Nursing Commons^™

Staff Education To Emergency Nurses On Improving Handoff Communication Using The I-Pass Tool, Lekeyna Gleason

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Effective communication during nurse-to-nurse handoff remains a critical determinant of patient safety in high-acuity emergency settings, where rapid decisions and fluctuating clinical demands can lead to inconsistent structure, omission of critical information, and inefficient transitions of care. The practice gap identified was a lack of standardized knowledge and consistent use of a structured bedside handoff tool among emergency department (ED) nurses. The practice-focused question guiding this project was, Does educating ED nurses on using the I-PASS bedside handoff tool improve knowledge of structured bedside reporting as measured by pre- and post-implementation surveys? The ADDIE framework and the Johns Hopkins evidence-based …

Staff Education For The Management Of Chronic Pain In Patients With Mental Health Disorders, Jude Osagie Ukpebor

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This Doctor of Nursing Practice project was a practice-focused quality improvement staff education initiative designed to address a gap in nurses’ knowledge related to chronic pain management in patients with mental health disorders. Chronic pain frequently coexists with psychiatric conditions, yet nurses often lack formal education on biopsychosocial, trauma-informed, and non-pharmacologic pain management approaches, contributing to fragmented and inequitable care. Addressing this gap is essential to improving patient outcomes and advancing evidence-based nursing practice. The practice-focused question asked whether implementing a targeted nurse education program would improve nurses’ knowledge related to chronic pain management in patients with mental health disorders. …

Bringing The Heat: Optimizing Current Feed Warming Practices For Hospitalized Infants, Kaitlyn Ballard, Christine Nguyen, Madison Pavelka, David Rice, Yesica Rivas, Hannah Gabrielle Sellers, Nathan Xie

2025

No abstract provided.

Executive Leadership System Improvement Mobile Lung Cancer Screening, Tracy Holladay

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This doctoral project is an evidence‑based practice initiative to develop a mobile lung cancer screening program that expands early detection services in rural Arkansas. The practice problem involves low screening rates, high mortality, and access barriers that delay diagnosis for high‑risk individuals, making this work essential to nursing roles in prevention, coordination, education, and population health. The practice focused question examined whether creating a Mobile Lung Cancer Screening Unit proposal will support timely referrals and treatment. The purpose of the project was to design a feasible, evidence informed model aligned with organizational capacity and equitable access goals. Analytical strategies included …

Staff Education To Increase Knowledge And Awareness Of Cultural Sensitivity Among Providers, Stephanie Chiamaka Anyanwu

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project aimed to enhance cultural sensitivity among healthcare providers through an educational intervention in a local organization. With the U.S. foreign-born population exceeding 47 million, the need for culturally competent care has become paramount. The study involved nine participants who underwent a pretest and posttest assessment to evaluate their knowledge and awareness of cultural sensitivity. Results indicated a significant increase in knowledge, with pretest and posttest scores improving from a mean of 4.33 to 8.56 (p < 0.01). Awareness in key areas such as patient-provider relationships, cultural beliefs, and language barriers also showed marked improvement. These findings further support the necessity of ongoing cultural sensitivity training to enhance patient care and outcomes, highlighting the potential for broader application across healthcare institutions.

Self-Stigma Of Seeking Help, Psychological Safety, And Employee Assistance Program Use In Nurses, Latisha Lenee Marshall

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Employee assistance programs (EAPs) remain underutilized across various U.S. work sectors, including nursing. There are several barriers that impede nurses from using EAP services, including self-stigma of seeking help (SSOSH) and psychological safety (PS). The purposes of this study, which used the health promotion model as its theoretical framework, were to determine (a) if there was a difference in the level of SSOSH in nurses who have used EAPs and those who have not used EAPs, (b) if there was a difference in the level of PS in nurses who have used EAPs and nurses who have not used EAPs, …

Exploring The Relationship Among Nurse-Specific Factors And Triage Accuracy In The Emergency Setting, Krisada Suamchaiyaphum

ETDs from 2020-2029

Triage is a critical function of emergency nursing practice, directly influencing patient safety, flow, and outcomes in the emergency department (ED). Despite widespread use of standardized triage training and resources, triage accuracy among ED nurses remains suboptimal. The purpose of this three-manuscript dissertation was to examine factors associated with triage accuracy in the ED setting. Manuscript One was an integrative literature review of 14 studies published between 2011 and 2021, with reported triage accuracy rates ranging from 59.3% to 82%. Primary factors associated with triage accuracy were: nurse-specific, patient, and work environment factors. Manuscript Two reported a retrospective study of …

Bridging The Gap Transition From Pediatric Care To Adult Care, Jordan Garcia, Haley Henry, Amina Jamma, Guiliana Jimenez Carrion, Alexis Lowary, Jenna Potts, Josie Ramirez, Iman Siraj

2025

No abstract provided.

Staff Education On Metabolic Syndrome Screening In Patients Receiving Long-Acting Injectable Psychotropics, Efetze Metangpa Akana

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Summary This Doctor of Nursing Practice project was a staff education initiative designed to improve metabolic syndrome screening practices for patients receiving long-acting injectable psychotropic medications in an outpatient psychiatric setting. People living with serious mental illness face a heightened risk of cardiometabolic conditions, and inconsistent screening leads to delayed detection, avoidable illness, and ongoing health disparities, underscoring the importance of this practice gap within nursing practice due to nurses’ central role in medication oversight and preventive care. A key limitation of the project was the small sample size and short-term evaluation period, which limited generalizability and did not allow …

Implementation Of Structured Nursing Leadership Rounding To Improve Hospital Policy Adherence, Irma Rose Maize

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Variability in nursing policy compliance contributes to inconsistent clinical practice and compromises the delivery of standardized care. Limited leadership presence, support, and accountability have been identified as significant contributors to this practice gap. This Doctor of Nursing Practice project focused on educating nurse leaders about the importance and benefits of consistent unit-based leadership rounding as a strategy to support frontline nurses and reinforce policy adherence. A structured leadership rounding checklist was developed to guide purposeful, consistent check-ins with nursing staff, facilitating real-time support and identification of barriers to practice. Implementation of the checklist promoted increased leadership accessibility, improved communication, and …

Beyond Standard Sizes: Tailoring Dressings For Pediatric Central Venous Catheters, Alexandra Chheng, Emily Peterson, Jennifer Govea, Jennifer Stedman, Tara Carter

2025

No abstract provided.

Virtual And Remote Cardiac Rehabilitation For Older Adults: Current Evidence And Implementation Strategies, Sarah E. Slone, Rita D'Aoust, Rhonda Smith Wright, Victoria A. Yandle, Kurt G. Barringhaus

Faculty Publications

Purpose of Review

To present and analyze recent developments in remote cardiac rehabilitation for older adults, review outcomes data regarding clinical effectiveness of these modalities, and discuss implementation strategies targeted at older adults.

Recent Findings

Data from recent studies enrolling older adults into remote cardiac rehabilitation programs have yielded mixed results with some showing encouraging improvements in functional capacity and quality of life comparable to those obtained with center-based rehabilitation programs. Studies that showed no improvement in outcomes identified decreased patient engagement as an important driver of results. This underscores the importance of adapting remote cardiac rehabilitation programs to the …

What Matters To Residential Long-Term Care Residents: Contextualizing Perceptions Of Person-Centered Care, Luis J. Cordero, Sarah Dys, Diana White

Institute on Aging Publications

This study combines the CRITIC and DEMATEL methods and introduces a new hybrid scenario analysis approach that identifies cross-scenario strategies. We use Taiwan's wind energy industry as a case study to validate the process. Although scenario analysis has been applied across various fields and organization types—including strategic planning, education, training, and recent environmental issues—scholars have highlighted problems such as the subjectivity of qualitative analysis and the lack of quantitative evidence. To address this, this study integrates scenario analysis with quantitative multi-criteria decision analysis to support decision makers in conducting scenario evaluations. We achieve this by applying a multi-criteria approach to …

Teaching Staff About Pressure Ulcers, Ann Maria Stewart

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Pressure ulcers are local injuries to the skin and underlying tissue primarily caused by prolonged pressure, friction, or shear forces. These preventable complications are prevalent among immobile patients and can lead to poor patient outcomes and increased healthcare costs. Despite the availability of evidence-based prevention strategies, significant gaps in practice continue due to limited staff knowledge, ineffective communication systems, and inconsistent implementation of established guidelines. This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project focused on enhancing nursing staff knowledge through an evidence-based educational strategy designed to educate staff on strategies for preventing pressure ulcers. The education program included a PowerPoint presentation …

Polypharmacy In The Geriatric Population, Colleen Laflamme

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The project entailed the development and review of a clinical practice guideline (CPG) for reducing polypharmacy in the geriatric patient population. Polypharmacy is associated with increased risk of adverse drug events (ADEs) such as drug-drug interactions, poor adherence to pharmacotherapy, and increased risk of falls. Additionally, polypharmacy tends to increase high hospitalization rates and emergency department (ED) visits. From a nursing practice perspective, polypharmacy worsens patient outcomes and increases nurses’ workload and healthcare costs for patients. The purpose of this project was to develop a CPG with evidence based recommendations on how to reduce polypharmacy among older adults. The practice-focused …

Nature-Based Approaches To Dementia, Cognitive Impairment, And Caregiver Well-Being: A Scoping Review Of Gardening And Therapeutic Strategies, Mary Dioise Ramos, Marcy Purnell, Jolie Harris, Gloria Giarratano

School of Nursing Faculty Publications

Background: Dementia is a growing global health concern, with behavioral and psychological symptoms (BPSD) contributing significantly to diminished quality of life and caregiver burden. Non-pharmacological interventions, such as gardening and nature-based therapies, are increasingly recognized for their therapeutic potential. Objectives: This scoping review aimed to: (1) map existing evidence on gardening and garden-based interventions for individuals with dementia; (2) assess impacts on caregivers; (3) identify mechanisms of benefit; and (4) summarize effective design and implementation strategies. Methods: Following Joanna Briggs Institute methodology and PRISMA-ScR guidelines, a comprehensive search was conducted across five databases. Studies were screened using Covidence. Inclusion criteria …

Staff Education To Address Workplace Violence Against Staff, Julie Ann Childers

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In this Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project, the primary focus was on addressing knowledge of workplace bullying within the hospital setting. The project involved developing and implementing an educational program to raise awareness, prevent workplace bullying, and effectively respond to it among healthcare staff. Workplace bullying harms physical and emotional well-being, reduces productivity, increases absenteeism, and increases turnover. The practice-focused question was as follows: In a hospital setting, does implementing a workplace violence (WPV) prevention education program for healthcare workers lead to increased knowledge of WPV incidents, awareness, and management among staff? Using evidence-based strategies and resources, the DNP …

Need For A Psychiatric Facility To Develop A Clinical Practice Guideline On Self-Care To Give To Patients Upon Discharge, Judith Agwu

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The project is a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) clinical practice guideline (CPG) on the need for a psychiatric facility to develop a CPG on self-care to give to patients upon discharge. The practice problem was a healthcare facility did not have guidelines to educate patients on self-care upon discharge. Addressing the problem within nursing practice can promote self-care practices and improve overall health outcomes for patients with mental illnesses. The practice-focused question that guided this project was: will a CPG potentially increase self-care among discharged patients? The purpose of the study was to develop a CPG on self-care for …

Faculty Perceptions Of Student Use Of Critical Thinking And Clinical Judgment In Prelicensure Alternative Pediatric Clinical Education, Vanessa Lee Lugo

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Both the changing healthcare environment and diverse pediatric care needs highlight the importance of exploring nontraditional clinical placements for entry-level pediatric nursing students to assess their critical thinking (CT) and clinical judgment (CJ). Many graduates are unprepared for pediatric care, creating safety risks and gaps in meeting children’s healthcare needs. The purpose of this study, guided by communities of practice theory, was to explore faculty experiences with and perceptions of CT and CJ use at alternative pediatric clinical sites for prelicensure undergraduate students in the Northeastern United States. Eleven nursing faculty with recent experience working in nontraditional pediatric sites and …

The Effects Of A Nurse-Led Peace Program On Perceived Peaceful End-Of-Life And Quality Of Life Among Head And Neck Cancer Patients Undergoing Concurrent Chemoradiation, Sirinya Pimvichai, Yaowarat Matchim, Tanadej Sinthusake, Kiratiya Wongkalasin

Journal of Health Research

Background: Evidence indicates that peaceful end-of-life care programs benefit terminally ill patients, with nurses playing a central role in program delivery. However, no structured end-of-life care programs currently exist for patients with head and neck cancer (HNC), who often experience profound physical and psychological distress. A nurse-led Peaceful End-of-Life Care (PEACE) program was therefore developed. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of the PEACE program on perceived peaceful end-of-life (PEOL) and quality of life (QoL) among HNC patients undergoing concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT).

Methods: A quasi-experimental, two-group time-series design was conducted with 64 HNC patients recruited from oncology wards at …