Nursing Commons^™

Stepping Away From The Path: A Transformational Journey Affirming Emic Food Security Practices On The Pine Ridge Indian Reservation In South Dakota, Beth E. Grund

Theses and Graduate Projects

This Doctor of Nursing Practice project concerns improving the level of food security on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota. Despite attempts by etic, or mainstream society, food security for the indigenous Oglala Lakota people who live there remains an elusive goal. Life expectancy for both men and women continues to decrease due to skyrocketing rates of chronic diseases related to malnutrition. Although the project initially focused on how effectiveness of etic food security solutions might be improved, unforeseen events prompted and examination of Pine Ridge food security from an emic, or Lakota, perspective. This more personal outlook …

School Of Nursing News, Georgia Southern University

Nursing: News & Publications (2013-2023)

• School of Nursing Students’ Memorial Fund

Clinical Effectiveness Of Inr Patient Self-Testing: Adults On Warfarin Therapy In Private Practice, Anisa Munshi

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Manuscripts

Background: Warfarin is the most commonly prescribed oral anticoagulant for the prevention and treatment of venous thromboembolism. Due to its narrow therapeutic index, warfarin requires close monitoring of the international normalized ratio (INR) to ensure proper anticoagulation control and safety. INRs outside of this range are strongly associated with an increased risk of major bleeding, thromboembolic events, and death. Patient self-testing (PST) using a point-of-care device allows patients to monitor INR results at home. Evidence shows that PST improves the clinical outcomes of warfarin therapy compared to usual care, which includes laboratory INR monitoring. Purpose: To compare the clinical effectiveness …

Process Fun: The Ultimate Integration Of Policies And Procedures, Joan Dinbokowitz Ba, Bsn, Rn

Patient Care Services / Nursing

No abstract provided.

New Graduate Registered Nurses In Public Health, Rachel Pollard, Kathryn J. (Katy) Smith

Celebrating Scholarship & Creativity Day (2011-2017)

This presentation investigates the following objectives: 1) to discuss current challenges facing the public health nursing profession; 2) to synthesize existing literature regarding new graduate registered nurses (RNs) in public health; 3) to present the benefits of hiring new graduate RNs with baccalaureate degrees into public health agencies; 4) to utilize existing literature to suggest support measures that will optimize new graduate RNs’ success in public health.

Combating Compassion Fatigue By Creating Moments That Matter, Nicole Reimer Bsn, Rn, Ocn

Patient Care Services / Nursing

No abstract provided.

Improving Patient Satisfaction After Primary Total Knee Arthroplasty Using Nurse Practitioner-Driven Preoperative Education, Jennifer A. White

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

Total joint arthroplasty is an undisputed option for relieving pain and improving the function of an arthritic joint. The number of patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA) annually is expected to increase by 600% in the next two decades (Lau, Gandhi, Mahomed, & Mahomed, 2012).

Current research shows that while 81-89% of patients who have had a TKA are satisfied postoperatively, there is room to improve patient satisfaction by providing further education preoperatively. While research cannot agree on a single, specific variable that influences patient dissatisfaction, a review of the literature shows that patients repeatedly note their “unmet expectations” as …

Lgbt Advocacy: One Leader's Journey Through Fear To Transcendence, Paula Suffrins

Theses and Graduate Projects

The LGBT population experiences healthcare disparities at higher rates than their heterosexual counterparts. Fear among this population prevents them from seeking health care. Nurses can be influential in addressing this fear and decreasing healthcare disparities within the LGBT population. However, LGBT content offered in nursing programs is not adequately preparing students to care for this specific population in a culturally sensitive manner. Healthcare organizations lack LGBT content in orientation programs as well. Transformational nursing leaders can initiate and support the effort to create a safe and welcoming environment for the LGBT population where healthcare can be delivered by culturally sensitive …

“Cpr” For Cpoe Implementation, Karen Marsiglio Rn, Bsn, Marguerite Petsuck Rn, Bsn

Patient Care Services / Nursing

No abstract provided.

Strangulation Assessment, Evidence Collection, And Documentation Guidelines For Forensic Nurse Examiners: A Pilot Project, Sally Sturgeon

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Capstones

Accurate and thorough physical assessment, with accompanying documentation, are essential components for appropriate legal intervention for victims in all strangulation cases. There is a need for this strangulation assessment, evidence collection, and documentation protocol. Forensic nurse examiners who work with strangulation victims need to be sure that their assessment, evidence collection, and documentation are complete, accurate, and consistent to help ensure perpetrator accountability.

Development And Evaluation Of A Skin-To-Skin In The Operating Room Protocol, Sara Lang

Nursing Masters

This article describes the development and evaluation of a skin-to-skin in the operating room protocol. A protocol would standardize the practice of skin-to-skin in the operating room and provide a resource for the team members involved to use. The protocol evaluation and feedback was obtained from several members of the health care team, including an obstetrician, an anesthesiologist, a pediatrician, a pediatric nurse practitioner, and nurses who work as a labor nurses, baby delivery nurses, and/or lactation nurses.

Breastfeeding Education For Adolescent Mothers, Emily Osgood

Nursing Masters

Purpose: The WHO, AAP, and DHHS recommend exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life and continued supplementary breastfeeding until two years of age. Breastfeeding initiation and duration rates are low worldwide, particularly among the adolescent population. The national initiation rate for teen mothers is only 43%, as compared to their adult counterparts at 73.9%; and at six months, only 19% of those teenagers were still breastfeeding.

The objective of this research project is to develop a prenatal educational program geared toward the adolescent population at a local community hospital.

Study Design and Methods: This breastfeeding educational program was …

The Effect Of Education On Compassion Fatigue As Experienced By Staff Nurses, Kathryn L. Zehr

Evidence-Based Practice Project Reports

Historically, nursing has been perceived as a highly rewarding profession. Yet, due to the increasing complexity of today’s healthcare, nurses are faced with greater challenges in their work environments. Registered nurses who work in tertiary care settings are exposed to disturbing patient situations including trauma, death, abuse, or chronic disease. Joinson (1992) described this experience as compassion fatigue and symptoms include headaches, short attention span, or fatigue. A review of literature has identified that nurses should be educated about risk factors and coping strategies to combat compassion fatigue. Guided by the Model for Evidence-Based Practice Change and Jean Watson’s Theory …

Pain Management In The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Holly N. Hagy

Senior Honors Theses

While pain management in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) was thought to be useless due to the infants’ inabilities to experience pain, research has confirmed that infants can and do experience pain at the same, if not greater, level of intensity as adults experience pain. Painful stimuli cause a system-wide sympathetic nervous system response that can cause damage when prolonged or unmanaged. There are multitudes of ways to treat an infant’s pain, but there seems to be a discrepancy between the knowledge that health care workers have regarding pain management in the NICU and the actual implementation of that …

Diabetes Self-Management Education For Adolescent Patients: The Importance Of A Developmentally Sensitive Approach, Laura Mumme

Senior Honors Theses

The attention of healthcare providers to the developmental level of adolescent patients with type one diabetes (T1D) maximizes effective patient education and glycemic control. Due to the dynamic changes that occur in the mind and body during adolescence, self-care for adolescent T1D patients is overwhelming as it envelopes activities of everyday life. The disease process and the unique aspects of adolescence in relation to T1D are important for caregivers to consider. Developmentally appropriate teaching during the initial onset of the disease must inform the patient and the patient’s family of the basics of the disease process and the daily care …

Napnap Position Statement On Immunizations, Lacey M. Eden

Faculty Publications

The National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (NAPNAP) fully supports timely and complete immunization of all infants, children, adolescents, and adults to maximize the health and well-being of all people. Routine childhood immunizations prevent approximately 2.5 million deaths every year (World Health Organization, 2012). Maintaining the highest immunization rates possible is essential to prevent outbreaks of vaccine preventable diseases across the nation (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2013). The CDC recommends that all children, adolescents, and adults be immunized to protect children who are most vulnerable to serious illness and death (CDC, 2014). In concert with the American …

The Effects Of 12 Weeks Of Instructor-Led Yoga Classes On Balance In Older Adults, Patricia C. Hart

Evidence-Based Practice Project Reports

Participation in a regular exercise program is an effective way to reduce and/or prevent a number of functional declines associated with aging (Chodzko-Zajo et al., 2009). Older adults are advised to participate in regular aerobic activity and practice muscle strengthening activities and exercise that maintains or improves balance (U.S. Department of Health and Human Service, [USDHHS], 2012). Less than one third of older adults engage in 30 minutes of low to moderate intense physical activity at least five days a week as recommended in current guidelines (USDHHS, 2012), and these guidelines fail to address losses in strength and flexibility seen …

Pink Goes Red For A Day: Is Your Heart Healthy?, Quierra W. Jones

Honors College Theses

There is a major lack of public health education among college aged students at many colleges and universities across the country. Even further, many minority college students are unfamiliar with one of the most life-threatening health issues that affect them the most: heart health. As a nursing student and member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., I strive to uphold our “service to all mankind” motto and also educate the public about important heart health matters. On February 4, 2014, I presented a program through my sorority entitled Pink Goes Red for a Day in which I educated the primarily …

Barriers To Music Therapy In The Care Of Those With Alzheimer's/Dementia, Karin E. Kvam

Honors College Theses

This pilot study examines the barriers caregivers encounter when implementing music therapy in the care of those with Alzheimer’s/dementia. An 8-question survey was distributed at two long-term care facilities and an Alzheimer’s support group to understand how often and in what ways music therapy is utilized, as well as what barriers caregivers face when using the therapy. Results indicated that, although the majority of caregivers report using music therapy, it is not implemented as frequently as it could or should be. Caregivers report a knowledge deficit as the main reason for not implementing music therapy. The data suggests that an …

The Effect Of An Antenatal Breastfeeding Intervention On Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy And Intention Among Inner City Adolescents, Jamie El Harit

Evidence-Based Practice Project Reports

According to Healthy People 2020, infants who are breastfed have improved nutritional, immunological, developmental, and social outcomes (USDHHS, 2014). Despite the benefits of breastfeeding and the focused international efforts to increase levels of breastfeeding, adolescents remain largely unaware and continue to have among the lowest levels of breastfeeding initiation (CDC, 2013; Spear, 2006). The purpose of this EBP project was to reduce the disparities of breastfeeding initiation by increasing breastfeeding self-efficacy and intention in an inner city specialty high school. Synthesis of the evidence demonstrated that needs-based, repeated antenatal education delivered by a lactation expert including breastfeeding peer counselor supports …