Theses and Dissertations at Montana State University (MSU)
Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://scholarworks.montana.edu/handle/1/733
Browse
2 results
Search Results
Item Turning straw into gold, ACE screening for adult agricultural workers in primary care: a quality improvement project(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Nursing, 2022) Conner, Jeanne Randale; Co-chairs, Graduate Committee: Yoshiko Yamashita Colclough and Susan LuparellHistory of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) is common among adults and associated with nine of the ten leading causes of death in the United States. ACEs screening, coupled with patient education and support from behavioral health promotes resilience and healing from trauma. ACEs screening was not a routine component of the annual assessment visit at the primary care clinic, a federally qualified health center serving agricultural workers and their families. The purpose of this project was to implement ACEs screening as a routine part of the annual assessment visit for adult agricultural workers, coupled with education and, for patients at increased risk, prompt referral to behavioral health. Prior to implementation, training was provided to clinical staff to prepare them for ACEs screening. During the ten-week data collection period, 75% of annual assessment visits included ACEs screening with documentation in the patient's medical history. 17% of the patients screened were determined to be at increased risk due to ACEs, and 57% of patients referred to behavioral health secondary to ACEs screening completed a visit with a behavioral health provider within two weeks of screening. Recommendations to increase ACEs screening and behavioral health referrals in this primary care clinic include adding ACEs screening to the organization's At-a-Glance Checklist for chart preparation, adding ACE score documentation to peer review chart audit, and identifying ACE-specific diagnoses to list in the medical history to facilitate data extraction and meaningful use for population health.Item Self-care practices of rural nurses in Montana(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Nursing, 2013) Conner, Jeanne Randale; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Susan LuparellNurses have an ethical obligation to maintain competence and to continue personal and professional growth. Promotion of self-care encourages the nurse's personal and professional development. Review of the literature indicates little is known about the self-care practices of rural nurses. The demanding nature of professional nursing practice coupled with an ongoing nursing shortage in the United States challenge nurses' efforts to maintain adequate self-care for personal and professional development. This study was a replication, extension nursing research study intended to collect data about and explore the self-care practices of rural nurses in Montana. The study used a mailed, paper survey tool to collect information directly from a sample of rural nurses practicing in Montana. In July 2011, a total of 360 surveys were mailed to actively licensed registered nurses in eight rural counties in Montana; 194 surveys were completed and returned yielding a response rate of 53.8%. A significant portion of the study's respondents were over fifty years of age and reported living with chronic health problems. Social support, workplace accommodations for chronic health problems, increased opportunities for physical activity and support for optimal nutritional choices are among the recommendations for practice discussed. Formal validation of the survey tool and replication with other populations is recommended.