Nursing Commons^™

Culturally Safe Nursing: Transformative Learning Experiences Through Critical Reflection Assessment, Lesley Andrew, Michelle Pedlow, Bev Ewens

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Aim: To explore the transformative learning experiences of postgraduate nursing students engaging in an Aboriginal culture and history module, through an analysis of a critical reflection assessment, in particular the student development of cultural awareness and culturally safe practice.

Background: Despite mandated inclusion of Aboriginal cultural content in Australian nursing curricula, culturally unsafe practices and racism persist. Transformative learning, underpinned by critical reflection, can challenge fixed assumptions and promote cultural awareness and culturally safe care.

Design: A qualitative descriptive study using thematic analysis. Methods: Written critical reflections from 15 consenting postgraduate nursing students who completed the Ngany Kalyakal Katatjiny Boordawan …

Forty Years In The Making: Reporting On The Co-Creation Of A National Roadmap For Birthing On Country Services For The Best Start To Life, Res Mccalman, Anneka J. Bowman, Roianne West, Kristie Watego, Jyai Allen, Claire Clack, Sue Kildea, Sue Kruske, Melanie Briggs, Cleone Wellington, Rebecca Coddington, Yu Gao, Isabella Garti, Sascha Kowalenko, Sarah Ireland, Catherine Austin, John D. Boffa, Marah Prior, Kelsie Kahl, Bettina Chaseling, Sarah Khaw, Emily Armstrong, Donna Hartz (Kamilaroi), Yvette Roe (Njikena Jawuru)

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

For over 40 years, First Nations communities in Australia have called for community-controlled birthing and maternal–infant health programs that restore First Nations-led, community-controlled birthing systems grounded in cultural authority and sovereignty. ‘Birthing on Country’ services have demonstrated improved First Nations maternal–infant health outcomes, more babies kept out of the child protection system, and reduced health system costs. Restoration and expansion of Birthing on Country services across regions has been inconsistent, and has lacked support for national implementation. In 2022, a large national gathering (‘Best Start to Life’) was co-hosted in Mparntwe (Alice Springs). The focus was Birthing on Country service …

Nurses' Perspectives Of Dysphagia Screening Practices In Irish Residential Long-Term Care Settings: A Qualitative Descriptive Study, Constantino Estupiñán Artiles, Claire Donnellan, Julie Regan, Mary Mooney

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Objectives To examine nurses’ perspectives on current dysphagia screening practices in Irish residential long-term care settings (RLTCS), and to investigate barriers and facilitators to nursing-led dysphagia screening within this healthcare context. Methods This study employed a qualitative descriptive design and was reported in accordance with the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research checklist. Participants were recruited through purposive sampling from RLTCS located in the northeast of the Republic of Ireland. Eleven in-person focus group interviews were conducted with thirty-four nurses working in clinical and managerial roles. A semi-structured interview guide was utilised, and the data were subsequently analysed using reflexive …

Pediatric Nurses' Perspectives Of Integrating Spiritual Care Into Everyday Practice: An Integrative Review, Yin May Htay, Mandie Foster, R. Mowat

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Aim: To explore nurses' perspectives regarding children's spiritual care in pediatric healthcare settings. Background: Spiritual care is a fundamental source of comfort and healing and an essential. component of nursing practice. However, pediatric nurses often lack the competence and confidence to incorporate spiritual care into their clinical routines. Despite its importance, the perceptions and practices of pediatric nurses across various clinical specialties regarding spiritual care remain underexplored in current literature. Methods: The integrative review methodology was chosen to provide a comprehensive and up-to-date synthesis of the literature. Four electronic databases (CINAHL, MEDLINE, Scopus and Google Scholar) were used to search …

Towards Primary Health Care Education Reform: A Reflexive Thematic Analysis Of Nursing Supervisors' Perceptions, Experiences And Challenges, Debbie Procter, Mccullough, Debbie Massey, Karen Strickland

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Aim: To explore Primary Health Care nurses' experiences of supervising nursing students on clinical placements and their perceptions of academic preparation for placement and future employment. Background: Primary Health Care nurses are essential workers within sustainable health systems but pre-registration educational preparation and access to clinical experiences can be limited. Previous research correlates positive clinical experiences with workforce intentions. Furthermore, nursing supervisors are pivotal to maximising student experiences and education, yet little is known about their perceptions, challenges, and views about how current curriculum prepares students to commence professional careers in primary care. Understanding their perceptions may inform curriculum, improve …

Impact Of Exercise On Mental Health In Inpatient Settings, Samuel Blake Rn, Nathaniel Clark Rn

Nurse Residency

In adult psychiatric inpatients with mental illness, how does participation in a structured exercise program compared with standard inpatient care affect depression, anxiety, and overall mental health outcomes during hospitalization?

Night Shift-Specific Training & Engagement, Keith Procell Rn, Kyleigh Keitel Rn

Nurse Residency

In night shift hospital workers (P) does mandatory daytime attendance for required education (I), compared to shift-aligned, asynchronous, or flexible scheduling of education (C), increase health risks associated with circadian disruption (O), as supported by current research?

Tracking Toward Zero: Implementing A Picc Team Tracker To Prevent Clabsis, Christian Justin Carreon

Master's Projects and Capstones

Problem: Central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) remain a significant and preventable patient safety concern in acute care settings, contributing to increased morbidity, mortality, prolonged hospitalization, and substantial healthcare costs.

Context: At Hospital A, a tertiary referral center in Northern California, six adult CLABSIs were identified between June and December 2025 following an eight-month CLABSI-free period. Four events occurred in adult medical surgical telemetry. All peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) line CLABSIs were attributed to gaps in maintenance bundle adherence and the lack of a standardized, real-time tracking mechanism for the PICC Team.

Interventions: A PICC Team Tracker was implemented as …

Beyond The Binary: Strengthening Nursing Students’ Proficiency Of Equitable Health Promotion, Martha K. Findley

Theses

Background: Sexual and gender diverse (SGD) populations continue to experience significant health inequities, yet prelicensure nursing curricula often lack structured, evidence‑based training to prepare students for equitable care.

Purpose: This study evaluated whether a targeted, transgender‑focused simulation could improve nursing students’ clinical knowledge and preparedness for providing equitable health promotion to SGD populations.

Methods: A pre‑/post‑intervention design was used with senior‑level nursing students who completed a transgender patient simulation emphasizing communication, assessment, and equitable health promotion. Students completed a validated survey measuring knowledge and preparedness in caring for SGD patients.

Results: Significant improvements across most survey items demonstrated that the …

Understanding Factors Influencing Multiple Tobacco Product Use Among Adolescents In Thailand: A Structural Equation Modeling Approach, Chaowalit Srisoem

Graduate Doctoral Dissertations

Tobacco use among Thai adolescents is shaped by personal, environmental, and product-related factors. However, the pathways linking these influences to actual behavior remain unclear. This study examined how personal, environmental, and product-related factors, along with intentions to use, relate to tobacco use among Thai adolescents. A cross-sectional secondary analysis was conducted using data from the 2022 Thailand Global Youth Tobacco Survey of 6,235 students aged 13–15 years. Survey weights methods were applied to produce nationally representative estimates. Confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling assessed latent constructs, and multinomial logistic regression examined predictors of single, dual, and multiple product use. …

Staff Education On Standardized Suicide Risk Assessment In An Outpatient Clinic For Behavioral Health, Fanta Haja Cabah

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Suicide risk assessment is a high-priority nursing safety responsibility in outpatient behavioral health. The practice gap was a variation in nurses’ knowledge of validated suicide screening, direct inquiry, risk escalation, referral, and related documentation expectations working in an outpatient behavioral health clinic located on the Eastern Atlantic Coast. To address this problem, I developed, implemented, and evaluated a staff education program on a standardized suicide risk assessment. The practice question focused on whether staff knowledge increased following participation in the education program. Ten nursing staff members participated in a 60-minute education program. Pretest and posttest questionnaires included 20 multiple-choice questions. …

Implementing A Routine Fall Risk Assessment In Older Adults In An Inpatient Psychiatric Setting, Amaka Obi

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The purpose of the project was to implement and evaluate a structured fall risk assessment process that promoted the early identification of patients at increased risk for falls and supported interventions designed to prevent fall-related events. A pre- and post-implementation evaluation design was used to assess the intervention's effectiveness by comparing fall rates before and after implementation of the standardized assessment protocol. De-identified data obtained from the electronic health record (EHR) were analyzed using descriptive statistics to evaluate changes in fall incidence and protocol adherence. The project findings demonstrated that provider-led, standardized fall-risk assessments improved screening compliance, provider adherence, and …

Staff Education To Increase Knowledge And Awareness Of Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Alie Sholola Sahid

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Background STIs or sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are consequential public health emergencies that affect millions of people globally and have long-term health implications (Garcia et al., 2024). STIs are infections that are passed from one person to another through sexual contact with the most common types of STIs include chlamydia, trichomoniasis, general herpes, and human papillomavirus (HPV). It is estimated that each year, more than 20% of the U.S. population has had an STI, with around 26.2 million cases per year (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2024a). The common types of STIs include chlamydia, trichomoniasis, general herpes, and …

The Lived Spirituality Experiences Of Adult Diabetes Patients In Adhering To Treatment, Dwight Mahaputera Marulitua Hutapea

The Qualitative Report

This descriptive phenomenological study explored the lived spirituality experiences of adult patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) in adhering to treatment. Prior research has indicated that spirituality may influence attitudes toward and adherence to chronic disease management; however, empirical evidence addressing the spiritual dimension among people with diabetes remains limited. Guided by Colaizzi's (1978) phenomenological method, in-depth interviews were conducted with 12 purposively selected participants, equally distributed among Christians and Muslims. All interviews were transcribed verbatim and subjected to rigorous phenomenological analysis. Seven themes emerged from the data analysis: (a) spirituality strengthens relationships; (b) spirituality affects choices and outcomes; …

Tracking Towards Zero: Implementing A Picc Team Tracker To Prevent Clabsis, Carolina Maria Gerodias Cayetano

Master's Projects and Capstones

Background: Central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) remain among the most serious and costly healthcare-associated infections in acute care settings, with each event associated with significant excess mortality, prolonged hospital stays, and avoidable healthcare costs. At Hospital A, a 239-bed acute care facility, two of six total CLABSI events over a 12-month period were associated with peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs), representing 33% of all facility CLABSIs and exposing a critical gap in standardized PICC line surveillance and maintenance bundle monitoring.

Problem: The PICC team lacked a systematic, real-time tracking mechanism to monitor central line maintenance bundle adherence across seven adult …

Reducing Inpatient Falls Through Staff Education, Courage Duin Chiangeh

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Patient falls remain a major patient safety concern, particularly among hospitalized stroke patients who are at increased risk because of impaired mobility, neurological deficits, and cognitive changes. The inpatient stroke unit selected for this quality improvement project consistently reported the highest fall rates within the hospital system, highlighting the need for evidence-based interventions. The purpose of this project was to determine whether a structured fall-prevention education program incorporating evidence-based practices and the 4Ps of purposeful rounding (pain, potty, position, and possessions) would improve staff knowledge, increase compliance with fallprevention practices, and reduce patient falls over a 2-month period. Guided by …

Staff Education To Strengthen Patient Counseling For Recurrent Uti Prevention In Middle-Aged And Older Women In A Low-Income Community Clinic, Linda Osamede Isidienu

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This doctor of nursing practice (DNP) project was a practice-focused quality improvement (QI) staff education initiative designed to address recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs) among middle-aged and older women receiving care in a low-income community clinic. Recurrent UTIs are associated with increased antibiotic use, antimicrobial resistance, and reduced quality of life. The purpose of this project was to evaluate whether a structured staff education program could improve provider knowledge related to patient counseling on UTI prevention. Twenty nurses and medical assistants participated in the intervention, which included education on evidence-based prevention strategies, counseling techniques for low health literacy populations, and …

Advancing Paternal Perinatal Mental Health: Integrating Qualitative Evidence, Theory, And Measurement Science, Rachael Elizabeth Schmitz

Nursing and Health Sciences

Aim: To advance understanding of paternal perinatal mental health through the integration of qualitative evidence, mid-range theory, and conceptual framework development.

Background: Existing scholarship largely emphasizes prevalence and symptom identification of paternal post partum depression, with limited integration of fathers lived experiences into theory development and assessment frameworks, and mental health nursing practice. Greater integration of qualitative evidence, theory, and measurement science may strengthen the recognition and assessment of paternal distress.

Methods & results: This integrative paper synthesizes findings from a phenomenological study of fathers with postpartum depression, the Reciprocal Adaptation in Postpartum Fathers mid-range nursing theory, and the P- …

Staff Education To Improve Staff Knowledge Regarding Candida Auris, Nkechinyere Ejelonu

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This Doctor of Nursing Practice project was a staff education project regarding Candida auris, a multidrug-resistant fungus recognized by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as an urgent global health threat due to its high mortality, environmental persistence, and resistance to common disinfectants. Staff play a crucial role in infection prevention; however, limited awareness and inconsistent knowledge of Candida auris contribute to potential transmission in skilled nursing home settings. The project question was as follows: Among staff members in a skilled nursing facility, does an evidence-based educational intervention improve knowledge of Candida auris infection prevention as compared pre- …

Registered Nurses’ Perceptions Of Relational Service Behaviors In Nursing Practice, Dadakpoye Tina Johnson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Nurses play a central role in shaping patient experiences through clinical care and relational service behaviors. However, little is known about registered nurses’ perceptions and experiences of relational service behaviors in contemporary health care settings. The purpose of this interpretive description qualitative study was to explore registered nurses’ perceptions and experiences of relational service behaviors and their role in promoting patient-centered care. Herzberg’s two-factor theory provided the conceptual framework for examining how intrinsic motivators and extrinsic workplace factors influence relational engagement. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 11 registered nurses from diverse clinical practice settings. Interview data were analyzed using Braun …