Other Nursing Commons^™

Huddle And Safety, Jaelynn Hall Bsn, Rn

MSN Capstone Projects

The purposed evidence-based practice (EBP) project focuses on a nursing intervention (team huddles) to increase safety and reduce inpatient fall rates. Negative outcomes to consider from an inpatient fall are harm and injury to the patient along with increased health care cost for the patient as well as hospital facility. Accrued cost associated with an in-patient injury resulting from a fall is not reimbursed according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The additional cost for hospital-acquired falls is estimated to be $6,694 (95% CI: -$1,277 to $14,665) (Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, 2017). This was only related …

Usp<800> Compliance: A Hazardous Drug Safe-Handling Quality Improvement Project For Ambulatory Care Infusion Nurses, Cynthia Huff

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

Problem: The U.S. Pharmacopeia (USP, 2016) Convention Chapter 800: Hazardous Drugs: Handling in Healthcare Settings took effect on December 1, 2019. According to Polovich and Olsen (2017), " The implementation of the USP <800> Standards. will represent an important step forward to protect nurses and other potentially exposed healthcare workers (HCWs): (p.1).

Context: The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project implemented a hazardous drug (HD) safe-handling personal protective equipment (PPE) toolkit in accordance to USP <800>standards and hospital policies at an ambulatory cancer infusion center to improve nurses' adherence with PPE use.

Interventions: The project consisted of (a) a safe-handling PPE …

Increasing Nurse Knowledge Using A Formal Lung Transplant Education Program, Amy M. Stoddard, Donna Lynch-Smith, Kate Carlson Wrammert, Bobby Bellflower

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

This quality improvement project was completed to show that a formal lung transplant education course for nurses caring for lung transplant patients increased their knowledge. An eight-hour education course was developed by experts in the field of lung transplantation. A pretest was administered before the education course. A posttest was administered to determine if knowledge was improved. A three-month follow-up test was administered to determine knowledge retention. Based on the data analysis, nurse knowledge improved after formal education. Item analysis determined what areas of educational content need to be the focus of quarterly education. The education course was adopted as …

Traits Of Character That Facilitate Formation Of Exemplary Nurses In Bachelor Of Science Nursing Programs, Jean Marks

Dissertations

Constructivist grounded theory methods were applied in this study to explore traits of character that facilitate the formation of exemplary nurses in Bachelor of Science Nursing (BSN) programs. Interest in this study was prompted by a desire to examine attributes beyond academics alone that contribute to the formation of excellent nurses. The intent was to promote clarity in describing these attributes for further scholarly discussion.

Framing this study was Aristotle’s doctrine of the golden mean (Aristotle, 350 B.C.E./1934). Operational definitions consistent with this doctrine were created for the concepts of character, character traits, and exemplary nursing practice. The concept …

Apneic Oxygenation: An Adjunctive Therapy For Laryngoscopy During Anesthesia Induction, Yaro Hoffman

Doctoral Projects

Endotracheal intubation is an essential component within the skill set of anesthesia providers. Rapid arterial desaturation remains a primary risk factor during laryngoscopy and intubation. The risk for hypoxemia exists because during endotracheal intubation, patients are apneic or hypo-ventilating (Wong et al., 2017). Apneic oxygenation (AO) has been advocated to attenuate hypoxemia during endotracheal intubation (Pavlov et al., 2017).

The aim of this project was to assess for any knowledge deficits regarding AO among anesthesia providers and assess the willingness of these providers to include AO into their current practice. The project investigator conducted an education session involving the …

Educating Student Registered Nurse Anesthetist On Malignant Hyperthermia Using An Objective Structured Clinical Examination, Ednita Street Fountain, Faith Sherman

Doctoral Projects

Malignant hyperthermia (MH) is a low-frequency, high-impact event that many student registered nurse anesthetists (SRNA) may be unprepared to manage due to limited exposure in clinical practice (Hackl et al., 1990). Lack of preparation for dealing with such low frequency, high impact events can lead to unfortunate adverse events resulting in death (Hackl et al., 1990). Thus, students should be are prepared to handle these situations if an event should occur.

An objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) is a structured method used to assess certain skills and underpinning knowledge required for practice (Harden & Gleeson, 1979). Students are allowed to …

Nurses' Attitudes Toward Physician-Assisted Suicide, Cheyenne Star Lowrey-Lagrone

The Eleanor Mann School of Nursing Undergraduate Honors Theses

Physician-assisted suicide, or PAS, is end-of-life option in which patients self-administer physician-prescribed lethal medication to end their life. Nurses' own interpretations and understandings of the legalities, ethical dilemmas, and factors that influence their attitudes can be analyzed to determine the nurses’ role in the support or opposition of the practice. Although nurses do not have an active role in PAS, they play a pivotal role in patient advocacy and education. This paper analyzes the factors that contribute to nurses’ attitudes toward the practice, along with the benefits of education of this topic going forth.

The Effects Of Moderate-Severe Plaque Psoriasis On Patient Well-Being And Prevention Of Flares, Glenn Devera

Nursing | Senior Theses

Psoriasis is a chronic skin condition that is indicated by red, patchy and scaly skin that can be painful when irritated. Patients with psoriasis have an increased risk for a number of chronic diseases. Despite the expansion of treatments for moderate-to-severe psoriasis over the last decade, patients may still find that treatment strategies are not as successful, leaving them dissatisfied with their treatments. A relationship built upon trust between the nurse and the patient diagnosed with psoriasis may serve to help ensure optimal care. A comprehensive literature review was performed and found that best practices for patient management need to …

Is High-Intensity Focused Electromagnetic Field Stimulation More Effective Than Pelvic Floor Muscle Training In Treating Stress Urinary Incontinence In Women?, Monica Friedman

Nursing | Senior Theses

INTRODUCTION: Stress urinary incontinence, an involuntary loss of urine during physical exertion or effort, affects a disproportionately large number of women worldwide. Although pelvic floor muscle training is the first-line treatment for urinary incontinence, long term adherence is low, and therefore, is usually not an effective treatment. Medications may be costly and aren’t always effective; surgery is invasive and often not appropriate. This condition warrants further studies to find more effective solutions.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether or not focused electromagnetic field therapy is more effective than pelvic floor muscle training in treating stress urinary continence in women.

PROPOSAL FOR FURTHER …

Cultural Competence Objective Structured Clinical Examination For Student Nurse Anesthetists, Ashley Nicole Minor, Loryn Elise Jamison

Doctoral Projects

The landscape of ethnicity is growing increasingly diverse. In 2017, the U.S. Census Bureau estimated that by the time the 2020 Census is conducted, over half of the nation’s children will be of a minority group (U.S. Census Bureau, 2017). With this evolution in cultural variety comes a necessity to incorporate exposure and training of cultural competency into professional health programs. Student registered nurse anesthetists (SRNAs) are a key demographic to professional growth within the realms of cultural competence as related to the field of nurse anesthesia. Along with clinical skills and advanced knowledge, cultural competence should be equally developed. …

Transition Of Care For Discharged Patients, Rolando Ramos

Student Scholarly Projects

Practice Problem: The 30-day readmission rate for patients discharged from the hospital and returned to their primary care in a clinical office setting (21%) was higher than the national average readmission rate (17%). The high readmission rate suggested patients were receiving transitional care that was fragmented and non-standardized. Therefore, the implementation of a collaborative transition of care practice was vital to reduce avoidable readmissions.

PICOT: The PICOT question that guided this project was, “In adult patients with chronic conditions, what is the effect of a transition of care practice, versus a non-standardized practice, on reducing 30-day readmissions, within a …

The Lived Experience Of Obesity, Spirituality, And Health Behaviors In African American Women, Andrea S. Poynter

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Obesity is one of the fastest-growing health concerns impacting all racial, ethnic, gender, and socioeconomic groups in the United States of America. More than one-third of the U.S. adult population is classified as being obese (Obesity Society, 2014). Novak and Brownell (2012) identified that “obesity rates are consistently rising higher each year than in previous years” (p. 2345). Obesity has reached epidemic proportions in all races and genders within the US with African American women comprising a majority of those impacted by this chronic health condition. Obesity rates are well documented within the literature but what is lacking is the …

Early Diagnosis Of Alzheimer’S Disease In The Primary Care Setting, Raymond R. Romano

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

The burden of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) affects not just the individual but also families, providers, and society. Early recognition and diagnosis of AD may reduce cost by reducing interaction with the health care system, earlier initiation of treatment, and prolonging time to long- term care. Primary care providers, the first contact for diagnosis of patients with AD, are not fulfilling the potential of early diagnosis for a variety of reasons. Biomarkers of AD emerge on average 15 to 20 years before clinical diagnosis, yet currently established biomarkers are not easily available in the primary care setting. A growing body of …

A Program Evaluation Of A Rural Nursing Academic Partnership, Meagan A. Spencer

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

As the American Association of Colleges of Nursing and Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education continue to promote the implementation and creation of literature on academic partnerships, a Christian university, sought to evaluate its academic partnership with a for-profit hospital for the first time in regard to student perspectives. The purpose of this mixed-methods program evaluation was to describe the student perceptions of the academic partnership in trusting, collaborating, and engaging nursing students and recruiting and retaining nursing graduates to rural hospitals and health care facilities. Measurable impacts included both qualitative and quantitative coding of the levels of trust, collaboration, and …

Oncology Nurse Compassion Fatigue Benchmark Project, Jessica R. Hayward

MSN Capstone Projects

Oncology nurses provide care to patients during some of the toughest times in their lives. This care places nurses at risk of developing compassion fatigue which can have negative long-term health impacts. There is currently no formal compassion fatigue education offered to oncology nurses. This lack of training leaves nurses vulnerable to the impacts of unmanaged stress, burnout, and compassion fatigue. This benchmark project was completed to bring awareness to the need for a mindfulness-based compassion fatigue course. This course will provide oncology nurses with the knowledge and skills necessary to manage these difficult emotions.

A Pain Control Optimization Pathway To Reduce Acute Postoperative Pain And Opioid Consumption Postoperatively: An Approach To Battling The Opioid Epidemic, Holly Franson

Student Scholarly Projects

Practice Problem: Healthcare providers worldwide are working to battle the opioid epidemic and reduce opioid-related harm to patients. Utilizing evidence-based acute pain management methods to reduce opioid consumption is critical to combat the problem.

PICOT: The PICOT question that guided this project was: In opioid-naïve adult patients undergoing general anesthesia for out-patient, minimally invasive abdominal wall hernia surgery, how does the implementation of an evidence-based, preventative Pain Control Optimization Pathway (POP) using a multimodal, opioid-sparing acute pain management technique and standardized procedure-specific opioid prescribing, compared to standard treatment, affect postoperative pain scores and opioid consumption, upon discharge from the …

Implementing The Heart Score Guideline To Decrease Length Of Stay In Low-Risk Chest Pain Patients In A Rural Hospital, Tonja D. Walker

The Corinthian

Abstract

This quality improvement (QI) project evaluated the length of stay (LOS) of low-risk chest pain (CP) patients in a rural hospital. A convenience sample of emergency department (ED) physicians and non-physician providers ages 18-75 employed at Navicent Health Baldwin were eligible for recruitment. Pre- and post-surveys were used to evaluate to evaluate ED providers’ knowledge of low-risk chest pain metrics for statistical significance and a comparison of LOS for low-risk chest pain patients was compared for clinical and statistical significance seen at the facility. The mean scores of eight items on the postintervention to preintervention knowledge survey were identical. …

Tailoring Violence Prevention Programming To A Critical Care Area, Jaime Campbell

Dissertations

Abstract

Problem: Rising rates of violence in health care environments signal a need for health care workers, specifically frontline nurses, to be trained in effective de-escalation management skills. Since January 2017, there has been an increase in the number of patients categorized as aggressive with more violent patient events taking place at a selected midwestern hospital facility in the critical care department, particularly the intensive care and transitional care units.

Methods: Using a pre-post design, this project compared nurses’ verbal de-escalation skills using the English Modified De-escalating Aggressive Behaviour Scale (EMDABS) to determine effectiveness of de-escalation strategies in simulated scenarios …

Sustainability Of An Outpatient Antibiotic Stewardship Program, Kristin Smith

Dissertations

Abstract

Problem: Antibiotic stewardship is an effort to evaluate and improve the use of antibiotics by providers and patients. Antibiotic stewardship programs (ASPs) promote the appropriate use of antibiotics. There is increasing evidence that supports the use of antibiotic stewardship programs in reducing antibiotic prescribing rates while continuing to maintain safe patient care. Research supports approaches with multiple interventions and ongoing commitment to antibiotic stewardship. However, information regarding long-term sustainability of antibiotic stewardship programs is lacking. The purpose of this quality assurance project was to assess long-term sustainability of a previously implemented ASP promoting appropriate prescribing of antibiotics for the …

Effect Of Standardized Nurse Teaching On Patient Experience Using Cahps®, Julie Hake

Dissertations

Abstract

Purpose: This quality improvement (QI) project aimed to determine if a standardized nurse teaching approach improved patient understanding of diagnosis and treatment as it relates to women diagnosed with a pelvic floor disorder (PFD) after receiving a standardized nurse education (SNE) session in an urban tertiary care Urogynecology practice.

Methods: Females aged 18 and older with a newly diagnosed PFD and prescribed PFPT for the first time who agreed to receive the SNE and complete the CAHPS® survey were included in the project. Patient perception of PFPT was assessed via phone interview utilizing the Consumer Assessment of Healthcare …