Nurse Residency

This is a collection of work created by members of the New Graduate Nurse Residency Program of MaineHealth. This program serves as an adjunct to the traditional clinical orientation experience of one-on-one with a registered nurse preceptor.

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No Longer NPO at Midnight for Heart Catheterizations

Danica Brassbridge RN, BSN; Jessica Creelman RN, BSN; and Dominique Smith RN, BSN

Does keeping cardiac catheterization patients NPO at midnight significantly reduce their adverse outcomes compared to those who are able to have clear liquids four hours pre procedure?
Nurse and CNA Communication/Delegation

Maddi Michaud BSN, RN; Alexis Witham BSN, RN; and Katie O'Donnell BSN, RN

Does having RN and CNA quality communication/delegation opposed to lack of/poor communication improve staff performance, satisfaction and patient outcomes?
Nurse Mentorship and Retention

Alicia St Michel

Background: Every year hospitals experience staff turnover. Implementation of a mentorship program apart from someone who is a preceptor, could help with staff retention and staff satisfaction.
Oral Care and Oral Hygiene

Margaret Yenna RN, BSN and Shelby Morin RN, BSN

In adults hospitalized oncology patients undergoing medical care, does doing oral care reduce incidents with oral complication compared to those who do not receive mouth care?
Palliative Care and Length of ICU Admission

Grace Howard RN, Briana Kramer RN, Chloe Heslin RN, and Kyle Cleary RN

Does incorporating palliative care influence the length of stay in intensive care patients?
Postoperative Atrial Fibrillation

Ryan Thurlow RN BSN, Olya Tucci RN BSN, and Lily Williams RN BSN

What is the more effective treatment metoprolol or amiodarone for best patient outcomes?
Postoperative Pain: Numerical Scale vs. Subjective

Megan Lenihan BSN, RN; Amanda Moffo BSN, RN; and Emily Young BSN, RN

In a post-op patient, what is the effectiveness of a numerical pain scale, compared to a subjective pain scale, when it comes to proper pain management?
Preventing Delirium in Hospitalized Patients with Art and Diversional Activity

Natasha Fitzgerald RN, BSN and James Ozog RN, BSN

For patients in the inpatient hospital setting, does participating in diversional activities (e.g. arts and crafts, music, games) reduce the risk of onset of delirium, compared with patients without such activities?
Preventing Post Operative Complications with Early Ambulation

Eliza Helliwell RN, BSN; Shannon O'Roak RN, BSN; and Meghan Dadiego RN, BSN

In patients who undergo surgery, how does early mobilization following surgery prevent post operative complications and shorten their length of stay?
Professional Socialization

Colleen Dyer RN, Ben Torpey RN, and Drew Wunderli RN

In the on-boarding process for new graduate registered nursing staff, how does Professional socialization compare to traditional orientation influence staff retention or satisfaction after their first year of employment?
Psychosocial Health of Patients with a Left Ventricular Assist Device

Sarah Christensen, Trang Le, and Natalie Pagenstecher

Among adult patients diagnosed with advanced heart failure, what is the effect of left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation on self-reported measures of psychosocial health during the post implantation period?
Purewick Versus Foley Catheters

Ashleigh Lunt, Grace Tibbetts, and Tia Hufstader

Background: A Foley catheter is an indwelling urinary drainage device that is placed in a patient's urethra and remains in their bladder, continuously draining urine into a bag. In hospital settings, there are many indications for indwelling catheters such as strict I&O monitoring, incontinence, retention, end of life comfort, surgery, and immobility.
Q2 Turns and Air Fluidized Therapy Beds

Fartun Hirsi RN, Audrey Iradukunda RN, and Krissia Walker RN

PICOT Question: How does repositioning patients every 2 hours compared to Air Fluidized therapy beds reduce the incidence of pressure injuries in critically immobile ill older adults?
Reducing Heart Failure Readmissions

Jenny Dutra BSN, RN; Taylah Kilby BSN, RN; and Carolyn Palmer BSN, RN

How Does Structured Nursing Led Heart Failure Education Compare to Basic Patient Education and Resources, and How Does it Influence Reducing Heart Failure Readmissions Within 30 Days of Discharge?
Reducing Implicit Bias in Nursing to Decrease Maternal Racial Health Disparities and Improve Patient Outcomes

Robin Illian BSN and Julianne Andreades BSN

PICOT Question: For Black birthing patients, how does receiving nursing care from nurses trained in implicit bias and racial health disparities impact maternal morbidity, mortality, and patient satisfaction, compared to those receiving current standard current nursing care?
Reduction in Hospital-Acquired Pressure Injuries

Kelsey White BSN, RN and Kaley Rumery BSN, RN

In admitted in-patient adult patients, is the Braden scale assessment tool compared to other nursing interventions, more accurate in decreasing hospital acquired pressure injuries?
Reduction of Skin Breakdown with Early Indication of Low Braden Scale Score

Robert Inniss RN, BSN and Kendra Sloan

In adult patients being admitted to the hospital from the emergency department, will early indication of low Braden Scale scores and the use of an air mattress help prevent skin integrity breakdown/help prevent the further breakdown of skin in patients who already are experiencing skin breakdown?
Resources for Reduction of Stress and Burnout in Healthcare Workers Following a Mass Casualty Event

Emily Dunn and Tonya Ernst

Background:

Being in healthcare, employees are faced with all sorts of challenges regarding their own mental and physical health and how to prioritize it, on top of caring for patients and their families. One challenge that healthcare workers hope they never have to learn how to cope with is the stress of mass casualty events.
Roommates and Privacy: An Evaluation of Patient Satisfaction with Shared Rooms in Medical-Surgical Units

Michelle Tope and James Wiesen

BACKGROUND: Two patients often share a hospital room on medical-surgical floors. However, this arrangement does not consider the patients’ subjective sense of privacy, comfort, or quality of sleep. When those needs are unmet, patients are less satisfied with their hospital stay. There is some research on patient’s preference for private rooms versus shared rooms.
Shared Decision Making: The Importance of Communicating with Guardians and Pediatric Patients

Kali Coyne RN, BSN; Kaitlynn Hutchins RN, BSN; Alyssa Albert RN, BSN; and Katy Ray RN, BSN

In pediatric patient who visit the emergency room, is including the child in shared decision making compared to having the parent be the surrogate decision maker more beneficial to the experience and satisfaction of the family?
Shared Governance and Impact on Nursing Job Satisfaction

Karl Buhr and Colleen Lagulli

Background: Emergency departments are extremely dynamic environments that require continuous quality improvement and adaptation. Implementation of change is necessary but has a great effect on the workflow of nursing staff.
Sleep Menu: Maintaining a Normal Sleep Regiment in an Unfamiliar Environment

Samantha Donnell, Hallie Shiers, Nichole Demarco, and Taysier Elshaikh

Key aspects of the health benefits of good sleep in the hospital setting
Smoke Evacuation in the Operating Room

Meghan Holley and McKenzie Moon

In perioperative staff, does mandating the use of smoke evacuation in the surgical setting compared to no smoke evacuation decrease the amount of exposure to toxic byproducts found in surgical plume for each surgical case?
Staff Assist Process in the Emergency Department Setting

Caroline Goodnight RN, Rasha Burkeba RN, and William Covert RN

In the Emergency Department, how do zone-based response systems compare to department-wide response systems in a staff assist affect overall patient outcomes within a one-year period of time?
Stethoscope Cleansing

Addie Brinkman RN and Eric Langland RN

PICOT Question: How often do healthcare providers clean their stethoscopes, and does it contribute to an increase in nosocomial infection?