Other Nursing Commons^™

Reinventing The Medical Request Process In A Correctional Healthcare Setting, Leah Murphy

Master's Projects and Capstones

This project was developed as part of a Clinical Nurse Leader course of study with the goal of gathering and evaluating microsystem data, and the creation and implementation of a process improvement project. The project was conducted in a correctional setting which houses male and female detainees with a wide variety of medical needs. The project addressed long wait times for detainees who have submitted a request for services from the medical department. The goal of this project was to reduce wait times for medical requests, and provide service for a greater number of patients. This project is needed because …

Urging A Practical Beginning: Reimbursement Reform, Nurse-Managed Health Clinics, And Complete Professional Autonomy For Primary Care Nurse Practioners, Joy Luchico Austria

DePaul Journal of Health Care Law

No abstract provided.

The Impact Of Technology-Enhanced Learning Activities On Nursing Student Engagement In The Classroom, Alicia A. Stone

Theses & Dissertations

Educating student nurses in the present environment requires professors to stay current with new methodologies as well as innovations in technology. The question is how to address both the impact of technology and the skills of clinical reasoning, and keep the students involved in the material. If there can be integration of each aspect through the use of technology-enhanced learning activities on the internet and preparation to approach the issue, then perhaps this can increase success. This is a quasi-experimental intervention study that explored the impact of a case study blogging assignment on the engagement of students enrolled in a …

Osteoporosis In Men, Seunggee Hong

Senior Honors Theses

Osteoporosis is a progressive bone disease that is characterized by a decrease in bone mass and density. Osteoporosis can occur in both genders. Women are more likely to be diagnosed with osteoporosis. Since men have larger bones than women, it is difficult to diagnose osteoporosis. However, presently, the occurrence rate of osteoporosis in men is increasing. It is very important to be aware of an increase of the true frequency of osteoporosis in men which is essential for prevention and long-term health. The purpose of this thesis is to examine pathogenesis of osteoporosis, hormone-related factors, lifestyle, diet, and exercise habits …

The Lived Experience Of Observant Jewish Nursing Students: A Phenomenological Study, Toby Bressler

Theses & Dissertations

Background: With expanding cultural diversity in the United States (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2009), it is essential to increase the diversity of the nursing profession to match the patients who are being cared for in our healthcare system (IOM, 2003; Sullivan Commission, 2004). Despite improvements to the demographic composition of the nursing workforce in recent decades, the nursing workforce has remained predominantly homogeneous and to meet the current and future health needs of the public while providing culturally relevant care, the nursing workforce needs to increase its diversity (IOM, 2010). This demographic shift creates a social imperative …

Evaluation And Management Of Spinal Column Fractures In Adults, Blaine A. Winters, Craig Nuttall

Faculty Publications

Nurse practitioners working in many settings are faced with the challenge of diagnosing and managing patients with potential or actual spinal column fractures. In this article we provide nurse practitioners with the knowledge necessary to evaluate for and diagnose spinal column fractures in adults. We also provide guidelines for the appropriate management of injuries and identify when referral is recommended.

Understanding Anterior Knee Pain: Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome, Craig Nuttall, Blaine A. Winters

Faculty Publications

Patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) is 1 of the most common causes of anterior knee pain and should be included in the differential diagnosis for anterior knee pain in every patient. PFPS is characterized as an overuse injury. The exact mechanism of injury is still under investigation, but it is believed to stem from maltracking of the patella. PFPS commonly presents in adults who complain of anterior knee pain with activity. This pain can lead to significant disability. When treated appropriately, disability and chronicity can be avoided or reduced.

The Research, Design And Implementation Of A Remotely Operated Bioreactor With Incubation System For The Purpose Of A 3d Cell Line Growth, Steven Doyle, John Helms, Ryan Longchamps, Azita Amiri

Von Braun Symposium Student Posters

No abstract provided.

Neurobiology Of Trauma, Julie L. Valentine, Linda Mabey, Leslie Miles

Faculty Publications

• The neurobiology of trauma can affect the functioning of the brain with lasting consequences.
• The body's hormonal response to trauma affects the encoding of memory.
• Acute stress disorder (ASD) can result following trauma and can develop into post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) if symptoms last for more than 1 month.
• Trauma can cause immediate symptoms, such as tonic immobility and dissociation, and may lead to chronic symptoms oof depression and anxiety.
• Exposure to trauma can cause physical health problems.
• Evidence-based psychotherapy treatment options following traumatic exposure are available.
• Providing compassionate, nonjudgmental care to victims of trauma helps their healing process.

Nurses …

Nurses’ Knowledge And Attitudes Toward Implementation Of Electronic Medical Records, Cathy H. Abell, Tonya Bragg-Underwood, Lori Alexander, Caitlyn Elizabeth Abell, Vanessa Burd

International Journal of Faith Community Nursing

With the growth of Faith Community Nursing (FCN), one topic that needs further exploration is documentation. This includes the use of electronic medical records (EMRs). Nurses play a vital role in the planning and implementation of EMRs in the acute care setting and will also play a key role in Faith Community Nursing Programs that stand alone or partner with a health care agency. Individual computer expertise and/or attitude and knowledge of EMRs could be important in the successful implementation. Researchers utilized a modified version of the EMR questionnaire designed by Beiter and colleagues to examine nurses’ knowledge and attitudes …

Demonstration: Development Of A Minimum Set Of Parish Nurse Educational Outcomes And Behavioral Objectives, Deborah Ziebarth

International Journal of Faith Community Nursing

A Wisconsin parish nurse educator asked the question, “...who has the authority to say what is parish nursing in the state of Wisconsin and what are the key elements of a parish nurse training curriculum?” This work represents a six year effort to answer that question. This project answers the question by examining the essential core elements of parish nursing (now referred to as faith community nursing) training curriculums taught in the state of Wisconsin. Ultimately the project provided a minimum set of standardized education outcomes and behavioral objectives for training courses throughout the state. The work began with a …

The Role Of The Faith Community Nurse In Fostering Spirituality In Those With Alzheimer's Disease, Verna Carson Phd, Pmh/Cns-Bc

International Journal of Faith Community Nursing

Alzheimer ’s disease (AD) strips individuals of memories and abilities that have defined them as productive adults throughout their life. While the decline in memory is real and results in a ‘loss of self’ this does not equate to a ‘loss of soul.’ AD patients continue to have spiritual needs throughout their life as do the family, and/or caregivers. This article explores the spiritual needs and care of AD patients and families and the unique opportunity faith community nurses have to help the AD patient and their support system. The Reisberg Functional Assessment Staging System is used to explain the …

Rural Emergency Nurses’ End-Of-Life Care Obstacle Experiences: Stories From The Last Frontier, Renea L. Beckstrand, Jonathan Rohwer, Karlen E. Luthy, Janelle L. B. Macintosh, Ryan J. Rasmussen

Faculty Publications

Introduction: Rural emergency nurses face unique obstacles to providing quality end-of-life (EOL) care. Stories provided by emergency nurses embody their most difficult EOL care obstacles.

Methods: A questionnaire was sent to 53 rural hospitals. Respondents were asked to share stories that epitomized the obstacles faced while providing EOL care in the rural emergency setting.

Results: The lack of an ideal death (eg, the nurse personally knows the patient, issues with family members, and unknown patient wishes) was the top obstacle. Other reported obstacles were insufficient ED staff and power struggles between nurses and physicians.

Discussion: Rural emergency nurses often provide …

Updating The Simulation Effectiveness Tool: Item Modifications And Reevaluation Of Psychometric Properties, Kim Leighton, Patricia K. Ravert, Vickie Mudra, Christopher Macintosh

Faculty Publications

AIM This study evaluated the psychometric properties of the modified Simulation Effectiveness Tool (SET) and the SET-M.

BACKGROUND The SET, developed in 2005, was updated to be consistent with INACSL Standards of Best Practice, QSEN practices, and American Association of Colleges of Nursing baccalaureate essentials.

METHOD Undergraduate nursing students from two nursing programs, one with multiple campuses, completed the SET-M following completion of a simulated clinical experience; 1,288 students took part in the study.

RESULTS Exploratory factor analysis was completed using unweighted least squares. Four sub scales were identified with acceptable internal consistency: Prebriefing (α = .833), Learning (α = …

Improving Patient Satisfaction Through Reducing Nurse Overtime And Redesigning Nurse Staffing And Scheduling, Abby Romme

Master's Projects and Capstones

Increasing cardiac device patient demands within a large Midwest healthcare institution resulted in significant increases in staff shift requirements and corresponding patient complaints. The quality improvement project aimed to decrease patient complaints by executing a standard baseline daily full time equivalent (FTE) staffing strategy for future schedules, increasing nursing FTE, and maintaining institutional staffing standards. Standard calculated daily nursing requirements targeted 17.0 FTE. Implementation occurred over a three month period including schedule reprocessing, a pending incremental nursing FTE request, and a restructuring of unit based scheduling and paid time off guidelines. The completed schedule accurately captured staffing requirements for 100% …

Monitoring Non Compliant Diabetic A1c Levels, Laura J. Tracy

Master's Projects and Capstones

The AIM of this CNL project is to identify and connect with, those diabetic patients within the out-patient clinic that are not in compliance with their A1C laboratory values. Contacting these patients to schedule follow up and re-engagement in their health care plan, may improve their overall health care outcomes and decrease their risk of more frequent or prolonged hospitalization and increased use of medications. There are over 25.6 million adult diabetic people living in the United States as of 2010. The total cost of direct and indirect medical care is 174 billion dollars as of 2007. With over 3.9 …

Improving Nurse-Patient Communication About New Medicines, Srimala Thinsan

Master's Projects and Capstones

Improving Nurse-patient Communication about New Medicines

Abstract

The project aimed at improving nursing communication with patients and families about medication in order to increase patient satisfaction in terms of safety, quality of care, and patient-centeredness in an acute care setting. The selected patient cohort was at a 42-bed medical-surgical unit in a trauma center in Oakland, California. The gap of nurse-patent communication about medicines was identified based on the HCAHPs scores that had been found to be lower than average (44.1% in March 2015; 40.9% in April 2015). The visibility board was provided to show the staff the HCAHPS scores, …

Determinants Of Patient Activation In Hospitalized Multimorbid Patients, Myra S. Schmaderer

Theses & Dissertations

Post-hospitalization care transition is a vulnerable time for multimorbid patients. Self-management challenges happen due to acute symptoms and complex new treatment plans. Literature suggests higher activated patients have better outcomes; however, there is little research that identifies determinants that predict patient activation in the multimorbid hospitalized patient. Understanding predictive factors will facilitate planning interventions that promote self-management of multimorbid conditions. The purpose of this dissertation was to identify determinants that predict patient activation in patients with multimorbidity at discharge from the hospital.

A descriptive, predictive research study was conducted with 200 hospitalized multimorbid patients discharged to home. Their mean age …

Use Of A Blog In An Undergraduate Nursing Leadership Course, Shelly Jensen Reed, Debra Edmunds

Faculty Publications

In this study, the use of a blog in a senior leadership clinical nursing course was analyzed qualitatively through two means; focus group interviews of those using the blog, and analysis of blog content. Initial feelings expressed by students were annoyance and intimidation concerning the blogging assignment. These feelings quickly dissipated, with students verbalizing many positive aspects related to the blog, including having a place to reflect, feeling connected as a group, valuing feedback provided by their peers, and learning from theirs and others' experiences. The mechanics of having to synthesize their thoughts in written form, in a shared venue …

Written Debriefing: Evaluating The Impact Of The Addition Of A Written Component When Debriefing Simulations, Shelly Jensen Reed

Faculty Publications

Debriefing, the reflective period following a simulation, is said to be where the bulk of simulation learning takes place. Many expert opinions regarding debriefing exist, but evidence-based best practices have yet to be identified. Written debriefing is one of these practices; experts state learning can be extended through the addition of a written component to the debriefing process, but no evidence exists to support this. This study compares three debriefing types: discussion alone, and discussion followed by journaling or blogging. Undergraduate nursing students participating in a simulation were randomized as a simulation group to one of these three debriefing types. …