Public Health and Community Nursing Commons^™

Faith Community Nurse Care Transitions Intervention Feasibility Project, Jennifer Palagi

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Background: A major national-to-local healthcare quality and safety goal is to reduce hospital readmissions, which are considered preventable patient harm. While the literature shows the impact of using care transitions programs to reduce readmissions, few studies have utilized faith community nurses (FCNs) within care transition programs. An FCN-integrated care transitions program potentially could help fill the gap in community clinical support for chronic illness care. Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center (SARMC), a Catholic hospital in Boise, Idaho, sponsors an FCN network within many Southwest Idaho faith communities. This presented a local opportunity to create and test the feasibility of an …

Sex, Milk, And Cookies: Tackling Sexual Health Promotion On A Catholic College Campus, Mary Franz

All College Thesis Program, 2016-2019

A great divide exists among parents, policy makers, educational institutions, and the public at large regarding how to prevent the negative consequences of sexual activity among young adults. Some educators believe that sex education programs should promote abstinence as the best behavioral goal for students; however, a more intense debate surrounds whether this should be the only message that adolescents receive about sex or just one element of a more comprehensive view of sexuality and informed sex choices. Catholic colleges face a particularly difficult challenge in deciding what information to provide to students and more significantly, which topics to avoid …

Ua61/1 Nursing Spirit, Volume 1, Neal Chambler, Dean, Mary Bennett, Director, Susan Megahee, Editor, Creative, Wku School Of Nursing

School of Nursing Publications

No abstract provided.

The Effectiveness Of California Assembly Bill 2109: Personal Belief Exemptions For Kindergarten Immunizations, Lilli Shizuka Goishi-Bessey

Doctoral Projects

The numbers of vaccine preventable diseases (VPDs) in the United States has declined with the development, administration, and effectiveness of vaccines during the 1970s and 1980s. As the eminent threat of VPDs to the public began to wane, parents started questioning the safety and necessity of vaccines. When parents were given the option of selecting personal belief exemption (PBE) waivers for state mandated immunizations for their incoming kindergarten children, an increase in PBEs and the number of VPD outbreaks began to occur. To counter the growing trend of PBEs, and to prevent outbreaks of VPDs in school settings and communities, …

A Phenomenological Assessment Of Factors That Affect Medication Adherence Among Hypertensive Nigerian Immigrants, Beulah Iroegbu

Doctoral Projects

This qualitative study explored the perceptions that affect medication adherence among hypertensive Nigerian immigrants in Sacramento, California. The research questions focused on factors that influenced the adherence to hypertension medication; specifically, how the sample population explained the cause of hypertension and whether culture and religion impacted the cause and management of hypertension. A phenomenological approach was used to understand perceptions about medication adherence. A predefined group of 9 acted as a purposive sample and was given semi-structured individual interviews. Qualitative data analysis of the interviews was performed using Colaizzi's 7-step method. Results from the study found the cause of hypertension …

Training Traditional Birth Attendants In Sub-Saharan Africa, Lindsey J. Smith

Senior Honors Theses

Even after many adjustments, recommended practice regarding traditional birth attendants (TBAs) and their contribution to lowering the maternal mortality rate (MMR) continues to be disputed among various stakeholders. Sub-Saharan Africa continues to see high maternal mortality rates, despite various attempts by the World Health Organization (WHO) and others at utilizing the formal health care system (Prata, et al., 2011). Considering all factors and variables behind the reason for this problem in Sub-Saharan African, it is reasonable to conclude that training traditional birth attendants (TBAs) in evidence-based practice, in conjunction with developing longer-term strategies, is an appropriate approach for the short …

Faith Community Nursing: Bridging The Gap Between Effective Healthcare And Biblical Ministry, Moriah Kenna

Senior Honors Theses

The United States’ traditional health care system is unprepared to combat the growing rates of chronic illness in its population. With over 90% of those aged 66 years and older living with a chronic illness, an emphasis on preventative care must be enacted. Faith community nursing is a viable and effective option for long-term preventative management of chronic illnesses in the community. Faith community nursing fits both the mission of the Christian church and the needs of the healthcare community and greater awareness of this must be achieved in both the faith and healthcare sectors to bring about maximum results.

Is Dietary Intervention A Viable Method For Improving Outcomes In Adult Patients With Asthma?, Jennifer Grolimund

Senior Honors Theses

Asthma is a disease process characterized by episodic inflammation of the lower airway in response to various triggers. Those with asthma have trouble breathing effectively during an acute episode, making asthma a potentially life threatening condition. Standard medical treatment of asthma, including medications and environmental changes, can be effective at reducing or eliminating negative outcomes in patients with asthma. However, a holistic approach to patient care, including an examination of dietary influence, may also be useful for patients trying to manage the course of their illness. Variations in intake of individual nutrients or in total dietary patterns may play a …

Practice Matters: Prevention And Care Of Individuals With Type 2 Diabetes, Lizbeth P. Sturgeon Phd, Tonya M. Bragg-Underwood Dnp, Maire Blankenship Dnp

International Journal of Faith Community Nursing

A Faith Community Nurse (FCN) is tasked with promoting health within a faith-based community. As with any nursing role, the FCN must keep abreast of current issues and be aware of informational resources to keep his/her practice relevant. The area of focus in this issue is type 2 diabetes. During 2014, the global prevalence of diabetes among adults was estimated at 9%. There are numerous risk factors for type 2 diabetes including both modifiable and non-modifiable. The diagnosis of diabetes can be made based on plasma glucose or Hemoglobin A1C (A1C) criteria.Prediabetes and type 2 diabetes affect many people globally. …

Health Coaching In Faith-Based Community Diabetes Education, Janet L. Meyer, Beverley E. Holland

International Journal of Faith Community Nursing

Abstract

A significant health burden exists related to type 2 diabetes. Evidence-based solutions through research are needed to improve diabetes outcomes. Faith community diabetes education can be utilized to provide the knowledge needed to manage the disease. The purpose of the current study was to determine if a faith-based community diabetes education program including health coaching can increase self-efficacy in people with type 2 diabetes.

This pilot study used a pre-test/post-test format for data collection. Following diabetes education for all participants, half of the group received health coaching and the other half no further intervention. A survey consisting of two …

Maternal Anxiety Associated With Newborn Hearing Screening, Stephen J. Tueller, Karl R. White

Journal of Early Hearing Detection and Intervention

The purpose of this study was to determine if newborn hearing screening increases maternal anxiety. Mothers whose infants were screened for hearing were asked how worried they were prior to hospital discharge and again six weeks later. They were also asked if they were more concerned about their baby’s hearing than they were about other aspects of the infant’s health and behavior.

Results showed that mothers worried as much or more about many other aspects of their infants’ health and behavior as about hearing. Mothers whose infants had a false positive screening result were initially more worried about hearing than …

Caregiver Training In Mindfulness-Based Positive Behavior Supports (Mbpbs): Effects On Caregivers And Adults With Intellectual And Developmental Disabilities, Nirbhay N. Singh, Giulio E. Lancioni, Bryan T. Karazsia, Rachel E. Myers

Faculty Articles

Caregivers often manage the aggressive behavior of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities that reside in community group homes. Sometimes this results in adverse outcomes for both the caregivers and the care recipients. We provided a 7-day intensive Mindfulness-Based Positive Behavior Support (MBPBS) training to caregivers from community group homes and assessed the outcomes in terms of caregiver variables, individuals’ behaviors, and an administrative outcome. When compared to pre-MBPBS training, the MBPBS training resulted in the caregivers using significantly less physical restraints, and staff stress and staff turnover were considerably reduced. The frequency of injury to caregivers and peers caused …

Rural India Women's Perception Of Health, Kaye Wilson-Anderson

Faculty Publications - College of Nursing

This qualitative, descriptive, phenomenological study explored how southern, rural women in India ( N = 14) view health, how they learned about health, and what health education they desired. Health education classes were offered, based on participants’ responses. Recommendations are offered for a best practice model that could potentially enhance the efforts of non-Indian nurses desiring to assist impoverished women and families in India.

Stress Of Conscience: Concept Clarification, Muder Alkrisat, Manal Alatrash

Journal of Health Ethics

Workers in healthcare systems are predisposed to work-related stress based on moral factors. Stress results when nurses are exposed to ambiguous moral situations, or when they are prevented by hospitals or their employees from doing what they ought to do. Such experiences have been described as stress of conscience because they give rise to a troubled conscience. Empirical studies indicate that health care employees, including nurses, sometimes refer to stress of conscience when faced with ethically difficult situations related to patient care.

Ethics In Community Nursing, Bonnie Pope, M. C. Hough, Susan Chase

Journal of Health Ethics

The purpose of this theoretical paper is to explore the ethics in a community nursing. Nursing, a practice discipline recognizes caring, morals, and values as integral to the practice of all nurses. The ethical principles of beneficence, autonomy, advocacy, and social justice will be discussed from the lens of caring. Caring nursing theorists, such as Jean Watson, Ann Boykin, and Savina Schoenhofer, articulate the importance of understanding communities and individuals as whole and autonomous. These theorists and others challenge nursing to engage in a responsive, ethical and philosophical discourse when the community is viewed as autonomous.

Does Theory Translate In The Trenches Of Short Term Mission Work?, Rhonda D. Hensley

Journal of Health Ethics

Despite numerous criticisms in the literature on the ethics and sustainable outcomes of short term international mission trips, there can be positive outcomes for volunteers and for recipients of short term mission care efforts. Utilizing a theoretical framework that addresses efforts to promote sustainability can lead to a structured, productive, and satisfying experience. With effective host country partnerships and an organized model of care delivery, international mission volunteers can provide highly effective health care services that are specific to the health and cultural needs of the host community.

Anabaptist Community Members’ Perceptions And Preferences Related To Healthcare, Dawn M. Garrett Wright, Maria Eve Martin, M. Susan Jones

Nursing Faculty Publications

The plain Anabaptists are thought to differ from mainstream U.S. health care beliefs and practices. Many non-Anabaptist health care providers have limited knowledge of the specific health beliefs and preferences of Anabaptists, which can lead to misunderstandings. The purpose of this descriptive qualitative study was to collect information from Anabaptist community members related to health care beliefs and preferences in their communities. Participants, who were members of various plain Anabaptist communities, completed a questionnaire containing open-ended questions about health issues. Seven themes emerged in results: (1) health viewed as a gift from God that provides the ability to work; (2) …

The Secret Ingredient For Improving Infant/Child Mental Health: Teaching Parents To Play, Geraldine Healy Marini

Occupational Therapy Doctorate Capstone Projects

Disorders in mental health are the highest of all disorders and results in the most common form of disability. Since 2011, mental health disorders have increased at alarming rates. It is estimated that 9.5 to 14.2% of children between the ages of 0 to 5 years have and emotional or behavioral problem. The mental health of parents or caregivers can affect and impact the development of young children (Nelson & Mann, 2011, Zero to Three, 2004).

The over arching goal of this research is to explore issues of mental health within parent-child interactions. Coaching parents during the co-occupation of play …

Nursing Management And Mirror Therapy For Phantom Limb Pain, Bridget Henry

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Phantom limb pain may occur after the accidental removal or surgical amputation of a limb. Phantom limb pain is the experience of pain in the limb that is no longer present. The clinical management of phantom limb pain is essential in the overall reduction of patient rehabilitation and poor patient outcomes. A patient’s degree of phantom limb pain is influenced by their personal response to loss and pain and can have devastating effects to a person’s social performance, occupational role, family role, relationships, and involvement in activities or hobbies. Like most chronic pain, phantom limb pain decreases the quality of …

Technologies To Enhance Optimal Glycemic Control In Young Adults With Type 1 Diabetes, Shannon L. Hassett

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Background

People with type 1 diabetes make up approximately two million of the American population. Every day, these two million people struggle to fight this lifelong, sometimes life threatening disease. While type 1 diabetes currently has no cure, there are technologies that can make diabetes management more effective. This study surveyed the type 1 diabetes (T1D) young adult population aged 18-30, to evaluate what technologies and tools are most often associated with achieving optimal glycemic control (OGC).

Methodology

The instrument is a 35 question, investigator developed survey that is designed to measure how often a participant utilizes the technology identified …