ED Nurses’ Use of Advanced Nursing Protocols

Anesthetic Induction Recall: Amnesia of IV Placement in Children who Receive Propofol as IV Flush during Initial Placement (Winner of the Dorothy Y. Brockoff Research Award, 2007)

• Carrie Makin, RN Pediatric Sedation Coordinator at the Kentucky Children’s Hospital is the principle investigator, in this prospective, randomized, controlled, single intervention study.
• Study population will be children between 7-15 years of age, undergoing an EGD (upper endoscopy).
• The study’s aim is to identify the point, at which children undergoing an EGD cannot remember painful pre-procedural events (e.g. IV insertion) when using Propofol, to achieve acceptable levels of sedation.

 Impact of System-Centered Factors and Processes of Nursing Care on Fall Prevalence and Injuries from Falls

• Debra Hall, PhD, RN, CCRN is the principle investigator.  Jill Blake, RN, MSN, Sheryl Dailey, RN, BSN and Kathy Stevens, RN, BSN are co-investigators.  This descriptive, repeated measures study uses existing data and data collected from staff via interviews and questionnaires. 
• Study population will be staff nurses from 7 adult care units (8East/West, 7 East/West, 5 Main, MCC 2, and MCC 3), the patient care managers from the 7 units, the Nursing QI Coordinator, and the Chief Nursing Officer.
• The purpose of this study is to investigate linkages among two National Quality Forum (NQF) patient-centered outcome measures (falls prevalence and injury from falls), the NQF system-centered measures, hospital structural factors, and processes of care to prevent falls in hospitals.

Identifying the Nurses Perception of Care Provided During a “Pulled” Experience in the Kentucky Children’s Hospital

• Tracey Robinson and Jennifer Grow, staff nurses in the Kentucky Children’s Hospital, are the principle investigators, in this qualitative, descriptive study.
•  The study seeks to identify the nurses perception of care provided, when pulled to work in other areas of the Kentucky Children’s Hospital.
• Two focus groups have been held which included RN’s from all areas of the Kentucky Children’s Hospital.  Themes have been identified from these groups, leading to a comprehensive survey that will be further investigate the nurses perception of care provided during pulled shifts.
• All Kentucky Children’s Hospital RN’s are eligible to be pulled will be invited to participate in the survey

Organizational and Environmental Factors Influencing Registered Nurse Adoption of a Glycemic Control Protocol in the Critical Care Setting

• Diane Chlebowy, PhD, RN (faculty of University of Louisville, College of Nursing) and Debra Hall, PhD, RN, CCRN are co-investigators in this qualitative, comparison study.
• The purpose of the study is to identify the benefits and barriers associated with the adoption of a glycemic control protocol, by new graduates RNs in the adult critical care areas.
• Focus groups discussions where conducted with new RNs from the seven adult ICUs, at the University of Kentucky in the fall of 2007.  Themes are being analyzed, to develop strategies that are effective in influencing adoption of an evidence-based glycemic control protocol.

Comparison of Critical Thinking Skills, Self-Efficacy, Work Stress, and Job Related Outcomes in Baccalaureate Nurses from Accelerated and Non-Accelerated Nursing Programs

• Debra Hall, PhD, RN, CCRN is the principal investigator.  Phyllis Horn, RN, MSN and Shayne Stratton, RN, MSN are co-investigators, in this longitudinal, comparison study.
• The purpose of the study is to identify differences in critical thinking skills, registered nurse occupation-related outcomes and nurse retention between newly graduated RNs from Baccalaureate (BSN) and accelerated Baccalaureate (a-BSN) accredited programs during their first year of employment.
• A convenience sample of a minimum of 50 registered nurses from each group, BSN and a-BSN, will allow for comparison three different times, during their orientation.