Nursing Commons^™

Obesity Trends In Head Start Preschoolers, Anna Sanders

Honors Theses

The purpose of this natural comparative study is to see if changes in diet, education, and activity made in a South Mississippi Head Start (HS) preschool from Fall 2007 through Fall 2010 made any changes in the Body Mass Index (BMI) trends in two cohorts of low-income African American 3-year-olds. Cohort 1 BMI trends were measured in Fall 2006 and Spring 2007, before major HS changes in diet, education and activity were made (pre-treatment), and Cohort 2 was measured in Fall 2010 and Spring 2011, after major changes were made (post-treatment).

Symptom Clusters In Lung Cancer Patients, Debra Rattican

Theses and Dissertations

SYMPTOM CLUSTERS IN LUNG CANCER PATIENTS By Debra Rattican, PhD, RN A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at Virginia Commonwealth University. Virginia Commonwealth University, 2012 Major Director: Debra E. Lyon, PhD. Professor and Chair Family and Community Health Nursing The purpose of the study was to examine selected relationships among symptoms common to individuals with lung cancer. The specific aims were: 1) To examine the relationship between the symptoms of dyspnea and anxiety in patients with lung cancer. 2) To examine the relationships among the symptoms of dyspnea, anxiety, and …

A Multi-Component Intervention To Reduce Alcohol Consumption In College Freshmen, Kimberley L. Jelinek

Evidence-Based Practice Project Reports

Alcohol consumption is a health concern on all college campuses in the United States. College students’ alcohol consumption is a highly prevalent behavior, with 44% reporting that they are consuming alcohol at the binge level or greater (Wechsler & Nelson, 2008). The purpose of this evidence-based practice (EBP) project was to answer the clinical question: In college freshmen, how does a multi-component intervention influence alcohol consumption over a four-month period? The Transtheoretical Model of Behavioral Change (TTM) and Diffusion of Innovations (DoI) were used to guide the project. Evidence demonstrates that implementing brief intervention, promoting substance-free events, and increasing campus …

Effect Of The Total Girl Wellness Program On Wellness Behaviors In Adolescent Females, Jenifer M. Chilton

Nursing Theses and Dissertations

Adolescent females perceive themselves to be healthy but research suggests this population engages in unhealthy and risky behaviors. Health habits established during youth transition into adulthood and may contribute to chronic diseases later in life. Guided by Bandura's Social Cognitive Theory (SCT), the purpose of this study was to test the effect of a comprehensive wellness intervention on overall wellness, physical fitness, and self-efficacy for health promoting behaviors in female adolescents. A multidisciplinary concept analysis of shame suggested components of shame can impact environment, personal factors, and behavior, the key concepts of SCT. An intervention based on SCT and titled …

Early Term Infant Care: Hospital Utilization And Breastfeeding Practices, Debra Craighead

Nursing Theses and Dissertations

Early term infants (ETI), with gestational ages from 37 to 38 weeks, have higher morbidity and mortality rates when compared with later term infant counterparts born at 39 to 41 weeks. Although this newly identified term infant subcategory is gaining attention, the immediate and long term health outcomes and care needs of ETI remain largely unexplored. The purpose of this research project was to examine the current research documenting ETI health and explore care practices that are currently utilized to promote ETI health. The original research study describes care practices used to promote health for ETIs born in Louisiana in …

Predictors Of Sexual Relationship Power, Communication And Sexual Decision Making Among Latino Couples, Yui Matsuda

Theses and Dissertations

Unintended pregnancy (UP) is increasing among Latinos in the United States. Unintended pregnancy contributes to many negative consequences for infants, mothers and families. Concurrently, various factors affect Latino couples’ sexual relationship power, communication and decision making about family planning, including sexual relationship power, relationship commitment, dyadic adjustment, individual background, and cultural characteristics. Previous research has not focused on understanding the factors that affect Latino couples’ sexual relationship power, communication and sexual decision making from each partner’s perspective. The purpose of this study was to examine the association between sexual relationship power, communication, and sexual decision making from each partner’s perspective …

The Use Of Provider Audit And Feedback On Improving Hypertension Control In The Type 2 Diabetic Population, Kara Painton

Evidence-Based Practice Project Reports

As the seventh leading cause of death, diabetes affects more than 25 million Americans and contributes to major cardiovascular diseases and complications (CDC, 2011). The cost of care for these Americans is astounding: $174 billion dollars was spent on diabetes care in 2007 (ADA, 2011). Furthermore, an estimated 75% of patients with type 2 diabetes have concomitant hypertension, and nearly one-half of these patients have uncontrolled hypertension (Thomas & Kodack, 2011; USDHHS, 2011). An initial chart audit at an outpatient, rural clinic in east central Illinois revealed that 90% of the type 2 diabetic population had concomitant hypertension, and only …

Creating An Interactive Dnp Project Repository:A Model For Change, Sara D. Guido Dr.

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

The creation of systems that can provide bridges to information technology requires rethinking old ways of doing business. In the past, individual universities and colleges would accommodate theses and dissertations on their library sites. Some of these sites are public and can be accessed by everyone, while some require university-specific affiliation.

This project aims to apply knowledge and skills related to information systems and technology. With the growth of the DNP clinical doctorate programs, and final outcome projects there is a need for specialized DNP database for a new method of data entry and retrieval for DNP’s. The creation of …

Effect Of A Multimedia Intervention On Outcomes Expectations And Perceived Self-Efficacy For The Sex Educator Role For Parents/Caregivers Of African American Adolescent Males, Carmon V.N. Weekes

Nursing Theses and Dissertations

Risky sexual behavior among youth is a national concern and places adolescents at high risk for undesirable health outcomes. According to the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System, African American males are more likely to engage in intercourse before age 13 than other racial groups. Research reporting positive impact of parent-adolescent sex communication on influencing risky behaviors has rarely included parents of African American adolescent males. A systematic review of the literature examining health literacy in African Americans supported the importance of including non-print sources of information for this population. The purpose of this study was to test the effect of …

Chronic Kidney Disease Educational Sessions: Assessment Of Current Practices And Attendance Barriers And Facilitators, Della Connor

Nursing Theses and Dissertations

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) educational sessions, whether part of a multidisciplinary plan of care or separate entities, have been increasingly utilized over the last 20 years. Although literature reviews exist in which randomized controlled studies concerning CKD educational sessions are addressed, none of the studies reviewed specifically addressed the low attendance rates of CKD educational sessions. The purpose of this research was to describe current and recommended CKD (predialysis) educational interventions and outcomes in controlled and multidisciplinary studies, examine documented issues related to attendance, and determine barriers and facilitators that affect attendance at educational sessions for CKD patients.

The Effect Of Guided Observation On Learning Outcomes In Simulation-Based Learning, Jamil Norman

Nursing Theses and Dissertations

Nurse educators have been faced with the challenge of providing adequate clinical preparation for nursing students. Implementation of simulation-based learning (SBL) has been used to meet these challenges. Current research indicates that students and faculty are both satisfied with simulation; however, faculty concerns with improving student learning during SBL have led to a research intervention on the use of an Observation Guide. The purpose of this research was to examine differences in knowledge, self-confidence, satisfaction, and collaboration between baccalaureate nursing students using an Observation Guide when observing a simulated clinical experience (SCE) and those observers without an Observation Guide. Additionally, …

The Use Of Positive Deviance To Deliver Patient-Centered Care, Jodie Gary

Nursing Theses and Dissertations

What happens when critical care nurses find themselves in situations where patient care needs are not covered by practice guidelines or standard orders or when the needs conflict with those guidelines and orders? Sometimes usual practices such as call the supervisor, call the physician, or follow the protocol just do not meet the needs of the patient at the exact time and place. Experienced critical care nurses often discuss such situations in private; however, there is little information in the literature about the types of situations encountered and the decision- making processes used in these situations. Those discussions that were …

Differences In Substance-Related Risk Behavior Between Dual And Triple Diagnosed Severely Mentally Ill Adults, Michelle Hampton, Linda Chafetz, Carmen Portillo

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Chattanooga Community Members Willingness To Use Retail Clinics: A Quantitative Approach, Yasmine M. Swistek, Casey M. Waddle

Graduate Research Projects

This study explored the willingness of Chattanooga community members to utilize retail clinics for simple ailments rather than the area EDs. Specifically, community members ages 25-45 were surveyed and asked to rate their willingness to use a retail clinic for their acute healthcare needs rather than the overcrowded local EDs. Additionally, this study explored community members’ perceived barriers to use retail clinics. Results were compared between demographic variables such as yearly income, race, gender, and age.

The Meaning Of Parenteral Hydration To Family Caregivers And Patients With Advanced Cancer Receiving Hospice Care., Marlene Z. Cohen, Isabel Torres-Vigil, Beth E. Burbach, Allison De La Rosa, Eduardo Bruera

Journal Articles: College of Nursing

CONTEXT: In the U.S., patients with advanced cancer who are dehydrated or have decreased oral intake almost always receive parenteral hydration in acute care facilities but rarely in the hospice setting.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the meaning of hydration for terminally ill cancer patients in home hospice care and for their primary caregivers.

METHODS: Phenomenological interviews were conducted at two time points with 85 patients and 84 caregivers enrolled in a randomized, double-blind, controlled trial examining the efficacy of parenteral hydration in patients with advanced cancer receiving hospice care in the southern U.S. Transcripts were analyzed hermeneutically by the interdisciplinary research …

Breast Health And Mammography Screening In Older Women, Martha A. Ibarra Phd, Msn, Anp, Rn

Dissertations

Age-related health disparities in breast cancer screening are a public health concern. From 2002 to 2006, the median age for newly diagnosed cases of breast cancer was 61 years and the median age for breast cancer mortality was 68 years of age (Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results [SEER], 2009). Mammography is the best available screening tool for breast cancer detection (Susan G. Komen Foundation, 2008). The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS, 2006) reported that only about half of older women who are eligible for mammograms through Medicare obtain a mammogram every two years. The literature identifies psychosocial barriers, …

Triage; A Literature Review Of Key Concepts, Khairulnissa Ajani

School of Nursing & Midwifery

The emergency department (ED)--sometimes termed the emergency room (ER), or the accident & emergency (A&E) department--in a hospital or primary care facility that provides initial treatment to patients with a broad spectrum of illnesses and injuries, some of which may be life-threatening or requiring immediate attention. The earliest patients-physician encounter is the triage doctor/nurse who completes the preliminary evaluation before transferring care to another area of the ED or a different department in the hospital. A strong triage system is the backbone of an efficient ED. It indicates that the staff is capable of differentiating critically ill from the sick, …

Managing Work-Role Transition: From Nurse Clinician To Nurse Educator, Shirin Rahim, Munira Prasla

School of Nursing & Midwifery

Change in any aspect of human life is often challenging and requires significant efforts for readjustment from the individual and could result in improving or worsening existing situation. Change in work-role is also a significant event in a person's life. Present study attempts to analyse management of work-role transition from clinical nurse to nurse educator. The study is based on systematic and critical review of articles that appeared in peer-reviewed Journals. Research articles were searched from databases CINAHL, PubMed, Sage, and Science Direct using various combinations of keywords. 20 shortlisted articles were subjected to analysis for common theme of work-role …

Hidden Voices Of Hermaphrodites, Zohra Asif Jetha, Nasreen Sulaiman Lalani, Gulnar Akber Ali

School of Nursing & Midwifery

Gender is a psychological component which is given by the society to a person, while sex is a biological component which is awarded by the God. However, there are certain conditions in which the biological aspects are put to challenge with the social and psychological aspects of gender. Hermaphrodites are a third gender role, who is neither male or female man nor woman but contains the element of both. One may question that if they are neither male nor female then who they are and whether they are equally treated in our society. Looking at the challenges faced by hermaphrodites, …

The Role Of Faith And Spirituality In The Work Of End-Of-Life Caregivers, Edward P. Stannard

Master of Arts in Religious Studies (M.A.R.S. Theses)

Nurses, certified nursing assistants and other healthcare workers who care for those who are terminally ill face issues of mortality and even existential questions every day on the job. These professionals, who have intimate contact with their patients daily, must find an inner source of strength and perseverance in order to face people who are at the end of their lives, who may be in pain, and who frequently are alone in their rooms aside from the institution’s staff. This study asks whether an inner sense of religious faith or spirituality helps end-of-life healthcare workers conduct their daily tasks and …