Nursing Commons^™

Improving Recovery Nurses’ Satisfaction With Postoperative Transfer Of The Anesthetized Patient With The Utilization Of A Standardized Handoff Checklist, Gemma Nilsson

Scholars Week

Aim: To evaluate the effectiveness of using a standardized tool during patient handoff, addressing the lack of an organized structure for patient transfers and the risk of miscommunication. Poor communication is a leading cause of medical errors in the hospital and the transfer reports of postoperative patients in the post-anesthesia care unit are often inaccurate or incomplete (Milby, 2014; Salzwedel, 2012).

Design: A handoff tool was developed for anesthesia providers to use during postoperative patient transfers. Using descriptive statistics, the project evaluated subjective survey responses from registered nurses before and after the implementation of the tool. Perception of the tool’s …

Advancing Provider Knowledge On Precedex Use To Prevent Postoperative Delirium Through Targeted Education, Brian Gibbs

Scholars Week

Postoperative delirium (POD) is a serious and multifactorial complication commonly affecting elderly surgical patients. POD is associated with increased morbidity, longer hospital stays, and higher mortality rates. The use of benzodiazepines and opioids during the perioperative period is a significant modifiable risk factor for POD. Despite the potential of Dexmedetomidine (Precedex) to reduce POD incidence due to its sedative, and analgesic properties, it is not widely available in many operating rooms (OR). This project aimed to educate anesthesia providers on the benefits of Precedex and its role in reducing POD in patients over 65 years old. A quality improvement project …

Colorectal Cancer Screening And Correlating Gender Disparities, Kara Marr, Megan Janssen, Margaret Payne, Laura Reed Dnp, Aprn, Fnp-Bc, Cne

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Purpose/Background

In 2023, colorectal cancer (CRC) was the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the US, equating to approximately 50,000 total deaths (National Cancer Institute, 2024). Further, it is estimated that an additional 1.4 million Americans are living with CRC (National Cancer Institute, 2024). Early detection screening modalities remain imperative since the NIH has released a combined survival rate of 70% when utilized (National Cancer Institute, 2024). Different derivatives of CRC develop from pre-cancerous polyps and are often without signs or symptoms of disease progression; this asymptomatic period emphasizes the importance of early detection and prevention of colorectal cancer …

Repositioning High-Risk Hospital Patients To Prevent Pressure Injuries​, Kylie Corrigan, Anna Kate Alexander, Amelia Oulton, Marit Turvold

SPARK Symposium Presentations

This project aims to develop both a digital and physical system to track patient repositioning in hospitals to prevent pressure injuries, a common issue for immobile patients. With 2.5 million hospital patients developing pressure injuries annually in the U.S., consistent repositioning every two hours is crucial to prevention. However, busy hospital environments often make this task challenging, leading to missed opportunities and increased incidences of pressure injuries. Current methods, which rely on manual tracking, are inefficient and contribute to the problem.

 The proposed solution is an automated tracking system integrated with the hospital's Electronic Health Records (EHR), which will alert …

Nurse Retention Through Mentorship, Leah Lodato, Campbell Wroblewski, Sarah Endre, Annika Eldred

SPARK Symposium Presentations

High turnover rates contribute to staff shortages, increased workload, burnout, and a decline in patient care quality. Nurse retention can be incredibly costly, and it is estimated to cost $56,300 per every RN who leaves their job. For the average hospital, this can equate to roughly $3.9 to $5.8 million in losses per year.” (2024 NSI National Healthcare Retention and RN Staffing Report). Our initiative focuses on implementing a structured mentorship program for new graduate nurses at Vanderbilt’s 6 East Med-Surg unit. By pairing new nurses with experienced mentors, the program aims to improve job satisfaction, provide professional …

Utilizing Chatgpt To Address Billing & Coding Gaps Among Rural Nurse Practitioners, Sarah A. Rosander, Laura Gray, David R. Phillippi

DNP Projects

Over 75% of new healthcare providers report feeling unprepared to manage billing and coding requirements. The challenge is in part a result of limited coverage of these topics in advanced practice curricula and the lack of free, accessible, and up-to-date coding resources. This quality improvement project explored the potential of ChatGPT as an innovative tool to support rural nurse practitioners in Tennessee with billing and coding challenges. Using the IHI Model for Improvement, two Plan-Do-Study-Act cycles were conducted to assess ChatGPT’s effectiveness as a billing and coding resource. The first cycle evaluated ChatGPT's accuracy in generating Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) …

Staff Education Program On Utilizing Non-Pharmacological Interventions To Manage Aggression Among Psychiatric Patients, Olivia Nguh

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The staff education project aimed to address the gap in practice regarding the management of aggression in psychiatric patients at a local mental health clinic. Approximately 40% of the clinic’s patient population exhibited aggressive behaviors, including verbal threats, and physical altercations. However, nurses primarily relied on pharmacological interventions and physical restraints to manage these behaviors, which failed to address underlying causes, such as psychiatric conditions and environmental stressors. A review of the literature demonstrated strong evidence supporting the effectiveness of non-pharmacological interventions, with studies highlighting how structured training programs significantly reduced aggression, and improved patient and staff outcomes. The project …

Applying Kolb's Theory Of Experiential Learning In The Development Of An Evidenced-Based Practice & Research Council At An Acute Care Hospital, Cheryl Green, Daryn Brauner Msn, Todd Allen Lane, Judy Darlucio Rn, Stacey Peace Rn

Medical Nursing

The processes of adult learning can become convoluted as adults age, developmentally progress through the life cycle, have different employment opportunities, and pursue academic studies. It is important when engaging adults in the learning of new content, that an eclectic approach to learning be implemented to ensure information is comprehended, applicable, and reproducible. Kolb’s Theory of Experiential Learning provides adult learners with four stages of learning; concrete experience, reflective observation, abstract conceptualization, and active experimentation. These four stages, applied separately and in combination of adult learning modalities, enhance the adult learning experience by introducing diverse approaches to the processing of …

Navigating Excellence: A Comprehensive Program Evaluation Of An Academic Clinical Nurse Educator Pilot Course, Rachel D. Marquart

DNP Projects

Background and Rationale: Clinical instructors play a key role in nursing education, yet clinical instructors have varying degrees of formal preparation for the role. These inconsistencies affect student outcomes and instructors’ ability to effectively teach, mentor, and evaluate students. To address this, Belmont University developed the Academic Clinical Nurse Educator Program online course. This project conducted a comprehensive program evaluation to assess its effectiveness.

Aim: This project evaluated the effectiveness, success, and sustainability of an online Clinical Nurse Educator and Preceptor course designed to prepare registered nurses to teach undergraduate students and new nurses in clinical settings.

Design …

Clinical Practice Guideline For Delirium Screening, Raji George

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Summary This doctoral project developed a clinical practice guideline (CPG) to address the critical health issue of early identification of delirium among hospitalized high-risk patients. Hospital delirium is associated with prolonged hospital stay, increased nursing home or rehab use after hospitalization, and higher mortality. Evidence shows that systematic screening improves delirium identification among hospitalized high-risk adults. However, there was no clinical practice guideline for delirium screening at the project facility for high-risk, non-intensive care unit patients. Therefore, the practice-focused question for the project was, “Does the evidence support the development of a CPG for delirium screening in high-risk hospitalized patients …

Stop The Bleed! Acute Epistaxis Management, Christopher R. Cannell

Lynchburg Journal of Medical Science

Epistaxis, the most common Otolaryngology-related emergency, is responsible for one in 200 emergency department (ED) visits in the United States (US) and one-third of otolaryngology visits.^1,11 Up to 60% of the population will experience epistaxis during their lifetime, and 6% -10 % will require medical intervention.^2,3 Epistaxis occurs in children and adults and has a seasonal variation. Although 85% of nosebleeds are idiopathic, they are more frequent in those on supplemental oxygen, anticoagulation, antiplatelet therapy, and in those with other conditions that may predispose them to bleeding. Most clinicians will encounter patients with acute epistaxis; therefore, it is …

Implementing Standardized Patients In Simulation In Undergraduate Nursing Education, Taylor A. Murray

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

Abstract

The integration of standardized patients (SPs) in simulation-based learning has emerged as a transformative approach in undergraduate nursing education. By providing nursing students with the opportunity to engage with trained actors simulating real-life patient scenarios, SPs offer a safe and controlled environment to develop essential clinical skills. This research explores the impact of SPs on promoting student confidence and enhancing their practical skills in nursing practice. Implementing SPs into nursing education not only supports students in refining their assessment and communication abilities but also prepares them for the complexities of patient care in real-world settings. Ultimately, this study aims …

Standardizing Warming Measures For Surgical Patients, Brachelle Williams, Bsn, Rn

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Project Abstract

Purpose

The quality improvement project aimed to address the risk of perioperative hypothermia in surgical patients by standardizing warming measures at a Houston, Texas boutique hospitals surgical department. The focus was to achieve normothermia (≥ 96.8°F) within 10 minutes of PACU arrival and increase patient satisfaction by at least 50% through the implementation of a forced air warming system.

Background

Maintaining normothermia is crucial for surgical patients, as hypothermia can lead to delayed recovery and increased postoperative discomfort. The Houston’s boutique hospital previously solely relied on warm blankets, resulting in inconsistent temperature management.

Methodology

The Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) model guided the …

Addressing Vaccine Hesitancy In Vulnerable Populations, Suzanne Chenette

Student Scholarly Projects

Vaccine-preventable disease outbreaks and the spread of misinformation on vaccines throughout the United States are growing public health problems. Marginalized and vulnerable communities nationwide have seen a substantial rise in parental vaccine hesitancy that has negatively affected early childhood immunization rates, intensified healthcare disparities, and decreased patient care outcomes. Advanced Practice Registered Nurses primarily work in clinical settings, but these healthcare professionals can reach the public locally and nationally by actively participating in healthcare policy development. The following PICOT question guided the objective of this policy project: In the early childhood population (P), how does the development of a comprehensive …

Operating Room Acquired Pressure Injury Prevention, Audrey E. Dillon, Lexi K. Johnston, Grace L. Johnston, Amy N. Cochran

SPARK Symposium Presentations

Our change project focuses on preventing pressure injuries in OR patients using an alternating pressure overlay and gel pad system during surgery and recovery. Pressure injuries cost the healthcare system upwards of $26 billion annually, and surgery patients are at high risk due to prolonged immobility, constant pressure on one area, hemodynamic changes, and excessive moisture. Nurses can play a critical role in reducing healthcare costs and improving patient outcomes by utilizing proper training and outcome tracking. The estimated cost of implementing this system is $37,000, significantly lower than the long-term cost of pressure injuries. Key
stakeholders include nurse managers, …

The Efficacy Of Psychological Interventions On Treating Post-Concussion Syndrome: An Integrative Review, Esther Smith

Senior Honors Theses

Post-concussion syndrome, which occurs when concussion symptoms last longer than 3 months, is an area not well researched and often misunderstood. Post-concussion syndrome lingers without research based, effective treatment options for full patient recovery. This review was conducted to find the efficacy of psychological treatment options for patients with post-concussion syndrome. Eight databases, libraries, a registry, and some grey literature were searched within the past five years. The search process was documented with the PRISMA flow diagram. Through the inclusion criteria, eleven articles were selected as the primary sources. These studies found that the psychological interventions tested showed small improvements …

Written Reminders For Mammogram Compliance, Kristine Cholly, Marcus Barksdale, Rachel Gates, Mabel Olaya, Laura Reed Dnp, Aprn, Fnp-Bc, Cne

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Purpose/Background

Breast cancer remains the second leading cause of cancer death among women in the United States, with a median age of mortality at 68 years old. Mammography has been shown to improve early detection and reduce mortality rates. Current United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends biennial mammograms for women aged 50-74. However, compliance with biennial mammogram screenings remains inconsistent. This project aims to evaluate the effectiveness of written reminder letters in improving mammogram compliance among women aged 50-74 years old. The study focuses on comparing mammogram adherence rates among patients who received reminder letters compared to those …

Be(D) Fast For Faster Screening, Allison Goshorn, Alaine Schauer

Articles, Abstracts, and Reports

No abstract provided.

Staff Education On Evidence-Based Educational Content For Patient Fall Prevention Measures, Ogochukwu Vera Nnakwe

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Patient falls continue to be a challenge due to the injury associated with them. They can be disabling, costly, and most often lead to increased morbidity and mortality. Falls at home lead to hospitalization of the patient and complication of other health issues and/or aggravation of preexisting health problems. The practice problem was that the clinic did not have patient education content in place for fall prevention measures to discuss with patient at discharge. The practice-focused question was, Will a staff education on evidence-based falls prevention measures result in an increase in staff knowledge on fall prevention? The purpose of …

An Exploration Of Potential Gaps Between The Expectations Formed In Local Nursing Programs And The Lived Work Experience Of Newly Licensed Nurses, Melissa Low

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Understanding how expectations formed while in nursing school affect one's successful transition as a newly licensed nurse allows educators to identify curriculum changes to align expectations between academic and healthcare settings to improve the transition to professional nursing. A descriptive-hermeneutic phenomenological study utilized interviews, observations, and journal activities to identify variances between student nurses' expectations and the professional nurse work environment. A purposeful, criterion-based sampling of newly licensed nurses within four and 12 months of orientation identified 11 individuals to interview, observe, and gather journal entries to detail specific gaps between their expectations formed in nursing school and their lived …