Patient Satisfaction with Nursing Care Related to Hospital Magnet Designation

Many U.S. hospitals have historically failed to recognize nursing as essential to quality of care. Given the relationship between the patients\u27 experiences, measured by the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS), and government reimbursement, stakeholders now value the role of nurses in the care experience. Some hospitals have pursued Magnet designation, which is a rigorous and costly process, in order to promote patient satisfaction through nurse autonomy and retention. The purpose of this study was to understand whether non-Magnet hospitals received similar HCAHPS scores. Expectancy disconfirmation theory provides a framework to understand the components of patient satisfaction within the context of organizational structures and norms addressed by the Bourdieu theory of cultural health capital. A quantitative study was conducted using secondary data from a stratified random sample of 317 non-Magnet hospitals and a purposive sample of 317 Magnet hospitals. Chi-square tests of independence were performed; Magnet designation was significantly related to nurse communication, pain management, timely responsiveness of care, explanation of medication, and willingness to recommend. Magnet designation consistently had a higher proportion of 3-star and 4-star ratings compared to the tendency of non-Magnet hospitals to be more normally distributed across all five ratings. Study results, combined with the climate of patient consumerism, provide the social impetus for healthcare improvement specialists to promote social change through Magnet-like culture and protocols using an evidence-based practice outcome approach to champion better care experiences through empowerment of both patients and nurses to match expected care with delivered care

Investigations into the synthesis, characterisation and properties of some conjugated organic polymers

This thesis describes some work directed to the synthesis and attempted synthesis of some conjugated organic polymers. Chapter I provides a general review of the field of conjugated polymers, including their synthesis and interesting physical properties. Chapter 2 gives an overview of the field of poly(arylene vinylene)s, including their physical properties, their electrolununescence and potendal application in polymer light emitting devices and a review of the McMurry reaction. The synthesis of poly(4,4'-diphenylene diphenylvinylene) via the reductive coupling of 4,4'.dibenzoyldiphenyl is described along with work aimed at optimising this polymerisation. Characterisation details of poly(4,4'-dipheny]enediphenylvinylene) are given and results from an investigation into the electroluminescence of the polymer are recorded. The extension of this type of polymerisation reaction to include other diketone monomers is described along with the characterisation of the materials produced. Chapter 3 describes the proposed ring opening metathesis polymerisation of some quinone substituted norbomadiene monomers in an attempt to synthesise a conjugated redox polymer system. The attempted ROMP of the monomers using either Mo(N-2,6.i- Pr(_2)-C(_6)H(_3))(CHR)(OCMe(_3)) or Ru((C(_6)H(_12))(_3)P)2a2(CH=CH=CPh(_2)) is reported. Chapter 4 reports on the attempted development of a novel synthetic route to polyaniline via an triphenylarsine imine intermediate. Work concerning a model reaction and the spectral identification of the intermediate and results from die attempted synthesis of a polyanihne related polymer are reported

Pandemic Plan Revision Capstone Project

A Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP) for a company “. . . ensures that primary mission essential functions continue to be performed during a wide range of emergencies . . .” (U.S. Department of Homeland Security, n.d.). The COOP includes information for reacting to natural disasters, terrorist attacks, pandemics, etc. As my capstone project, the pandemic section has been updated using an integrative process to include new information and lessons learned from the current pandemic. The revised pandemic section will provide examples of protocols designed to keep employees and the public safe and healthy

High-gain spacecraft antenna design and development final report

Expandable directional high gain spacecraft antenn

Out of time: (Re)working disabled graduate employability

As interest in disability employment increases across the world following the COVID-19 pandemic, understanding the employability of disabled graduates becomes an imperative for governments, universities and employers alike. This article investigates employability through the lens of the lived experience of disabled graduates, with one author (Alexandra) serving as a case study. Alexandra’s experience in higher education has been defined by living in crip time, a unique disabled experience of time as non-linear. Alexandra’s story describes how surviving within institutions which operate on normative understandings of time as linear, chronological, and inextricably tied to productivity has caused harm to disabled students. Disabled students are made to feel as though they are ‘falling behind time,’ ‘wasting time,’ and ‘losing time,’ resulting in a struggle to ‘catch up time,’ which impacts upon their wellbeing, confidence, and their sense of self. This struggle disadvantages disabled students from spending time building their ‘employability skills’ throughout their degree. As disabled students complete their studies and seek graduate employment, they come into further contact with industry who further compound harm through placement experiences and the graduate hiring process by not accommodating for crip time. This case study poses conventional mentoring programmes as a site in which disabled students such as Alexandra face barriers to engagement. We argue for a co-designed model of accessible, non-hierarchical peer mentoring, where crip time is accommodated and supported. Such accessible mentoring may serve as an effective intervention and an opportunity for disabled students to develop essential employability skills

Concurrent recording of co-localised electroencephalography and local field potential in rodent

Although electroencephalography (EEG) is widely used as a non-invasive technique for recording neural activities of the brain, our understanding of the neurogenesis of EEG is still very limited. Local field potentials (LFPs) recorded via a multi-laminar micro-electrode can provide a more detailed account of simultaneous neural activity across different cortical layers in the neocortex, but the technique is invasive. Combining EEG and LFP measurements in a pre-clinical model can greatly enhance our understanding of the neural mechanisms involved in the generation of EEG signals, and facilitate the derivation of a more realistic and biologically accurate mathematical model of EEG. Here we present a simple procedure for acquiring concurrent and co-localised EEG and multi-laminar LFP signals in the anaesthetised rodent. We also investigated whether EEG signals were significantly affected by a burr hole drilled in the skull for the insertion of a micro-electrode. Our results suggest that the burr hole has a negligible impact on EEG recordings

Coupling between gamma-band power and cerebral blood volume during recurrent acute neocortical seizures

Characterization of neural and hemodynamic biomarkers of epileptic activity that can be measured using non-invasive techniques is fundamental to the accurate identification of the epileptogenic zone (EZ) in the clinical setting. Recently, oscillations at gamma-band frequencies and above (>30 Hz) have been suggested to provide valuable localizing information of the EZ and track cortical activation associated with epileptogenic processes. Although a tight coupling between gamma-band activity and hemodynamic-based signals has been consistently demonstrated in non-pathological conditions, very little is known about whether such a relationship is maintained in epilepsy and the laminar etiology of these signals. Confirmation of this relationship may elucidate the underpinnings of perfusion-based signals in epilepsy and the potential value of localizing the EZ using hemodynamic correlates of pathological rhythms. Here, we use concurrent multi-depth electrophysiology and 2-dimensional optical imaging spectroscopy to examine the coupling between multi-band neural activity and cerebral blood volume (CBV) during recurrent acute focal neocortical seizures in the urethane-anesthetized rat. We show a powerful correlation between gamma-band power (25-90 Hz) and CBV across cortical laminae, in particular layer 5, and a close association between gamma measures and multi-unit activity (MUA). Our findings provide insights into the laminar electrophysiological basis of perfusion-based imaging signals in the epileptic state and may have implications for further research using non-invasive multi-modal techniques to localize epileptogenic tissue

The applied psychology of addictive orientations : studies in a 12-step treatment context.

The clinical data for the studies was collected at The PROMIS Recovery Centre, a Minnesota Model treatmentc entre for addictions,w hich encouragesth e membership and use of the 12 step Anonymous Fellowships, and is abstinence based. The area of addiction is contextualised in a review chapter which focuses on research relating to the phenomenon of cross addiction. A study examining the concept of "addictive orientations" in male and female addicts is described, which develops a study conductedb y StephensonM, aggi, Lefever, & Morojele (1995). This presents study found a four factor solution which appeared to be subdivisions of the previously found Hedonism and Nurturance factors. Self orientated nurturance (both food dimensions, shopping and caffeine), Other orientated nurturance (both compulsive helping dimensions and work), Sensation seeking hedonism (Drugs, prescription drugs, nicotine and marginally alcohol), and Power related hedonism (Both relationship dimensions, sex and gambling. This concept of "addictive orientations" is further explored in a non-clinical population, where again a four factor solution was found, very similar to that in the clinical population. This was thought to indicate that in terms of addictive orientation a pattern already exists in this non-clinical population and that consideration should be given to why this is the case. These orientations are examined in terms of gender differences. It is suggested that the differences between genders reflect power-related role relationships between the sexes. In order to further elaborate the significance and meaning behind these orientations, the next two chapters look at the contribution of personality variables and how addictive orientations relate to psychiatric symptomatology. Personality variables were differentially, and to a considerable extent predictably involved with the four factors for both males and females.Conscientiousness as positively associated with "Other orientated Nurturance" and negatively associated with "Sensation seeking hedonism" (particularly for men). Neuroticism had a particularly strong association with the "Self orientated Nurturance" factor in the female population. More than twice the symptomatology variance was explained by the factor scores for females than it was for males. The most important factorial predictors for psychiatric symptomatology were the "Power related hedonism" factor for males, and "Self oriented nurturance" for females. The results are discussed from theoretical and treatment perspectives