Occupational and Environmental Health Nursing Commons^™

Evaluation Of A Brief Mindfulness-Based Intervention Of Work-Related Stress, Job Satisfaction, Retention, And Quality Care: A Quality Improvement (Qi) Project, Laura M. Bragg

DNP Projects

Burnout among advanced practice providers (APPs) remains a significant concern nationally and within the University of Kentucky Healthcare system, with post-COVID evidence showing persistently elevated stress and emotional exhaustion. This quality improvement (QI) project implemented and evaluated a brief, app-based mindfulness intervention using the Headspace “Learn the Basics of Meditation” program for work-related stress, job satisfaction, mindfulness, and retention intentions among APPs. A one-group pre-post design was implemented, with 45 APPs completing the pre-intervention survey and four completing both the pre- and post-intervention surveys. Although no statistically significant improvements were observed, nonsignificant decreases in emotional exhaustion, fatigue, and turnover intention …

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Among Critical Care Nurses Caring For Covid-19 Patients, Marwa Abdo

Nursing

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has significantly impacted global health, with a substantial number of severe cases requiring admission to isolated intensive care units (ICUs). This unprecedented situation exposed critical care nurses (CCNs) to a highly stressful traumatic environment, placing them at increased risk for developing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Early identification and intervention for PTSD are crucial to mitigate the negative consequences for nurses' well-being, job performance, and overall quality of life. Aim: This study aimed to assess post-traumatic stress disorder among CCNs caring for COVID-19 patients. Method: A descriptive cross-sectional design with a convenience sample of 109 CCNs …

Nurses’ Empathy, Burnout, And Contentment With Life In Turkey, Sevinç Mersin, Özlem İbrahimoğlu, Merve Tuncer, Ali Arslanoğlu

Makara Journal of Health Research

Background: Empathy has various consequences for nurses. Therefore, its effects on nurses should be identified. Thus, this study aimed to determine the relationships between empathy, burnout, and level of contentment with life in nurses and the characteristics that affect them.

Methods: This descriptive–correlational study was conducted on 653 nurses in Turkey between November and December 2021. Data were collected using an information form, the Basic Empathy Scale, Burnout Measure Short Scale, and Contentment with Life Assessment Scale.

Results: A positive, weak, and significant relationship was noted between the mean Basic Empathy Scale and Burnout Measure Scale scores. …

Stress Management Education Module For Nursing Students, Valentina Loreto-Ashley

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

Abstract

Background. Stress refers to a state of mental tension caused by a difficult situation. Research indicates that stress negatively affects university students.

Problem. Researchers have found that 30% of undergraduate nursing students have symptoms of burnout resulting from an overaccumulation of stressors and 97.8% were at moderate risk for developing burnout.

Approach. An educational module consisting of a 15-minute YouTube videos was designed, developed, and implemented to increase awareness about stress, reduce feelings of anxiety, and identify integration potential of such a module in nursing education to promote student well-being. Participants completed an online survey before …

Improving Performance And Documentation Of The Bedside Mobility Assessment Tool, Joseph P. Chellew

Master's Projects and Capstones

Objectives: Decreased patient mobility is associated with negative health outcomes including decreased functional capacity, pressure injuries, deep vein thrombosis, and bloodstream infections (Yasmeen et al., 2020). Early and increased mobilization mitigates these complications and is associated with positive outcomes (Wang et al., 2020). The Bedside Mobility Assessment Tool 2.0 (BMAT) is a mobility assessment that guides the selection of equipment to safely mobilize patients (Boynton et al., 2020). Aim: This quality improvement project aims to increase BMAT documentation compliance by 10% in three medical-surgical units at Hospital A where only 31.3% of patients were assessed per day using the BMAT. …

Munchausen Syndrome By Proxy Presentation, Giovanna Tomassoni, Meredith Mackenzie

Master's Projects

Munchausen syndrome by proxy (MSBP) is a serious form of child abuse in which the perpetrator is typically the victim’s maternal caregiver. Assessing for MSBP can be very challenging for medical providers due to symptom mimicry and a dearth of information about the disorder. This Integrative Review seeks to shine a light on common symptomatology of MSBP and to make sure that providers leave it on the differential diagnosis until alternative diagnoses can effectively exclude it. A total of 240 records from online databases were reviewing for content, currency, and rigor. This search was narrowed to 10 records for in-depth …

Effectively Addressing Hospital-Acquired Pressure Injuries With A Multidisciplinary Approach, Nicki Roderman, Shandlie Wilcox, Andrew Beal

HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine

Background

Hospital-acquired pressure injuries (HAPIs) result in patient harm, discomfort, and even death, with an estimated 2.5 million HAPIs occurring annually in the United States. These pressure injuries from prolonged pressure on the skin and deeper tissues cause reduced blood flow and the breakdown of skin and tissues, resulting in wounds. Additionally, these injuries contribute to longer hospital stays and increased health care costs. Hospitals have programs aimed at reducing HAPIs as well as ongoing surveillance to identify new trends early on. This ongoing monitoring revealed a trend early at our institution that HAPIs were 66% higher than the national …

Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infection Reduction In Hemodialysis Patients Across 9 Hospitals And 3 States, Nicki Roderman, Kasadi Moore, Shandlie Wilcox, Jennifer Jellerson, Zoey Bridges

HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine

Background

This quality improvement project was initiated to reduce hospital-acquired catheter-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI) in hospitalized patients receiving dialysis. A team dedicated to reducing hospital-acquired infections led the implementation of evidence-based interventions across all the included hospitals. This innovative approach demonstrated substantial enhancements in outcomes for patients on hemodialysis.

Methods

To enhance patient safety in patients receiving hemodialysis, new strategies were implemented, including (1) transitioning from a vendor model to an internal model, enabling dialysis program standardization, (2) empowering intensive care nurses with increased autonomy and ownership, (3) transitioning to a standardized dialysis machine, and (4) introducing chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) …

Reducing The Incidence Of Frequent Hospital Readmissions In Veterans Population, Dasari Reddy

Student Scholarly Projects

Practice Problem: Veterans hospital readmission problems are challenging, specifically in the heart failure department, which severely impacts the patient's health, mortality, family, and quality of life. Frequent readmissions increase the usage cost, hospital budget, and loss of time from providers to other veterans, and failure to meet the key guidelines of the Center for Medicare and Medicaid for improvement.

PICOT: The PICOT question that guided this project was, in veterans with heart failure and one or more frequent hospital readmissions discharged in the last 30 days(P), does the appointment of a dedicated discharge nurse practitioner as a coordinator(I), compared to …

Improving Firefighter Health Through Education In Sleep Science, Elisabeth J. Filiss

Master's Projects and Capstones

Sleep impacts all aspects of life, from mental health to physical well-being to job performance. Nowhere is this more important than in the fire service, where extreme working conditions are the norm. One of 44 stations in a large fire department (XFD), Firehouse X, has 21 full-time members, six on duty per shift. A microsystem assessment of Firehouse X revealed poor sleep habits and environmental factors that are not conducive to quality sleep. The role of sleep in the fire service has recently been examined, and interventions aimed at improving firefighters’ sleep have been recommended.

This quality improvement project implemented …

Nurse Retention Amid Workplace Adversity: Examining Strategies And Outcomes, Horace Smith

Student Scholarly Projects

Practice Problem: This project aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of nurse retention strategies in enhancing job satisfaction, focusing primarily on Emergency Department (ED) Registered Nurses (RNs). A comprehensive approach was adopted within the ED of a veteran hospital in the Southeast, aimed at promoting staff retention.

PICOT: The PICOT question guiding this project is as follows: In a veteran hospital's Emergency Room (ER) located in the southeast (P), how does the implementation of nurse retention strategies (I) compared to current standards (C) increase their job satisfaction (O) over a period of ten weeks (T)?

Evidence: This project …

Evaluation Of A Smoking Cessation Program In Primary Care, Yolanda Duncan-Watt

Dissertations

Abstract

Problem: The adult tobacco smoking rate exceeds 12.5%. The problem is the insufficient attention given to smoking cessation education in low socioeconomic status(SES) communities. There is a lack of access to and awareness of smoking cessation programs for low-income populations.

Methods: This quality improvement (QI) study will use a descriptive, observational approach. A retrospective medical record review will be conducted to determine the rate of individuals who got the smoking cessation intervention and the rate of those who successfully quit one month after the intervention. Data was collected throughout the spring of 2024, during primary care visits and phone …

A Quality Improvement Project To Reduce Facility-Acquired Pressure Injuries, Carolina Rosario

All Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Scholarly Projects

Problem: Facility-acquired pressure injuries (FAPIs) pose significant risks to patient outcomes and healthcare costs ($500 to $70,000 per PI) in subacute rehabilitation (SAR) facilities. An assessment in a SAR identified a concerning pressure injury (PI) rate of 15.3%, exceeding the national benchmark of 10% for such facilities. This prompted an evidence-based quality improvement (QI) initiative.

Aim of the Project: This project aimed to reduce FAPI rates by 30% or greater among patients 65 and older using a PI prevention bundle called SSKINS (Skin, Surface, Keep moving, Incontinence/moisture, Nutrition/hydration, Self-management).

Review of the Evidence: A comprehensive literature review indicated that PIs …

Stakeholder Involvement And Systematic Review Of Elements That Determine A Successful Return To Work For Injured Workers: A Scoping Review, Sundip Kaur Khosa, Wilma Jelley Professor

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Introduction: A healthy and sustainable return to work (RTW) for a worker after injury or illness has benefits for the worker, their family, the employer, and society.¹ For this research we used the following definition of RTW success; return to positive and meaningful work in a position or occupation not necessarily including all the aspects of the worker’s pre-injury or pre-illness functions or tasks. Purpose: The question behind this survey-based research was, What elements are perceived as essential, to ensure return to employment of injured or ill workers, by stakeholders with experience in the RTW process? Methods: A 32 …

Effects And Nursing Considerations For Equine-Assisted Activities And Therapies For Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Literature Review, Namiko Kawamura, Mayu Sakamoto, Kayoko Machida

People and Animals: The International Journal of Research and Practice

This literature review aimed to analyze the effects and nursing challenges associated with equine-assisted activities and therapies (EAATs) for children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). The study utilized the PubMed, CINAHL, and MEDLINE databases to identify 24 relevant articles. The effective contents were classified into two major categories: effects on interpersonal relationships, and effects attributable to the physical and emotional aspects of the lives of the children. The medical staff involved were mainly occupational therapists, followed by physical therapists and speech-language pathologists. The included studies also mention the involvement of trained equine therapists and volunteers, but not the involvement of …

Addressing Farm Safety: Farm Safety Dinner Theaters In The Shenandoah Valley, Tammy Kiser, Michelle Seekford, Jeremy Daubert

Virginia Journal of Public Health

Statistics demonstrate that farm safety and wellness issues affect all ages in the agricultural community. However, an increased proportion of youth and older farm workers comprise the highest rates of farm-related morbidity and mortality. Engaging farmers in increasing safe practices in the agricultural community is an important, ongoing challenge.

Methodology

Farm Safety Dinner Theaters, an initiative created through community-based participatory research (CBPR) at the University of Kentucky, provide a relaxed environment where farmers and their families can identify safety and wellness issues, watch as the actors process these issues, and enjoy a meal. Seeing the situations played out in theater …

Improving Healthcare Workers’ Biohazardous Spill Safe Handling Skills, Zeina Mhanna, Ahmad Tassi

BAU Journal - Health and Wellbeing

All healthcare workers (HCWs) are exposed to biohazardous material. Biohazardous material may come in the form of spills, posing a risk of infection to (HCWs) who are not trained on how to safely handle them. While international guidelines recommend training HCWs on how to safely handle biohazardous spills in order to improve their skills, there are no studies that tackled this recommendation. The aim of this study is to improve HCWs’ biohazardous spill safe handling skills through training, and to evaluate the association between the HCWs’ improvement level and demographical characteristics. The study was conducted in a Southern Lebanese hospital …

The Lived Experience Of Nurses In Caring For Patients With Covid-19, Jessica Barre

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Limited research exists about the experiences of nurses’ caring for patients during the COVID-19 pandemic post hoc. To understand nurses’ realities of caring for patients with COVID-19, I aimed to understand the lived experience of nurses caring for patients with COVID-19 in the United States. A qualitative design with a hermeneutic phenomenological methodology was used. Sixteen participants were recruited via purposive sampling, augmented with snowball sampling. Data were collected through unstructured interviews and were analyzed using Braun and Clarke’s Reflexive Thematic Analysis. Nurses’ experiences of caring for patients with COVID-19 in the U.S. were consolidated into four themes: “a living …

Cultural Education Interventions Impact On Cultural Competence, Kaylie V. Griffin Ms

ONU Student Research Colloquium

Problem: In the United States, there is a substantial increase in diversity. This increase in diversity poses multiple challenges for healthcare workers and healthcare systems. Because nurses care for patients with various cultural backgrounds, health beliefs and practices, and languages, cultural competency plays a pivotal role in providing patient-centered care. There is a need to enhance cultural education for healthcare workers to ensure that healthcare workers have the skills and knowledge to effectively engage with all patient populations. Implementing cultural education interventions seeks to increase healthcare workers' competency, communication, and patient outcomes. Purpose: The purpose of this research question is …

The Effect Of Continuous Glucose Monitoring On Glucose Control And Re-Hospitalizations In Type Ii Diabetes Mellitus Patients, Susan Ferguson

The Eleanor Mann School of Nursing DNP Capstone Projects

Purpose: This Program Development and Evaluation project was designed to improve the management of patients with type II diabetes mellitus through the implementation of a combined in-patient discharge protocol and outpatient continuous glucose monitoring protocol follow-up plan in a diabetes clinic following discharge from a rural-based acute facility hospitalization.

Method: This quasi-experimental project was based on Rosswurm and Larrabee's Model for Change framework. Outcome measures analyzed type II diabetes mellitus patients to assess the effects of a continuous glucose monitoring discharge protocol on pre- and post-glycemic levels, rehospitalizations, and patient (n=2) and provider knowledge (n=4) obtainment.

Results: In a comparison …