- Barriers to Nurses Activating the Rapid Response Team
- The purpose of this study was to identify barriers to nurses activating the [Rapid Response Team]. Previous studies have inconsistently identified barriers to nurses activating the RRT. This inconclusive information supports the need to further investigate. This study is supported by Ida Jean Orlando's deliberative nursing process. The process was used to understand the motivation of nurses to identify their patient's immediate needs and taking action to meet those needs for help. In this quantitative, nonexperimental, cross-sectional study, a convenience sample of nurses was surveyed from two Northwestern Pennsylvania hospitals. Nurses identified barriers to activating the RRT as increased workload, not activate the RRT when a patient meets activation criteria or activate the RRT when a patient does not meet RRT activation criteria but the nurse is worried, contacting or attempting to contact the attending or covering physician before activating the RRT, need for additional or expanded educational opportunities, team communication during and after the RRT, and a hospital where the culture is not supportive of RRT activation.
- Effects of New Media on Writing Skills of Millennial Mass Communication Majors
- The purpose of this literature review is to assess the Millennial generation, their traits, characteristics, and use of technology - primarily social media, as observed and explained by literature and studies. It is an exploration of advantages and disadvantages of intensive use of technology, social media, use of textisms, and the effects on preparedness for writing courses in mass communication programs at post-secondary institutions. Perceptions of excellent writing skills from the Millennial's point-of-view and professors teaching writing courses at the postsecondary level in mass communication programs, differ. The literature review is an analysis of the possible cause and effect impact of technology on how Millennial students think and process information, and the writing skills of this generation in preparing for mass communication careers.
- Evaluation of Knowledge Level and Attitudes of Clarion/Edinboro University Family Nurse Practitioner Students Regarding Pain Management in the Family Practice Client
- The focus of this study is to assess the knowledge level and attitudes of FNP [Family Nurse Practitioner] students of Clarion/Edinboro Universities regarding pain management in the family practice client. This is a nonexperimental, quantitative, cross-sectional, descriptive study which used a 10-item questionnaire with a 5-point Likert-type Scale.
- Factors Associated with Medication Adherence in Patients with Congestive Heart Failure
- Patients with congestive heart failure can have very challenging medication regimes to follow. Due to the complexity of these regimes, patients may have difficulty adhering to their prescribed medications. This study used questionnaires to assess individual patient's understanding of heart failure medications after a recent hospitalization, and their level of adherence to medication regimen. A non-experimental descriptive design was used with a convenience sample of CHF diagnosed patients discharged from an acute care setting. Patients were contacted 10-14 days after discharge to assess their understanding of the CHF medications using an adherence tool called the MMAS-8 as well as a questionnaire developed by the researchers.
- Gender Differences in Knowledge and Attitude of Fecal Immunochemical Test (FIT) in Colorectal Cancer Screening Among African Americans
- Colorectal cancer is a major cause of death for African Americans but the rate of screening for the disease is relatively low, with more women than men generally receiving screening. Avoidance of screening has been attributed to the bowel prep required and invasive nature of most screening procedures. The fecal immunochemical test (FIT) offers an alternative without these drawbacks. The purpose of this study was to answer the question: Among African Americans over the age of 50, is there a gender difference in attitudes towards and knowledge about the fecal immunochemical test for colorectal cancer screening? Using a modified version of the Survey of Colorectal Cancer Educational and Environmental Needs questionnaire, 80 African Americans over the age of 50 and equally distributed by gender were recruited from a barbershop, beauty salon, and church to participate in the study. The findings showed men have a more positive attitude towards colorectal cancer screening and the FIT. The findings also showed no differences between the genders in knowledge of colorectal cancer screening. An implication for nursing from the results of the study is the need for better education for African Americans over the age of 50 concerning the benefits of CRC screening and the use of the FIT. Future research should focus on identifying approaches to overcome the specific barriers that African Americans over the age of 50 perceive concerning the use of the FIT.
- Parental Choice of Emergency Department Versus Urgent Care Center for Children
- Emergency departments (ED) have traditionally been the mainstay for any child who requires emergent care. With increased access to local urgent care centers, a new choice has been afforded to families who would have otherwise visited a traditional emergency department. With several viable options, why are parents still taking their children to an emergency department as opposed to an urgent care center? Referencing Imogene King's theory of goal attainment (1971), this study explained the rationale surrounding this critical care decision as well as the implications on emergency room overcrowding by allocating lower acuity pediatric patients to an urgent care center. In this non-experimental, descriptive study a survey was utilized to examine the reasons why parents brought their children to the ED as opposed to an urgent care center. The survey tool incorporated the triage level of the pediatric patient based on a modified version of an Emergency Department Usage Survey. The sample size was twenty-nine respondents. Upon completion of this study the results concluded that 93% of patients, with correlating ESI scores of 3--5, could have ultimately been re-directed to urgent care centers. This study has disclosed a health literacy gap as predicted in the hypothesis, and a grounds for which this data can be communicated. In this non-experimental, descriptive study a survey was utilized to examine the reasons why parents brought their children to the ED as opposed to an urgent care center. The survey tool incorporated the triage level of the pediatric patient based on a modified version of an Emergency Department Usage Survey. The sample size was twenty-nine respondents. Upon completion of this study the results concluded that 93% of patients, with correlating ESI scores of 3-5, could have ultimately been re-directed to urgent care centers. This study has disclosed a health literacy gap as predicted in the hypothesis, and a grounds for which this data can be communicated.
- Pennsylvania Nurse Practitioners' Opioid Prescribing Knowledge, Beliefs, and Practices
- Prescription opioid abuse is on the rise. Pennsylvania nurse practitioners are in a position to propagate or improve this problem. The purpose of this study is to investigate the knowledge, beliefs, and prescribing practices of Pennsylvania nurse practitioners to understand the concerns associated with treating chronic pain with opioid medications. Members of the Pennsylvania Coalition of Nurse Practitioners were emailed an invitation to complete an anonymous online survey. The survey instrument, the Practices and Perceptions of Primary Care Physicians with Regard to Chronic Pain and Prescription Opioid Use Survey, developed by Keller, was modified with permission to apply to nurse practitioners. Thirty-four nurse practitioners completed the survey, although incomplete surveys were submitted by some of the participants. The majority of participants were female (69.7%) family nurse practitioners (82.4%) working in primary care (76.5%) who prescribe opioids for chronic non-malignant pain (81.8%). Participants indicated chronic pain as being prevalent yet controlled in less than 20% of their patients. These findings, coupled with reluctance to prescribe opioids due to concerns for physical dependence, discomfort with managing patients with opioid dependence, and a rating of education in this area as just adequate, suggest the need for additional education, resources, and support in this area. A topic for further investigation is whether the prescribing practic match the self-identified opioid knowledge, belief, and practices of nurse practitioners who prescribe opioid medications.
- Perceived Barriers to Preventive Screenings by Individuals 18 Years and Older with Health Insurance
- Preventive services are imperative to reducing morbidity and mortality rates by identifying and treating disease processes early. Previous research frequently focused on health insurance as a barrier. Minimal research has been conducted since the onset of the Affordable Care Act to identify current barriers. This study was a non-experimental cross sectional design survey that sought to identify primary barriers to receipt of eight preventive services in adults ages 18 and older with health insurance. Participants were also surveyed regarding the likelihood of receiving preventive services if the stated barrier was removed. Health promotion is a collaborative effort between patient and the health care providers. A systems model of clinical preventive care by Judith Walsh, MD, MPH and Stephen McPhee, MD focuses on the interaction between the patient, providers, and takes into consideration the healthcare delivery system. This study focused on the patient's perspective of this theory covering three identified factors that either promote or inhibit preventive services.
- Pet Therapy as an Alternative Therapy for Residents 65 Years and Older in Long Term Care Facilities to Decrease Signs and Symptoms of Depression, Blood Pressure, and Heart Rate
- Pet therapy as an alternative therapy to treating blood pressure, heart rate, and depression is an area needing further research to determine the effectiveness. Pet therapy can be beneficial to all ages; however this study looked at pet therapy in those 65 years of age and older residing in a long term care facility. There are limited studies related to pet therapy and its effectiveness as an alternative management. Research was conducted to determine if pet therapy is a successful alternative treatment for heart rate, blood pressure, and self-reported depressive symptoms. Kolcaba's comfort theory was used as the theoretical framework upon which the research will be based. Convenience sampling with residents in long term care facilities, 65 years of age and older with self-reported depressive symptoms, from nursing homes in two rural areas within Central Pennsylvania were used for the research.
- Primary Care Providers Screening for Military Service and PTSD
- There are currently millions of veterans living in the United States. Veterans have the option to receive their health care within the veteran's administration (VA) or through primary care providers (PCPs) in the private sector. If PCPs who work in the private sector are not screening their patients for military service then veterans are less likely to be screened for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Even if the PCP does know that the patient is a veteran, providers might be less likely to screen for mental illness based on the provider's comfort level in treating the condition. Research was performed using a survey to determine if PCPs are screening for military service and subsequent PTSD. The theoretical basis of this research was Albert Bandura's social cognitive theory as it relates to self-efficacy.
- Sodium Restricted Diets: Do They Affect the Heart Failure Patient's Perception of Quality of Life
- Heart Failure (HF) is one of the leading causes of physician visits and hospitalizations in the United States each year. The American College of Cardiology Foundation, along with the American Heart Association, recommend that patients diagnosed with HF follow a sodium restricted diet (SRD) to reduce congestive symptoms. As studies continue and resources grow, there are still gaps in HF research regarding patient care, compliance, adherence, understanding, and how these concepts affect the patient's quality of life (QOL). This study attempts to provide clinically based research that determines whether or not a relationship exists between adherence to an SRD and QOL of patients with HF at a heart failure clinic in Northwestern Pennsylvania.
- Transitioning into Advanced Practice: Positive Forces and Obstacles Experienced by Advanced Practice Registered Nurses
- With the increased need for providers within family practice, many registered nurses (RNs) are making the transition to advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs). The purpose of this study was to identify positive forces and obstacles experienced by current APRNs during their transition into practice. There is limited research available on this topic and some suggested a relatiionship between a departure from advanced practice and the obstacles encountered during transition. It is critical to address these positive forces and obstacles, as it may contribute to the already limited availability of primary care providers. In this non-experimental, cross-sectional study, positive forces and obstacles experienced by current APRNs during their transition into practice were investigated. The goal of this investigation was to rank identified positive forces and obstacles encountered during transition into advanced practice. This study was supported by previous research about the topic of transition, APRN practice, and obstacles experienced when transitioning from the role of RN to APRN. Benner's novice to expert theory provided the theoretical framework and foundation for this study. The findings revealed positive forces as more influential in the RN to APRN transition as opposed to obstacles encountered. Having a support system and getting hands-on experience were found to be the most important positive forces according to respondents. Lack of mentoring and personal sacrifices were rated as the top obstacles encountered.
- Yoga for Stress Reduction in Nursing Students
- Undergraduate nursing students are under vast amounts of stress to adapt to the substantial workload while learning patient care. A lack of stress reduction tools in the nursing curriculum leaves these students at risk for stress related outcomes. In the past, research has addressed the effects of stress on health care providers, but little has been specific to nursing students. The rising popularity of yoga is an opportunity to offer such a tool to address stress in nursing students. Using YouTube as an avenue to provide yoga classes designed for stress reduction in nursing students is accessible for most of this population. This study was conducted to explore the hypothesis of using YouTube yoga videos to address stress reduction before and after participating over a two-week period. A review of related literature was examined and Tsai's theory was the theoretical framework applied to the stress nursing students experience as they take on the new role of caregiver. A descriptive design was used to compare data collected.