Grace Lartey

Elementary School Nurses’ Perceptions of Student Bullying

The aim of this study was to assess elementary school nurses’ perceptions of student bullying, actions when they encounter bullies or victims, and perceived level of preparation for dealing with this problem. School nurses identified the most common barriers to dealing with bullying, which included bullying taking place where the nurse is not supervising (49%), someone else in the school being more qualified to address bullying (41%), not having enough time (26%), and not being prepared to handle the problem (25%). Only 14% stated that there were no barriers to dealing with student bullying. School nurses believed that the most effective means to reduce school bullying were consistent discipline and improved supervision. However, these perceptions are not in line with current research, which indicates that the most effective method to reduce bullying is to create a whole-school atmosphere to prevent the problem from occurring.

Depression screening, education, and treatment at the workplace: A pilot study utilizing the CDC Health Scorecard

ABSTRACT Depression is a significant health issue for many Americans, ranking among the top worksite issues resulting in referrals to Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) with prevalence rates in the working population of more than 6%. This study was part of a larger statewide assessment conducted using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Worksite Health Scorecard. The purpose of this study is to examine the number of Kentucky workplaces currently offering screening, education, and treatment related to depression. The study also aims to compare the number of Kentucky workplaces offering these elements by size and industry type. The one-time, cross-sectional assessment surveyed a random sample of 1,200 worksites to examine worksite offerings of screening, education, counseling, management training, and health insurance coverage related to depression. Results showed that the majority of worksites do not provide employee depression screening, education and counseling, management training on identifying warning signs of depression, or comprehensive treatment and follow-up for employees with depression. Smaller worksites (<250 employees) were even less likely than larger companies to provide screening, education, counseling, training, and insurance coverage for depression. Increasing the provision of these wellness components at the worksite has potential to improve the quality of life for employees and reduce the financial burden to employers.

A Survey of School Nurses’ Perceptions of Complementary, Alternative, and Integrative Therapies

Complementary, alternative, and integrative therapies (CAIs) involve the use of practices outside of mainstream, conventional medicine. Few studies have been conducted on nurses’ perception and knowledge of CAI therapies. There is limited information on the protocols school nurses must follow in their practice on CAI use. The purpose of this study is to assess school nurses’ perception and knowledge of CAI therapies. A cross-sectional, nonexperimental survey study design was used, and participants were sampled with a cross-sectional convenience method. Members of four state School Nurses Associations were invited to participate in the study. Of the 290 participants, 100% of certified school nurses and 63% of non-certified school nurses believed CAI therapies have a place in their current practice (χ2 = 1.83, df = 1, p < .05). The study found that school nurses believe CAI therapies have a role in the school setting; however, the participants were not comfortable with assessing and administering these therapies.

A descriptive study of bathing practices in acute care facilities in the United States

HIGHLIGHTSBath basins are potential reservoirs of microorganisms linked to health care–associated infections.There were no standardized procedures for patient bathing.Standardized procedures for use, storage, and disposal of bath basins are lacking. Background: Patient bathing basins are a potential source of health care–acquired infections. This descriptive study was designed to describe current patient bathing procedures and the cleaning and storage of disposable bath basins after use. Methods: After instrument validation, a 20‐item questionnaire designed by the researchers was delivered electronically to infection prevention professionals working in acute care facilities in the United States. Descriptive statistics including frequencies and percentages were used to analyze the data. Results: A total of 344 participants completed the survey. Of those responding, most were employed in facilities with ≤300 beds and accredited by the Joint Commission. Many of the facility staff assisting patients with bathing were nursing aides. Participants reported varying bathing procedures in their facilities. Conclusions: A collaborative approach is needed to ensure standard and efficient procedures that focus on quality, safety, and patient satisfaction. A mechanism to continually evaluate patient bathing practices should also be developed to address evolving changes in the health care system.

Kentucky worksite health promotion 2014 survey results

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to conduct a statewide assessment of worksite health promotion (WHP) programs to identify the number of comprehensive programs and the health needs of worksites in Kentucky. Design/methodology/approach A random sample of 1,200 worksites in Kentucky was selected to receive the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Worksite Health ScoreCard to collect cross-sectional information on their health promotion practices. Findings Few worksites in Kentucky have WHP programs and even fewer have comprehensive programs. More businesses rely on health insurance to treat chronic diseases than WHP programs to reduce chronic diseases. Small companies were less likely than larger companies to have WHP programs and less likely to have intentions of starting a program. Research limitations/implications The response rate of 37 percent was a potential threat to external validity. Respondents had to recall activities conducted during the past 12 months, which could have led to recall bias. Response bias was a potential, as many of the respondents were human resources personnel who may not be as familiar with WHP programs in their worksites. Lastly, four sections of the survey had yet to be validated. Practical implications WHP programs, if accessible and comprehensive, have the potential to improve the working population’s health status. Originality/value Very little information on the availability and effectiveness of health promotion programs at worksites is available. A statewide assessment on WHP programs has never been conducted in Kentucky.