Nursing Commons^™

Quality Improvement Project: Improving The Clinical Teaching Experience Through Clinical Adjunct Orientation, Elissa Saunders

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Clinical adjunct nursing faculty often transition into academic roles without formal preparation, leading to role insecurity and high turnover rates that negatively impact student clinical experiences. The purpose of this quality improvement (QI) project was to implement a structured orientation checklist to improve perceived clinical teaching competency among novice clinical adjunct faculty. The project aimed to standardize onboarding and support the transition from clinical practice to academia. A quantitative pre-post intervention design was used with a convenience sample of clinical adjunct faculty employed for less than one year at a rural university nursing program. The project was guided by Kotter’s …

Strengthening Evaluation For Student Success, Hollan Scrivner

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Student evaluation is an important factor in guiding students to develop self-confidence and gain competency in nursing skills. For evaluation to be effective, it must be consistent. The purpose of this quality improvement project is to implement a training program to improve consistency and interrater reliability among faculty conducting skill evaluations. The impact of the training program will be measured by a pre- and post-grading exercise using a skills rubric. Data will be extracted from the rubrics and entered into a codebook for data analysis. The project was guided by the theoretical framework of Stephens’ Star Model of Knowledge Transformation …

Enhancing Provider Self-Efficacy And Documentation In Hypertension Management, Stephanie Nsiah

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Primary care providers often experience inconsistent confidence and incomplete documentation when managing hypertension, contributing to suboptimal blood pressure control. This quality improvement project addressed the need for structured provider education at an outpatient family clinic. The purpose was to evaluate the impact of a structured educational intervention on provider self-efficacy and documentation completeness. Using a quasi-experimental pre-post design guided by the Plan-Do-Study-Act model and Lewin's Change Theory, a 60-minute educational session was delivered to 12 licensed providers. Participants completed pre- and post-intervention self-efficacy surveys using the Acceptability of Intervention Measure (AIM) and Intervention Appropriateness Measure (IAM) and Feasibility of Intervention …

An Educational Intervention To Increase Nurses’ Knowledge And Confidence Of Patient Mobility, Debbie Ann Pytak

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Immobility is a significant concern given that nearly half of all hospitalized adults are immobile during their hospitalization, placing them at increased risk for adverse outcomes. As a result, it is critical for nurses to implement strategies that promote safe, structured patient mobility. Thus, the purpose of this Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project was to determine if an educational intervention focused on patient mobility and standardized mobility tool utilization increased knowledge and confidence among nursing staff in an acute care setting. Ten participants volunteered to attend the educational intervention. The average age of the participants was 44.30 years (SD …

Dnp Final Report: Can Implementing A Mindfulness-Based Program Help Reduce Stress In Nursing Students?, Shelby Devreeze Msn, Rn, Cpn, Cne-Cl

DNP Final Reports

Stress among nursing students is a well-documented problem that contributes to physical, mental, and emotional issues, substance abuse, and program dropout. A mindfulness-based stress reduction program was implemented with nursing students to evaluate its impact on perceived stress levels over a five-week period. A review of evidence-based articles provides strong evidence that this intervention correlates with reduced reported stress. An MBSRP was implemented with nursing students who completed a Perceived Stress Scale 10 (PSS-10) before the intervention and again after five weeks.

Results from this project showed a statistically significant reduction (t=2.725, p=0.025) in stress among the nursing student population …

Nurture Study: Neonatal Utilization And Risk From Maternal Substance Exposure- Transitions, Resource Needs, And Outcomes, Vidhani Goel, Roberto Sagaribay, Emily Carter, Gabriella Buccini, Farooq Abdulla, Deborah A. Kuhls

Undergraduate Research Symposium Podium Presentations

Introduction: Prenatal exposure to addictive substances is an important public health concern with potential consequences for neonatal health and early brain development. Maternal substance use during pregnancy has been associated with adverse birth outcomes and increased healthcare utilization in the neonatal period. These risks may be further amplified among Medicaid populations that experience persistent healthcare disparities. Understanding early indicators of neonatal instability may help identify infants at elevated risk for neurodevelopmental complications. This study examines the association between maternal substance use and neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) utilization and transitions in level of care (LOC) among infants born to Medicaid …

Dementia De-Escalation Staff Education Program, Gretchan Edwards

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD), including agitation and aggression, present significant challenges in acute care settings and contribute to increased staff injury risk and inconsistent patient care. The purpose of this Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project was to evaluate the impact of a structured dementia de-escalation education program on staff knowledge, confidence, and perceived ability to manage dementia-related behaviors. The guiding PICOT question asked: In acute care staff, how does participation in a structured de-escalation training program that incorporates environmental modifications and organizational support, compared with no formal de-escalation training, affect staff knowledge, confidence, and perceived impact …

Moving From Pico To Ppco, Amy Six-Means

PPCO Resources & Education

No abstract provided.

Assessment Of Undergraduate And New Graduate Nursing Confidence In Caring For Actively Dying Patients, Alyssa Boersma

25th Annual A. Paul and Carol C. Schaap Celebration of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity (2026)

Undergraduate nursing students and new graduate nurses frequently report feeling underprepared and uncomfortable when caring for actively dying patients. The purpose of this study was to identify potential gaps in the current curriculum and assess what improvements were needed to better prepare students. Dorothea Orem’s Self-Care Deficit Theory highlights the importance of providing holistic and self care needs when patients are not able to do it themselves. A cross-sectional, quality improvement design was utilized. A 17 item Likert-scale survey was administered to investigate the level of confidence that participants have when caring for actively dying patients. Senior level nursing students …

Servant Leadership In Undergraduate Nursing Students: A Concept Analysis, Ellie Bonanni

25th Annual A. Paul and Carol C. Schaap Celebration of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity (2026)

Leadership is necessary in the nursing profession and can be cultivated within undergraduate nursing programs. Servant leadership shows great promise as an appropriate leadership model for nurses. The purpose of this study was to complete a concept analysis of servant leadership (SL) and apply it in cases of undergraduate nursing students. The theoretical framework was Greenleaf’s Servant Leadership Model. This study was completed using Walker and Avant’s model of concept analysis, which clarifies the defining attributes, defining characteristics, antecedents, and consequences of a concept. A literature review was performed using CINAHL Plus (Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature) …

Human Interactions With Artificial Intelligence: A Pilot Study, Kjersten Heinlein

25th Annual A. Paul and Carol C. Schaap Celebration of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity (2026)

Emerging research shows that college students increasingly use artificial intelligence (AI) tools in academic and personal contexts; however, little is known about how factors such as computer literacy and digital comfort influence their communication with AI. This pilot study seeks to establish a protocol to investigate the influence that undergraduate students’ digital comfort and computer literacy has on the style, tone, and effectiveness of interactions with AI during socially-oriented tasks. Grounded in Margaret Newman’s Theory of Health as Expanding Consciousness, this work views students’ digital comfort and literacy as evolving factors that expand their awareness and enable more effective interactions …

Human Interactions With Artificial Intelligence: A Pilot Study, Miracle Yunana, Kjersten Heinlein

25th Annual A. Paul and Carol C. Schaap Celebration of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity (2026)

As artificial intelligence (AI) becomes increasingly integrated into daily life, understanding AI’s impact on human communication is essential for nursing education where both effective socialization and digital literacy are key components of professional development. This pilot study seeks to establish a protocol to explore the relationship between undergraduate students’ socialization and their communication styles when interacting with AI tools. Peplau’s Interpersonal Relations Theory serves as the foundation for this study, emphasizing the importance of social connectedness and communication, highlighting how interpersonal dynamics may extend to AI-mediated interactions. A mixed methods pilot study was conducted, consisting of structured sessions with seven …

The Impact Of Customized Alarm Sounds On Reducing Alarm Fatigue In Icu Nurses, Abigail L. Kendrick, Elizabeth G. Dunkum, Carly F. Harris

Student Scholar Showcase

Within hospital care, particularly in intensive care units, alarm fatigue poses a major threat to patient safety. As a result of the constant sound of alarms, nurses become desensitized and overstimulated in the health care setting. Patient safety is threatened by an increased risk of errors in care, which may lead to complications and poor health outcomes. By systematically reviewing various research studies within the time span of 2020-2025 regarding interventions to decrease the relevance of alarm fatigue, research suggests that there are methods that can be applied via numerous approaches. By customizing alarm sounds by severity, it is believed …

Nitrous Oxide Use In Labor, Aimee Aberson, Janae Cam, Rylie Franken, Rachel Henriksen, Ben Robinson, Pam Hulstein

Celebration of Research

Effective pain management during labor is a critical part of maternal care. It influences the mother’s physical and emotional experiences of childbirth. Epidural anesthesia and intravenous opioids are commonly used as analgesia in laboring mothers, but nitrous oxide (N₂O) has proven to be a safe, noninvasive alternative. It allows mothers to maintain mobility and consciousness while still reducing some pain perception. The purpose of this evidence-based practice project is to evaluate the effectiveness, safety, and satisfaction associated with N₂O use during active maternal labor. It reviews current literature on N₂O use during labor, focusing on maternal and neonatal safety, effectiveness …

Role Of Dental Screening In Preventing Hip Prosthetic Joint Infections, Aidan Anderson, Cailee Dix, Emma Franken, Erin Keizer, Zavyr Metzger, Tyra Snyder, Pam Hulstein

Celebration of Research

Hip arthroplasty is a common procedure, but Periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) remains a serious postoperative complication associated with increased hospital stays, readmissions, and costs. Evidence suggests that poor oral health may contribute to PJIs through the spread of bacteria from the mouth to the surgical site. This project examined the relationship between preoperative dental health and postoperative outcomes in adults aged 50–90 undergoing hip replacement. A literature review using the Johns Hopkins Research Evidence Appraisal Tool evaluated 19 studies from databases such as PubMed and ScienceDirect. While no clear association was found between specific dental risk factors and PJIs, untreated …

Inpatient Treatment Compared To Outpatient Treatment For Borderline Personality Disorder, Paige Auch, Jaylin Gaston, Jori Harskamp, Ella Peterson, Kenzie Vonrentzell, Pam Hulstein

Celebration of Research

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a complex mental illness characterized by emotional instability, impulsivity, and unstable relationships. Individuals with BPD often require frequent hospitalizations and experience significant functional impairment. With increasing BPD admissions, Spencer Hospital seeks evidence-based strategies to improve patient outcomes and reduce readmissions. A literature review of ten studies (2016-2025) was conducted using PubMed, CINAHL, and Science Direct, appraised with the Johns Hopkins Nursing Evidence-Based Practice Model to compare inpatient and outpatient treatments for adults with BPD, focusing on symptom manage and quality of life. Findings indicate inpatient care with specific programs such as dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), …

Gut Health Interventions On Major Depressive Disorder, Hannah Beckloff, Ellie Erickson, Olga Furmanova, Hailey Van Dyken, Ashtyn Wobig

Celebration of Research

This evidence-based project aims to evaluate the potential benefits of probiotics, stress management, and a healthy diet for adults diagnosed with major depressive disorder at Promise Community Health Center. Through a comprehensive review of the literature, the project examines how interventions related to gut health can help alleviate depressive symptoms and implements the necessary tools to support this population at Promise. Our research findings suggest that combining probiotics, stress relief, and diet changes, along with adjunctive treatment for major depressive disorder, may reduce depressive symptoms and encourage a more holistic lifestyle for these individuals.

Understanding How Nurses Could Utilize Child Life Specialists, Paige Perkins

Honors Projects

Do pediatric nurses notice improvement in patient education levels when they use the resources of Child Life Specialists, understand their role, and utilize their resources to educate their patients, compared to hospitals without Child Life Specialists?

Quality Improvement Project Strengthening Faculty Competence: The Impact Of Structured Debriefing Education On Nursing Faculty Confidence And Competency Compared To Current Practice, Sudaneyse Emmanuel

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Nursing education sometimes struggles to prepare faculty to lead effective simulation-based learning and debriefing. Inconsistent debriefing practices can reduce faculty confidence and competency, limiting student reflection and the development of clinical judgment. This quality improvement project examined whether a structured debriefing education program could enhance nursing faculty confidence and competency in simulation debriefing compared with current practice at a technical college. The project used the Jeffries Simulation Theory and Lewin’s Change Theory as guides. The project used a one-group pretest-posttest design by using the C-Scale to measure confidence and the Facilitator Competency Rubric to measure competency among nursing faculty who …

Proclamation By The Governor Of Alabama: Year Of The Nurse, Robert Bentley

Documents

In 2015, Alabama Governor Robert Bentley declared the "year of the nurse" in honor of the "100 years of regulatory excellence" since the establishment of the Alabama Board of Nursing in 1915.