Digital Commons Network^™

Hashtag Suicide: Social Media Correlates To American Adolescent Suicide Deaths, Tinamarie Dadic

Academic Festival

As the second leading cause of death for young adults, suicide rates are on the rise in the United States and strike many as a cause for concern. With the ever-increasing amount of social media present in today’s society – especially among the young adult population, there are correlations between the negative aspects of social media and the overall well-being and mental health decline of U.S. adolescents. However, the discrepancy is that many teenagers use social media as a coping mechanism or as a means to seek support from their community, potentially through an anonymous state. Yet, the link between …

Addressing Period Poverty: The Cost Of Menstruating In America And The Ethical Responsibility To Provide Free Menstrual Care, Jayden Tabor, Olivia Delgado

Academic Festival

UNICEF estimates that every month, some 1.8 billion people across the world menstruate (UNICEF, 2020). Menstruation is a natural, healthy, and uncontrollable part of life for anyone with the female reproductive system. Me, you, your friends, your family, and everyone else on Earth would not be born if it weren’t for this routine part of life. Why, then, does society wince at the thought of periods? The effect of menstrual stigma has plagued billions of menstruators for centuries and continues to have massive negative ramifications on the wellness and livelihood of people simply trying to cope with a biological process. …

A Look Inside The Educational Curriculum: Why Is Dance Cast Out?, Kaitlin Broyles

Academic Festival

Joy. Anger. Sadness. Fear. Disgust. The movie Inside Out shows personified versions of these emotions and how they mature inside the brain of a young girl as she grows. Although the actual human brain is devoid of these emotion characters, people’s brains and emotions still develop and learn to cooperate with one another as they mature. Children and teenagers are sent to school to learn and to progress their development, but the traditional educational curriculum is missing a key component in helping children discover themselves and their potential.

Dance could be this missing piece. There is much more to the …

Racial Discrimination Against Cisgender African American Women In Sexual And Reproductive Health, Rachel John

Academic Festival

Loretta Ross, also referred to as the founding mother of reproductive justice, once said “Our ability to control what happens to our bodies is constantly challenged by poverty, racism, environmental degradation, sexism, homophobia, and injustice in the United States” (Taylor, 2021). Injustices in the United States have perpetuated inadequate medical care of African American women for many years. From past to present, cisgender African American women have experienced injustice in sexual and reproductive healthcare. The pattern of mistreatment must be acknowledged to create health system-wide changes to ensure health equity. Involuntary experimentation of enslaved women, forced sterilization, discriminatory-related stress-induced disorders, …

Postpartum Preeclampsia: Parameters And Treatment, Tara Hagerman, Molly Carr

Academic Festival

Greenwich Hospital has a high incidence of maternity patients diagnosed with preeclampsia, even after delivery. Postpartum preeclampsia is a condition concerning high blood pressure, which can lead to multi-system organ involvement (Redman et al., 2019, p. 998). Although it is a condition most identified during pregnancy, it can still appear within six weeks of giving birth. On the postpartum unit at Greenwich Hospital, there are discrepancies among the healthcare team on when to initiate treatment for preeclampsia, which can lead to impaired patient safety and confusion among the staff.

Overcoming The Holistic Effects Of Compassion Fatigue As A Pediatric Oncology Nurse, Stephanie Sullivan

Academic Festival

Standing alongside a child as they ring the celebration bell symbolizing the end of their chemotherapy or radiation treatment must be one of the most rewarding feelings as a nurse. Being there from the start of their journey, providing care for both the children and their families, and then eventually seeing them beat cancer can provide both a sense of accomplishment, as well as satisfaction. Although outcomes for treating children with cancer tend to be more favorable than those of adults, fatalities of children continue to place burden on healthcare workers and families. This research focuses on the development of …

The Opposition To Vaccinations, Aileen Briskey

Academic Festival

This presentation is about the opposition to vaccines and the Anti-Vaccination Movement.

The Anti-Vaccination Movement has been prevalent ever since the invention of the smallpox vaccine. The movement encourages people to refuse vaccinations against common illnesses, which can lead to spikes in previously controlled diseases. The Anti-Vaccination movement has caused regressions and setbacks in modern medicine by ignoring scientific studies proving vaccine efficacy and leads to health risks for vulnerable populations.

Limited English Proficiency In Healthcare; Taking Down Language Barriers Toolkit, Jade Carpenter, Jennifer Hernandez

Academic Festival

It is the obligation of health care professionals to provide safe and effective communication to all patients and families. Language barriers provide an additional challenge when communicating and providing care in the hospital setting. With all patients and family members having the right to complete, clear, and understandable information, nurses have the responsibility in obtaining interpretive services for those whom English is not their primary language. Nurses are responsible and accountable for protecting, promoting, and restoring health and well-being. As well as injury and illness prevention, and to alleviate pain and suffering (ANA, 2015). When language barriers are present, all …

Hemophilia: The Royal Disease, The Romanovs, And The Mad Monk Rasputin, Noah Vargoshe

Academic Festival

The mad monk, the faith healer – so many names are associated with the infamous Grigori Rasputin, most of which arise from the mystery that surrounded his life. Even Robert K. Massie, author of the famed Nicholas and Alexandra, wrote “Without Rasputin, there could be no Lenin”. Yet, the monk’s legacy is intertwined with that of Alexis Nikolaevich Romanov, the last Tsesarevich of Russia. Born as the only son of Nicholas II and Alexandra of Hesse, he would one day inherit the throne – until, not long after his birth, it became clear that he was born with hemophilia. …

Student/Faculty Roles In Nursing Curriculum Vaping Research, Alanna K. Mcdonald, Lisa R. Jacobsen

Academic Festival

Student research helps foster creativity and innovation beyond the classroom. When joined by faculty, who enrich instruction, students are introduced to the specific research process and respective skills needed to effectively complete their assigned tasks. In recent times, research has not been performed regarding the levels of knowledge one has surrounding the topic of vape devices. In 2018, a national epidemic was declared regarding vaping among youths (Huey et al., 2020). Nurses play a vital role in educating all individuals on the effects of vaping and implications to their health. Nurses can only advocate for and educate their patients when …

Evidence Based Teaching Project: Medication Administration Simulation Enhances Clinical Competency, Karen Decato

Academic Festival

PSCOT Question: In prelicensure BSN nursing programs (P) how does including medication administration simulation with lecture (S) compared to lecture alone (C) affect competency (O) in the clinical area?

Avasure: Remote Patient Video Monitoring To Enhance Safety, Diana Coleman, Jennifer Garcia

Academic Festival

AvaSure is a 24/7 live video monitoring software used for hospitalized patients to ensure their safety while alone in the room. A TeleSitter watches the footage and can speak to the patients directly, reminding them to stay in bed, aiming to reduce safety incidences such as falls. The TeleSitter can alarm the nurse when a patient begins to get up or pull at their IV site. This project was our Nursing Capstone topic that we presented at Danbury Hospital on a medical unit that utilizes AvaSure.

How Relationships In The Workplace Affect Employee Productivity And Mental Health, Jessica Zheng

Academic Festival

Mental illnesses, particularly Common Mental Disorders (CMDs), including anxiety and depression, are among the leading factors of occupational impairment. Despite clear evidence of their social effects, the strain of CMDs is under-recognized in developing nations. Depression is considered to be the second most prevalent condition globally, after ischemic heart disease, accounting for 15 percent of the overall disease burden (WHO). Mental illnesses are considered to be common in the general population as well as in the workforce, and they severely affect life and role functions. The effects of mental illness include a loss of job performance that has been stated …

The Detrimental Effects Of Forever Chemicals, Kaleigh Vertefeuille

Academic Festival

Poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS are compounds building up in the environment and in the human body. These substances can be found in nonstick coatings in many pans and food wrappers and are contaminating the environment. While PFAS make everyday life more convenient, they are causing health problems including hormone disruption, immunosuppression, and concerns to organ systems. This paper examines the effects of PFAS on the body, how they are accumulating in the environment, exploring elimination options and the ethical and social implications in tackling the issue. It was found that PFAS can weaken the immune response and decrease …

Mobile Care Team At Danbury Hospital, Genevieve Nitzsche

Academic Festival

Over the past few years, Emergency Departments (ED) across the country have seen increases in wait times related to a variety of factors. These wait times have been found to be detrimental to patients’ morbidity and mortality rates. Most hospital systems have recognized this issue and have begun to address it, each in different ways. There is not one simple solution to fix the issue, however, due to the widespread systemic nature of the problem. Population growth has been used to explain the crowding in EDs, however this is not the sole influencing factor. Other factors include the number of …

Pediatric Sbar, Molly Kearns, Autumn Briglia

Academic Festival

This project will explore the SBAR hand-off communication tool and why it is important to nursing. More specifically, this project will focus on the Pediatric population and what information is needed when performing hand-off communication with a pediatric client.

The Effects Of Social Media On The Development Of Anorexia Nervosa And Bulimia Nervosa In Adolescent Females, Jennifer Garcia

Academic Festival

Most people are reliant on social media- that is a known fact. While there are some positive aspects to it, social media has unfortunately become a dark hole of comparison and body dysmorphia. This paper outlines the unfortunate connection between social media and the prevalence of eating disorders in adolescent females, specifically anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa.

How To Improve Prenatal Care In Prisons, Amber Fischer

Academic Festival

As understanding of health advances, the importance of prenatal care becomes clearer. Prenatal care can improve maternal and infant mortality and have a long-lasting impact on the infant. There are some populations of women that do not receive the necessary prenatal care, like women in prison. Women in prison are often not provided the prenatal care that is necessary to improve birth outcomes. The birth outcomes in prison to those in the general population such as infant mortality, maternal mortality, low birth weight, preterm delivery, etc. reveal the need for an in-depth look at the prenatal care provided to these …

A Nurse Driven Protocol To Promote Early Mobilization Of Mechanically Ventilated Patients, Sarah Criscuolo

Academic Festival

Approximately one in every three patients hospitalized in the intensive care unit (ICU) receives mechanical ventilation as part of their treatment (Bilodeau et al., 2018). Delirium, ICU-acquired weakness, increased mortality, prolonged hospital stays, poor functional ability, and decreased quality of life are considered some of the greatest consequences associated with prolonged mechanical ventilation (Koukourikos et al., 2020). One of the most significant contributing factors to these consequences is the lack of mobility patients experience while they receive this treatment. Early mobilization (EM) of ICU patients is one evidence-based solution that combats the adverse effects related to prolonged mechanical ventilation. Although …

The Use Of Chlorhexidine Wipes In Patients With Central Lines, Victoria Huggan, Jacquelyn Kane

Academic Festival

This project discusses the importance of nurses using chlorhexidine wipes in patients with central lines to prevent central line-associated bloodstream infections.

New Enfit Enteral Feeding Tube Connection System, Madeline Neeb

Academic Festival

ENFit is an updated enteral feeding tube connection system that reduces the risk of enteral tubing misconnections.

Overspending In U.S. Health Care With Regard To Citizenship And Insurance Status And Its Effects On Patients, Primary Care Providers, And The Economy, Dominique Scerbak

Academic Festival

Comparative analysis of healthcare spending in the United States is compared with other high-income nations, and the importance of diving deeper into this problem affecting all residents is revealed. Thus, further analysis is developed, beginning with high costs attributable to outpatient services. The pharmaceutical industry also plays a major role in overspending as drugs are unaffordable to many consumers. Furthermore, insurance coverage difficulties are brought to light as complicated plans and policies make access unaffordable and adequate coverage oftentimes inaccessible. This leads to a discussion on refugee, immigrant, and migrant populations, and barriers to healthcare that make access extremely difficult, …

Protocol For Fetal Demise, Alexis Bardio, Gabrielle Marchegiani

Academic Festival

Currently, Yale New Haven Hospital does not have a protocol implemented to promote awareness towards a patient who has had a fetal demise. We have created a protocol that can be implemented at YNHH to bring greater awareness and communication among healthcare professionals about a patient who has had a fetal demise. This must be implemented so that all HCPs working with the woman and/or couple can be aware of their loss prior to entering the patient's room. In order to do this, we have created symbolized signs to place outside the patient's room so that anyone entering will be …

Eat, Sleep, Console: Management Of Withdrawal In Neonates, Megan Cloutier

Academic Festival

Purpose: Educate NICU staff and families on the implication of Eat, Sleep, Console (ESC) into nursing practice to manage neonatal abstinence syndrome in infants. Background: •Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) is a combination of withdrawal symptoms that occurs in newborns following exposure to drugs, most commonly opioids, during pregnancy (Hein, 2021). •NAS often contributes to prematurity, difficulty with eating and sleeping, and presents with several neurologic, gastrointestinal, and musculoskeletal symptoms (Wachman, 2020). •The incidence of NAS has more than quadrupled in the past two decades, affecting eight in every 1,000 newborns (Wachman, 2020).

Integration Of Mindfulness Meditation Into Nursing Curriculum, Halle Boucher

Academic Festival

Environmental demands long hours, physical demands and emotional content are commonly cited as reasons for increased stress, anxiety and depression for nursing professionals (Alsaraireh & Aloush, 2017; Chen et al., 2013; Foley & Lanzillotta-Rangeley, 2021; Karaca & Şişman, 2019). This has never been more evident than the in the context of the recent pandemic (Serrano et al., 2021). Stress can impact physical health, mental health and overall well-being in the nursing population (Van der Riet et al., 2018). Preparing undergraduate nursing students for practice and management of these realities has become a focal point of individual institutional curriculum. In 2021 …

The Manatee Capital Of The World, Megan Calogero

Academic Festival

Crystal River is a coastal city in Florida, home to natural springs that welcome an influx of manatees during the winter months to swim, feed, and nurse. Tourists come from all over the world to experience this manatee paradise.

The Impact Of Care Bundles On Catheter Associated Urinary Tract Infection (Cauti) Rates, Lauren Godberson

Academic Festival

A catheter associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI) is one of the most common health care associated infections. To address this problem, urinary catheter care bundles have been created to include the best techniques and practices of catheter insertion and maintenance with the goal of preventing infection and enhancing patient outcomes. This research focuses on the impact of care bundles within intensive care units and the significance they have on lowering the incidence of CAUTIs. This is important to the field of nursing because it will reduce infection rates and promote better health outcomes for patients. Therefore, the implementation of care …

An Analysis On Medicinal Food And The Reduction Of Medical Cost, Olivia Voorhis

Academic Festival

Chronic diseases are the leading cause of healthcare costs that require life-long care and diminish quality of life. Implementing a holistic health approach and an anti-inflammatory diet to heal the mind, body, and soul, are the most effective ways to reduce inflammation in the body, lower medical costs, and prevent chronic diseases.

Physician Assisted Suicide Legalization In The United States, Nicole Cona

Academic Festival

In a growing society of medicine there are countless people with terminal illnesses that cannot be cured. These people can suffer a long time with anything from physical pain or even a declining mental view of life. In some cases, in certain states, patients can choose to peacefully end their life through the process of physician assisted suicide (PAS). From past Supreme Court rulings from Vacco v. Quill and Washington v. Glucksberg which challenge the Equal Protection Clause and Due Process Clause respectively. After both rulings were decided, the Supreme Court left the decision of physician assisted suicide up to …

Health Inequalities And Inequities And The Relation To Amputations And Prosthetic Devices, Morgan Rogers

Academic Festival

Health inequalities and inequities adversely impact minoritized groups. These inequalities and inequities are apparent when examining the healthcare system, specifically amputation rates among minoritized groups. For example, African Americans comprise 13% of the United States population; however, they account for 25% of those who suffer from limb loss in the United States (Bush & Girijala, 2018). More than half of amputations can be avoided with preventative care, but unfortunately, high healthcare costs deter minoritized groups from seeking this care. Due to the lack of health insurance combined with the high costs of prosthetics devices, many individuals within the minoritized population …