Nursing Commons^™

Siblings Of Children With Down Syndrome: Perceptions Of Their Experiences, Allison Ash Malnar, Dr. Barbara Mandleco

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Approximately 350,000 families in the United States are affected by Down syndrome, and the vast majority of these families include one or more nondisabled children (National Down Syndrome Society, 1999). Because of this, many researchers are interested in how this disability affects the family. Marsha Van Riper (1999) writes, “…While the birth of a child with Down syndrome involves a ‘change of plans’ for families, it does not have to be a negative experience. In fact for many families, it is a positive, growth producing experience” (p. 3). While much research in the past concerned interviewing parents of children with …

Patients’ Perceptions Of Mechanical Ventilation: What Hurt And What Helped?, Lisa M. Ewert, Dr. Renea Beckstrand

Journal of Undergraduate Research

When a patient is on a ventilator, it’s the critical care nurse’s role to recognize and respond to any factors that cause the patient distress. Anytime a patient is ill, the illness causes both physiological and emotional stress. However, an acute illness that is severe enough to require mechanical ventilation intensifies the physical and psychological distress with which the patient and their family must cope (1).

Assessment Of Family Satisfaction Of Intensive Care Unit Experience, Breann Brady, Dr. Joan Baldwin

Journal of Undergraduate Research

When a patient enters the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), the experience is stressful and traumatic, for both the patient and their family members. The fast paced environment may seem scary to those unfamiliar with it. Families are left in a waiting room, only to enter and see their loved one in a strange environment full of equipment and beeping machinery. The family is sometimes left confused and unsure of what is happening in the care of their loved one. Nurses need to be aware of families’ needs. By meeting their needs, nurses can be invaluable to families of ICU patients.

Perceptions Of The Maintenance Of Dignity In Women Giving Birth, Rachel Matthews, Dr. Lynn Callister

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Entering a hospital is often an intimidating and stressful event for patients. They enter a world about which they often know very little. They may enter with apprehension about the unknown, their illness, or excitement about starting a new phase of life with the birth of a child. As they are experiencing the unknown, patients are often put into situations where they are told what to do and when to do it, sometimes with little or no explanation. Tasks that health care personnel consider routine are not only unfamiliar, but also are often very invasive, leaving patients feeling uncomfortable, helpless, …

Pain Assessment In Pediatric Post-Tonsillectomy Patients, Tamara Baird, Dr. Renea L. Beckstrand

Journal of Undergraduate Research

A nurse’s obligation to manage pain and relieve patients’ suffering is an integral part of the commitment to patient care. Adequate pain assessment and management benefits the patient by shortening the hospital stay, speeding recovery, reducing costs, and promoting physical activity. Specific populations who may have difficulty communicating their pain require special attention, especially children. Although many effective techniques are available for pain management in children, studies indicate that their pain is managed less well than pain in adults (United States Department of Health and Human Services, 1992).

How Is Nursing Facing The Nursing Faculty Shortage?, J. R. Meadows, Dr. Barbara Mandleco

Journal of Undergraduate Research

A severe nursing shortage has been growing across the United States over the past six years and the outlook on immediate signs of recovery is bleak. It has become an increasing worry to the federal and state governments, nurses, health-care providers and hospitals, current nursing students, and nursing schools. Despite efforts, the need for nurses continues to rise, tabulating to 75% of all hospital personnel vacancies. Nursing schools and colleges are faced with the dilemma of how to produce more nursing faculty while health-care providers are making decisions on how to recruit more nurses to their institutions.

Recruitment And Retention Of Rural Nursing Students: A Retrospective Study, J. Bigbee, D. Mixon

Nursing Faculty Publications and Presentations

Introduction: The shortage of registered nurses is an issue globally, but particularly in rural and remote areas. Previous research in medicine suggests that recruiting students from rural backgrounds is an effective strategy to enhance the supply of rural healthcare providers. This strategy has not been widely adopted or evaluated in nursing. The purpose of this study was to compare rural and urban nursing students in relation to application, admission, and retention/graduation trends at a metropolitan state university in the Pacific Northwest area of the USA.
Methods: A retrospective longitudinal descriptive design was used, analyzing existing data from 2005 to …

Severe Mental Illness In Adults And Physical Health Outcomes, Kathryn L. Speeter

Doctoral Projects

Adults with severe mental illness (SMI) experience higher morbidity and mortality rates than the general population due to poor physical health and because physical and psychiatric health are rarely addressed holistically. Two questions were posed for this project: (a) Will the use of a physical health screening tool and development of healthpromotion goals result in a change in healthy lifestyle behaviors for participants? (b) Will case managers see value in the use of the screening tool and health-promotion action plan development and incorporate the tool into their day-to-day work with clients? Fourteen adults with SMI, from a community case management …

Introducing A New Cadre Into Uganda’S Health Care System: Lessons Learnt From The Implementation Process, Gerald M. Amandu, Leana R. Uys, Joseph Mwizerwa, Alex Erejo, Irene A. Cheruto, Margaret Chota

School of Nursing & Midwifery, East Africa

Uganda introduced Registered Comprehensive Nursing (RCN) and Enrolled Comprehensive Nursing (ECN) training programs in 1994 and 2003 respectively, to create certificate and diploma level cadre of nurses with competencies in general nursing, midwifery, public health, psychiatry, paediatrics and management. This paper is based on an evaluation study undertaken to assess how the programs were implemented including stakeholders’ perceptions about the graduates. Despite being relevant, the implementation process of both programs failed to meet acceptable standards. We conclude that introducing a new cadre of nurses without proper preparation hinders realization of their full potential including their contribution to the healthcare system.

Personal Characteristics And Learning Preference In End-Of-Life Decision Making Of Chronically Ill Community Dwelling Elders, Leigh Ann Bonney

Theses and Dissertations

Leigh Ann Bonney, RN, MSN; Susan Kossman, RN, PhD; MyoungJin Kim, PhD; Wendy Woith, PhD, Caroline Mallory, PhD

Illinois State University, Mennonite College of Nursing

Personal Characteristics and Learning Preference in End-of-Life Decision Making of

Chronically Ill Community Dwelling Elders

Purpose and Background: Clear decision-making (DM) about end-of-life [EOL] contributes to a good death This requires knowledge of life-sustaining treatment with lack of knowledge contributing to feelings of decisional conflict Decision aids can increase knowledge, but elders' preferred learning methods are unknown. Identifying characteristics associated with preferred learning method and decisional conflict can help nurses tailor information to assist in …

Stahl, Sandra Fulkerson, B. 1950 (Sc 1124), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

Manuscript Collection Finding Aids

Finding aid only for Manuscripts Small Collection 1124. Student paper written by Sandra Fulkerson Stahl titled, “Critical Care: The Birth of a Nursing Specialty,” which discusses the history of critical care nursing and the development of a coronary care unit at Bowling Green’s City-County Hospital.

The Stethoscoop, October 11, 2013, Mennonite College Of Nursing

The Stethoscoop

The Stethoscoop is the newsletter for Mennonite College of Nursing students.

Promoting Human Health Through Manned Space Flight, Deidra Fortenberry Carter

Von Braun Symposium Student Posters

No abstract provided.

The Voices Of Armenian Childbearing Women, Zaruhi Ulikhanyan, Dr. Lynn Callister

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Dramatic socio-political and economic shifts which have occurred in Eastern Europe in the past decade have significantly influenced the health of women and newborns. High unemployment rates, low salaries, and inability to support more than one child are common challenges for women and families. High rates of abortion and most families having only one child has resulted in a declining population in Armenia. In addition, health care for women in Eastern Europe has been seriously fragmented since the fall of Communism compounded by a lack of health care resources.

Orca, Dustin Griner

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Research and clinical practice has taught us that the first twenty-eight days of an infant’s life are critical. During this time, rapid growth should occur both physiologically and mentally. Retardation of growth during this critical time in the infant’s life leads to future undesirable ramifications. The main goal during this period, is to provide sufficient nutrients both parentally and enterally.

Conference Learnings, Sandra Schmiedel Rn

Patient Care Services / Nursing

No abstract provided.

Online Orientation And Reference Course For Online Master Of Science In Nursing Program, Nancy G. Cameron

International Journal of Health Sciences Education

Preloading student satisfaction and success factors into an online program orientation course can strengthen the potential for student retention and success. A 100% online graduate nursing orientation and guidance program was developed. Access to peer support, faculty advisor, and university resources were provided within the course using the same learning management system as the program. Students were taught the basic structure of courses (including discussions, quizzes, and dropbox) to ease the stress of the first few weeks of class. Graduate study requirements and expectations were explained along with the differences between online and face-to-face study. Guidance was provided to assist …

The Advanced Practice Nurse And Patient-Centered Medical Home: Maintaining Patient Focus, Meeting The Institute For Healthcare Improvement Triple Aim Through The Electronic Health Record, Aileen Teresa Twomey

Seton Hall University DNP Final Projects

The Federal Government enacted the Heath Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (HITECH) in 2009, which incentivized providers to use electronic health records (EHR) for meaningful use (MU); the Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) stems from the Act. Research by the National Council on Quality Assurance (NCQA) shows that primary care practices have a positive influence on the health of patients, families and communities. These positive influences are related to their ability to deliver first-contact access, and to develop long-term therapeutic relationships that focus on the person rather than the disease, improving patient health outcomes and reducing health care …

Plan B Topic: Annotated Resource List, Payton Roberts

Undergraduate Research Award

No abstract provided.

An Organization-Wide Service Improvement Approach, Jennifer Jasmine Arfaa, Phd, Mhsa, Cynthia Line, Phd, Nora Kramer, Msn, Rn, Karen Montoro, Rn, Richard D. Blob,, Maria Francesco, Jaime Stazi, Rn, Elisabeth Kunkel, Md, Susan Krekun, Md, Lizanne Mason, Rn, Kathy Evans, Rn, Lorraine Weikel, Rn, Ann D. Clark, Ms, Otr/L, Ray Wisniewski, Teresa Heavens

Department of Nursing papers and presentations

APPROACH TO PROBLEM SOLVING

High priority index questions from HCAHPS and Press Ganey surveys, including overall ratings, communication with RNs and MDs, hospital environment and response to concerns and complaints, were targeted for improvement. These high priority indices served as the basis for redesigning Patient Services using a multi-faceted approach to improve patients’ experiences.

At Thomas Jefferson University Hospital (TJUH), high performance on the Patient Experiences of Care Survey has been driven by a successful multi-tiered approach to patient services:

·Hospital leadership guided and implemented new approaches to ensure excellence in patient services is an ever-present and obtainable goal

·Physician …