Other Nursing Commons^™

Veterans Direct Admission Reassessment Tool Validation For The Reduction Of Rapid Response Code Blue, And Code Stroke Team Activations In Newly Arrived Direct Admission Veterans, Joshua Monroe Wells

DNP Projects

Abstract

Purpose: Rapid clinical assessment of newly arriving direct admission veteran patients to the Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care System (VAHCS) Lexington is of the utmost importance to determine current patient condition, alteration from previously known condition at time of provider acceptance or time of report, and appropriate level of care for these veterans. The facility has seen an increase in the number of unexpected patient declines by direct admission patients presenting to medical surgical units at the VA Health Care System Lexington KY. This recurrent decline resulted in the facility performing a Root Cause Analysis (RCA), which identified …

Enhancing Inpatient Sleep Quality In Patients On An Intermediate Care Unit Through Healthcare Staff Education: A Quality Improvement Project, Avery B. Drouin

Master's Theses and Capstones

Background

In the Intermediate Care Unit (IMCU), patients often suffer from poor sleep quality due to continuous overnight care and inherent hospital environment noise. Poor sleep can adversely affect recovery, especially for cardiac patients, who constitute a significant portion of the IMCU population. Improving sleep quality in these patients is essential for their recovery and overall well-being.

Local Problem

Despite the importance of adequate sleep, only 47% of patients in the hospital that houses the microsystem reported a quiet environment at night using the Hospital Compare online survey platform. Disruptions from alarms, phones, and care activities significantly impact sleep quality, …

App-Lying Knowledge: Mypcos App Guiding Symptomatic Women To Pcos Awareness, Khanh Hoang

Nursing | Senior Theses

This study delves into the effectiveness of educating women about polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) alongside the utilization of a dedicated mobile health application in raising awareness about PCOS and promoting healthcare-seeking behavior. PCOS, a prevalent endocrine and metabolic disorder affecting 8-13% of women in their reproductive age, lacks definitive remedies, and its underlying causes remain elusive. The primary objective is to establish that empowering women with knowledge about PCOS, facilitated by the MyPCOS mobile app, can lead to increased awareness and encourage them to seek further evaluation from healthcare providers. Rooted in the Health Promotion Model (HPM), the study adopts …

Enhancing Mental Health Support And Reducing Burnout In Nursing: A Holistic Approach, Alexa Miller, Andrea Quintela

Nursing | Senior Theses

Urgent action is needed to strengthen mental health support for nurses experiencing burnout. This thesis examines the stigma surrounding burnout in the nursing community and implements holistic approaches to alleviate burnout of those affected. Integrating mental health awareness, mindfulness-based interventions, personal self-care, and supportive hospital practice can decrease nurse burnout. By first coming to terms with nurse turnover and further prioritizing nurses' physiological, emotional, and social welfare, leadership and organization can implement holistic strategies to address these diverse challenges nurses face. Through a deep dive into existing literature, relevant studies, and a blend of critical findings, this thesis emphasizes the …

Advancing School Nursing Practice: A Novel Approach To Screening For Gastrointestinal Disorders In Children, Ashley Bunting, Isabella Cavlan

Nursing | Senior Theses

Background: Currently, mandated health screenings in California schools are limited to vision, hearing, and scoliosis; this leaves several other body systems unmonitored during the crucial years of childhood development. One such system is the gastrointestinal (GI) system, which plays a vital role in the normal growth, nutrition status, development, and overall health of children. Objective: By developing and implementing a GI-specific screening tool in the outpatient school setting, this research aims to increase the detection of GI disorders in children. Not only that, but school nurses can use this novel screening tool to promote early diagnosis, intervention, and …

Optimizing Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia Prevention And Education: In Adult Icu Settings, Danielle Gonzalez

Nursing | Student Research Posters

Background: Ventilator associated pneumonia (VAP) in adult intensive care patient units (ICU) is one of the most common and deadly nosocomial infections today. Studies have identified a gap in intensive care nurse ventilator education and compliance with hospital protocols. Overall increasing the rates of VAP and morbidity. Hospitals worldwide have shown a decrease in VAP rates after inheriting "VAP-bundles''. This includes nurse specific interventions and assessments as a preventative measure. However, studies failed to demonstrate which bundle interventions directly correspond to the prevention of VAP. Purpose: Address all components of education, a nurse’s ability to properly identify and understand the …

Evaluating The Mental Health Of Newly Graduated Nurses In Transition From Undergraduate Training To Professional Practice, Victor Louis C. Alinas Iv

Nursing | Student Research Posters

Background: There is an increasing demand for nurses worldwide as healthcare systems slowly recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. Simultaneously, there is a high turnover of registered nurses and an even higher turnover in the demographic of newly graduated nurses. Newly graduated nurses (NGNs) are constantly faced with high levels of stress upon starting out in the professional environment and as a result of mental burnout and inadequate preparation, there is a notably high turnover of newly graduated nurses within their first year of employment. Purpose: This research aims to use existing information on the transition from undergraduate training to professional …

Nurses Current State Of Knowledge On Prion Disease, Chelsy Grande

Nursing | Student Research Posters

Human prion disease is a rare and fatal neurodegenerative disorder. Creutzfeldt- Jakob prion disease rapidly progresses, and is caused by prion, an infectious protein that damages the central nervous system (Bailey et al., 2000). The infectious pathogen is different from other infectious diseases as the normal prion protein misfolds, changing the structures and results in an accumulation of cellular prion proteins (Rentz, 2003). There is no cure for Creutzfeldt- Jakob disease, only palliative care to improve their symptoms and provide support as the disease progresses. How much do nurses know and understand about prion disease, and how can this influence …

Scabies Prevention In Correctional Facilities: A Path To Safer Inmate Populations, Bhavandeep Singh

Nursing | Student Research Posters

Scabies is a contagious skin condition caused by the Sarcoptes scabiei var. hominis mite, which burrows into the skin to lay eggs and feces, causing intense itching and a rash. These symptoms can take up to 4-6 weeks for a first time infection and it can occur as early as 1-4 days for a person who previously had scabies (National Park Service, 2023). Scabies is often transmitted through prolonged and direct skin to skin contact with an infected person, through sharing clothing, or due to overcrowded environments. This intense itching and rash can cause poor sleep, social ostracization, and affect …

Delayed And Misdiagnosed Endometriosis, Teresa Doyle

Nursing | Student Research Posters

Endometriosis is a chronic, painful disorder affecting approximately 10% of women of reproductive age globally.This condition arises when tissue similar to the endometrium, the lining of the uterus, grows outside the uterus, typically on the ovaries, Fallopian tubes, and other areas within the pelvis. Common symptoms of endometriosis include severe pelvic pain, fatigue, irregular menstruation, and infertility. These symptoms have a significant impact on women’s physical and mental health, affecting their interactions with their family, friends, and clinicians, often leading to significant impairment in their quality of life (Sims et al., 2021). The diagnostic journey for many women with endometriosis …

Evaluating The Effect Of Sleep Hygiene Education On Sleep Quality Among First-Year College Students, Caroline Lowe Cunningham

DNP Projects

Abstract

Background: The American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommends college students should get seven to nine hours of sleep each night. Only one-third currently meet this recommendation. Poor sleep negatively affects academic performance, mood, and interpersonal relationships. Sleep hygiene is recommended to improve sleep quality and quantity.

Purpose: The purpose of this DNP project was to determine the effect of implementing a sleep hygiene educational intervention in classes intended for first-year college students at the University of Kentucky.

Methods: This quasi-experimental project utilized the Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index to assess participants’ sleep before an in-person sleep hygiene education and after …

Impact Of A Discharge Bundle On Boarding Hours In Acute Care Hospitals, Monica L. Herrera

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Scholarly Projects - Archive

The national epidemic of boarding hours in the emergency departments prompted the implementation of a discharge bundle in an acute care hospital. This bundle included an ADT nurse, discharge orders written prior to 11AM, and EVS shifting employee hours. Initial findings indicated a reduction in boarding time by 126 minutes.

Using The Electronic Medical Record To Improve Nurse Workload, Sharon C. Le Roux

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Scholarly Projects - Archive

Background

Equitable nurse-patient assignments have been associated with improved nurse well-being, patient satisfaction and outcomes. Despite this, in an academic medical center in the southwestern United States, there is no standardized process to create equitable nurse-patient assignments.

Objectives

The aim of this project was to improve inpatient oncology nurse well-being and satisfaction through the implementation of an EMR based nurse-patient assignment tool.

Methods

The IOWA Model-Revised for evidence-based practice was used as the basis for this project. Data collected included demographics, the Well-Being Index Survey, perception of satisfaction with manual workload tool, along with knowledge and use of the …

Bundle For Left Ventricular Assist Device (Lvad) In The Ed, Tina Morris

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Scholarly Projects - Archive

Purpose

Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD) is a high-risk, low-volume patient population with admission rates of up to 72%. The purpose of this study was to provide a care bundle to increase the knowledge of the emergency department (ED) staff and decrease the door to consult times to the advanced heart failure (AHF) team for LVAD patients presenting to the ED at a level I trauma center in Texas.

Methods

In collaboration with emergency clinical staff, the project team implemented a bundle that included a pathway for the LVAD patients upon presentation to the ED, targeted education for clinical staff …

Developing Toolkit For Adults With Autism Spectrum Disorder In An Oncology Outpatient Clinic, Brittany J. Johnson Dnp, Fnp-C

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Scholarly Projects - Archive

Autistic adults are at higher risk of being diagnosed with co-occurring health conditions, and yet they are a vulnerable group for disparities in access and outcomes. One of the key barriers to better outcomes is poor patient-provider communication. This study the use of AASPIRE’s AHAT communication toolkit as a channel between healthcare workers and autistic adults to facilitate their appointments within the outpatient oncology department, as well as assessing healthcare providers’ knowledge and self-efficacy in caring for the patients. Sixteen healthcare providers (12 registered nurses and four patient care assistants) completed pre and post intervention surveys and utilized the AHAT …

Empowering Nurse Leaders To Achieve Harmony: Fostering Work-Life Balance, Gilberto Gamba

DNP Scholarly Projects

BACKGROUND: Balancing professional and personal life demands has become a focal point in today’s healthcare organizational culture. Despite the technological advances in providing better and faster healthcare, team members often struggle to achieve work-life harmony while meeting the demands of a growing population of healthcare clients. The evidence highlights nurse leaders as one group for which the identification and implementation of work-life balance interventions is crucial.

METHODS: An original tool based on available evidence was developed and used with a group of nurse leaders participating in an educational activity to engage them in behaviors supporting work-life harmony. A post-educational survey …

Enhanced Neuroprotection And Neuropromotion In Extremely Premature Infants Through Mindful Hands-On Care And Increased Family Involvement, Kristen Sergott

DNP Scholarly Projects

Background: Medical breakthroughs including antenatal corticosteroids and exogenous surfactants have improved survival in extremely premature and extremely low birth weight (EP-ELBW) infants. Currently, babies as young as 22 weeks’ gestation are being actively resuscitated and provided with intensive care in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) around the world. As a consequence of premature delivery, fragile and immature newborns are at risk for significant morbidities affecting their multiple organ systems. Additionally, such infants encounter neurodevelopmental trauma induced by recurrent stressful experiences ubiquitous to the NICU. Postnatal stress contributes to alterations in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and is associated with alterations in …

Implementing A Nurse-Driven Clostridium Difficile Screening Protocol, Sandrela Magnuson

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

ABSTRACT

Background: Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is a prevalent infection often contracted in hospitals. CDI is also increasingly originating from community settings. In addition to the health risks associated with CDI, diagnosis of a hospital-acquired CDI can have a significant financial impact on hospital systems. When hospital acquired, hospital systems are no longer reimbursed by payers. Secondary to the increasing prevalence of community-acquired CDI, mechanisms for early detection and isolation are warranted.

Local Problem: J.W. Ruby Memorial Hospital has an integrated Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) electronic health record (EHR) screening questionnaire that requires updating to align with current guidelines.

Purpose: …

Establishing Guidelines For Implementing Electronic Hand Hygiene Monitoring Systems, Olaoti Opaleye

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Scholarly Projects - Archive

Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) in hospitals threaten patient safety and quality of care, which leads to increased healthcare costs. Despite national and state-level progress in hand hygiene compliance (HHC), the 2022 CDC annual report on HAIs highlighted ongoing concerns for standard infection ratios (SIRs) and called for improved HHC to reduce HAIs. Many hospitals use trained observers to collate HHC data; their audits are limited and often skewed by the Hawthorne Effect (HE) and observer bias, resulting in inaccurate HHC data. This project aimed to create guidelines for implementing electronic hand hygiene monitoring systems (EHHMSs) to help hospital inpatient units adopt …

Power Safety Plan Checklist As An Intervention In The Operating Room, Scott John Fankhauser

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

ABSTRACT

Power Safety Plan Checklist as an Intervention in the Operating Room

Scott J. Fankhauser

Background: Intraoperative power failures (IOPF) force anesthesia providers to quickly make decisions to prevent patient harm when equipment does not operate as designed. Familiarity with alternative methods is critical during this decision process to deliver high-quality care during IOPF events. Purpose: The purpose of this project was to assess the impact of a checklist on anesthesia providers’ perceptions regarding continuation of care during an IOPF. Interventions: Pre- and post-intervention surveys were conducted during a simulation and education setting for annual competencies. Methods: The study …