Author Type

Graduate Student

Date of Award

2014

Document Type

Dissertation

Publication Status

Version of Record

Submission Date

October 2026

Thesis/Dissertation Advisor [Chair]

Dormire, Sharon

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of an educational intervention using Swanson’s (1991) caring theory on (a) nurses’ knowledge and caring behavior to late preterm infants (LPIs) and their families, and (b) the incidence of LPIs’ hospital visits and readmission rates for hyperbilirubinemia and dehydration in the first 30 days of life. The study began with the initial testing of the two instruments used and there were no inconsistencies identified in the content being measured. A convenient sample of nursery and postpartum nurses was recruited from two hospitals within a healthcare system. The nurses completed the consents and the surveys online via Survey Monkey®. Instruments used in the survey included a demographic, knowledge, and caring questionnaires. The participants’ inclusion criteria were nurses who have: a) completed at least one year experience working with well newborns, b) attended the educational intervention, and c) completed tests at the three intervals. SPSS for Windows (version 21) was used to analyze data using statistical techniques and ANOVA repeated measures. Study findings support improved knowledge for all participants; however, there was decreased retention of knowledge noted one month later. There was a 37% increase in knowledge from the baseline mean scores to the posttest mean scores (52% to 89%), although there was a 20% knowledge decrease from the posttest to one month later (89%- 69%). There remained a true knowledge gain since knowledge increased between the baseline measurements to the 1-month follow-up assessment (52% to 69%). Infant outcomes related to hyperbilirubinemia and dehydration also demonstrated patterns of improvement in the direction of statistical significance. The study added to the body of nursing science regarding educational intervention as a tool in increasing nurses’ knowledge.

Extent

163 p.

Comments

Includes bibliography.|Dissertation (Ph.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2014.|FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection|Includes bibliography.

Identifier

FA00004145

Format

pdf

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