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Staff Education to Improve Quality of Life for Patients With Dementia
Get PDFDementia is a chronic neurodegenerative disease that is incurable and unpredictable. Patients with dementia experience a decline in functional abilities, communication, and social skills. Fifty-five million people worldwide live with dementia with over 6.9 million people over 65 years of age diagnosed in the United States. The practice problem identified by a 25-bed assisted living facility in the north-central United States was staff’s lack of knowledge of dementia diagnosis, person-centered care approaches, and optimal care strategies supporting a positive quality of life for patients with dementia. The practice-focused question addressed whether an education program consisting of evidence-based practices using the capabilities model of dementia care would increase the direct care staff’s knowledge and perceived confidence in caring for patients with dementia. Ten participants participated in the staff education program. There was an improvement in the responses for scores 5, 6, 7, (5 = somewhat agree, 6 = agree, and 7 = strongly agree) for all items that described a person-centered positive approach to patient care, and there were decreases to 0 for all questions that described a non-personhood approach to patient care. After completion of the education program, the 10 participants strongly agreed that they had the knowledge to provide evidence-based care for patients with dementia and felt competent to carry out the plan. The education program framed by the capabilities model of dementia care contributed to positive social change by improving staff’s knowledge, competence, and understanding of patients with dementia as human beings with value
Clinical Practice Guideline for Systemic Lupus Erythromatosus and Lupus Nephritis
Get PDFSummary This project addressed the critical practice problem of delayed and inaccurate diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), which has been linked to increased morbidity and mortality, particularly among marginalized populations. These diagnostic challenges have been recognized globally, with international research highlighting inconsistencies in care and the absence of standardized guidelines. Implementing inclusive and equitable clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) that consider social determinants of health, political determinants of health and actively involve diverse populations in research can play a crucial role in reducing racial disparities and improve outcomes for all lupus patients. Thus, the development of a CPG focused on diagnosis and treatment of SLE and lupus nephritis (LN) formed the primary purpose of the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project. The practice focused question was: Will a CPG adapted from EULAR 2023 be accepted for implementation in practice by a panel of experts in SLE care management? To evaluate the quality of the newly released guideline, an appraisal using the AGREE II instrument was used. Seven members of an expert panel including clinical and administrative staff provided the review. The AGREE II tool was used for appraising and selecting the CPG adopted in this project. and the results were unanimous for adopting the Lupus CPG. Addressing the gap in practice to better manage SLE and prevent LN in vulnerable populations promotes and addresses diversity, equity and inclusion, and represents a significant positive social change
Schwartz Values of Active-Duty U.S. Soldiers: A Confirmatory Factor Analysis of Refined Values
No full textThe U.S. Army is currently facing recruitment challenges due to a decrease in the number of qualified youths. When recruitment is low, reducing attrition becomes even more critical to maintaining force readiness. Research indicates attrition patterns may be influenced by interactions between personal characteristics and the unique culture of each military branch. One characteristic is personal values; however, the most widely used personal values framework, Schwartz’s values theory, has not been validated for the U.S. Army population. This study aimed to address this gap by empirically assessing Schwartz’s values using a nonexperimental cross-sectional quantitative design, collecting data from 273 active-duty U.S. Army soldiers stationed within the contiguous United States. Reliability analysis indicated mixed internal consistency across 19 discrete values, with some such as conformity-rules demonstrating strong reliability, while others, such as achievement and Humility, were weaker. Multidimensional scaling results had an unexpected pattern for security values but were largely aligned with theoretical expectations. The confirmatory factor analysis findings showed 15 of 19 values demonstrated reasonable discriminant validity. These findings suggest the refined Schwartz values theory is generally applicable for U.S. Army soldiers and may inform future research and practices that are aimed at reducing attrition and enhancing force readiness. This study may also have implications for future positive social change such as enhancing value alignment in the military. By understanding reliability, structural fit, and validity, this study provides a foundation for developing tailored interventions that can improve alignment between the organization’s goals and soldier’s personal values
Intensive Care Unit Nurses’ Perceptions of Communication With Unconscious Patients
Get PDFUnconscious patients in critical care units are compromised in their ability to communicate. It is vital that intensive care unit (ICU) nurses’ communication with unconscious patients be as effective as possible to address patients’ needs and help them in their suffering. Improving communication deepens the dignity and humanity of unconscious patients, supports families, and contributes to more ethical and holistic ICU care. The purpose of this basic qualitative study, guided by Watson’s human caring theory, was to explore the perceptions and experiences of ICU nurses of patient-centered communication with unconscious patients. Twelve ICU nurses who worked in a large metropolitan city in the central region of Saudi Arabia were included; they held a bachelor’s degree in nursing, had at least 1 year of ICU experience, and had previous experience working with unconscious patients. They were interviewed using audio recording. Thematic analysis revealed three themes: (a) preserving human dignity and respect, (b) care fatigue, and (c) nurses’ belief systems. Recommendations for future research include exploring how to provide emotional and psychological support for ICU nurses and include a more diverse group of nurses in multiple ICUs across varied geographical regions. Understanding factors affecting nurses’ communication with unconscious patients will help formulate strategies to improve communication and the quality of care for unconscious patients, which affects positive social change
Mental Health Counselors’ Lived Experiences With the Legal System in Matters Concerning Their Clients
Get PDFMental health counselors frequently engage with the legal system in ways that significantly impact their clinical roles, ethical decision-making, and emotional well-being. Despite the high stakes of these encounters, little is known about how counselors experience and make meaning of such legal involvement. This study explored the central research question: What are the lived experiences of mental health counselors when they are involved with the legal system in matters concerning their clients? This transcendental phenomenological study, grounded in Husserl’s philosophy of exploring lived experience through the suspension of presuppositions, investigates the experiences of mental health counselors when they are involved with the legal system in matters concerning their clients. The purpose of this study was to capture the nuanced and multifaceted realities of counselors’ professional journeys, providing a rich, detailed understanding that can bridge the gap between mental health practice and legal requirements. I conducted semi-structured interviews with 12 mental health counselors from diverse clinical settings across the United States. Six core themes emerged from the data: (a) lack of preparedness for the first legal encounter, (b) emotional reactions to legal scrutiny, (c) feelings of isolation and lack of support, (d) experiencing inadequate legal training in counseling programs, (e) tension between legal and clinical responsibilities, and (f) refining clinical skills through legal engagement. These findings highlight the emotional and ethical complexities counselors face, as well as the professional growth that may result from legal involvement. The study offers implications for counselor education, supervision, and policy reform, advocating for stronger interdisciplinary collaboration and legal training to ensure counselors are equipped and supported to navigate the legal system ethically and effectively
Staff Education to Improve Nurses’ Knowledge on Medication Administration Error Prevention
Get PDFThis staff education project aimed to enhance nurses’ knowledge on medication administration error prevention through targeted education interventions. Medication administration errors are a significant concern in health care, leading to patient harm and reduced quality of care. This project addressed the gap in nursing knowledge regarding strategies to prevent these errors, with the goal of improving patient safety and outcomes. The practice-focused question explored in this project was the following: How does implementing an education program affect nurses’ knowledge and practices related to medication error prevention? The purpose of this doctoral project was to educate nurses on best practices for reducing medication administration errors and improving patient safety. The data collected from pre- and postimplementation assessments revealed that 36.4% of participants showed an improvement in their knowledge, while 25% of the question items exhibited a notable increase in correct responses. These findings suggest that targeted education programs can enhance nurses’ understanding of medication error prevention, highlighting the importance of continued education interventions to optimize health care practitioners’ knowledge. The results of this project indicate that health care organizations should consider such educational initiatives to improve nursing practices and reduce medication errors. This initiative contributes to a broader social change by promoting staff education, better patient outcomes, and the integration of culturally inclusive medication error prevention strategies
Exploring Educator Psychological Capital Through Participation in a Coordinated School Violence Prevention Approach
Get PDFThis study is a description of how educators’ participation in a coordinated approach to violence prevention contributed to employee wellness and school climate. Using principles of psychological capital (PsyCap) theory, archival focus group and interview data were used to describe educator experiences during implementation of a 3-year coordinated approach to school violence in a mid-sized public school district. Findings of the analysis revealed consistent references to feelings of hope, efficacy, resilience, and optimism throughout the study, but with slight shifts in frequency each year based on both internal (i.e. skill development, relationship-building), and external (i.e. administrative support, policy directives, broader social issues) factors. Overall, educators reported a positive experience with the coordinated approach relative to building individual capacity, recognizing outcomes, and collaboratively addressing barriers. These findings are particularly relevant with the additional educator and student support that is evident following COVID-19. Educator capacity to develop skills and feel supported while adapting and responding to student needs is critical to addressing occupational stress and halting educator recruitment and retention concerns. Further research into effective strategies for enhancing employee wellness in schools and their relationship with school social and emotional climate, including specific approaches for administrators as they implement or adapt new initiatives, are needed to build capacity for effective coordinated school health programs and better student outcomes
The Effectiveness of Vivitrol and Naltrexone for Rural and Urban Participants Post-incarceration or Under Supervision
Get PDFBehavioral health professionals are concerned with the opioid epidemic in the United States, as opioid use results in needless overdose deaths annually. Relapse prevention is the theory that grounded this study, and naltrexone or extended-release naltrexone (XR-NTX) was used to measure effectiveness for 50 forensic, rural, and urban individuals with opioid use disorder (OUD) to prevent relapse. Furthermore, this study used a chi square test of independence, nonparametric test with a Cramer’s V, and Fisher’s exact. While outcomes revealed no significant differences between rural and urban groups, significant evidence was observed when medication outcomes and medication extent were evaluated, Pearson chi square p \u3c .001, Cramer’s V = 1.0, p \u3c .001, and Fisher’s exact = 56.094, p \u3c .001. This study provided a nucleus for positive social change by helping to save, change, and improve lives and to offer hope to a population that often feels that they have no hope. Going forward, recommendations for the behavioral health field should include further study of forensic, rural, and urban populations with OUD, as well as evaluation of the effectiveness of naltrexone and XR-NT
Enhancing Reading Comprehension and Critical Thinking Skills through LMS Integration in an English for History Course for Non-EFL Undergraduate Students
Get PDFThis study addresses the challenges faced by non-EFL undergraduate students in enhancing reading comprehension and critical thinking skills within an English for History course. While existing research has explored reading comprehension and critical thinking in EFL contexts, there is a notable gap in understanding how these skills can be developed in non-EFL students through the integration of learning management systems (LMS). The aim of this study is to investigate the impact of LMS on improving reading comprehension and critical thinking skills among non-EFL undergraduate students who are enrolled in an English for History course. A sequential mixed-methods approach was employed, involving 56 participants. Data were collected through a pretest and a posttest to measure reading comprehension outcomes; a closed-ended questionnaire that focused on critical thinking skills (covering dimensions such as analysis, evaluation, inference, and problem-solving); and structured interviews with six selected participants. The results revealed that the integration of LMS significantly improved participants’ reading comprehension, with notable gains in their ability to summarize, analyze, and synthesize historical texts. In terms of critical thinking, students demonstrated enhanced analytical reasoning and evaluation skills, though some challenges remained in applying higher-order thinking in complex texts. Positive insights include the convenience and engagement provided by LMS, while negative feedback highlighted issues such as technical difficulties and a lack of personalized support. The study concludes with implications for instructors in integrating LMS more effectively and offers suggestions for future research on bridging the gap between LMS use and critical thinking development in non-EFL contexts
Enhancing Strategies for Government Partnerships to Meet Organizational Goals and Objectives
Get PDFOrganization X’s mission to strengthen legal rights and rehabilitate inmates involves effective collaboration with government entities. Organization X struggled to build strong partnerships with government agencies, limiting its ability to provide legal aid and rehabilitation services to marginalized inmates and victims of human rights violations. The purpose of this study was to use a SWOT analysis to explore the challenges and opportunities in government partnerships, aiming to identify barriers and recommend strategies to strengthen collaboration, build staff capacity, and enhance service delivery. Guided by four research questions, the study examined barriers and opportunities in government partnerships. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with six Organization X staff and three Nigerian Correctional Service officials, and analysis of archival documents including annual reports, strategic plans, and the Nigerian Correctional Service Act. Reflexive thematic analysis revealed bureaucratic inefficiencies, funding limitations, and communication gaps. Strengths included commitment to rehabilitation, opportunities involved technology, and stakeholder engagement. The study produced several practical deliverables for Organization X, including a strategic report with partnership development strategies, workforce expansion plans, and key performance indicators to guide implementation. These tools were designed to support the organization’s mission and improve collaboration with government entities. The study informs public administration by improving NGO-government collaboration and supports positive social change by enhancing justice and rehabilitation services for marginalized populations