Nursing Commons^™

Enhancing Pediatric Sun Safety: A Parent-Focused Intervention In El Dorado County, Ashley Riley, Calvin Nauer, Alaina Godwin

ELMSN E-Portfolio. A collection of Scholarly and Creative Works

Background:

Childhood ultraviolet (UV) exposure is the most significant modifiable risk factor for skin cancer, yet proper sun protection remains inconsistently practiced by parents. In El Dorado County, California, where high altitude and intense sun exposure amplify UV risk, knowledge gaps and misinformation persist despite resource availability. This quality improvement (QI) project aimed to strengthen parental knowledge, confidence, and modeling of sun-safe behaviors for their children through an evidence-based community education program.

Aim:
The goal of this QI initiative was to improve parental attitudes, self-efficacy, and photoprotective behaviors by implementing a three-part, nursing-led educational intervention focused on UV risk awareness, …

The Fascia Iliaca Regional Nerve Block Using Ultrasound And Landmark Technique: An Objective Structured Clinical Examination For Nurse Anesthetists, Braxton T. Beech, Parker F. Rigby

Doctoral Projects

The fascia iliaca block (FIB) is an effective regional anesthesia technique used in various clinical settings, including operating rooms, emergency departments, and pain management clinics. Despite its advantages in reducing postoperative complications and minimizing opioid use, FIB remains underutilized among Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs), primarily due to limited exposure and training. This doctoral project examines the implementation of an Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) as an educational intervention to enhance CRNA proficiency in performing FIB using both ultrasound-guided and landmark techniques.

A pre- and post-test study design was conducted with 18 CRNA participants attending a continuing education workshop. Demographic …

Breastfeeding Safety Following Maternal Anesthesia: A Guideline Development, Megan Honea, Mary Johnson

Doctoral Projects

Recommendations regarding breastfeeding following maternal anesthesia are inconsistent and often not up to date with current best practice guidelines. Previous recommendations have led to mothers unnecessarily “pumping and dumping” breast milk has benefits for both mother and baby. These benefits include (a) increasing the infant’s access to colostrum, (b) encouraging mother-baby bonding, (c) improving the mother’s breastfeeding experience, (d) and providing significant health benefits to the infant. The purpose of this scholarly project was to develop a set of evidence-based recommendations that focus on mothers who desire to breastfeed following general anesthesia. These recommendations will highlight maternal- fetal transfer of …

The Effect Of Exercise On The Development Of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus In Pregnancy: A Systematic Review Of Literature, Abigail Reiche

The Eleanor Mann School of Nursing Undergraduate Honors Theses

The purpose of this systematic review is to synthesize literature examining the relationship between using exercise as a preventative method for gestational diabetes development during pregnancy, and the effect it may have on lowering glycemic levels. Health Source: CINAHL and PubMed were systematically searched for peer-reviewed journal articles that studied pregnant women (P), and the relationship of consistent exercise (I), compared to no physical exercise (C), on lowering glycemic levels resulting in positive pregnancy outcomes (O), throughout gestation (T). Twenty articles were retrieved in accordance with the PICOT objectives. Additional criteria included only articles from 2019-2024 and articles that were …

Bridging The Language Gap: The Impact Of In-Person Versus Remote Interpreter Services On Medication Adherence And Patient Safety In Adult Spanish-Speaking Patients, Ashley E. Alarcon Martinez, Jocelyn N. Lopez Maradiaga

Nursing | Student Research Posters

Background: Significant health inequities are caused by language barriers between patients and health care staff, resulting in miscommunication among adult Hispanic patients with low English proficiency, reducing medication adherence, impairing patient safety, and raising the possibility of medical errors. To address this issue, interpreter services, both in-person and remote translation, have been introduced in healthcare settings to enhance communication. Objective: The purpose of this study is to investigate the differences in patient safety and medication adherence between in-person and remote translation services for adult Hispanic individuals with limited English proficiency in healthcare settings. Methods: The proposed research involves five local …

Prevention Of Burnout Among Critical Care Nurses, Jenelle Balaoing, Junela Bautista

Nursing | Student Research Posters

Background: Nursing burnout is a state of mental and physical exhaustion caused by excessive stress among nurses. Critical care nurses face challenges with direct patient care that contribute to emotional and psychological strain that are greatly influenced by workplace adversity and emotional management. Purpose: This research examines the prevalence of burnout among pediatric and adult intensive care unit (ICU) nurses, highlighting particularly high rates of burnout among those with extended years of service. Method: ICU nurses will participate in a qualitative interview that involves open ended questions relevant among burnout and resilience during shifts. Aspects specifically years of critical experience …

Improving Pharmacovigilance Via Systematic Gass Screening And Interdisciplinary Collaboration In The Outpatient Setting, Dustin Bower

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

The goal of this Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) quality improvement project was to enhance pharmacovigilance practices among non-medical mental health providers (NMMHPs) in an outpatient psychiatric setting. The project addressed the issue of limited recognition and reporting of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) by NMMHPs, which can lead to delays in clinical intervention and compromise patient safety. To tackle this problem, a quasi-experimental, pre–post intervention design was employed. Two evidence-based strategies were implemented: (a) eight weekly collaborative training sessions that focused on identifying, documenting, and communicating ADRs, and (b) the integration of the Glasgow Antipsychotic Side-Effect Scale (GASS) into the …

Enhancing Provider Knowledge And Compliance With Diabetic Retinopathy Screening Through Education: A 4-Week Plan, Maureen Odemena

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a leading cause of vision impairment that can be prevented if found and treated early. Inadequate provider knowledge and adherence to guidelines, and low referral rates for screening at the project site, highlighted the need for targeted training. Studies show that evidence-based education plans improve engagement in DR screening. This quality improvement (QI) project aimed to impact knowledge, self-efficacy, and compliance among healthcare providers (HCPs—nurse practitioners and physicians) and increase screening rates by implementing an American Diabetes Association (ADA) guideline-based education plan over 4 weeks. Based on the health belief model and Kurt Lewin’s change theory, …

Quality Improvement Project: Empowering Nurse Educators: Implementing A Mentoring Program For Professional Growth, Sarah Sugg

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

With the ongoing nursing shortage, nursing education plays a vital role in shaping the future of healthcare through the preparation of competent and skilled nurses. Literature supports that a persistent challenge within nursing academia is the lack of structured mentoring programs to support novice nursing faculty transitioning into academic roles. This quality improvement project addressed this gap through the implementation of a structured, evidence-based mentoring program compared to informal mentoring. The purpose of the project was to empower novice nursing faculty with less than three years of teaching experience by enhancing teaching competence, confidence, job satisfaction, and retention. Guided by …

Quality Improvement Project: Increasing Breast Cancer Screening Rates Among Women Ages 40-74 At A Federally Qualified Health Center By Implementing A Provider Alert Tool, Tiny Stephens

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Breast cancer maintains its position as the leading cause of cancer-related death for women worldwide and remains the second deadliest cancer among female patients in the United States (Centers for Disease Control, 2024). The screening rates at Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), which serve medically underserved communities, remain lower than national benchmarks, thus putting their patients at risk for receiving late-stage cancer diagnoses. This quality improvement project implemented an evidence-based electronic medical record (EMR) provider alert tool at a Northeast Georgia FQHC to address a baseline mammogram order compliance rate falling below national standards at 45%. The project aimed to …

Quality Improvement Project Nursing Student Retention Strategies: A Focus On Peer Mentoring, Anh Vittoria

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

The nursing shortage remains a concern in healthcare. Increasing the number of students who complete nursing programs and enter the profession can help with the demand for nurses in the workforce. Nursing programs face challenges with student retention, which limits the number of nurses entering the profession. The quality improvement project aimed to examine the effects of a peer mentorship program on first-year associate degree nursing students’ perception of support and course completion rates. The purpose is to impact student retention and sense of support in an Associate Degree Nursing Program (ADN) through peer mentorship. The project was guided by …

Quality Improvement Project Enhancing Documentation Practices In Community Mental Health Clinics, Carol Parker

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Accurate and timely documentation are essential for safe, high-quality care in community mental health settings. This quality improvement (QI) project addressed inconsistent documentation practices among licensed, unlicensed, and Qualified Mental Health Specialist (QMHS) staff at an outpatient clinic. The purpose of the QI project was to implement and assess a structured in-service training program using the Accountable Health Communities–Health-Related Social Needs (AHC-HRSN) screening and documentation tool to improve staff knowledge, enhance documentation accuracy, and facilitate care coordination. Guided by the Iowa Model of Evidence-Based Practice and Lewin’s Change Management Model, a pre- and post-intervention design was used. Fifteen staff members …

Enhancing Mental Health Providers' Approach To Medication Adherence In Schizophrenia Patients Using Motivational Interviewing Techniques., Jacinta Madu

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Medication non-adherence among individuals with schizophrenia remains a persistent challenge that undermines symptom management and increases relapse and hospitalization rates. This quality improvement (QI) project aimed to evaluate the effect of Motivational Interviewing (MI) training on provider knowledge and confidence in promoting medication adherence within an outpatient mental health clinic. Guided by Lewin’s Change Theory and the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) framework, a quasi-experimental pre–post design was used. Six providers, including psychiatric nurse practitioners, therapists, a psychiatrist, and a registered nurse, participated in a structured MI training session incorporating didactic instruction and role-play exercises. Data were collected using pre- and post-intervention surveys …

Quality Improvement Project: Effect Of Multi-Level Student Collaboration On Clinical Judgment In High-Fidelity Simulation, Jillian Carroll

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

There is a gap in undergraduate nursing curriculum on incorporating collaboration and communication into patient care, leading to a lack of competence and confidence in novice practice. Using collaboration in high-fidelity simulation, students gain real-world exposure and opportunities to communicate and make independent decisions. Using Kotter’s eight-step change theory, this project addresses the limited exposure to collaboration by implementing purposeful interdisciplinary collaboration within high-fidelity simulation to improve undergraduate nursing students’ confidence and competence in nursing practice. This will build on Patricia Benner’s novice-to-expert theory and help advance Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) students into a safe and effective novice year of …

Quality Improvement Project: Impact Of A Brief Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Program For Healthcare Providers Who Evaluate Veterans, Peng Anderson

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Long-term stress can lead to healthcare provider burnout. Mindfulness-based interventions, even when shortened, may provide a promising and innovative method to reduce stress and prevent burnout. Research on mindfulness programs has demonstrated significant benefits for both providers and patients. This quality improvement project aims to evaluate the effect of a brief mindfulness-based stress reduction program (MBSR) for providers who evaluate veterans on the variable of mindfulness awareness compared to current site practice. Lewin’s change management model and Peplau’s Interpersonal Relations Theory were used. Plan-Do-Study-Act was the implementation framework applied. The design was pretest-posttest using the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS). …

Parental Experiences With Financial Toxicity In The Pediatric Intensive Care Unit: A Phenomenological Research, Sohrab Alexander Sardual

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Background: Parents of children admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) encounter multiple stressors; however, there is a need to further understand their experiences with financial toxicity. Understanding parents’ experiences and perspectives on how they can be assisted is a critical first step to formulating interventions to help parents deal with financial toxicity.

Aims: The aims of this study are (a) to describe the experiences with financial toxicity of parents with critically ill children admitted to the PICU and (b) to explore parents’ perspectives on how they can be assisted in dealing with financial toxicity.

Methods: A phenomenological qualitative …

Editorial – Dec 2025, Edwin Van Teijlingen, Rafat Jan

Journal of Asian Midwives (JAM)

No abstract provided.

Effect Of Focussing On Anastatica Hierochuntica Flower On Labour Pain, Duration Of Labour And Perceived Fatigue During Labour: Randomized Controlled Study, Emine Koç, Şükran Başgöl, Sümeyye Bal, Sabire Kirtiloğlu

Journal of Asian Midwives (JAM)

Background: Maternal fatigue and pain during labour can adversely affect the health of the mother, fetus, and newborn. Anastatica hierochuntica is a plant traditionally used in some cultures during childbirth rituals. When placed in water, the dried flower gradually unfolds and symbolically represents the opening of the uterus and birth canal. This study aimed to investigate the effect of focusing on the Anastatica hierochuntica flower during labour on labour pain, duration, and perceived fatigue.
Methods: This randomized controlled trial was conducted in the delivery unit of a mother-friendly hospital with 119 participants 60 in control group and 59 in intervention …

Factors Associated With Preterm Premature Rupture Of Membranes: A Case-Control Study In A Tertiary Hospital In Kabul, Afghanistan, Atia Sharif Nadi, Freshta Sharif Tawakkuli, Zainab Sharif Ezadi, Sayed Murtaza Sadat Hofiani, Shoaib Murtaza Sadat Naeemi, Ahmad Komail Frogh

Journal of Asian Midwives (JAM)

Background: It is essential to identify preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM) and its associated risk factors to reduce its impact. This study aims to find the demographic, reproductive, and obstetric factors associated with PPROM among women in Kabul, Afghanistan.
Methods: This case-control study was conducted over six months in 2023 at a tertiary hospital in Kabul, Afghanistan. We included 40 cases of PPROM and 80 controls without PPROM in this study. We used structured questionnaires to collect demographic, reproductive, and obstetric characteristics of the participants. To find the factors associated with PPROM, Logistic regression was performed using IBM SPSS …

A Scoping Review Of Maternal Active Smoking During Pregnancy And Low-Birth Weight, Naomi Sondang, Nindi Oktavia, Qorinah Estiningtyas Sakilah Adnani, Lani Gumilang, Hadi Susiarno, Victor Abiola Adepoju

Journal of Asian Midwives (JAM)

Background: Low-birth weight (LBW; < 2.5 kg) infants are at increased risk of early mortality, impaired growth, neuro-developmental delay and chronic disease later in life. Maternal behavior, especially cigarette smoking, remains one of the most modifiable determinants of birth weight. We therefore synthesized recent evidence on the association between active maternal smoking during pregnancy and LBW.
Methods: Following PRISMA guidance, we systematically searched PubMed, Scopus and ScienceDirect for the period January 2020 to 31 January 2025 for English-language observational studies that quantified the relationship between active prenatal smoking and LBW. Risk of bias was appraised, and findings were summarized narratively.
Results: In total 26,650 papers were found and eight eligible studies (four cohort, three cross-sectional, one case-control) from Asia, Europe and the Middle East were included. Across all designs and exposure metrics—self-report, exhaled carbon-monoxide, urinary cotinine, and cord-blood DNA-methylation, active smoking was consistently associated with …