Designing a protocol to reduce catheter-associated urinary tract infections among hospitalized patients.

Hospital-acquired urinary tract infections comprise 40% of hospital-acquired infections with over 80% of these hospital-acquired urinary tract infections associated with the use of urinary catheters. The process that was used to establish a new hospital protocol using the "IAIMS" (identifying, assessing, implementing, modifying/maintaining, spread/surveillance) model to reduce the incidence of catheter-associated urinary tract infections is described. The example is intended to serve as a framework for the development of protocols to address other hospital-acquired infections.

The comprehensive examination: a viable master's of science in nursing capstone course.

The purpose of this article was to describe the process of how The University of Toledo College of Nursing developed the comprehensive examination as one capstone option to fulfill the requirements of a master's of science in nursing degree. Based on Keating's frame factors model, a review of existing literature, and an informal review of master's programs in nursing in the geographic area, an assessment was made of the viability of offering a comprehensive examination as a capstone experience. Increased student enrollment, need for flexible courses, faculty and student demographics, and institutional and national accreditation requirements were some of the factors that led to the decision to develop a comprehensive examination as a capstone option.

Effect of an inpatient nurse-directed smoking cessation program.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of a nurse-directed smoking cessation intervention for adults hospitalized in a small community hospital using a quasiexperimental, prospective, longitudinal design with biochemical validation of self-reported tobacco abstinence. Sixty-eight inpatients were assigned to either a control (n = 30) or an intervention group (n = 38). The control group received smoking cessation literature.

The effect of self-selected music during colonoscopy on anxiety, heart rate, and blood pressure.

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of music therapy on self-reported and physiological signs of anxiety among ambulatory patients undergoing colonoscopy. Thirty-two patients were randomly assigned to either an experimental group who listened to music during the colonoscopy or a standard procedure no music control group. Before and after the procedure, subjects completed the State Anxiety Inventory.