Nursing Commons^™

Skin Is In: Promoting Breastfeeding Through Immediate Cesarean Skin-To-Skin, Autumn Spencer

All Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Scholarly Projects

Problem: The Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN) and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists identify immediate, uninterrupted skin-to-skin contact as a standard of care that improves neonatal stability, breastfeeding outcomes, and maternal satisfaction. Despite these recommendations, timely initiation following cesarean birth remains inconsistent. At the project site, skin-to-skin initiation averaged 72 minutes after birth, exceeding the 10-minute benchmark, and exclusive breastfeeding rates were below the national standard of 70%. Contributing barriers included workflow variability, unclear role expectations, and inconsistent communication.

Aim of the Project: The aim of the project was to improve infant and maternal …

Identifying Palliative Care Needs In The Emergency Department, James Sullivan

All Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Scholarly Projects

This quality improvement project evaluated the implementation of the Palliative Care and Rapid Emergency Screening (P‑CaRES) tool to improve early identification of unmet palliative care (PC) needs among adults with advanced, life‑limiting illnesses presenting to a community emergency department (ED). The problem addressed was the absence of a standardized PC screening process, resulting in delayed recognition, missed referral opportunities, fragmented care, and repeated ED utilization. Guided by Plan‑Do‑Study‑Act cycles and the OhioHealth Change Management Model, the project integrated P‑CaRES into ED workflows, provided staff education, and established structured referral pathways. Over 12 weeks, clinicians completed 65 screenings; 57 patients met …

Improving Timely Hospice Pain Reassessments Through A Quality Improvement Initiative, Brianna Strong-Mosley

All Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Scholarly Projects

Problem: In a hospice care organization, a practice gap was observed in prompt pain reassessment with an onset or increase of pain, as mandated within a 48-hour timeframe by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Baseline data showed that only 40% of eligible patients with a pain score of ≥ 6 received a documented pain reassessment within 48 hours. Overall patient satisfaction with hospice services was 45%.

Aim of the Project: The quality improvement project aimed to enhance pain management by increasing the percentage of eligible hospice patients with a documented pain score of ≥ 6 from a …

Enhancing Medication Timeliness Through Structured Handoff In A Mental Health Facility, Belinda Zinhu

All Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Scholarly Projects

Problem: Delayed medication administration in an adult inpatient mental health facility exceeded organizational benchmarks and posed risks to patient safety, treatment effectiveness, and continuity of care. Baseline electronic health record (EHR) audits showed that about 30% of scheduled medications were administered outside the organization's acceptable timeframe, and inconsistent nurse shift handoffs contributed to the delays.

Aim of the Project: The aim of the quality improvement project was to improve patient outcomes by implementing the I-PASS standardized handoff communication tool to reduce late medication administration from 30% to 15% within 12 weeks.

Review of the Evidence: Evidence supports structured handoff frameworks …

Fall Tailoring Interventions For Patient Safety: A Program Evaluation, Shirley Morrison

All Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Scholarly Projects

Problem: Falls with injury rates had increased for over two years at the project hospital until nurse leaders implemented a new fall-prevention intervention. Patient falls are the most common preventable adverse event in acute care hospitals, with approximately 700,000 to 1 million occurring annually in the United States. Before implementing the Fall Tailoring Interventions for Patient Safety (TIPS) toolkit, the hospital’s program lacked an evidence-based approach and a fall communication board to alert staff, patients, and families about the individual fall risk status, leaving a significant gap in patient-centered care.

Aim of the Project: The aim of the project was …

Implementing The Walking Impairment Questionnaire For Peripheral Artery Disease Screening And Referral, Lisa Doyle

All Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Scholarly Projects

Problem: Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is a leading cause of cardiovascular morbidity, mortality, and lower extremity amputation. At a Level 1 veterans medical center, the absence of a standardized screening and referral process contributed to delayed identification of symptomatic PAD and underutilization of supervised exercise therapy (SET). Between August 2024 and July 2025, only four veterans completed SET despite a large high-risk population, demonstrating a significant gap in evidence-based recommendations and clinical practice.

Aim of the Project: The aim of this project was to improve patient outcomes by standardizing screening for symptomatic PAD using the Walking Impairment Questionnaire (WIQ) to …

Tailoring Interventions For Patient Safety Protocol: A Strategy To Prevent Inpatient Falls, Yashu Adhikari

All Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Scholarly Projects

Problem: Inpatient falls were a significant safety issue at the project site, substantially affecting patient outcomes and organizational resources. The identified gap was the lack of individualized, patient-centered fall-prevention strategies despite the presence of standard fall-prevention bundles. The baseline fall rate of 6.04 was 20% higher than the national benchmark of three to five falls per 1,000 patient days, indicating a clear need for improvement.

Aim of the Project: The quality improvement (QI) project aimed to improve patient safety by reducing inpatient falls through implementation of the AHRQ Fall Tailoring Interventions for Patient Safety (TIPS) protocol on a …

Pressure Injury Prevention Bundle Implementation In An Acute Care Unit, Hannah K. Pobi

All Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Scholarly Projects

Problem: Pressure Injuries are quality indicators that reflect the quality of care delivered to patients. With a hospital-acquired pressure injury rate above 12%, the project site exceeded the national benchmark average of 5-8% for acute inpatient settings. The cost of managing hospital acquired pressure injury ranges from $20,900 to $151,700 per patient, compounded by complications in a patient’s treatment plan.

Aim of the Project: To reduce the prevalence of HAPIs in a step-down unit to below 8% by implementing the Pressure Injury Prevention bundle. The PIP bundle, an evidence-based intervention, primarily aimed to educate the nursing team on its …

Reducing Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infections In Progressive Care, Kelli S. Bylsma

All Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Scholarly Projects

Problem: Catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI) harm patients and increase healthcare costs. In fiscal year 2025, the progressive care unit reported a CAUTI rate 2.5 times the National Healthcare Safety Network benchmark of 1.0 infection per 1,000 catheter days. A gap analysis revealed that the project site lacked a policy mandating chlorhexidine baths for catheterized patients, resulting in suboptimal catheter hygiene and ineffective bactericidal intervention.

Aim of the Project: The aim of the quality improvement project was to reduce CAUTI rates by 50% through daily chlorhexidine baths for catheterized patients in the progressive care unit.

Review of the Evidence: Recent …

Standardized Infection Prevention Protocol To Reduce Surgical Site Infections In Pediatric Neurosurgery, Pisey Kareth

All Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Scholarly Projects

Problem: Surgical site infections (SSIs) are a significant concern in the pediatric neurosurgical patient population and are associated with increased morbidity, longer hospital stays, and increased medical expenses. The absence of a standardized preoperative infection prevention process led to variability in perioperative care practices and infections at the practicum site.

Aim of the Project: The aim of the project was to reduce the incidence of SSIs among pediatric patients undergoing neurosurgical procedures who were initially evaluated in an ambulatory setting.

Review of the Evidence: Evidence supports the implementation of bundled infection prevention strategies as a more effective approach to reducing …

The Effect Of The Continuous Care Model On Self-Practices And Quality Of Life Among Preeclamptic Women, Amira Ahmed Altweel, Salma Abd-Elatty Moawed, Amr Mahmoud Riad, Shaimaa Hassan Mohamady

Nursing

No abstract provided.

Staff Education To Improve Lithium Adherence In Bipolar I Disorder Through Staff Education, Queendroline Fundong Nkeh

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Enhancing Care Coordination Between The Same Day Clinic (Sdc) And Primary Care Group (Pcg) By Facilitating Care Establishment With A Primary Care Provider (Pcp), Saba Zabarah

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Project Abstract

PURPOSE

The purpose of this Quality Improvement (QI) project was to connect patients to a Primary Care Provider (PCP). The specific aim was to increase by 25% the percentage of patients without a PCP who established care with a PCP within 30 days of visiting the Same Day Clinic (SDC).

BACKGROUND

The SDC provides episodic care for acute illness, making it difficult to coordinate care for patients who do not have a PCP and require follow-up. The project was implemented in an outpatient clinic that is connected to a larger primary care group in Houston, Texas.

METHODOLOGY

The intervention included …

Climate Change Education For Environmental Sustainability In Health Professions Education: A Modified Delphi, Moses Mutua, Mirriam Kivuva

School of Nursing & Midwifery, East Africa

No abstract provided.

Correlation Between Overthinking And Procrastination Behavior Among Nurses, Mona Hassan Abdelaal

Nursing

ABSTRACT Context: A key challenge in understanding internalizing psychological disorders is identifying the cognitive processes that sustain distress and disrupt effective functioning. Recurrent, hard-to-interrupt thinking patterns may interfere with individuals’ ability to initiate and complete intended tasks. Concurrently, individuals may persistently delay necessary actions despite recognizing their negative consequences, indicating a breakdown between intention and behavior. This pattern of delay appears to be associated with seeking short term emotional relief, reduced consideration of future outcomes, and avoidance of prolonged effort. While these issues have been studied independently, their overlapping mechanisms require further investigation. The potential role of repetitive cognitive processes …

The Impact Of Hypertensive Disorders Of Pregnancy On Cognitive Outcomes In Offspring: Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Berihun Dachew, Tusa, Getinet Ayano, Kim Betts, Amanuel Gebremedhin, Daniel Rudaizky, Gizachew A. Tessema, Rosa Alati

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Purpose To synthesis the available research on the association between hypertensive disorders during pregnancy (HDP) and adverse cognitive outcomes in children. Methods PubMed, MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, CINAHL, and PsycInfo were searched from inception to February 2026 to identify relevant studies. Effect estimates and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were extracted and pooled using inverse variance–weighted random-effects meta-analysis. Results Thirty-nine observational studies published between 1982 and 2026, covering over 12.5 million mother-offspring pairs, were included in the final analysis. The findings indicate that HDP were associated with a 39% increased risk of Intellectual Disability (ID) (OR = 1.39, 95% CI = 1.30–1.47) …

Digital Teaching In Midwifery Education Since 2021: A Literature Review Of Trends, Technological Advancements And Challenges, Michelle Gray, Kristina Vogel, Annette Bernloehr, Terri Downer, Melanie Welfare, Nicola H. Bauer

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Aim: To produce an updated synthesis of digital learning and teaching approaches in midwifery education since 2021. Background: Globally, there is an increasing trend towards using digital technologies in midwifery education with little examination of trends, terminology or impact by midwifery academics. Design: A comprehensive literature review. Methods: Ten databases were searched (2021–March 2025) guided by JBI methodology and PRISMA-ScR reporting, resulting in 36 empirical studies focusing on digital technologies used with midwifery students. The review mapped recent technological developments, associated benefits and emerging challenges. Results: Digital innovations were in 15 countries and ranged from immersive virtual reality, augmented and …

Nursing Students' Evaluation Of Primary Health Care Clinical Placements - A Cross-Sectional Study, Debbie Procter, Megan Lee, Debbie Massey, Kylie Mccullough, Karen Strickland

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Aim: Evaluate quality and satisfaction of nursing students' Primary Health Care clinical placements. Background: There is growing recognition of the need to expand the Primary Health Care nursing workforce, with positive clinical placement experiences considered essential for preparing and inspiring future careers in these settings; however, few graduate nurses choose this career path. Design: A cross-sectional study design using purposive sampling. Participants: Data were sourced from National Placement Evaluation Centre's 2023/2024 dataset using the validated PET–Nursing survey. The tool includes 20 items across two subscales - Clinical Environment and Learning Support, with the final item assessing overall placement satisfaction. Surveys …

School Of Nursing Newsletter Summer 2026, Southern Adventist University

Southern Nursing - School of Nursing Newsletter

The Summer 2026 issue of the newsletter features information on the Hamilton County Homeland Security emergency preparedness event held in April, an update on the Nursing Simulation Center, the spring RHO IOTA induction ceremony, and mission trip experiences.

Detection And Evaluation Of Biofilm-Producing Clinical Bacterial Isolates By Tcp Method In Karbala-Iraq, Huda Ali Salman Almosawey

Al-Esraa University College Journal for Medical Sciences

Background: A biofilm is a complicated, three-dimensional microbial community that forms at an interface and interacts with its surroundings. To detect the ability of bacteria to form biofilms, the Tissue Culture Plate Method (TCP) is one of the most widely accurate methods and is frequently used with clinical isolates. Objective: This study aims to determine the ability of clinical bacterial isolates to form biofilms using the TCP method and to compare biofilm production between different types of bacteria; to study the relationship between biofilm formation and antibiotic resistance, which helps in understanding the reasons for the failure of some antibiotic …