This collection consists of theses for the Master of Science in Nursing at Point Loma Nazarene University.
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the impact of a new clinical documentation improvement program on sepsis documentation, quality reporting, and hospital reimbursement in three hospitals.
The objective of this study was to evaluate sleep disturbances, review treatment methods, and develop a plan of treatment options utilizing sleep hygiene methods. A review of literature included sleep disturbances and interventions to alleviate such problems.
Given the projected increasing shortage of well-prepared nurses, particularly at the baccalaureate level, the climate of limited resources for adequate RN training, and high attrition rates among NNs, it is imperative every effort is made to effectively prepare actively enrolled BSN students to care.
Today, more children in the United States are diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder than childhood cancer, juvenile diabetes, and pediatric AIDS combined. Research is currently being conducted regarding the causes, prevalence and treatment for Autism, however little is known regarding care for this population in healthcare settings. The purpose of this Interpretative Phenomenological study is to explore the lived healthcare experiences of mothers of children with Autism Spectrum Disorders.
This thesis proposes a plan to implement a perioperative nurse training program. Due to a nationwide shortage in nurses, it is imperative to increase the retention, satisfaction and quality of healthcare provided by perioperative nurses.
Care of the trauma patient historically has had a strong focus on clinical management during the resuscitative and critical phases of care. This is a review of a Level I center creating a Trauma Care Unit (TCU), an inpatient unit dedicated to the care of the step-down and medical-surgical acuity trauma patient. This article will review some of the historical events leading to the creation of trauma systems.
Full Abstract: The objective of this study is to investigate the effects of Healing Touch (HT) therapies, a form of subtle energy (biofield) therapy, on Bispectral Index (BIS) measurements, State Trait Anxiety Index (STAI) scores, and physiological measures of heart rate, blood pressure, and respiratory rate in healthy adults. Design: A single blind randomized crossover design will compare measurements during a HT therapy and placebo session. Interventions: One HT session and one placebo session will be perf
With 108,335 people on kidney replacement therapy in the United States, the need for kidney transplantation has increased. In 1998 there were 40,825 on the national waiting list for a kidney transplant in comparison to 71,862 in 2007 with a median wait time of over three years. At the same time the number of kidneys transplanted went from 9,761 to 13,156.
Full Abstract: Heart failure continues to be an increasing health-related problem that profoundly affects the elderly population of the United States. Due to the increasing comorbidities of the elderly, lack of social support and educational needs, healthcare organizations and providers experience increased financial burdens. The complexity of heart failure and exacerbation of symptoms continues with frequent hospital readmissions.
A cross-sectional study was conducted among 134 nursing personnel to explore attitudes and experience in adopting electronic health record, evaluate preliminary psychometric properties of Electronic Health Record Benefits (EHR-Benefits) scale and investigate the predictors of electronic health record benefits and avoidance of computer use. Most participants used a computer in accessing patient records and clinical documentation and were confident in using them.
This thesis outlines a project to implement and assess a tracheostomy care education program. This project will develop a tracheostomy care education program for patients with a tracheostomy and their families to help them acquire knowledge and skills in providing tracheostomy care, reduce anxiety, and increase confidence in self-care.
Full Abstract: Compassion fatigue in the nursing profession can be detrimental to individual nurses as well as health care organizations.
Central line-associated bloodstream infections are one of the leading causes of health care associated infections. To decrease and prevent morbidity, mortality, and costs of care, it is the objective of every health care facility to achieve and maintain a zero central line-associated bloodstream infection rate.
The purpose of this evidence-based project was to develop an education program on diabetic foot ulcer wound care treatment and prevention in the elderly for registered nurses in the long term acute care and skilled nursing settings.
To achieve safe patient care, effective communication among health care team members is needed. Lack of communication is the leading cause of sentinel events in the perioperative setting. Communication between members of the perioperative team — the surgeon, anesthesiologist, circulating nurse, and scrub nurse or technologist affects team collaboration and patient safety. Communication has been identified as one of the key elements needed to accomplish team collaboration and a healthy work environment.
Healthcare organizations are under increasing pressure to provide the best care for their patients. They are not only starting to be held accountable for preventable problems, but are being scrutinized based on patient outcomes. Many patients in the hospital will require a stay in the intensive care unit (ICU). While many patients do survive their ICU stay, a large number of them are left with physical disabilities related to that stay. Some of those disabilities are long term or even permanent.
Anxiety is high in parents with children undergoing a posterior spinal fusion. The research found demonstrates that it is important to have the proper educational materials, and to address the emotional and psychological aspect of a parent whose child is having surgery. It is important for the parents to increase their knowledge of their child’s upcoming surgery, which will result in decreased anxiety.
Full Abstract: Health care organizations must strive to provide easily accessible ongoing education structured and tailored to meet the specific learning needs of nurses. Although many studies have identified nurses learning needs, benefits and barriers to continuing education programs specific to patient related issues, little research has examined the development and implementation of a structured unit-based educational process and its effects on the learning needs of staff nurses.
A prospective, observational study utilizing time-and-motion technique and a retrospective review of hospital Midas+ database were conducted to compare the medication administration efficiency and monthly rate of medication errors before and after the implementation of electronic medication administration records (eMAR).
Challenges exist among hospital staff in performing high quality cardio pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) according to the 2010 international guidelines. Effective and uninterrupted chest compressions have demonstrated improved patient outcomes. The literature recommends that education and training specific to teamwork and leadership be provided to healthcare providers caring for patients requiring resuscitation.
Full Abstract: Although recent studies on nursing stressors have been concentrating on the stress of patient care at the bedside, research have also shown that nursing environments are a major contributor of stress. The impact of working in a stressful environment and a perceived lack of management care for their nurses, have brought in a new problem, bullying among nurses. I conducted a literature review where I found that bullying among nurses is not a new issue, and it is not concentrated in the U.S. alone.
Older adults with dementia present a higher risk for falls than their healthy counterparts due to disease-related cognitive and physical changes and deconditioning from low mobility during hospitalization.
Abastract: The mean age of the nursing workforce has increased over the last 25 years and as a result a nursing shortage is developing because these nurses are now retirement age. Precepting in a clinical setting has become a necessary method for orientation of graduate nurses with preceptors not receiving necessary training or compensation. After completion of a successful orientation it is important to give new graduate nurses continued support and encouragement while providing a safe learning environment.
The growing ethnically and racially diversity of the American population has a direct impact on healthcare providers. Immigration and demographic trends suggest that increasingly the U.S. elderly patient populations are linguistically and culturally diverse. A patient’s inability to communicate in the same language as a provider will compromise patient health and safety.
As the population continues to age, more patients are dying in healthcare facilities than ever before (Bercovitz et al., 2008); nurses need to be prepared to provide end-of-life care to this population. This study examines the factors that affect nurse attitudes towards death and care of the dying patients. A descriptive correlation study was concluded in an acute care hospital during February 2012.
Note: The co-author of this thesis is Cassia Chevillon. See the attached thesis cover page.
Skin, the largest organ of the human body, has many important functions; among them are thermoregulation, acting as a barrier against toxins, and secreting water and electrolytes. Traditionally, skin care in the neonatal intensive care unit has been handed down from more experienced nurses to new nurses. Today’s neonatal nurses realize the importance of utilizing evidence based guidelines to guide their care, which includes the area of skin care.
Note: The co-author of this thesis is Raquel Archuleta. See the attached thesis cover page.
The primary aim of this paper is to provide long term care facilities effective teaching tools and methods to use with their initial and ongoing staff, to maintain staff readiness when faced with evacuation of their facility during a disaster. The secondary aim is to increase staff knowledge and comfort during and actual evacuation to maintain the safety and well being of their long term care residents.
As nursing has developed as a profession, the role of nurse-physician communication and how it relates to patient outcomes has been a focus of research. While poor patient outcomes have been identified as a result of ineffective nurse-physician communication, the factors leading to ineffective communication have not been identified. This qualitative research study was designed to identify the variables involved in effective and ineffective nurse-physician communication.