Digital Commons Network^™

David Remmert Touts The Importance Of Educating The Next Wave Of Health Care Workers, Eric Stock

Interviews for WGLT

With his past experience working for public health departments, Assistant Professor of Public Health David Remmert touts the importance of educating the next wave of health care workers through the new public health program in IWU's School of Nursing and Health Sciences.

Accurate Pulse Assessment By Radial Artery Palpation: A Pilot Study, Abigail Mathis

Honors Projects

Pulse assessment is an essential component of an individual’s health state. Assessment of a pulse by palpation is the most commonly used technique. A patient’s pulse rate informs healthcare workers of the status of a variety of body systems, including cardiac, neurologic, and endocrine functions. Despite the widespread and frequent use of pulse assessment, current methods for counting a pulse lack strong supporting evidence. Additionally, published research on accuracy of pulse palpation used only young, healthy participants without arrhythmias or cardiac problems, limiting generalizability to the broader population who contain those variables. The purpose of this study is to determine …

Accurate Methods In Pulse Rate Assessment By Palpation: Pilot Study, Emilija Stankute

Honors Projects

A person’s pulse rate, which provides key data about physical and psychological health, must be assessed using a method that is both reliable and valid. Since no manual palpation standard exists, healthcare providers’ assessment methods vary depending on count time (15, 30, or 60 seconds) and start points (zero or one). Some researchers have shown more accuracy when starting the count with “zero,” but the common practice continues to be starting the count with “one.” The purpose of this study is to be a pilot for pulse count method validation, specifically examining the effect of counting interval (15, 30, or …

Lacrosse Coach Lindsey Kellar Is Helping To Lead A New Mental Health Initiative, Eric Stock

Interviews for WGLT

Coach Lindsey Kellar said IWU has adopted the NCAA’s initiative to bring more mental health programs and counseling to its student-athletes. She tells WGLT’s Eric Stock that given her background as a psychology teacher, she knew she wanted to help.

Improving Timing Of Capillary Blood Glucose Monitoring And Insulin Administration Through Patient Education, Emily Lezcano

Honors Projects

For patients with diabetes in acute care settings, researchers report that it is challenging for the healthcare team to coordinate capillary blood glucose (CBG) monitoring and insulin administration with mealtimes. If insulin dosage is calculated from CBG values that are not updated, patients may experience dosing errors and uncontrolled CBG. Uncontrolled CBG increases patients’ risk of complications. To improve diabetes management, some hospitals have implemented policies aimed at improving the coordination of CBG monitoring, insulin administration, and mealtimes. In this study, the researcher studied the effectiveness of including an educational card on patient meal trays on the timing of CBG …

Nursing Students' Knowledge Of Alcohol - Interactive Medications, Andrew Coop

Honors Projects

In 2018, nearly 57% of American adults reported drinking alcohol in the past month, and 41.5% of current drinkers reported taking alcohol-interactive (AI) medications. Consuming alcohol and medications concurrently may result in adverse effects. The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of a one-hour lecture about AI medications in a class of undergraduate nursing students (N = 48) at a small Midwestern university. The Jarvis Nursing Knowledge of Alcohol-Interactive Medications survey was distributed on August 27, 2018, and again on November 19, 2018. A significant increase was found between pretest and posttest on correct identification of …

Effects Of Weighted Blankets On College Students’ Anxiety, Amy Clapp

Honors Projects

Background: Many mental health disorders, including anxiety, are identified during young adulthood when students are beginning college. Therapies such as weighted blankets may provide anxiety relief, but information about the use of weighted blankets for students is lacking.

Purpose: To compare the effect of weighted versus regular blankets on anxiety, sleep, and GPA in a sample of undergraduate students.

Conceptual framework: Measurements were operationalized through the Overall Anxiety Severity and Impairment Scale (OASIS).

Methods: A pilot study using a convenience sample with random assignment was conducted. Participants (N = 32) self-identified as belonging to one of …

Dennie Bridges, Dennie Bridges '61

All oral histories

Bridges was a first generation college student and recalls the effect that being a student-athlete from a small farm town had on him. Throughout this narrative he reflects on the people and programs that had an impact on his success as a student and on lettering in three sports. After graduation, Bridges started as a basketball and tennis coach; he served IWU as Athletic Director from 1982-2015.

Nurses’ Knowledge Of Alcohol-Interactive Medications, Kyle Serafico

Honors Projects

Nearly 57% of adult Americans report drinking alcohol in the past month, and 41.5% of current drinkers take alcohol-interactive (AI) medications. Concurrent consumption of both substances can result in adverse interactions. Nurses are in a position to screen and appropriately teach patients. However, little is known about nurses’ knowledge of AI medications. The purpose of this study is to determine nurses’ knowledge of AI medications and factors that may affect knowledge level. The Jarvis Nursing Knowledge of Alcohol-Interactive Medications survey was developed and distributed to nurses employed by a large Midwestern health system. The final analyzed sample of nurses (n …

Aligning Religious And Culturally Relevant Clinical Practice With Policy, Amanda F. Hopkins Phd, Rn, Wendy C. Kooken Phd, Rn, Sana Shafiuddin

Students' Professional Presentations and Publications

This poster was presented at the Midwest Nursing Research Society conference in 2016. The purpose of this study was to evaluate cultural considerations in clinical and educational policies when working with female Muslim nursing students who wear hijab, and to suggest changes to dress code policies within academic and clinical agency settings.

New Edition Of Top Nursing Book Released, University Communications, Illinois Wesleyan University

News and Events

No abstract provided.

Levels Of Empathy In Undergraduate Healthcare Professions Students, Ashley M. Tegge

Honors Projects

Empathy is a central component in effective healthcare provider-patient relationships, yet evidence exists that healthcare professions students lack empathy. A cross-sectional survey was completed to identify whether a relationship exists between empathy levels in baccalaureate nursing, psychology, pre-medical, pre-dental, pre-physical therapy, and pre-occupational therapy majors who have or have not identified a projected specialty within their profession upon entry into practice, and compare these findings. A 28-item questionnaire was completed by a convenience sample of 202 students with declared majors in the healthcare professions of interest. There was no significant difference in empathy levels between students of all majors who …

Record Number Of Nursing Majors Interning This Spring, Kim Hill

News and Events

No abstract provided.

Okuno-Jones '86 Named Advocate Health Care Vice President, Kim Hill

News and Events

No abstract provided.

Kerr Visits Capitol Hill With Nursing Delegation, Kim Hill

News and Events

No abstract provided.

Fatigue In The Presence Of Coronary Heart Disease, Ann Eckhardt, Holli Devon, Mariann Piano, Catherine Ryan, Julie Zerwic

Scholarship

Fatigue is a prevalent and disabling symptom associated with many acute and chronic conditions. It has been identified as a symptom of acute myocardial infarction and chronic heart failure, but it has not been explored in patients with stable coronary heart disease (CHD). Objectives: The purpose of this partially mixed sequential dominant status study was to: 1) describe fatigue in patients with stable CHD, 2) determine if specific demographic (sex, age, education, income), physiologic (hypertension, hyperlipidemia) or psychological variables (depressive symptoms) were correlated with fatigue, and 3) determine if fatigue was associated with health-related quality of life. The theory of …

Health Care Part Of King's Social Justice Legacy, Kim Hill

News and Events

No abstract provided.

Kerr, Searing Receive Nurse Educator Fellowships, Kim Hill

News and Events

No abstract provided.

Los Sistemas De Sa Iud: Una Comparacion Entre Illinois, Ee.Uu. Y Cataluna, Espana (A Comparison Of Healthcare Systems In Illinois, Usa And Catalonia, Spain), Jennifer Boll

Honors Projects

This project focuses on the differences in healthcare systems in Illinois, United States and Catalonia, Spain. The research includes a literature review on the different systems and the fundamental differences in how care is delivered. An investigation of the major differences in the cultural and political approaches to health care and how the systems provide for their patients is part of the study. Another focus is the treatment of Spanish-speaking patients in hospitals in Illinois and also the treatment of patients who speak Castilian (traditional Spanish) in hospitals in Catalan-speaking Barcelona. This comparison displays the importance of language in the …

Evidence-Based Practice In Action: Ensuring Quality Of Pediatric Assessment Frequency, Katelyn Mcdonald

Honors Projects

Optimal head to toe assessment frequency in hospitalized pediatric patients is unknown. Although pediatric patients have many accommodations based on their age, developmental state, and varied needs, healthcare professionals have not published any research regarding the optimal frequency for registered nurses to perform head-to-toe assessments in hospitalized pediatric patients. Healthcare professionals must make decisions based on evidence-based practice. A change in pediatric assessment intervals was proposed at a Midwestern regional medical center. The purpose of this pilot study was to ensure patient safety and staff satisfaction following a policy change in head-to-toe assessment frequency Chart audits were performed on all …

School Nurse Job Satisfaction, Provision Of Health Education, And Student Attendence, Molly G. Guenette

Honors Projects

School nurses have a large scope of practice (American Nurses Association [ANA] & National Association of School Nurses [NASN], 2011). However, school administrators often misunderstand, and therefore under appreciate, the school nurses' role (Junious et al., 2004). In addition, few schools meet the 1 :750 nurse to student ratio recommended by the NASN and the ANA (2011); high nurse to student ratios negatively affect school nurses' job satisfaction (Maughn & Adams, 2011). Several studies found that interventions by the school nurse positively impacted students (Bonauito, 2007; Denny et al., 2012), while others have linked the presence of a school nurse …

Development Of A Measure Of Nurse Vigilance From The Patient ' S Perspective: A Content Validity Study, Jennifer Boll

Honors Projects

Problem: Since the landmark Institute of Medicine report, To Err is Human, was published in 1999, patient safety has become a major concern in healthcare systems. Although attention is being given to patient safety and preventing patient morbidity and mortality, experts indicate that little progress has been made in decreasing healthcare errors. Vigilance is a phenomenon often identified in the literature as a means to promote patient safety and well-being. Purpose: The aim of this study was to establish content validity in a newly developed instrument designed to measure nurse vigilance from a patient perspective. Method: Generated 130 items and …

Assessing The Indoor Tanning Behaviors And Risk Of Skin Cancer Among Illinois Wesleyan University Students, Ellen Cornelius '14

Outstanding Senior Seminar Papers

The purpose of this research is to assess the indoor tanning behaviors of students at Illinois Wesleyan University (IWU) in Bloomington, Illinois and formulate strategies to reduce students’ risk of skin cancer. Skin cancer is widespread, and is the second most common cancer among people aged 15-24 years. There is strong evidence to support that many skin cancer cases seen today could have been avoided if the individual had never used an indoor tanning device. Research suggests the use of indoor tanning devices is popular among college-aged females in the US, thus persuading this demographic to reduce their indoor tanning …

School Of Nursing Receives National Award For Study Abroad Program, Kim Hill

News and Events

No abstract provided.

Miller To Receive Iwu’S School Of Nursing Distinguished Alumni Award, Hannah Dhue

News and Events

No abstract provided.

An Event-Related Examination Of Neural Activity During Social Interactions, Jason Themanson, Stephanie Khatcherian, Aaron Ball, Peter Rosen

Scholarship

Social exclusion is known to cause alterations in neural activity and perceptions of social distress. However, previous research is largely limited to examining social interactions as a unitary phenomenon without investigating adjustments in neural and attentional processes that occur during social interactions. To address this limitation, we examined neural activity on a trial-by-trial basis during different social interactions. Our results show conflict monitoring neural alarm activation, indexed by the N2, in response to specific exclusionary events; even during interactions that are inclusionary overall and in the absence of self-reported feelings of social pain. Furthermore, we show enhanced attentional activation to …

Kannaday: Healthcare Industry Needs To Drive Changes, Kim Hill

News and Events

No abstract provided.

Colleen Kannaday To Speak At Associates Luncheon, Sherry Wallace

News and Events

No abstract provided.

Nursing Students Studying Abroad Through Unique Program At Illinois Wesleyan, Kim Hill

News and Events

No abstract provided.

Examining Disparities In Care In An Uninsured, Diabetic Population, Emily R. Manninen

Honors Projects

Type 2 diabetes is a common health problem that requires continuing medical care, self-management, and education. However, different populations experience diabetes and diabetes-related care differently. This study examined diabetes care and health outcomes at a Midwest community health clinic serving the uninsured. Two waves of data were obtained from medical records. Wave 1 consisted of 88 medical records of people who were diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and also had previous medical record reviews regarding routine diabetes care and outcomes. Wave 2 consisted of in-depth review of 20 medical records of male patients, diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, whose primary …