone Projects

Childhood obesity has become a significant national health issue due to rising incidences and associated chronic medical conditions. School nurses across the United States of America are in prime positions to address childhood obesity as they have access to large numbers of children and adolescents in school settings. A review of current literature demonstrated that school nurses were overall knowledgeable concerning childhood obesity, but encountered numerous barriers in enacting weight-related assessments and treatment programs. The purpose of this research study was to determine the knowledge, opinions, perceptions, and practice measures of South Carolina school nurses regarding childhood obesity. The "School …

Nursing Knowledge And Attitudes Toward Pain Management, Joycelyn A. Craig

Nursing Theses and Capstone Projects

In many clinical settings, nurses have a vital role in pain assessment and titration of opioid doses. Surveys of nurses have revealed knowledge deficits in these areas that are thought to contribute to under-treatment of pain. The present study surveys nurses' knowledge and attitudes about assessment and treatment of pain and confirms that nurses continue to undertreat pain. As shown in previous studies, nurses may be more influenced by the patient's behavior than the patient's self-report of pain, especially in relation to decisions about opioid administration. Nurses are less likely to manage a previously safe but ineffective dose of opioid …

Predicting Post-Deployment Family Adaptation In U.S. Navy Families, Micah A. Scott, Esther H. Condon, Arlene J. Montgomery, Spencer R. Baker

Ellmer School of Nursing Faculty Publications

Background: Although military families worldwide face changes that include adapting to peace and wartime deployments, few studies have explored how military families adapt to the post-deployment return of a service member.

Objectives: To identify variables that predicted post-deployment adaptation of U.S. Navy families.

Methods: A mixed method study guided by the Roy Adaptation Model included a convenience sample of 142 spouses of service members recently returned from deployment. The degree to which length of deployment, prior deployments, and years married, number of children, participation in religious and family support groups, communication, race, and interdependence predicted post-deployment family adaptation was tested. …

Patient Education And Coumadin (Warfarin) Therapy: Readmission Rates Pre/Post Coumadin Team Initiation, Rebecca L. Barber

Nursing Theses and Capstone Projects

As a response to the 2011 National Patient Safety Goals (NPSG), a Coumadin Team, consisting of a Physician Chair, Pharmacists, and Registered Nurses, was formed at Mission Health System to focus on International Normalized Ratio (INR) testing, Coumadin dosing, and patient education. The goal of this team has been to identify and eliminate barriers that prevent the stabilization of INRs within the prescribed goal range, and to ensure that all patients receive education about Coumadin therapy in order to prevent harm and reduce readmission rates related to Coumadin therapy. The purpose of this study is to compare readmission rates within …

Relationship Between Psychotropic Drugs And Falls In The Geriatric Population, Lauren E. Fletcher Crotts

Nursing Theses and Capstone Projects

Falls in the geriatric population are extremely common and the risk for falls continues to increase with age. Falls are a leading cause of mortality in the geriatric population, and it is the number one reason for institutionalization in the United States. The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship of the prescribing effects of psychotropic medications such as antidepressants, benzodiazepines, and antipsychotics on falls in the geriatric population who live in a long term care community with a diagnosis of depression, dementia, anxiety, delirium, and Alzheimer's disease. The literature provided mixed conclusions on the effects of psychotropic …

Academic Incivility In Nursing Education, Sherrie Marlow

Nursing Theses and Capstone Projects

A well-documented and growing problem impacting the nursing shortage in the United States is the increasing shortage of qualified nursing faculty. Many factors contribute to the nursing faculty shortage such as retirement, dissatisfaction with the nursing faculty role and low salary compensation (American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), 2005; Allen, 2008; National League of Nursing (NLN), 2010; American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), 2011). Academic incivility has been identified as contributing to nursing faculty role dissatisfaction (Clark & Springer 2010). Academic incivility diminishes the presence of a caring environment, lowers an individual's self-esteem, and negatively impacts the formation …

Cultural Bias Education Of Nursing Faculty, Frank Castelblanco

Nursing Theses and Capstone Projects

A cultural bias education seminar was presented to nursing faculty at a private university in Western North Carolina in an attempt to increase the level of cultural competence. Leininger's "Culture Care and Universality"; a nursing theory was used as the theoretical framework for the project and Campinha-Bacote's Inventory for Assessing the Process of Cultural Competency Among Healthcare Professionals, Revised (IAPCC-R) was employed to measure the pre- and post-cultural competence levels of the nursing faculty. The faculty voluntarily completed the pre-assessment, the seminar was completed and 17 participants completed the post assessment. The statistical findings illustrated an increase in total cultural …

Evidence Based Practice: Patient Discharge Education Barriers To Patient Education, Catherine Lyerly Lingle

Nursing Theses and Capstone Projects

Evidence-based guidelines for discharge instructions, when successfully administered, reduce readmission rates in patients, leading to improved quality of life and economic savings. Unfortunately, effective delivery is complex and time consuming, placing a high demand on already overworked bedside nurses. Failure to provide complete discharge instructions can result in non adherence to patient treatment regimens and lack of essential follow-up, the most commonly identified reasons for readmissions. To improve quality of care, hospitals need to adopt a new model that incorporates delivery of intensive, one on one education to patients during the hospital stay with continuing support, guidance, and education throughout …