Nursing-Dissertations
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Browsing Nursing-Dissertations by Author "Adamson, Carolyn"
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Item The adaptive response of cardiovascular-pulmonary patients to nursing measures as reflected by mixed venous oxygen saturation measurements(1987-05) Kernicki, Jeanette; Adamson, Carolyn; Sanchez, Kathryn; Ragsdale, Diane; Throckmorton, Terry; Hart, Mary RoseIn a group of 54 cardiovascular-pulmonary patients with fiberoptic pulmonary artery catheters, the effect of position and preoxygenation on mixed venous oxygen saturation and select hemodynamic parameters was examined. A convenience sample was randomly assigned by a coin flip to experimental or control groups. Hemodynamic parameters were compared with the mixed venous oxygen saturation before and after the experimental group subjects were turned from supine, right, and left positions. Measurements were recorded for the control group in the supine position. The second variable was preoxygenation prior to bagging and endotracheal suctioning. The experimental group received three breaths of 100% oxygen prior to suctioning, the control group were administered 50%-60% oxygen. Measurement of mixed venous oxygen saturations were taken at 5-, 10-, 15-, minute intervals post suctioning. Repeated measure ANOVA data revealed a statistically significant difference at p (LESSTHEQ) .05 level between the supine, right, and left positions. The data supported the first hypothesis that subjects who are turned from supine, to right, and left positions will demonstrate a lower mixed venous oxygen saturation than subjects in the supine position. Data did not substantiate the second hypothesis: subjects who receive three breaths of 100% oxygen prior to suctioning will demonstrate a higher mixed venous oxygen saturation at 5-, 10-, 15-minute intervals as opposed to those receiving 50%-60% oxygen. The Pearson r correlated positively with mixed venous oxygen saturation and select hemodynamic parameters supporting the third hypothesis: changes in mixed venous oxygen saturation will be associated with changes in other physiologic parameters.Item Antisocial Personality traits and behaviors in alcohol dependent adults with early age of drinking onset(2008-08) Culpa-Bondal, Maria Flordesol A.; Adamson, Carolyn; Hawkins, Christine; Symes, LeneUsing a case-control design, a secondary analysis of the 2001-2002 National Epidemiologic Survey of Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC) dataset was conducted to explore the relationship between antisocial personality traits and behaviors and the development of alcohol dependence in adults who started drinking at 12-15 years old. It was hypothesized that the development of alcohol dependence in adults who started drinking at 12-15 years old -can be predicted by the presence of antisocial personality traits and behaviors before. the age of 15 Descriptive statistics revealed homogeneous sampling between cases and controls. With the exception of the variables of gender and age of drinking onset, cases and controls did not differ on the variables of race, ethnicity, marital status, and educational attainment. Males start to drink alcohol earlier than females. Adult individuals who started drinking at 12 to 15 years old and developed alcohol dependence displayed significantly higher numbers of antisocial personality traits and behaviors before the age of 15 than those adults. who started drinking at 12 to 15 years old but did not develop alcohol dependence. A discriminant function analysis revealed that alcohol dependence for those individuals who started drinking at 12 to 15 years of age can be predicted by the presence of 3 or more antisocial personality traits and behaviors before the age of 15. The findings of this study indicate the need for early preventive programs to counter the development of alcohol dependence in individuals who start drinking at age 12 to 15 and who display antisocial traits and behaviors. Recommendations for further study are discussed.Item Attachment between mothers and their adopted children(1992-08) Lucia, Ann Elizabeth; Stocks, Judith; Hawkins, Chris; Adamson, CarolynAn investigation was conducted to examine the differences in behaviors that influence attachment between biological and adoptive mother-infant dyads. A non-experimental, explanatory design was implemented to study these differences by utilizing the NCAST HOME Inventory and the NCAST NCAT teaching instrument to collect data in the adoptive home setting. Eight hypotheses proposed that biological mothers would have higher scores than adoptive mothers in behaviors that influence attachment, focusing on the home environment, teaching skills, sensitivity, response to distress, social-emotional growth fostering, cognitive growth fostering, clarity of child's cues, and responsiveness to parent. Four South Texas adoption agencies provided a convenience nonprobability sample of 44 volunteer adoptive mothers who were primarily Caucasian from 30 to 45 years of age with Caucasian children, ages 6 to 36 months. Descriptive analysis allowed assessment of the demographic data. Statistical analysis using the Z test supported the null hypothesis (H$\sb0$) in H$\sb1$ (Home Environment) and allowed retention of H$\sb6$ (Cognitive Growth Fostering). The other six hypotheses were rejected because the adoptive mothers scored significantly higher than the biological mothers indicating strong attachment with their children.Item A community-based educational approach to enhance learning outcomes in Black hypertension patients(1991-05) Abdur-Rahman, Veronica; Adamson, Carolyn; Vakaty, Donna; Throckmorton, Terry; Robertson, James; Sabbahi, MuhammadThe purpose of the study was to determine whether a community-based education program could enhance learning among Black hypertensive clients and whether a relationship exists between powerlessness and learning. The Abdur-Rahman Interaction Model provided the conceptual basis for the study. An experimental two-group, before-after design was used, with sixty (60) subjects from four church settings. The experimental group (n = 30) participated in a semi-structured hypertension education program. Data were collected using the Demographic Data Questionnaire, the Hypertension Knowledge Questionnaire and the Health Care Powerlessness Scale. A 2 x 2 analysis of variance revealed significant differences in knowledge scores between the experimental and control groups (19.76 vs. 14.86, p $<$ 0.05). The Pearson correlation coefficient indicated a positive relationship between powerlessness and knowledge. The study findings indicate that a community-based intervention can enhance learning outcomes and that the variable powerlessness affects knowledge acquisition.Item A comparison of attitudes of nurses towards professional autonomy(1993-12) Akoma, Christiana; Robertson, James; Adamson, Carolyn; Kernicki, JeanetteA three-group, nonexperimental, descriptive design was used to compare the attitudes of critical care, medical/surgical, and physicians' office nurses toward professional autonomy. A nonprobability sample of 30 subjects in each of the three groups was selected for a total sample size of 90 subjects. Only female nurses were included in the sample. Each participant was sent a questionnaire package containing the two instruments to complete and return by mail within 2 weeks. The demographic data sheet contained information pertaining to the characteristics of the sample. The Attitudes Toward Professional Autonomy Scale (ATPAS), used to examine the differences in the attitudes of the three groups of nurses toward professional autonomy, is a 30-item summated rating scale consisting of statements describing situations in which a nurse must take some action which requires the exercise of some degree of professional autonomy. Subjects were asked to respond to each item according to the extent to which they were likely to perform the requirement suggested in each scale item. The nonparametric Kruskal-Wallis test was used to analyze differences in the groups' mean professional autonomy attitude scores according to the three clinical settings (Research Question 1) and the three educational preparation levels (Research Question 2) of the nurses. No significant difference ($p\le .05$) was found between the groups' mean scores of attitudes toward professional autonomy and the three groups (critical care, medical/surgical, and physicians' office nurses) nor among the three educational preparation levels (diploma, associate, and bachelor's degrees). Using the Mann-Whitney U test, no significant difference ($p\le .05$) was found between the groups' mean professional autonomy attitude scores and membership or nonmembership in professional organizations (Research Question 3). Thus, results of this study indicated that neither clinical setting, educational preparation of the nurses, nor membership or nonmembership in professional organizations influenced attitudes of nurses in this sample toward professional autonomy.Item Coping strategies of intensive care and nonintensive care pediatric nurses in response to situational and environmental stressors(1987-12) Blake, Jo Ann; McFarland, Judith; Wolf, Lorraine; Adamson, Carolyn; Ragsdale, Diane; Hart, Mary RoseThe purpose of this study was to identify coping behaviors which enabled pediatric intensive care and nonintensive care nurses to cope effectively with stress as evidenced by a low degree of burnout. A nonexperimental cross-sectional explanatory survey was used to identify specific types of coping behaviors used by pediatric nurses and burnout levels. In addition, the study was designed to determine what characteristics are predictive of burnout. A nonprobability sample of 41 intensive care and 33 nonintensive care nurses participated in the study. Subjects completed a personal information sheet, Blake's Coping Scale, and Maslach's Burnout Inventory. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, one-way analysis of variance, Pearson's correlation coefficient, and multiple regression analysis. There was no significant ($p\leq$.05) difference in coping strategies and burnout levels for intensive care pediatric nurses s compared to nonintensive care pediatric nurses. A significant ($p\leq$.05) correlation was found between basic nursing educational level and coping subscale scores for emotional avoidance and emotional response. Of the 16 nurses in the study who met the criteria for low degree of burnout, 14 used rational action as their coping strategy. The overall sample used professionalism as their coping strategy. The most frequently used ineffective coping strategy was fantasized action. Time of employment on present unit was found to be the demographic variable which best predicted burnout levels in this study.Item Correlates of health-promoting lifestyle behaviors for employed, midlife women(1993-05) Archer, Jeanne; Stocks, Judith; Adamson, Carolyn; Fehir, JohnA non-experimental, descriptive study of the correlates of health-promoting lifestyle behaviors was conducted with a convenience sample of employed, midlife women (N = 126). The Health Promotion Model by Pender (1987) provided the theoretical framework for the study and guided the placement of the variables. The correlates of perceived health status, social support, occupation, and selected demographics were measured by confidential questionnaires administered to employed women (35-45 years of age) who belonged to a networking organization. Results for each independent variable measured by a questionnaire were: Perceived health status as measured by the MOS Short-form General Health Survey (M = 78.99, SD 10.07), social support as measured by the Duke-UNC Functional Social Support Questionnaire (M = 31.27, SD 6.58), and occupation as measured by the Hollingshead Occupational Scale (M = 7.47, SD 1.09). Multiple Regression was used to examine the relationship between perceived health status, social support, selected demographics and health-promoting lifestyle profile. Results indicated that perceived health status and social support had a significant relationship to health-promoting lifestyle profile at p $\le$.01. Pearson's Correlation measured the degree of correlation between these significant independent variables and indicated redundancy which impacted the predictability for both variables. Social support accounted for 34% of the variability of health-promoting lifestyle behaviors. The variability from social support was stable regardless of effects from perceived health status. Social support was the single greatest predictor of health-promoting lifestyle behaviors in this sample of employed, midlife women.Item Creative thinking ability of women in nursing(1992-12) Richard, Patricia L.; Ragsdale, Diane; Adamson, Carolyn; Robertson, JamesA nonexperimental, descriptive, correlational design was used to determine the level of creative thinking ability of 60, randomly selected, baccalaureate junior and senior female nursing students. The relationship between creative thinking ability, perception of creative thinking ability, self-concept and perceived stress was also explored to assess the amount of variation in creative thinking ability accounted for by each independent variable. Instruments were the Torrance Test of Creative Thinking, Figural form B, the Khatena-Torrance Creative Perception Inventory which included two parts, What Kind of Person Are You? (WKOPAY), and Something About Myself (SAM), the Coopersmith Self-Esteem Inventory (SEI), the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), and a demographic data profile. Twenty-eight (46.7%) of the subjects scored above the 50th percentile for Creative Thinking Ability (N = 60, $\mu$ = 113.72, SD = 13.14) indicating adequate levels of creative thinking ability compared to the adult female norm (N = 720, $\mu$ = 111.63, SD = 16.13). Subjects had average or above average levels of self-concept ($\mu$ = 77.86, SD = 17.65) compared to the adult norm ($\mu$ = 71.7, SD = 18.8), and perceived life as stressful ($\mu$ = 22.05, SD = 7.38) as compared to the adult norm ($\mu$ = 20.20, SD = 7.80). Multiple regression analyses indicated that the SEI ($\mu$ = 77.86, SD = 17.65) accounted for aproximately 9% of the variance of the dependent variable, creative thinking ability (multiple R =.295, $R\sp2$ =.087, F (1, 60) = 5.539, p =.02). The other independent variables, WKOPAY ($\mu$ = 26.28, SD = 6.21), SAM ($\mu$ = 27.6, SD = 6.71), and PSS ($\mu$ = 22.05, SD = 7.37) were not significant in the multiple regression equation. The projected technological advances and expanded roles of nurses for the future will make creative thinking ability an important asset for nurses. Therefore, the implications for this study include consideration of activities to integrate and promote creative thinking stimulating activities for students throughout the curriculum. Although the majority of the subjects indicated mid to high levels of self-concept, promotion of positive professional and personal self-concepts in students by the faculty and in the curriculum are indicated. And finally, because of the high levels of stress indicated by the subjects in the study, encouragement of students to seek guidance and counseling in stressful situations is also indicated.Item Differences in decision-making strategies used by experienced and novice nurses to formulate Nursing diagnoses(1986-08) Hall, Susan Marie; Adamson, Carolyn; Anderson, Elizabeth; McFarlane, Judith; Throckmorton, Terry; Ragsdale, VirginiaThe purpose of this study was to examine differences in decision-making strategies of experienced and novice nurses. A computerized simulation (SIMUDEMA) was developed to provide patient data in response to questions. Subjects were given a brief patient report with a photograph and asked to gather data to make the priority nursing diagnosis. The study was conducted on a community college campus. Forty-four subjects were randomly selected from two populations: students enrolled in the first year of an associate degree nursing program and graduates of the same program who had been working for two or more years. Subjects received an information letter asking for voluntary participation. Two scores were calculated, PTS and SCORFST, which represented the total and average informational value of questions asked. Significant differences were noted in the length of time required, use of nursing categories, early selection of a multiple hypothesis testing strategy, and SCORFST scores. Significant correlations were noted between test/retest PTS scores, PTS scores and ACT social science scores, and between SCORFST scores and months of experience.Item The effect of a diabetes education program on social support, diabetes knowledge level, blood glucose level, and weight among noninsulin-dependent diabetics(1991-12) Rodriguez, Maurilia; Fehir, John; McFarlane, Judith; Adamson, CarolynThe effect of a diabetes education program on social support, diabetes knowledge level, blood glucose level, and weight of 60 noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus male and female individuals was assessed during a 10-week period. Twenty subjects each were randomly assigned to the education with a social support person present (E+SS) group, the education with no social support present (E-SS) group, and the control group. The social support person was either a family member or friend. Data were analyzed by two-way ANOVAs with repeated measures and t tests for related and independent samples. At the end of the 3-week education program, no significant differences were found between groups on any of the variables measured. Significant differences were found in (a) diabetes knowledge level scores of group E+SS from pretest to posttest 1 and group E-SS from pretest to posttest 2 and (b) blood glucose levels of group E-SS from pretest to posttest 2.Item The effect of a schizophrenic family workshop on levels of acceptance and stress in primary family caregivers of schizophrenic relatives(1988-12) Barber, Marilyn; Ragsdale, Diane; Throckmorton, Terry; Vokaty, Donna; Adamson, Carolyn; Bray, JamesSchizophrenia is one of the major health problems in the world. Patients with this illness often have some degree of impairment and may require help from others. The primary responsibility for the care of these schizophrenic patients frequently falls upon unprepared family. The purpose of this experimental, two-group, pre and post study was to examine whether a workshop about schizophrenia would effect the levels of stress and acceptance of a sample of 70 primary family caregivers. The primary caregivers were randomly selected and randomly assigned to either the experimental or control group. The experimental group (n = 36) participated in the workshop while the control group (n = 34) did not. Both groups had schizophrenic relatives who attended a large, university-affiliated psychiatric outpatient clinic in the southwestern United States. Data for this investigation was collected using the Family Caregiver Record of demographics and two tests which were administered prior to and following the workshop: Kreisman's Patient Rejection Scale and the Schizophrenic Family Caregiver Stress Scale. The data were analyzed using analysis of variance with repeated measures and Pearson product moment correlations. The findings revealed that primary caregivers who attended the workshop had higher acceptance levels (F = 32.48, df = 1, p =.001) and decreased stress levels (F = 53.54, df = 1, p =.001) following participation in the workshop. There was an inverse relationship between the number of patient hospitalizations and the primary caregivers' level of acceptance (r = $-.24$, $r\sp2$ =.06, p =.045). There were no other significant relationships found between selected variables and the dependent variables, level of acceptance and level of stress. Caregivers who were "very religious" has lower stress levels. In general, the workshop did prepare the family to cope better with their primary caregiving role and helped the caregivers be more accepting of their schizophrenic relatives.Item Effects of preoperative play on post-hospital anxiety in school-age children and their parents(1992-08) Wofford, Donna; Ragsdale, Diane; Adamson, Carolyn; Robertson, W. JamesAn experimental three group before/after design was used to examine the effects of structured preoperative play with the nurse or the parent on post-hospitalization anxiety in school age surgical clients and their parents. Fifty-four children, from ages 5-11 years, undergoing elective day surgery were randomly assigned to experimental and control groups. Twenty-four subjects completed the study. The experimental treatment was a board game, General Hospital, designed for pre-operative teaching of school age children. Experimental group A played the game with the nurse. Experimental group B played with their parent with minimal assistance from the nurse. The control group did not play the game. All groups received routine nursing care of the institution. Anxiety in the children was measured by scoring preoperative and posthospital drawings of "a person" obtained from each subject. In addition, the children's preadmission stress level was assessed and the Post-Hospital Behavior Questionnaire was completed by the parent. The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory was used to measure parents' preoperative and posthospital anxiety. Repeated measures analysis of variance and analysis of covariance revealed that posthospital anxiety was not significantly reduced as a result of preoperative structured play in school age children and their parents. Children who played with their parents had significantly higher posthospital scores than preoperative scores. These children's posthospital anxiety scores were significantly higher than scores of the other children. Factors found to be related to the anxiety levels of the children and their parents were age, grade, no previous surgery, income level, and years of education of the father.Item Effects of self-concept on health care compliance in non-institutionalized diabetic elderly(1993-08) Neeley, Mary Ann; Adamson, Carolyn; Wieck, Lynn; Young, AnneNoncompliance with health care regimens is a problem in the elderly. This study was designed to investigate the relationship between self-concept and compliance in a group of non-institutionalized elderly diabetic i ndividuals. The Neeley Interactive Self-Concept Model of Nursing was used as a conceptual framework in a descriptive correlation design. Subjects, obtained from two privately owned clinics, completed a mailed questionnaire. Glycosylated hemoglobins were the measure of compliance. Other variables measured were client satisfaction, demographics. health beliefs, social support, and Multiple regression analysis was used to examine the relationships. No relationship was found between self-concept and compliance. A relationship was found between compliance and length of illness and complexity of health care regimen.Item Effects of teaching on coping behaviors of family members of schizophrenic patients(1992-08) Brown, Alston; Robertson, James; Adamson, Carolyn; Ragsdale, DianeCoping is a complex combination of thoughts and actions used by individuals to deal with real or perceived stress, and one potentially stressful situation is living in a family with a person who has a schizophrenic illness. This study was designed to investigate the effects of teaching on the effective coping behaviors of those family members. The relationship between the number of psychiatric hospitalizations of the persons diagnosed with schizophrenia and the coping behaviors of their family members was also examined. Participants of this study were 40 family members of patients with a diagnosis of schizophrenia who were admitted to a southeast Texas hospital. Subjects were divided equally into two groups, experimental and control. Subjects in the experimental group received structured teaching regarding schizophrenia, and those in the control group received no instructions. The Personal Inventory Questionnaire (PIQ) was used to obtain demographic data, while the Folkman and Lazarus Revised Ways of Coping Scales (RWCS) was used as pre- and posttest measures of effective coping behaviors. Analysis of variance with repeated measures and Spearman rank coefficient correlation were used to analyze data from the RWCS. The level of significance was set at $p\le.05.$ Findings indicated that (1) structured teaching did not significantly improve effective coping behaviors of family members of persons diagnosed with schizophrenia and (2) no significant relationship existed between the number of psychiatric hospitalizations of the schizophrenic patients and the effective coping behaviors of their family members.Item Effects of touch on anxiety levels in coronary care patients(1986-05) Chen, Grace; Adamson, Carolyn; Throckmorton, Terry; Ragsdale, Diane; Vokaty, Donna; Wolf, LorraineThe purpose of this experimental study was to determine the effects of touch on anxiety levels of patients in a Coronary Care Unit (CCU). Forty five CCU patients were randomly assigned to one of three groups: expressive touch, instrumental touch, and no touch. Double blind procedures were carried out for data collection. The psychological effect of touch was measured using the Modified Self-Report Questionnaire. The physiological effects of touch, including the heart rate and the number of ectopic beats, were measured through the cardiac monitoring system. Both analysis of variance with repeated measurements and analysis of covariance were used for inferential data analysis. The results indicated that expressive touch significantly reduced the anxiety levels of patients in the CCU. In addition, patients receiving expressive touch had significantly lower posttreatment anxiety levels than patients receiving instrumental touch or no touch.Item Faculty practice: Nursing faculty skill acquisition and scholarly productivity evaluated by nursing faculty and students(1990-05) Houston, Susan; Adamson, Carolyn; Throckmorton, Terry; Young, Anne; Ragsdale, Diane; Ferrell, BarbaraFaculty practice is a means for encouraging expertise and scholarship activities among nursing faculty. This study was designed to investigate differences in skill acquisition and scholarly productivity among faculty engaged in and those not engaged in practice. Nursing students' evaluation of faculty skill acquisition and scholarly productivity were also examined. The Houston Faculty Practice/Productivity Model was used as a conceptual framework in a two-group, explanatory design. Subjects, obtained from NLN accredited schools in the Southern Regional Educational Board, completed the Houston Faculty Outcome Inventory. The findings partially supported the conceptual framework. Student reports of faculty scholarly productivity were higher for those faculty engaged in practice than faculty not engaged. No significant differences were found in student and faculty evaluations of faculty's skill acquisition.Item Fall prevention responses in the elderly(1986-12) Johnston, Joan Evelyn; Adamson, Carolyn; Rudnick, Betty; Vokaty, Donna; McFarlane, Judith; Kershaw, CarolThe purpose of this descriptive study was to explore the elderly's methods of fall prevention. The four research questions were formulated to examine the relationship of fall-prevention responses, appraisal, age, gender, level of mobility, vision, mental state, medical diagnoses, drug regimens, and life events and the history of falls or no falls in the previous year. In an independent living facility setting, interviews were conducted with 46 persons who volunteered from a population of 172 residents. The sample contained 22 persons who had fallen and 24 who had not fallen in the last year. Three categories of fall-prevention responses were found: Slow Watchers who watched, waited, and proceeded slowly; Planners who avoided dangers and changed their environments; and Do Nothings who predominantly did nothing to prevent a fall. Coping categories significantly differed between the fall and non-fall groups using discriminant analysis (p = .0000). All but one of the Slow-Watchers were non-fallers, and Planners were more numerous in the fall group. Do Nothings were evenly distributed between groups. No significant relationship was established between the appraisal of fall threat and fall-prevention responses or history of falls. Risk factors for falls that were significantly different between the fall and non-fall groups by discriminant analysis (p = .0000) were age, mobility, medical diagnoses, drug regimens, and life events. No significant differences were found in regard to mental state, gender, or vision. Non-fallers were significantly older, more mobile, had more eye and psychiatric disorders, were more likely to have had no important life events in the last year, and had a higher prevalence of illness or injury than fallers. Fallers had a significantly larger number of medical diagnoses, took a larger number of drugs, had a higher prevalence of cardiovascular and musculoskeletal diseases, were more likely to be taking tranquilizers or antidepressants and cardiovascular or antihypertensive drugs, and experienced more pleasant life events in the last year than non-fallers. The findings of this study could be used to generate a risk profile for falls in practice or future research.Item Fiscal responsibilities of Chief Nurse executives(1989-12) Poteet, Gaye; Adamson, Carolyn; Ragsdale, Diane; Hawkins, M.The purpose of this non-experimental, cross sectional survey was to determine what kind of financial competencies chief nurse executives identify as expectations in their jobs. Specific research questions dealt with the financial resources for which nursing service administrators are accountable, the types of budget processes used, financial management competencies identified as job expectations, relationship between age, years of experience and the amount of money controlled and the relationship between amount of money controlled and geographic location. Questionnaires were mailed to 962 subjects selected from the membership of a national nursing organization, the American Organization of Nurse Executives (AONE). A total of 359 (37.3%) usable questionnaires were returned. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the demographic data and the data obtained from the questionnaire responses.Item Health and nursing practice behaviors of registered nurses related to completion of health promotion/disease prevention course(1991-05) Gregory, Elizabeth Kennedy; McFarlane, Judith; Young, Anne; Adamson, CarolynThis study was designed to examine the question: Following a 30-hour course in health promotion and disease prevention (HP/DP), do registered nurses (RNs) record a greater magnitude of change in practiced health behaviors and incorporate more HP/DP concepts in their nursing practice when compared to RNs that do not complete the course? A two-group, before-after, quasi-experimental research design was used to determine if RNs who attended a course in HP/DP increased their personal health behaviors and teaching of health behaviors to clients. The curriculum was developed by the Division of Nursing, United States Department of Health and Human Services, and it was taught at Texas Woman's University. The experimental group contained 98 course participants and the control group contained 32 colleague-selected peers. The Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Curriculum: A Continuing Education Program for Nurses (1988) was the teaching treatment. The Health Risk Appraisal (Centers for Disease Control, 1981) and the Attitude Toward Health Promotion Instrument (Holcomb & Mullen, 1986) collected data on personal health behaviors of participants and the extent of HP/DP teaching in nursing practice. Demographic data sheets were also used. Data analysis for hypotheses addressing personal health behaviors, collection of health information, and teaching about health behaviors was by two-way analysis of variance. Significant (p $\le$.05) differences were found between the groups for personal health behaviors and teaching about health behaviors. It was also hypothesized that personal health behaviors would be correlated with client teaching about those health behavior practices. Chi-square analysis yielded a significant correlation between physical activity and teaching about exercise. Findings indicated that RNs who attended the course in HP/DP did record more personal health behaviors, collect more health education materials, and teach more about health behaviors than RNs who did not attend the course. The course in HP/DP developed for RNs should be offered to RNs with an expected increase in self-practices health promoting behaviors and teaching of those health behaviors to clients.Item The HESI exit examination as a predictor of employment success(2005-12) Reiter, Margaret; Young, Anne; Adamson, Carolyn; Nibert, AinslieThe study was designed to determine the validity of indicators of competency used to predict success for new graduate registered nurses in the acute care setting. Employment of new graduate nurses is a challenge for hospitals. The assessment process requires an investment of time and dollars. The best candidates need to be selected for available positions. The study was conducted at an 888-bed hospital located in southwestern United States. One hundred and eight nurses employed in acute care within three months of graduation beginning June 1999 and ending January 2003 participated. Five instruments were used to gather data for the study: Health Education Systems Incorporated Exit Examination (HESI E2); NCLEX-RN; initial competency assessment; medication test; and 90-day performance appraisal. Data were collected with the permission of the nurses. A descriptive, correlational design was used to determine the validity of the HESI E 2; NCLEX-RN outcomes; initial competency assessment scores, medication test scores and 90-day performance appraisal scores in predicting success of new graduate nurses in the workplace. Predictive validity of the HESI E2 in forecasting NCLEX-RN outcomes for the study was 100%. Positive correlations were obtained on HESI E2 scores, initial competency assessment scores (r = 0.26, p = 0.01), and medication test ( r = 0.22, p = 0.05) scores. There was no relationship between HESI E2 scores and 90-day performance appraisals. HESI E2 was effective in predicting success for new graduate nurses. Further study is needed to clarify nursing management issues related to the adoption of policies that require the use of nursing competency indicators to assist managers with employment decisions.
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