Michaelynn Paul doctorate

Nursing research highlights work with patients experiencing delirium

Congratulations to Michaelynn Paul, WWU associate professor of nursing, on receiving a doctorate in nursing practice from Walden University.

She completed her dissertation titled, “Medical Floor Confusion Assessment Method (CAM): Implementation and Assessment of Risk Factors” in August 2017. Her degree was conferred last November. Her project explored ways to provide high quality education for nurses who work with patients experiencing delirium. This was achieved by implementing a 90-minute program that consisted of video demonstrations, case scenarios, and administration of CAMs using standardized patients.

Paul said, “In the year previous to my study, only 1 percent of patients were identified as having delirium.  After education, nurses identified 52 patients in the course of two months suggesting that patients with delirium were not being identified in the population. I confirmed results from previous studies in identifying that patients with a urinary catheter or those with an iatrogenic event were more likely to develop delirium. I added to the science in learning that benzodiazepine administration was identified as a risk factor for the development of delirium.”

Paul has taught for the WWU school of Nursing on the Portland campus since July 2000.

Posted April 10, 2018 

 

Professional Portrait of Michaelynn Paul wearing a black sweater.
Michaelynn Paul has taught for the WWU school of Nursing on the Portland campus since July 2000.