Digital Commons Network^™

Does Voluntary Euthanasia Fulfill Or Contradict A Physicians’ Oath To “Do No Harm”, Sarah Margaret Carr

Academic Festival

Voluntary Euthanasia, or VE, is a practice which has been medically, and ethically, debated for decades. VE is a medical procedure in which a physician, with the explicit and informed consent of the patient, administers a lethal agent for the purpose of relieving a patients intolerable and incurable suffering (Euthanasia, 2022). The availability of this practice as an option for terminally diagnosed patients, to allow them to choose to die on their own terms, has been debated for its ethicality. Through my research, I strove to answer the question of whether VE fulfills, or contradicts, a physician’s oath to “do …

Perception Of Visible Body Art In Healthcare: Perceptions On A College Campus, Nicolette Mascioli, Conor Duffy, Rebecca Oswald

Academic Festival

This project aims to determine if there is a relationship between visible body art on a healthcare provider and perceptions of that person’s ability to render care. During the literature review, it was clear there was a lack of research on this topic. A survey was designed by the researchers. The data was collected during social justice week on Sacred Heart University’s campus. The data was then compared to regional healthcare facilities and nursing program policies and procedures to see if they are synonymous with the survey findings.

Rise In Vaccine Distrust As A Result Of The Covid-19 Pandemic, Katherine Sandt

Academic Festival

Since the Covid-19 pandemic began in 2020, there has been a decrease in vaccine administration due to the increased spread of misinformation and disinformation. This is a result of distrust in healthcare following the global pandemic. The spread of misinformation and disinformation in social media about the Covid-19 vaccine has caused parents to question routine childhood vaccines as well. This has increased the cases of viral outbreaks that could be prevented by vaccination and lead to reemergence of previously tamed viruses and an ultimate downfall in global health. These risks are preventable by spreading awareness of the problem of the …

The Importance Of The Nihss Assessment Tool For Early Detection Of Strokes In Intubated And Non Intubated Patients In The Icu, Samantha Acierno

Academic Festival

Stroke is one of the highest causes of mortality and long term disability, therefore, its critical to diagnose the patient early on and treat very quickly. It’s so important for healthcare workers to be efficient when caring for stroke patients because we want to optimize their chances of surviving and their ability to perform tasks thereafter. The NIHSS will assess the patient’s level of consciousness, speech and language, neglect, communication, the field of vision, eye movements, facial symmetry, motor strength, sensation and coordination of the patients. The NIHSS assessment tool provides a baseline score to determine the severity of the …

Early Mobilization As A Strategy To Decrease Rates Of Ventilatorassociated Pneumonia, Grace Conboy

Academic Festival

Ventilator associated pneumonia is an infection developed in patients as a complication of being mechanically ventilated. “Ventilator-associated pneumonia is a lung infection that develops in a person who is on a ventilator” It is a hospital-acquired infection that occurs as a result of prolonged mechanical ventilation. Prevention of ventilator associated pneumonia is considered a priority when caring for patients who are on mechanical ventilation, usually in the intensive care unit. The incidence of ventilator associated pneumonia is correlated to the quality of care provided by nurses in the clinical setting. There are many interventions implemented when caring for patients who …

What Happens When Hyperactivity Turns Inward; Adhd Presentation In Females, Kaitlyn Brooks

Academic Festival

ADHD is a neurodevelopmentaldisorder most oftencharacterized by hyperactivity, inattentiveness, and impulsive behavior.Societal gender norms, misunderstandings of ADHD presentation in females, and a lack of inclusion in research and education leads to underdiagnosis of ADHD in females and results in problems in academic success, mental health, and social relationships.

Effects Of Using Continuous Endotracheal Cuff Pressure Control Systems On Rates Of Ventilator Associated Pneumonia., Hannah Galeucia

Academic Festival

The purpose of this project is to determine proper management and the effectiveness of continuous vs. intermittent endotracheal cuff pressure systems in prevention of VAP for mechanically ventilated patients in the ICU setting.

Autism Spectrum Disorder And Covid-19: How The Transition To Remote Learning Affected Students With Asd, Julia Hardesty

Academic Festival

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a complicated neurological and developmental disorder that alters the way one communicates, socializes, and behaves. During the COVID-19 pandemic, and the subsequent shift to remote learning, students with ASD experienced drastic changes in their mental health, social skills, and educational progression. While schools, teachers, parents, and other providers attempted to make this transition smooth and nondisruptive for the students, the structure and integrity of special education programs crumbled at the expense of all students with ASD and other developmental disabilities. In bringing light to the difficulties that this transition has caused, teachers, administrators, and families …

People Over Profit: Greed In Hospital Administrations As The Source Of Nursing Shortages, Eva Cassellius

Academic Festival

The profession of nursing has been facing numerous workplace issues for decades. The rise of Covid only made these issues that had been continuously swept under the rug more apparent. Understaffed units leave nurses overworked and burnt out, driving them to leave their jobs or even their careers. Hospitals claim that a nursing shortage perpetuates the ongoing staffing struggles, but research points to the greed permeating hospital administrations as the root of these problems. These top executives would rather cut corners to save costs and maximize profit and nurses who want to provide the best care possible to their patients …

Use Of Daily Sedation Vacation Protocol In Prevention Of Ventilator Associated Pneumonia, Theresa Cash

Academic Festival

Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is the onset or diagnosis of pneumonia within 48-72 hours of endotracheal intubation (Ignatavicus et al, 2021). VAP is one of the most common and deadly hospital-associated infections (HAI), increasing medical costs by $40,000 and lengthening hospital stay by an additional seven to nine days (Timsit et. al., 2017). The death rate of VAP patients is two to ten times more than that of non-VAP patients, highlighting just how important it is to decrease the incidence of this disease (Liu et. al., 2020). In implementing daily sedation vacation in the care of mechanically ventilated ICU patients, VAP …

Reasons For Abolishing The Death Penalty, Ashley Brosnan

Academic Festival

When it comes to the death penalty, I decided to delve into the issue and make my mind up for myself to see where I stand. After much investigation, I have seen why the death penalty should not be in place. This is not to say I do not understand the other side of the argument, I simply feel the negatives of the penalty outweigh the positives. Capital punishment is not only discriminatory and costly, but also morally wrong. It impedes on the most basic human right to life. It is a cruel and unusual punishment and costs more than …

Should Children Be Encouraged To Participate In Contact Sports?, Alex Weiler

Academic Festival

Concussions are a risk to contact sports, but also to any sort of physical activities. In this paper, it is argued that the low incidence of concussions shown in even the most intense contact sports do not make it necessary to eliminate these sports. Current evidence also doesn’t show that concussions sustained as a child have a direct correlation to long-term effects as an adult. The benefits that come from contact sports have a greater impact on the lives of children than the potential risk for sustaining head injuries. If proper safety measures continue to be implemented and updated, we …

Should Children Be Encouraged To Participate In Contact Sports?, Alex Weiler

Academic Festival

In recent years, awareness of concussions or traumatic brain injuries have increased tremendously and is a fear of many, with the scapegoat falling onto sports, specifically ones that are defined as “contact sports”. In 2019, 56.1% of youth in the United States stated that they participated in a type of organized sport. Many children grow up playing some sort of organized sport and I am arguing that it is an important component that shapes human development. Contact sports as ones that are traditionally meant to have contact, these include American football, soccer, basketball, hockey, martial arts and many more. There …

The Impact Of Suctioning Frequency On Rates Of Ventilator Associated Pneumonia, Sarah Gehrlein

Academic Festival

The purpose of this research is to evaluate the effectiveness of continuous and intermittent subglottic secretion drainage in mechanically ventilated patients on the prevention of ventilator associated pneumonia.

Tick Tock, Tiktok, Tic: An Examination Of Tiktok And Its Negative Effects On The Brain, Emma Basha

Academic Festival

TikTok is a social media application that can is used to create or watch short, entertaining videos. TikTok has over one billion users and around 33% of that population are teenagers who are susceptible to developing Functional Neurological Disorder and other neurological disorders. Recently, some studies began to show a trend that the female population has a higher predisposition to developing functional tics because of their use of TikTok. Functional neurological disorder, or conversion disorder, is a complicated psychological and neurological condition that has no direct etiology. The goal was to determine if there was a direct correlation between TikTok …

The Use Of Chlorhexidine In Combating Phlebitis, Gabrielle Gately

Academic Festival

There has been an increase in the number of patients developing phlebitis at the IV site after experiencing a chlorhexidine swab shortage. After speaking to the nurse managers and coordinator of the IV team, they felt that providing staff with education and the importance would benefit the department and aid in the decrease of infection rates.

The Effect Of Postpartum Depression On An Infant’S Language And Cognitive Development, Alana Reilly

Academic Festival

Has it ever crossed your mind how terrifying and scary it would be for a mother-to-be to feel like a failure and constantly experience sadness and guilt? What if she felt as if she could not take care of her own child after birth? And what would the effect of these depressive thoughts be on the infant?

Postpartum depression is an illness and type of depression that can affect mothers after childbirth. They can experience extreme feelings of sadness, anxiety, changes in sleep, appetite, and energy, along with bonding issues with the baby. As research suggests, one impact of postpartum …

Improving Care For Emergency Department Boarders, Gemma Vecchiarino, Mariana Virote

Academic Festival

Changes to implement to decrease the volume, and improve the quality of care and safety for emergency department boarders.

The Impact Of Bilingual Nurses Within The Healthcare Setting, Julianna Leiva-Lopez

Academic Festival

Bilingual nurses working in the hospital setting are an essential component that can decrease health disparities. Providing patients with concordant care can begin to address the language barrier issues. When a patient is unable to properly communicate their needs to the healthcare team essential data and concerns can be missed which leads to not providing adequate care. Patients and nurses experience increased stress and anxiety when unable to communicate in their preferred language. A nurse is the bridge between patient and provider, and effective communication is required. Patients who have Limited English proficiency are at increased risk of readmissions, and …

The Rise Of A New Mental Health Epidemic: Tiktok And Social Media, And Their Negative Impact On Young Adults, Malia Piscitelli, Cameryn Engel, Haley Sullivan, Jessica Rockwell, Natalie Ricciardi

Academic Festival

The effects of TikTok and social media are explored to understand how detrimental social networking sites are to one's mental health. The research and literature show how the overuse of social media contributes to social media addiction, mental health issues, body dysmorphia, and cyberbullying. A study is analyzed that reports how many are affected by cyberbullying and whether they received counseling for their mental health. It was concluded that social media does much more harm than good, and users could try altering their lives by reducing the amount of time spent on social networking sites.

Clinical Site Visits, Meaghan Reck, Cecile Bamberger, Lizzie Sherwood

Academic Festival

Cardiac rehabilitation programs including aerobic and resistance training improve quality of life, physical function and exercise capacity (average increase of 5.2 ml/kg/min). Resistance training increases muscle strength (from 20% 1-RM to 80%), endurance, and exercise performance.

The acute response during resistance training is an increased blood pressure and heart rate due to higher pressure response. This response is based on load and intensity.The Valsalva maneuver should be avoided as it may increase this response.

Individuals with untreated HTN experienced 5mmHg decrease SBP and 3mmHg decrease DBP.

It is the combination of aerobic exercise with resistance training that is more beneficial …

Physician Assisted Suicide, Alexa Setteducati

Academic Festival

Death is inevitable. An individual can hope to live a long healthy life and end it peacefully. However, the reality of death is much different for some individuals. Death can be a painful and grueling process that hinders oneself from feeling any morsel of dignity. Patients with terminal illnesses can instate advanced directives, in which they can choose their preference of life saving resuscitation and comfort measures. However, these interventions in patients with terminal illnesses are not available until the patient has fully deteriorated. An article claims, “As the end-oflife approaches, the ability of medicine to heal and prolong life …

Decreasing The Incidence Of Cautis, Annie Patriarca

Academic Festival

The research presented discusses the effects that CAUTIs have on patients, their families, and hospitals. Nursing interventions to aide in the promotion of best practice are also discussed.

An Interdisciplinary Study On The Impact Of Work-Family Conflict On Employed Mothers, Nicole Ferrero

Academic Festival

Historically, women have been regarded as the primary caregivers in a family unit, while men have been deemed the financial providers. These norms in the heteronormative nuclear family have been assumed for centuries. With the integration of women in the workforce in the twentieth century, this ideology is presumed to have shifted in society. Scholars have found that “The population of working mothers has greatly increased over the past few decades, yet cultural norms and standards for women have not progressed at the same rate” (Forbes et al., 2019). This cultural shift – or a lack thereof – has burdened …

Decreasing Cautis, Annie Patriarca

Academic Festival

Catheter Associated Urinary Tract Infections: The most common hospital acquired infection, they are attributed to the use of indwelling catheters.

An Analysis Of Animal Testing In Medical Research And Ethical Considerations, Diana Santini

Academic Festival

Introduction:

The use of animal testing in medical research has been the gold standard for gathering information and determining safety and efficacy for pharmaceutical candidates. While animal testing has been considered an essential component in medical research, evidence has shown that it has become an ethical issue in not only animals, but humans as well, delaying the development of medical treatments and providing inaccurate predictions of safety use in human administration.

Inequity Surrounding Insulin Prices And Its Impact On American Citizens, Natalie Kennedy

Academic Festival

Medication prices for chronic illnesses are increasing rapidly, making it extremely difficult for patients to manage and treat their disorders. While insurance can cover a significant portion of it, out of pocket costs are unaffordable for most. High market prices of insulin have created a cycle of improper diabetic management, specifically in uninsured Americans, which created an inability for proper holistic treatment for those with Diabetes Mellitus. Those who are uninsured are facing a crisis in which they are forced to decide between taking a life saving medication or paying their weekly bills. The United States is one of the …

An Interdisciplinary View On The Legalization Of Physician-Assisted Suicide, Alis Koroglu

Academic Festival

When an individual has a terminal illness, death may not always come rapidly or peacefully. More times than not, the individual with a terminal illness goes from being a well, able-bodied individual, to then slowly degenerating into an individual living with unbearable chronic pain and dependence on others to survive. This paper evaluates the reasons why a procedure called Physician-Assisted Suicide (PAS) should be legalized in all 50 states to give individuals with a terminal illness the right to die without struggling to stay alive. For those in the state of a terminal illness, who are essentially forced to slowly …

Coronavirus Impact On Nursing, Hyzell Lim

Academic Festival

The health care system would not function efficiently as it does today if nurses were not present to perform their duties. Their role, became crucial and urgent come along the Coronavirus pandemic. The pandemic not only took a toll on the population, but nurses were also affected leading to many complications and challenges that require immediate intervention.

The Implications Of Successful Diversity, Equity, And Inclusion (Dei) Initiatives In The Ncaa, Jackson Tse

Academic Festival

Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives are relatively new aspects of the NCAA, but they are becoming more important than ever. Initially introduced with the passing of Brown v. Board in 1954, DEI initiatives have grown to include legislation and organizations such as the Civil Rights Act, Title IX, and Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW). These represent the first of many steps to build a more welcoming and equitable environment for the NCAA’s stakeholders, especially in regard to racial and gender diversity. Despite all of the aforementioned initiatives, there are still gaps throughout the NCAA. Positions including athletic …