Occupational and Environmental Health Nursing Commons^™

Exploring Medical-Surgical Nurse Turnover And Stratagies, Amber D. Weaver

Nursing Theses and Capstone Projects

This study explored the issue of medical-surgical unit nurse turnover and strategies to create nurse retention. The goal of this study was to provide nursing administrators with data that shows the cause of nurse turnover in this nursing specialty. The hypothesis was that there will be findings to indicate that medical-surgical nurses are at increased risk for employment turnover due to increased patient load and patient turnover. To study this concept, the Revised Casey-Fink Nurse Retention Survey was utilized. The results of the survey were revealed, and recommendations were made that may lead to nurse retention on the medical-surgical unit.

Improving Health Literacy Among Latino Migrant Dairy Farmworkers, Dayna A. Stimson

College of Nursing and Health Sciences Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Project Publications

Background/Purpose: Latino migrant farmworkers are a marginalized and medically underserved population in Vermont and nationally. They experience significant health disparities and barriers to healthcare access compared to others living in rural areas. Barriers include limited knowledge regarding available services and low general and health literacy. These barriers lead to poorer health outcomes. The purpose of this evidence-based project was to enhance health literacy and follow-up care for migrant farmworkers by improving health literacy in a community health outreach setting.

Methods: In northwestern Vermont, 33 outpatient migrant farmworkers were recruited following health screening visit and referred for follow-up. AHRQ …

Active Shooter Awareness Education And Training Using Best Practices For Nurses In Acute Care Facilities, Amanda Carol Dean

Nursing Theses and Capstone Projects

The thought of having an active shooter at your place of work is unimaginable. The thought of having an active shooter at a place of healing is terrifying and distressing for patients, families, and nursing staff. An active shooter event, as defined by Hauk (2018), is when at least one person is actively killing or trying to kill people in a confined populated space. If an active shooter event were to take place in an acute care facility, nurses must be educated on best practices of responding to an active shooter, including identifying the situation, notifying the appropriate personnel of …

Race-Based Discrimination, Occupational Stress, And Depression In Black Registered Nurses, Arica A. Brandford

Theses and Dissertations--Nursing

The purpose of this dissertation was to examine depression, experiences of work-related racism, and occupational stress among black nurses. Nursing is a highly stressful and demanding profession that can negatively affect health. Underscoring this is the high rate of depression experienced by nurses. In fact, nurses experience depression at a rate twice that of individuals in other occupations. Examining depression in nurses can provide insights that can inform measures addressing the psychological health of this group. This may be particularly important in black nurses who, in addition to the already high occupational stress associated with nursing, may experience additional stress …

An Educational Intervention For Skin Cancer Prevention With Hospital Staff: A Pilot Project For System Change, Amy Fran Bruce

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

PURPOSE: The purpose of this project was to design, implement, and evaluate an educational intervention provided to health care professionals using the Sun Smart U Curriculum created by the Skin Cancer Foundation (2017).

METHODS: Using a pretest-posttest design with a convenience sample (N=40), this intervention targeted the health professionals and staff from a residential/acute care facility caring for pre-adolescent, adolescent, and adult populations. Aims of this project included: (1) the staff’s baseline level of knowledge regarding sun protective behaviors using the Sun Smart U Curriculum, (2) the staff’s level of knowledge regarding sun protective behaviors post educational intervention …

Building Shared Values In The Community: Culture Of Health, Donnelle D. Storrs

Doctor of Nursing Practice

The zip codes where patients live are stronger determinants of health outcomes than the frequency of visits with a primary care provider. Providers have a unique opportunity to extend health care beyond the clinic walls and engage in efforts to improve the communities where their patients grow, live, work, and age. In order to impact the health of patients, a culture of health needs to be developed. The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation culture of health action framework directed the build of a foundation of health as a shared value in a neighborhood with high morbidity and mortality rates in southwest …

Improving Communication To Reduce Patient Falls In A 48-Bed Medical-Surgical Unit, Christian Gella

Nursing and Health Professions Faculty Research and Publications

Abstract

Problem: Patient falls has been associated with increased morbidity, mortality and decreased quality of life. The increase in total patient falls for 2018 relative to 2017, and a spike of 10 patient falls for the month of June 2018 from a baseline of 5.3 falls per month has gained greater attention to reduce patient harm from falls while hospitalized. Prevention of falls minimizes patient exposure to the possibility of being injured. Despite efforts to curtail patient falls, improvement in communication is essential to address the safety issues surrounding improving quality of care practices, and consequentially reduce un-reimbursable hospital costs …

Measurement And Protection Of Lung Health In Poultry Farmers Of Southwestern Ontario, Rose-Marie Doyon Dolinar

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD), develops gradually, and tends to be noticed by farmers only after there has been a significant loss of lung function. People with symptoms of COPD often present for health care in later stages of disease, because they accept cough or breathlessness as “normal”.

Measurement of lung health for those at risk of developing COPD provides an opportunity for early detection of lung disease, and deter the progression toward irreversible damage to the lungs. COPD is, however, under-diagnosed.

The importance of bringing primary care providers and farmers together, and acknowledging the high-risk nature of occupational exposures, …

Blood Pressure And Job Domains Among Hotel Housekeepers, Marie-Anne Sanon Rosemberg Phd, Mn, Rn, Bidisha Ghosh Ms., John Shaver Bsn, Maria Militzer Ma, Julia Seng Phd, Cnm, Faan, Marjorie C. Mccullagh Phd, Rn, Aphn-Bc, Cohn-S, Faaohn, Faan

Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice

Hotel housekeepers have challenging working conditions, putting them at risk for poor health such as hypertension. Despite their risks, few studies have measured their blood pressure (BP). The purpose of this study was to explore hotel housekeepers’ blood pressure and the associations between work and BP. Methods: A community engagement approach was used to recruit study participants. Data sources included questionnaires, and BP measurement. Results: Over 25% of the 39 hotel housekeepers reported hypertension diagnosis and/or antihypertensive medication used. Across the job domains, job satisfaction was correlated with diastolic BP, and workload was correlated with systolic BP. There were difference …

Antibiotic Stewardship Among Primary Care Providers In Mississippi, Foley D. Graham, Hayden S. Kilgore, Kali D. Rogers, Sierra G. Cain, Brittany D. Dickerson, Kayla L. Warner

MSN Research Projects

The World Health Organization states antimicrobial resistance is the ability of a microorganism to stop an antimicrobial from working which results in ineffective treatment and persistent infections. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC, 2017) reported that in the year 2015, 269.4 million antibiotic prescriptions were written in the outpatient setting, and approximately 30% of antibiotics written are unwarranted. Of those cases, most patients receive an antibiotic related to acute uncomplicated bronchitis, pharyngitis, or rhinosinusitis. The CDC reported that Americans spend nearly $11 billion yearly on antibiotics alone. However, up to 50% of all antibiotics prescribed are not indicated …

Employee Influenza Immunization: Education And A Directive To Increase Immunization Rates, Ashley Roman

Doctor of Nursing Practice

Purpose: The aim of this quality improvement project was to improve the influenza vaccination rate of health care workers at an ambulatory care center to meet the national benchmark of 90%.

Background: Influenza is a communicable disease that affects over 130,000 people causing 7,000 deaths (CDC, 2017b). Over the last 3 years the influenza immunization rates at the facility of interest have been on a downward trend despite multiple interventions, resulting in 43% last season. A directive was published at the beginning of the 2017-2018 influenza season mandating each employee to either get a vaccine or decline in writing. This …

Permanent Housing And On-Site Nursing Care: Effects On Homeless Individuals With Hiv And Other Cormorbidities, Lynelle Hinden

Dissertations

Abstract

Problem. Providing housing to otherwise homeless individuals who are HIV/AIDS-positive has been demonstrated to improve control of the disease. This was a healthcare quality initiative to review the viral load and Cluster of Differentiation Protein Four positive (CD4+) counts over time of residents in an urban housing facility for HIV/AIDS-positive individuals. Also, a nurse-run clinic was introduced for residents, especially those with comorbidities such as hypertension and diabetes.

Methods. A repeated measures design was utilized. Viral loads and CD4+ counts were retrospectively reviewed from facility records at entrance into and five-years later at the facility. Additionally, measurements of blood …

Musculoskeletal Disorders In Healthcare Workers, Josephine Lauer

Master's Projects and Capstones

Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSD) are one of the leading causes of disability in hospital nurses and nursing aids and is a high cost problem in the healthcare industry. Working in a complex environment of an acute medical floor where repetitive nature of patient handling, can lead to musculoskeletal injuries for healthcare workers. This is evidenced by work-related injuries in hospitals nearly doubling compared to private industry and hospitals are one of the most hazardous work environments in the country. Musculoskeletal injuries of healthcare workers are an ongoing problem which requires investigation due to high risk of reoccurrence. This is especially true …

Decreasing Environmental Health Risks In The Philippines: Implementation Of A Culturally Appropriate Screening Tool, Alyssa Samson

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

Objectives: The purpose of this DNP project was to increase the knowledge of environmental health risk factors in the Philippines among nurses and doctors located within that healthcare system. The overall goal was to educate providers on local environmental health risks, provide training for the use of a screening tool (Tagalog Environmental Health and Safety Assessment Tool [TEHSAT]), and provide resources aimed at increasing screening of at risk populations and provide opportunities for education and health promotion.

Methods: This project included a two-part educational training session. The first part included a preliminary presentation on environmental health and the use of …

Hazardous Drug Administration In The Home Setting: Reducing Exposure Risks, Cynthia D. Huff Msn, Rn, Ocn, Crni, Cnl

Master's Projects and Capstones

Hazardous drug (HD) administration used to be contained in controlled-healthcare settings, however, the introduction of HDs for home administration has become a growing area of concern for home health agencies. The objectives of the Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) project aims to improve homecare nurses' knowledge of HDs and improve competency with personal protective equipment (PPE). The microsystem provides short-term homecare services for acute and chronically-ill patients. One team leader, two home infusion coordinators, and twelve registered infusion nurses participated in learning about exposure risks and PPE use with HD administration. Kotter's 8-step change theory was used to develop behavior change …

The Clinical Nurse Leader As Outcomes Manager: Optimizing Screening Mammography In An Outpatient Breast Center, Yao Luo

Master's Projects and Capstones

The Clinical Nurse Leader as Outcomes Manager: Optimizing Screening Mammography in an Outpatient Breast Center

Abstract

This clinical nurse leader (CNL) practice improvement project was conducted in an outpatient breast center that is part of a community safety-net hospital. The patient population consists of a large proportion of disadvantaged, low income, low English literacy, and high-risk women over 445 years of age. Recent observations and baseline data from the breast center and the mobile mammography van indicated that five to eight radiologic views were taken during a routine mammogram in a subset of screening patients which exceeds the standard set …

The Effect Of Algorithm Implementation In The Family Practice Setting On The Pain And Recovery Of Acute Low Back Pain Patients, Joan Caito

Evidence-Based Practice Project Reports

Nearly $86 billion is spent annually in healthcare costs for Americans with low back pain (Lee, McAuley, Hübscher, Allen, Kamper, Moseley, 2016). Additionally, the burden on the economy due to loss in productivity incurs approximately $114 billion dollars of lost revenue annually (Lee et. al., 2016). Patients with an acute low back injury inadequately treated may become a chronic issue. Only 50% of patients who experience back pain symptoms for 12 months will return to work (Petit, Fouquet, & Roquelaure, 2015). The purpose of this project will be to implement an evidence-based algorithm to standardize acute low back pain care …

Measuring Physiological Responses To Sensation In Typical Adults, Sarah Button, Kristen Christensen, Emily Minor

Dissertations, Masters Theses, Capstones, and Culminating Projects

Objective: Sensory processing issues can have a large negative impact on the ability to participate in daily occupations such as ADLs, access to work, school and leisure environments, and social interactions (Dunn, 2001). The evidence documenting sensory processing issues in adults is sparse. Physiological information can be used as objective evidence to support the claim that those with over-responsivity to sensations are experiencing their environment differently than the typical population. Understanding more about sensory processing in adults may lead to increased recognition of the problem and more opportunities for intervention to increase occupational participation. The purpose of this quantitative study …

Secondary Traumatic Stress Among Emergency Department Nurses, Melissa Machado

Master's Theses, Dissertations, Graduate Research and Major Papers Overview

Individuals employed in healthcare services are exposed daily to a variety of health and safety hazards which include psychosocial risks, such as those associated with work-related stress. Nursing is the largest group of health professionals in the healthcare system. Work-related stress has been associated with substandard quality and safety of care, poor health status, decreased quality of life and compromised safety among staff members (Christodoulou-Fella, Middleton, Papathanassoglou, & Karanikola, 2017).

Secondary traumatic stress (STS) is exacerbated in health professionals who are continuously confronted and care for patients suffering traumatic injuries and are critically ill, while experiencing emotional disruption themselves, thus …

Many People Are Afraid Of White Coats. They Should Be, Kathryn D. Tente

Master's Theses, Dissertations, Graduate Research and Major Papers Overview

The concept of “do no harm” is not a figure of speech. It is a pledge to our patients to insert ourselves between them and anything that can harm them physically or emotionally. “Do lab coats harbor microbes that are detrimental to our clients’ health?” was the question that drove this systematic review. Using a search to cover articles regarding the microbial integrity of the coat, several studies were found to include culture and sensitivity reports along with participants’ surveys that increase the data to include demographics, handling habits of the coat along with laundering habits of the owners of …