Adults over the age of 65 are at increased risk for influenza and pneumococcal infections; particularly those residing in nursing homes (NHs). Despite the efficacy of influenza and pneumococcal vaccinations, vaccination receipt rates among NH residents remain well below federal recommendations and racial/ethnic disparities exist. Minority NH residents (non-Hispanic Blacks and Hispanics) are less likely to be offered either vaccination and are more likely to refuse them compared to their non-minority counterparts (non-Hispanic Whites). In the past decade, requirements have been implemented to increase vaccination coverage in NHs, but there is little documentation regarding current racial/ethnic disparities in vaccination receipt. Furthermore, activities important to resident care delivery and the prevention of care deficiencies such as infections are primarily dependent on the care provided by certified nursing assistants (CNAs). For these reasons, current research examining racial/ethnic disparities in vaccination receipt in NHs is needed and more attention directed towards CNAs is necessary to improve resident care delivery and outcomes related to infection prevention and control. This dissertation furthers our understanding of racial/ethnic disparities in influenza and pneumococcal vaccination coverage among minority NH residents and the role racial/ethnic diverse CNAs play in infection prevention and control. Chapter One introduces the problem of health disparities in nursing homes (NHs) related to differences in preventative vaccination receipt by racial/ethnic status and the role CNAs play in infection prevention and control. Chapter Two, an integrative literature review on racial/ethnic disparities in NHs, describes racial/ethnic disparities occurring in the NH setting in the context of infection prevention and control and influenza and pneumococcal vaccination receipt along with contributing factors and existing strategies related to policy that have been implemented to address poor care quality. In Chapter Three, facility-level factors related to the CNA’s role and the barriers and facilitators they experience that contribute to infection prevention and control are discussed. In Chapter Four, a systematic review of previous research on racial/ethnic disparities related to influenza and pneumococcal vaccination in NHs, individual, community, and facility-level factors that determine these disparities in influenza and pneumococcal vaccination receipt, along with associated strategies and practices are discussed. In Chapter Five, a national quantitative analysis of vaccination receipt practices (vaccination administered) and reasons for vaccination non-receipt (i.e., not offered versus refused) are presented. The results of this dissertation will inform clinicians and NH administrators as well as future policy and public health interventions and provide evidence needed to improve racial/ethnic minority health and eliminate health disparities.

The elderly population is growing in nursing homes (NHs), with an estimated 3 million seniors to be residing in NH facilities by year 2030. Many of these seniors are potentially at risk for falls or infections. NH residents with Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia are also increasing, and they are vulnerable to the adverse effects of medications. Psychotropics are overused in NHs, with approximately half to two thirds of residents receiving one or more psychotropics. Many negative health outcomes, e.g. falls and infections, have been associated with their use. The usage of psychotropic medications among NH residents has been a concern and topic of scrutiny for nearly three decades. In 1986, the Institute of Medicine published a landmark report that identified the overuse of psychotropic medications in NHs. The following year, the federal government passed the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act that included reform legislation to address psychotropic drug overuse. Since then, additional policies and initiatives have endeavored to rectify the problem, and scientists have conducted research regarding psychotropics and negative health outcomes. However, newer research within the last decade and at a national level is lacking. Therefore, this dissertation explores the association of psychotropic medications with falls and infections among NH residents using a national dataset, and this document is organized into five chapters. The first chapter discusses the background, significance, and current challenges surrounding psychotropic medication use in NHs. The second chapter delineates the search of the literature and relevant findings. The third chapter describes the methodology upon which this analytics of this dissertation was conducted. The fourth chapter outlines the results from the analyses. Lastly, the fifth chapter provides a synthesis and discussion of the findings and recommendations for health policy, practice, and future research.

Trata da temática do paciente portador de acidente vascular cerebral, especificamente das ações do enfermeiro para a prevenção das complicações decorrentes da disfagia após um acidente vascular cerebral no atendimento domiciliar. Objetivou-se propor ações de enfermagem que garantam uma deglutição segura em pacientes com disfagia pós-AVC a partir dos dados obtidos junto a pacientes usuários do SAD. Pesquisa desenvolvida no serviço de atendimento domiciliar de um hospital público do Rio de Janeiro com 30 sujeitos. Aplicou-se um instrumento, que descreveu dados sócio-laboriais, presença de disfagia e a consistência dos alimentos ingeridos pelos pacientes. Resultados: dezessete pacientes desenvolveram a disfagia, caracterizando-se como idosos, 76,47% foram do sexo feminino, a média de idade foi de 73,6 ( 9,55). A maioria com ensino fundamental completo (76,48%) e aposentados (70,59%). Todos são hipertensos e a metade diabéticos (58,82%). Com relação ao tipo de AVC, todos tiveram AVC isquêmico, sendo 58,82% um episódio e 41,18% dois episódios. A prevalência da disfagia é de 57%. Não há associação entre a idade e a disfagia e sua presença não dependeu da frequência de episódios de AVC. Pacientes com dois fatores de risco, hipertensão e diabetes apresentam maior prevalência de disfagia para líquidos do que para alimentos sólidos ou ambos. O enfermeiro deve realizar orientações em relação ao ambiente, posicionamento do paciente, aos materiais e utensílios a serem usados na alimentação, quantidade, temperatura e consistência do alimento. Informações como cabeceira elevada, colher de sobremesa para administração de dietas com volume de 3 a 5 ml, além do uso de espessantes para gerar uma consistência segura na deglutição, são fundamentais para garantir o mínimo de complicações. É importante também que a família participe de todo o processo de recuperação do paciente. Considerações finais: após o AVC, a disfagia merece atenção por gerar complicações como a aspiração e a pneumonia, o que serve para nortear o planejamento e orientações de enfermagem direcionadas a limitar o efeito dessa sequela, assim como a possibilidade de realização de pesquisas que tratem de conhecer o que os enfermeiros podem fazer no domicílio dos pacientes disfágicos de forma a melhorar o desempenho nas atividades diárias de vida. / This theme is carried out aiming patients with stroke, mainly the nurses actions in the prevention of complications resulting from dysphagia after a stroke in home care. The objective was to develop the nursing actions to ensure a safe swallowing in patients with dysphagia after stroke from the data obtained from the patients users of the SAD. The research was developed in the service of home care in a public hospital in Rio de Janeiro with 30 subjects. An instrument which described socio-laborious data was applied to show the presence of dysphagia and consistency of food intake by patients. Results: Seventeen patients developed dysphagia, characterized as being elderly, 76.47% were female, the mean age was about 73.6 ( 9.55). Most of them with complete basic education (76.48%) and retirees (70.59%). All the patients are hypertensive and half of them are diabetics (58.82%). Regarding to the type of stroke, all patients had ischemic stroke, 58.82% had one stroke episode and 41.18% two stroke episodes. The prevalence of dysphagia is about 57%. There is no association between age and dysphagia and its presence does not depend on the frequency of the stroke episodes. Patients with two risk factors, hypertension and diabetes have a higher prevalence of dysphagia and difficulty in swallowing the liquid food more than solid ones or both. The nurse should give guidance on the environment, the patient positioning, the materials and tools for use in food, quantity, temperature and consistency of the food. Information such as head high, dessert spoon for administration of diets with a volume of 3 to 5 ml, and the use of thickeners to generate a secure consistency in swallowing are essential to ensure the minimum complications. It is also important that the family takes part in the process of recovery of the patient. Final considerations: after the stroke, the dysphagia needs observation because it can imply on complications such as aspiration and pneumonia, which serves to guide the planning and directed nursing guidance to limit the effect of this sequel, as well as the possibility of conducting researches which may deal with what nurses can do in dysphagic patients home care in order to improve performance in activities of daily life.

Den palliativa vården är en helhetsvård där sjuksköterskor ska arbeta utifrån ett förhållningssätt baserat på de fyra hörnstenarna och de sex S:n. Det blir allt vanligare att vårdas den sista tiden i livet inom slutenvården utanför sjukhuset. Syftet var att belysa sjuksköterskors upplevelser av palliativ vård i särskilt boende och hospice. Studien genomfördes som en litteraturstudie som baserades på åtta kvalitativa vetenskapliga artiklar. I resultatet framkom tre huvudkategorier: känslomässiga upplevelser som innefattade sjuksköterskors emotionella påverkan av att vårda patienter i livets slutskede. Den andra huvudkategorin relationer avsåg samspelet mellan patienter, närstående och sjuksköterskor. Den tredje huvudkategorin arbetets olika utmaningar inkluderade underkategorierna sjuksköterskors kompetens inom palliativ vård, upplevelse av tidsbrist avseende tidens betydelse i vårdandet av patienter i livets slutskede. Kommunikation mellan professionerna som innefattade kommunikationen mellan sjuksköterskor och läkare samt teamarbete mellan sjuksköterskor, läkare, undersköterskor och övrig vårdpersonal. Att vårda patienter i livets slutskede i särskilt boende eller på hospice gjorde att uttryckte känsla av otillräcklighet. Sjuksköterskor arbetade under ständig tidspress där otillräckligheten var ett faktum vilket påverkade den palliativa vården negativt. Samarbete och kommunikation mellan sjuksköterskor, patient, närstående och övrig vårdpersonal var viktiga faktorer för god omvårdnad. Sjuksköterskors arbetsbelastning, arbetet under ständig tidspress och teamarbetet mellan vårdpersonal i särskilt boende och hospice bör belysas ytterligare genom vidare forskning för att utveckla nationella och lokala riktlinjer för palliativ vård i livets slutskede. / The palliative care is an overall care. The nurses’ must have an approach based on personal centred care. The care today is based in greater occurrence outside hospital services. It’s more common to die outside hospital services. The purpose was to illustrate nurses’ experiences of palliative care in nursing home and hospice. The study was conducted as a literature study based on eight qualitative scientific articles. The result showed three main categories: emotional experiences which included nurses’ emotional affects in caring of dying patients. The second main category relationships, intended the interplay between patients, relatives and nurses. The third main category different challenges of the work with associated subcategories: nurses’ competence in palliative care, experience of lack of time intended the valuable of time in caring of patients in the end of life. Communication between professions which included communication between nurses and physicians and teamwork between nurses, physicians, nurse assistants and other health care professionals. To care for patients in final stage of life in nursing home or hospice was emotional challenging. Nurses who constantly worked under time pressure experienced inadequacy which affected the palliative care negative. Corporation and communication between nurses, patients, relatives and other health care professionals were important parts for good nursing care. Nurses’ workload, work under constant time pressure and team work between healthcare professionals in nursing home and hospice should be illustrate through further research to develop national and local guidelines for palliative care in the end of life.

In 2009, the Government Accountability Office reported that 15% of federal nursing home (NH) recertification surveys nationwide and 25% of surveys in nine states underscored serious deficiencies in nursing care provided to 1.5 million residents residing in NHs. The state nursing home survey agencies' surveyors attributed the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) administrative rules and the documents in the surveyor guidance manual as too complex and ambiguous to correctly assign deficiency severity scores. In review of nursing literature, it was noted that standardized nursing language can increase the clarity of complex systems. The premise of this exploratory study was to determine if the standardized language of the Nursing Outcomes Classification (NOC) could provide a cross-linkage of the CMS rules, indicators of substandard nursing care, and the full guidance manual used to assign deficiency severity scores. The study attempted to achieve this goal by aligning select NOC outcomes and indicators with nursing outcomes indicators in the CMS administrative rules, select documents in the surveyor guidance manual and select documents in the Quality Indicator Survey. The data analysis suggested the relationship of the origin of the CMS rule and documents to the degree of alignment with the select NOC outcomes and indicators. It was also found that the intent of the CMS rule and select documents shared common themes. In addition, the data analysis revealed that the CMS rule and select documents aligned in various degrees with all of the selected NOC outcomes and respective indicators. The data analysis confirmed that there is sufficient evidence of a degree of alignment of select NOCs with the CMS rule and documents in the guidance manual for activities of daily living and functional status. Furthermore, the data analysis confirmed that this body of work can be a baseline for future research to develop an NOC specific to NHs as a viable cross-link to the CMS rules and guidance manual.

Determinants of nursing home performance: examining the relationship between quality and efficiency By Nailya O. DeLellis, MPH, Ph.D. A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at Virginia Commonwealth University. Virginia Commonwealth University, 2010 Director: Dr. Yasar Ozcan, Professor, Department of Health Administration To assess the relationship between quality of care and efficiency of nursing homes this study used 10% random sample of non-hospital based nursing homes of size 20-360 beds and occupancy rate of 5-100% in OSCAR database 2008 (n=1430). Data Envelopment Analysis was used to calculate efficiency score and Structural Equations Modeling was used to assess the effect of environmental factors on efficiency score and quality measures as well as relationship between efficiency and quality of care. Logistic regression was performed to find the factors that affect high performance, defined as high efficiency and high quality. In the study’s sample, 149 facilities (10.4%) had an efficiency score of 1, which indicates perfect efficiency. The average efficiency score of nursing homes in the sample was 0.854 (0.079 min; 0.145 std). Competition positively affects efficiency, with a path coefficient 0.09 (t-value = 2.65). Although the path coefficients relating competition with process and with outcome quality were positive (0.08 and 0.04, respectively), the results were not statistically significant. Stronger position of payers in the market positively affects process quality of care (path coefficient = 0.15, (t-value = 2.48). Higher efficiency of nursing homes is associated with higher outcome quality (path coefficient of 0.06, t-value = 1.99), but lower process quality (path coefficient of –0.20 , t-value = –2.95). Only 7.4% of nursing homes in the sample could efficiently provide high quality services, which was defined as high performance in the study. Among the factors that demonstrated statistically significant coefficients in the regression were the size of a facility, the availability of registered nurses, excess demand, and for-profit status. The study provides evidence of the trade-off between efficiency and process quality, in which higher efficiency of a nursing home is associated with lower process quality of care. Findings in the study also suggested that higher efficiency is associated with higher outcome quality.

Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the U.S and is more common among the elderly. Since frailty and other age related conditions put the elderly at risk for nursing home care, nursing homes may be the site of care and death for many elderly cancer patients. However, there is a large gap in knowledge concerning cancer treatment of elderly nursing home residents. Since residents rely heavily on their nursing facilities, nursing homes might influence them in their treatment decisions. After controlling for resident and nursing home market characteristics, this study applies Andersen’s Behavioral Model to examine whether nursing home organizational characteristics (nurse staffing level, nursing skill mix, and quality deficiencies) are related to the use of cancer-related medical services for treatment (oncologist visits, cancer-directed surgery, chemotherapy or radiation therapy), and palliative care (pain medication and hospice services) among 1,183 Medicaid and Medicare insured residents of nursing homes in Michigan from 1996-2000. Using data from the Medicare claim file, Medicaid claim file, Michigan tumor registry, Area Resource File, Michigan Medicaid Nursing Home Cost Report, and Online Survey, Certification and Reporting (OSCAR), the study used logistic regression to predict the utilization of cancer-related medical services. The results generally did not support the hypotheses. Nursing staffing level and nursing skill mix did not predict any cancer-related medical service utilization. Cancer care may be more associated with patient characteristics, such as age, which are usually taken into consideration when physicians suggest treatments, than nursing home organizational characteristics. However, relative to residents of nursing homes with the highest quartile of quality deficiencies, residents of nursing homes in the lowest quartile of quality deficiencies had a decreased likelihood of utilizing hospice care (OR=.509; 95%CI=.325 to .796; p=.003). Residents in high quality nursing homes may want to stay in the same place and not transfer to another facility for hospice care while residents in poor quality nursing homes may be motivated to use hospice care. Even though this study did not successfully find that higher nurse staffing level, nursing skill mix, quality of care are associated with greater opportunity of utilizing cancer-related medical services, this study was successful in laying out an empirically sound base framework to analyze this association. Future research can incorporate other states or nationwide data to re-examine this relationship using this study as a base model.

Falls and injuries related to falls are some of the most common and costly incidents that occur in the long-term care environment. Purposeful hourly rounding is a proactive way for nursing staff to identify patient needs and demonstrate positive fall prevention outcomes. This project examined a process improvement endeavor of a long-term care unit that experienced an increase in the number of falls over 3 months. The purpose was to evaluate whether staff education and implementation of an evidence-based hourly rounding program would affect the number of patient falls. The Johns Hopkins nursing evidence-based conceptual model, Kurt Lewin's change model, and the Shewhart cycle process improvement model were used to implement the change process as well as the Studer Group best practice hourly rounding tools. A sample of 40 residents was included in a quantitative descriptive design describing the implementation of hourly rounding. Staff were educated 30 days prior to implementation. Pre and post project fall rates were retrieved from the VA fall data management system and revealed a 55% decrease over 3 months post staff education. The use of evidence-based hourly rounding measures increased over the same time period. Nurse leaders must ensure rounding programs are evidence-based, clearly defined in policies, and include robust education plans. There are limited studies on the relationship between education and hourly rounding; therefore, future studies should focus on outcomes of initial and ongoing education for program success and sustainability. Falls are a healthcare concern nurses must address at any point-of-care to promote public safety through prevention and to facilitate positive social change by providing a safe hospital environment.

Aging may bring mental and/or physical decline. There may come a point when a loved one needs long-term care in a nursing home. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to examine the community dwelling spouses' emotional state. A study was conducted with 10 individuals (5 men and 5 women) who had a spouse in long-term nursing care. Inclusion criteria was to be at least 65-years old, have been married at least 30 years, and reside alone in his or her own home. The social emotional selectivity theory and the construct of boundary ambiguity were applied to view the epoch. Data were collected with audio recorded interviews and coded as to major idea in each response. Five themes evolved from the responses: reduction of friends, ease or difficulty with change, companionship, vows are forever, and why. The community-dwelling spouse tended to be sad, anxious, and angry. Loss of companionship, increased isolation due to reduction of friends prior to placement, concern about the well-being of his or her spouse, and feelings of 'why did this happen to me?' were common themes by the community dwelling spouse. Wives who did all household chores prior to their husband's institutionalization were more able to accept the placement of their spouse than were husbands who had depended on their wives. There is a need for treatment for the community-dwelling spouse by nursing home staff, friends, and family. Nursing homes can encourage support through community-dwelling support groups and mealtime with their institutionalized spouses. Children of community-dwelling spouse can provide support through contacting their parents frequently, clergy, and friends of the church through visiting the community-dwelling spouse after placement of their spouse.

Older adults of Mexican origin are often underserved, especially those residing in nursing homes. Their number has increased in the past 4 years. There is a gap in the research literature on Hispanic elders, specifically those of Mexican origin, residing in nursing homes along the Texas-Mexico border. Because Texas has one of the fastest growing populations of Mexican elders, it is important to better understand this population. This nonexperimental study evaluated the relationship among risk factors' such as gender, marital status, family support, activities of daily living (ADLs) and participation in nursing home activities. These relationships were evaluated with a demographic questionnaire, the Geriatric Depression Scale, and the Beck Anxiety Inventory. The sample consisted of 150 individuals of Mexican origin, 55 years of age or older, residing in nursing homes in a Texas-Mexico border city. Two multiple regression analyses were used to examine the relationships between these variables. The results indicated that the risk factors account for 9.1% of the variance in depression and 11.7% of the variance in anxiety. Of the predictor variables, activities of daily living made the only significant contribution. Thus, a high score on activities of daily living (i.e., needs complete assistance) predicted higher depression and anxiety, while female gender predicted higher anxiety, and frequent family support predicted low anxiety. This new knowledge gain through this study has implications for positive social change: (a) nursing home staff and physicians can do a better job in referring residents for psychological services, (b) mental health professionals can help nursing home staff better serve this population, and (c) nursing home staff may hold more family events to increase family involvement with their loved ones.