Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Final Projects
The Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Projects collection contains the completed works of students from the DNP Program at Arizona State University's College of Nursing and Health Innovation. These projects are the culminating product of the curricula and demonstrate clinical scholarship.
Collaborating Institutions:
College of Nursing and Health Innovation
Displaying 51 - 60 of 305
Description
Background: Existing substance use disorder guidelines are deficient in reducing relapse rates, evidenced by the substantial number of persons experiencing relapse within months of recovery, with most relapsing within one year. Current interventions lack community reinforcement approaches to reduce relapse and risk factors required to combat the extensive damages related to substance use as costs exceed $1 trillion annually. Guided by the Social Cognitive Model, this quality improvement project aims to explore how group exercise combined with community reinforcement reduces relapse. It aims to boost recovery capital by improving quality of life scores. Methods: A CrossFit instructor delivered personalized group exercise and wellness education in-person biweekly for six weeks. Adult residential treatment clients were eligible to participate recruited via a flyer upon treatment entry. A pre-intervention demographic questionnaire, a pre-/post World Health Organization Quality of Life Abbreviated scale (reliability ? = > 0.70) assessing intervention influence on the quality of life, and a post-intervention survey was administered. The lead investigator performed all data distribution and collection. Institutional Review Board approval safeguarded participants' rights and risks. Results: Pre/post improvements observed in all domains; psychological and environmental were statistically significant, while 100% of participants reported enhanced QoL, social support, & confidence related to long-term sobriety post-intervention. Discussion/Conclusion: Desired outcomes are increased quality of life scores to boost recovery capital. A sober community reinforcement approach combined with exercise may link to reducing relapse and total costs related to this growing public health crisis.
ContributorsChrapczynski, D. Alison (Author) / Nunez, Diane (Thesis advisor) / Arizona State University. College of Nursing & Healthcare Innovation (Contributor)
Created2022-04-30
Implementation of a Suicidal Ideation Treatment Algorithm in a Military Medicine Primary Care Clinic
Description
Primary care providers (PCPs) are frequently the first line of treatment for suicidal ideation (SI) patients. Many PCPs report low self-efficacy in treating suicidal patients, leading to inappropriate treatment plans or avoidance of discussing SI. This quality improvement project based on the Uncertainty Reduction theory aimed to evaluate PCP's perceptions of an SI treatment algorithm and its impact on self-efficacy. Secondary aims included assessing PCP's confidence in treating suicidal patients and current treatment practices. A pre- then post-intervention survey design was utilized. All PCPs treating patients in a military medicine clinic were invited to participate in the project. Participants were sent a recruitment email containing the suicidal ideation treatment algorithm and a link to a survey developed with Qualtrics software. Participants were asked to review the SI algorithm, answer the baseline survey questions, and complete a second eight-week survey. For human subjects' protection, the survey responses were anonymous. Demographic data collected included years of clinical experience and licensure type. The data were evaluated with Intellectus software. Due to limited participation, N=4, there was insufficient data to determine the significance of implementing the SI algorithm in a primary care clinic. Central tendencies showed that most providers (n=3, 75.00%) felt less than confident treating suicidal patients. Half of the providers asked non-mental health patients about suicide less than 40% of the time (n=2, 50.00%). The data suggest that PCPs feel uncomfortable treating suicidal patients and may benefit from additional resources and training in this area.
ContributorsGale, Mianna (Author) / Nunez, Diane (Thesis advisor) / Arizona State University. College of Nursing & Healthcare Innovation (Contributor)
Created2022-04-26
Description
People with dementia (PwD) along with their caregivers currently face challenges in the disease process because there is a major gap in available treatment and therapies, especially those that are non-pharmacological. The literature shows an increased incidence of dementia, and currently, there is no cure. This leaves medication as the treatment of choice. The aim of this project was to investigate whether introducing robotic pets as a supplemental therapy to persons with mild to moderate dementia helps in reducing their level of anxiety and agitation. Based on a review of the literature on the benefits of robotic pet interactions with dementia-suffering individuals, a quality improvement project was conducted in a suburban city in Arizona. Project participants included individuals with dementia and their caregivers. They were asked to interact with the robotic pet in their home for four, one-hour sessions, over a four-week timeframe. Analysis of the findings revealed that individuals with dementia found a sense of joy and peace while interacting with the pets, and they looked forward to the pet visit every week with excitement. These results indicated that introducing robotic pets to dementia-suffering individuals was clinically significant as it relates to their anxiety and agitation levels. Utilizing robotic pets as a supplemental therapy can benefit dementia-suffering individuals and their caregivers. Further evaluation is needed with a larger sample size to better understand the impact of robotic pets on PwD.
ContributorsGill-Ramos, M. Rushana (Author) / Medland, Jacqueline (Thesis advisor) / Arizona State University. College of Nursing & Healthcare Innovation (Contributor)
Created2022-05-06
Description
Purpose & Background: This project evaluates the impact of education on a provider’s intent to screen for vitamin D deficiency in adults with depression. An internal Quality Improvement (QI) study at a local mental health primary care clinic revealed that only 1 in 3 patients with depression were routinely screened for vitamin D deficiency. Vitamin D is a crucial component of numerous systemic functions, including mental health, specifically depression.
Methods: This QI project used the Rosswurm and Larrabee Model implementation framework. Institution Review Board (IRB) expedited review approval was received. This project was conducted at 10 Veteran’s Affairs (VA) primary care clinics in Arizona. An initial email with a recruitment flyer was sent to providers to launch the project. A second email was
sent to participants who volunteered to participate in the project, with instructions and links to the asynchronous pre-survey, recorded education PowerPoint, and post-survey. Responses were analyzed using Intellectus Statistics software.
Results: Provider knowledge of impact and intent to screen for vitamin D deficiency increased after viewing a brief education video (n=30). Frequency distribution analyses revealed a 23% average increase in agreement to screen for vitamin D deficiency at annual visits, “at-risk” individuals, knowledge of the association, and intent to screen regularly in depression.
Conclusion: The education intervention was found to positively impact the provider’s intent and demonstrate the importance of screening for vitamin D deficiency in adults with depression.
ContributorsMiller, Evangelina (Author) / Medland, Jacqueline (Thesis advisor) / Arizona State University. College of Nursing & Healthcare Innovation (Contributor)
Created2022-05-02
Description
Purpose & Background: Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) residency programs are meant to ease providers' transition into practice, but there is limited evidence about their overall effectiveness and impact on provider satisfaction. When a FNP residency program in the Southwestern United States found they had high resident provider attrition rates, it prompted an investigation into current and past residents’ satisfaction levels.
Methods: Arizona State University’s (ASU’s) Institutional Review Board (IRB) and the project site’s review committee approved the project design for human subject protection. After approval, all current and past residents employed at the practice were e-mailed a link to SurveySparrow with the Misener Nurse Practitioner Job Satisfaction Scale (MNPJSS) and a demographic questionnaire in December 2021 and February 2022.
Results: Mean satisfaction scores indicated “minimally satisfied” overall. When satisfaction was compared over time using a two-tailed independent t-test for an alpha value of 0.05, p = 0.731, indicating no significant change in satisfaction over two months. Total satisfaction and subscales of satisfaction were divided by cohort, averaged, and compared on a Likert scale from “1” (Very Dissatisfied) to “6” (Very Satisfied). Current residents’ average satisfaction score was M = 3.77. They were most satisfied with challenge and autonomy, M = 4.28, and least with collegiality, M
= 3.26. Providers' one-year post-residency average satisfaction score was M = 3.98. They were most satisfied with benefits, M = 4.53, and least with time, M = 3.04. Providers' two-year post- residency average satisfaction score was M = 3.49. They were most satisfied with benefits, M = 4.56, and least with time, M = 2.90. Using Pearson Correlation tests there was no correlation between average satisfaction and average performance on Uniform Data Systems (UDS), r = 0.01, p = 0.968.
Conclusions: Overall providers were “minimally satisfied.” Opportunities to make program improvements were identified and could help improve retention and reduce costs and provider shortages.
ContributorsLuedtke, M. Erin (Author) / Ochieng, Judith (Thesis advisor) / Arizona State University. College of Nursing & Healthcare Innovation (Contributor)
Created2022-04-29
Description
Purpose: Patient portals are widely available online applications with many health-related tools that facilitate patient engagement and enhance communication with providers yet are highly underutilized. The purpose of this evidence-based practice (EBP) project was to explore an English and Spanish patient portal educational video's impact on patient engagement in a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC). The social cognitive theory underpins the project because patients' portal use behavior can change if changing their environmental factors in the clinic with educational videos.
Methods: The Universities Institutional Review Board granted exempt approval to ensure human subject protection. The participants included bilingual adult patients in an FQHC who have access to the internet and email addresses who visited the center during the implementation period. The tablets in the patient rooms displayed the English and Spanish educational video on step-by-step instructions on accessing, using the patient portal, and the benefits of use. The information technology technician pulled aggregate data from the analytics component of the patient portal before and after the four-week implementation period. The data included total number of clinic patients, number of active portal users, number of monthly logins, and gender. The project facilitator used descriptive statistics to compare pre-and post-intervention analytics. Results: Active portal users increased by 0.22% and monthly logins increased by 390 logins.
Only aggregate data was collected so the statistical significance was not calculated. Conclusion: This EBP project enhances knowledge on patient portal utilization's impact on patient engagement and may apply to current practice.
ContributorsHerrera, M. Sara (Author) / Ochieng, Judith (Thesis advisor) / Arizona State University. College of Nursing & Healthcare Innovation (Contributor)
Created2022-04-29
Description
Aim: To evaluate the impact transformational leadership (TFL) behaviors and What Matters to You conversations have on RNs finding meaning and joy in work (MJW) and turnover. Background: The nursing profession is plagued by burnout - a precursor to loss of MJW. Loss of MJW was exhibited as low morale and increased turnover among acute care RNs at a small hospital in Southwest Arizona. Addressing loss of MJW aligns with caring for the caregiver, the fourth aim of the quadruple aim initiative. Methods: This was a quasi?experimental mixed methodology evidence-based project. The target populations were core RNs and leaders working in the intensive care unit, care unit, and emergency department. Intervention was multimodal – survey using Meaning and Joy in Work Questionnaire, TFL education, and steps one and two of the IHI four steps for leaders model. Results: Final sample was 18 RNs. Statistical analyses did not reveal significant impact; pre- and post-survey MJWQ scores remained above four. Themes from the What Matters to You conversations included making a difference, coworkers/connections, staffing, and negativity. Turnover trended positively in two of the three units. Conclusion: This project heightened awareness about MJW and illuminated the impact TFL behaviors can have on RNs finding MJW and turnover. The coronavirus pandemic and acute nursing shortage were significant limitations of the project. Implications: Healthcare organizations are encouraged to view MJW as a system asset, embed it in their cultures, invest in innovative solutions, and continually evaluate outcome measures of MJW.
ContributorsSalmon, P. Melisa (Author) / Mangold, Kara (Thesis advisor) / Arizona State University. College of Nursing & Healthcare Innovation (Contributor)
Created2022-04-28
Description
Healthcare workers may have poor attitudes, bias or feel unprepared when caring for patients with mental illness in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) setting. The aim of this project was to resolve these biases using education to increase quality of care for pediatric mental health patients using Rossworm and Larabee’s change model. The Questionnaire on Stigmatizing Attitudes Towards Children with Emotional and Behavioral Disorders (EBD) was completed by voluntary participants at pretest, posttest and at a one month follow up. Between pretest and posttest, participants engaged in three educational modules regarding mental health. Participants were voluntary, anonymous staff members at a pediatric hospital currently employed in the PICU. Results of the questionnaires pre M= 23 post M=11 and follow up M=9.5 indicates education improves attitudes, and decreases bias in PICU staff. Recommendation to obtain larger population of study with trial implementation. Recommend adding educational modules to annual education or to new hire orientation.
ContributorsMoore, W. Alexandra (Author) / Guthrey, Ann (Thesis advisor) / Arizona State University. College of Nursing & Healthcare Innovation (Contributor)
Created2022-04-28
Description
Burnout has become an increasingly popular topic among registered nurses, but unfortunately burnout among psychiatric nursing is less understood than other nursing specialties such as the Intensive Care Unit, Emergency Room, or Oncology. Psychiatry is unique and psychiatric nurses, in particular, are often subjected to physical and verbal violence as well as exposure to patient’s trauma. The aim of this project was to decrease burnout among psychiatric nurses in a private practice out-patient family psychiatric facility using Rossworm and Larabee’s change model (Appendix D). The MBI-HSS was completed by 1 participant (n=1) at pre-intervention and post-intervention. Between the pre/post MBI-HSS questionnaire the participant was asked to partake in a mindfulness-based intervention utilizing the smartphone application Headspace to complete a 10-session meditation course over one week. The results conclude the participant’s burnout decreased overall from pre-intervention to post-intervention. Internal Review Board (IRB) was granted in September 2021, and the project was completed in November 2021. The impact of the project was projected to have a more thorough statistical influence, but due to the participant size, there is minimal impact of system or polices in the psychiatric facility.
ContributorsSteward, M. Shannon (Author) / Guthrey, Ann (Thesis advisor) / Arizona State University. College of Nursing & Healthcare Innovation (Contributor)
Created2022-04-30
Description
Purpose: The COVID-19 pandemic has increased depression among the population. Exercise is a useful coping mechanism for depression and high intensity interval training (HIIT) can be utilized.
Background: A community exercise facility provides HIIT exercises for gym members. The gym owner believed their HIIT program is a great tool for coping with depression.
Methods: The gym offered a 21-day free HIIT program. Those who signed up for the program, 18 years of age or older, and were able to exercise under the Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire were offered to participate in the study. Participants were given a pre-survey before they started exercises. This survey utilized the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), a standard depression rating tool that determines depression symptom prevalence. After the 21-day program, participants were given a post-survey involving the same PHQ-9. The survey scores were compared pre- to post-program. The surveys were coded to exclude any identifying information.
Results: Mean PHQ-9 pre-test was 7.67, mean score post-test was 3. A paired t-Test resulted in a p=0.60, showed that it was not statistically significant.
Discussion: The goal of this study was to determine if HIIT training was an effective coping mechanism for depression. The data shows that participants had decreased PHQ-9 scores from the pre- and post-program surveys showing a clinical significance. This data can be used to provide those suffering from depression a coping mechanism.
ContributorsSmith, Kolter (Author) / Guthrey, Ann (Thesis advisor) / Arizona State University. College of Nursing & Healthcare Innovation (Contributor)
Created2022-05-02