Digital Commons Network^™

Considering The Historical And Systemic Context, To What Extent Are Cuban Women’S Healthcare And Reproductive Rights Affected By The Privacy And Social Influence Of Cuba Today?, Autumn Cowell

Student Research Symposium

This paper will examine how historical and systemic values continue to frame social influences thus impacting Cuban women’s healthcare and reproductive rights. If the impact of history and systems still affects social influences then Women’s Healthcare and Reproductive Rights may be compromised. This investigation will highlight the potential benefits and risks of historical and systemic values that have affected challenges or changes within Cuban culture. And how these social influences are found within the areas of prevention, intervention, and treatment. This paper hopes to outline how the Cuban government and society are sustaining the protection of Cuban women’s access to …

A Hiccup In The Road: Omm In The Medically Complex, Catherine F. Alapatt

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Many patients in the hospital require multiple medications to treat their medical concerns. While medications may be highly effective, they can cause a variety of side effects. Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine (OMM) can be used as an adjuvant therapy, potentially decreasing the number of medications that patients are on and their side effects. We present a unique case of a patient with intractable hiccups who could not be solely managed with medications alone. OMM was used in this patient’s treatment plan, reducing the number of medications. The implications of this case demonstrate the need for OMM to be used more frequently …

Standardization Of Discharge Instructions For Mild Traumatic Brain Injury/Concussion In Children Presenting To Ed: A Qi Project, Niralee K. Rana, Nicole Gerber Md, Michael Alfonzo Md, Snezana Osorio Md, Deborah Levine Md

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Background: Mild traumatic brain injuries (mTBI) or concussions account for high rates of emergency department (ED) visits. Concussion diagnoses are used less often in young children leading to a variability in parental education and discharge instructions. Lack of discharge guidance may increase parental anxiety, impact recovery, and increase ED visits.

Objectives: To increase the proportion of ED patients discharged with age-appropriate instructions for mTBI by 50% by June 1, 2024, and to determine the impact age-appropriate instructions have on decreasing parental anxiety.

Methods: This observational time series with planned sequential experimentation is in progress at a Pediatric ED affiliated with …

Impact Of Diabetic Education On Reducing Hospital Readmission Rates: A Literature Review Of Adults With Diabetes, Frank Camarda

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

According to 2018 data from the Diabetes Institute Foundation, adults in the U.S. diagnosed with diabetes accounted for 17 million emergency department visits. The readmission rate for patients with diabetes far exceeds the general readmission rates for hospitalized patients. While there is recognition of the need for diabetic education to reduce hospital readmissions, optimizing long-term self-management of diabetics remains a focus of ongoing research.

Singh Thattha Beard Covering Technique And Quantitative Fit Testing Of A Tight-Fitting Filtering Facepiece (Ffp3), Harmann Singh, Allen Ecker, Todd Schachter, Thomas Boyle, Matthew Vanek

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

The study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the Singh Thattha beard covering technique when quantitatively fit testing tight-fitting filtering face masks (N95 respirators) on male members of the Sikh religious group. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Sikh healthcare workers faced the difficult decision of either shaving their unshorn beards to continue their profession or finding alternative solutions to maintain adequate respiratory protection. The study used a quantitative fit test method to measure the number of particles inside and outside the mask, calculating a fit factor. Participants performed exercises while wearing an N95 respirator and then repeated the exercises with a …

Community Healthcare Workers (Chw) High-Risk Stabilization Study: Does The Ability Of Chws At Mobile Covid Clinics To Link Patients With Uncontrolled Diabetes To A Physician Improve Short Term Outcomes?, Mo Hadaya, Venkateswar Venkataraman, Jaimy D. Jabon, Kenneth W. Stagliano, Richard T. Jermyn

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Uncontrolled diabetes may cause preventable but significant effects. One major preventative measure is early screening; there are hopes that community healthcare workers can increase awareness and screening availability, especially in underserved populations. We hosted and recorded logs of patients at mobile COVID health clinics, educating those with uncontrolled diabetes and connecting them to healthcare. We then looked to see if any patients had improvements in blood glucose to non-diabetic levels. 378 patients were logged, but only 138 were in events that had a significant amount of repeat visits. Twenty-five of them had blood sugar indicative of uncontrolled diabetes. Out of …

A Review Of Risk Factors, Adverse Outcomes, And Counseling Strategies Among Pregnant Individuals With Eating Disorders, Alexandra Fontaine, Emily Meale

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Background: Eating disorders (EDs) among women of childbearing age have become more prevalent on the global level. Identifying at-risk populations of women having EDs before, during, or after pregnancy is essential for clinicians to improve treatment and decrease the likelihood of negative maternal and/or fetal outcomes. Purpose: The purpose is to determine risk factors for women who have EDs throughout pregnancy, to identify negative pregnancy outcomes of women suffering from EDs, and to explore treatment and counseling options through the postpartum period. Methods: This literature review mainly utilizes sources from PubMed and the National Institute of Health databases. An expansive …

Out Of Time: Altered Mental Status And Temporal Seizure On Background Of Dementia & Uti, Jennifer Nguyen, Victoria Wong Murray, Judith Anne Lightfoot, Mukarram Razvi, Kasturi Etukuru

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Herpes simplex virus is common in the US, with an estimated seroprevalence of HSV-1 of 40% and HSV-2 of 11%. Although herpes encephalitis is rare, with an incidence of roughly 1/100,000 individuals per year in the US, the mortality rate of 70% and rapid progression make identification and treatment imperative.

An 85 year old woman was brought to the emergency department from nursing home with altered mental status of unknown duration in refractory status epilepticus on a background of dementia, history of multiple falls, and indwelling foley catheter in addition to hypertension and bilateral knee replacement. EEG demonstrated abnormal discharges …

The Influence Of Antiseptic Catheter Caps On Reducing The Rate Of Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infections, Rhiannon Lenz

Academic Festival

No abstract provided.

Effects Of Cardiac Rehabilitation On Patients With Congestive Heart Failure Following A Myocardial Infarction, Stasia Dussault

Academic Festival

•Three phases of cardiac rehabilitation (CR) programs: in hospital, early outpatient, and maintenance. •Maintenance includes a supervised recovery program, focused on physical activity, health education, mental health and risk factor awareness. •CR has been known to lower the risk of death from future heart problems by 1/3. •Depression and lack of motivation are common amongst people with cardiovascular disease. •CR improves mood and perception of life in addition to cardiovascular health.

Neuroprotection Through Positioning Neonates In The Critical Care Setting, Kaleigh Schofield

Academic Festival

On the neonatal intensive care unit at Greenwich, new positioners, known as the dandelions, allow for nurses to reposition patients in an easier manner. Most nurses had expressed that they were used to using rolled blankets or towels as a way to position in the past; therefore, the nurses expressed some confusion on the importance of these new positioners and how they can provide better support for neurological development. It is important to educate the unit nurses on the importance of positioning with the dandelion in order to support the infants neurologically as well as physically.

The Prevention Of Pressure Injuries In Pediatric Patients Through The Implementation Of A Uniform Turning Schedule., Ailie Daley

Academic Festival

This project involves the implementation of a uniform turning schedule, in the form of a clock denoting which position (right lying, left lying, supine) a patient should be in at certain times, with the goal to decrease the incidence of pressure injuries on a pediatric medical-surgical unit.

Effectiveness Of Oral Chlorhexidine In Prevention Of Ventilated Associated Pneumonia, Harrison Scalise

Academic Festival

No abstract provided.

Evidence-Based (Ebp) Quality Improvement (Qi) Falls Presentation, Isabella Guarente

Academic Festival

No abstract provided.

Air Pressure Mattresses Vs Static Air Mattresses In The Prevention Of Pressure Ulcers, Emily Hobbs

Academic Festival

No abstract provided.

Effectiveness Of Earlier Removal Of Urinary Catheters In Prevention Of Catheter Associated Urinary Tract Infections In Women With C-Sections, Sofia Mancinone

Academic Festival

No abstract provided.

Effectiveness Of Chlorhexidine Dressings In Prevention Of Catheter Associated Bloodstream Infections, Kasey Cottrell

Academic Festival

No abstract provided.

Impact Of A 30-45° Head Of Bed Elevation On Incidence Of Vap​, Victoria Thurley

Academic Festival

Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is a serious lung infection that can occur in patients who require mechanical ventilation. It can lead to increased hospital stays, costs, and mortality rates. Maintaining a 30-45° head-of-bed (HOB) elevation is a recommended practice to help prevent VAP in adult patients. This poster utilizes a systematic review and a randomized control trial to explore the research question: how does elevating the bed to 30-45° compared to the standard of care of an elevation less than 30° reduce the incidence of VAP in adult hospitalized patients?

Evidence-Based Interventions To Prevent Surgical Site Infections, Rebecca Scali, Cara Mcdonald, Caroline Onderko, Olivia Mcnicholas, Samantha Mai

Academic Festival

Our project was originally put together in our Evidence-Based Practice nursing course in the Fall 2023 semester. We each did extensive research on our interventions for the prevention of surgical site infections. We each wrote quality improvement papers for our individual interventions and then came together to make a cohesive project on the prevention of surgical site infections.

Social Justice In Healthcare: Access & Equity, Kayla Campisi, Francesca Catrone, Elizabeth Encke, Samantha Louros

Academic Festival

This poster defines social justice in healthcare, addressing access and equity from local, national, and global perspectives. It explores solutions from local, national, and global perspectives as well, acknowledging biases surrounding the subject. Exploring it from these three perspectives raises awareness of the ways in which diverse populations have been affected, resulting in disparities in healthcare, ultimately leading to extensive gaps in education and resources. This project looks at the greater Bridgeport community, the overall United States, and healthcare accessibility worldwide. It discusses barriers faced by those that are poor and marginalized, and solutions that have potential to create great …

Best Practices For The Treatment Of Agitated Adults In An Emergency Room Setting, Sarah Steffens

Academic Festival

The main purpose of this project is to remind nurses of the best practices for the de-escalation of agitated adults, beginning with verbal communication and ending with seclusion if necessary. Verbal de-escalation is a very useful tool that is being underused when it can really benefit the patients. Simply talking to the patient can make such a difference and can keep that verbal discontentment as only verbal and not physical. It is also addressed in this project the possible implementation of a Security Alert Response Team, which includes a physician, nurse, and security officer who are trained specifically in behavioral …

Prevention Of Surgical Site Infections Through The Use Of Prophylaxis Antibiotics, Kayla Ryan, Abigail Ricker

Academic Festival

This project looks at the prevention of surgical site infections by evaluating if multidose antibiotics or single dose antibiotics are more effective in preventing surgical site infections.

Interaquatic Assault, Bryce Becker, Michael Tenam, Niko Cappiello, David Robillard, Owen Geis, Devin O'Connell, Ryan Riccio, Seth Silvestro, Justin Bebarski, Jaime Carvajal Perez

Academic Festival

We held an alpha test for our senior project in Game Design and Development. In the alpha test, the entire class played the game and answered 7 questions to help us make improvements to the game. From the survey results we were able to make improvements for our upcoming beta test to let anyone who wanted to play our game Interaquatic Assault.

The Relationship Between Self-Care And Stress In Nursing Students, Jacqueline Rattigan

Academic Festival

The Relationship Between Self-care and Stress in Nursing Students

Eight in ten college students experience frequent periods of stress. “Recent research concerning healthcare-related fields and stress has indicated that nursing students experience higher stress levels compared to other majors and that these levels are on the rise.” (Zheng YX, 2022). This could be from nursing students having a more intense course load, dealing with heavy content, clinical hours in conjunction with school hours, and the stress of dealing with human lives(Ribeiro, 2020). Many aspects lead to high stress in nursing students. Self-care is one way to decrease stress in nursing …

The Effectiveness Of The Braden Scale In The Prevention Of Pressure Ulcers, Noelle Fallon

Academic Festival

No abstract provided.

Social Justice In Healthcare: Access And Equity To Healthcare, Francesca Catrone, Elizabeth Encke, Samantha Louros, Kayla Campisi

Academic Festival

No abstract provided.

The Effect Of Stigma Against Mental Illness On The Disparities Of The Psychiatric Healthcare System, Avery Vandyke

Academic Festival

Mental illness affects a significant portion of the population, yet stigma surrounding it persists, leading to disparities in psychiatric healthcare. This paper discusses the impact of stigma on mental health treatment, drawing insights from scholarly literature, clinical experiences, and societal observations. It addresses the stereotypes and misconceptions that contribute to the reluctance of individuals to seek treatment and examines the influence of media representations and cultural attitudes surrounding psychiatric healthcare. Moreover, the paper explores the implications of stigma on the quality of care provided by healthcare professionals, particularly focusing on the attitudes of nurses in psychiatric settings. Drawing from firsthand …

The Effect Of Negative Pressure Wound Therapy In Post-Operation Abdominal Patients In Prevention Of Surgical Site Infections, Camryn Bishop

Academic Festival

Surgical site infections (SSIs) continue to be a significant concern in healthcare settings, posing substantial risks to patients' well-being and fostering vast economic burdens on both the patient and the healthcare system. This paper investigates the efficacy of negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) as a preventive measure against SSIs, along with several other interventions aimed at reducing infection. One systematic review study found that negative pressure wound therapy was statistically significant in reducing surgical site infections post-operatively, as well as several other measures to decrease the risk of surgical site infections among patients.This research highlights the need for healthcare professionals, …

The Effectiveness Of Educational Interventions In The Prevention Of Central Line Associated Blood Stream Infections, Isabel Kittell

Academic Festival

Central-line associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) pose a significant threat to patient safety and healthcare quality. This paper presents a thorough review of the effectiveness of educational interventions in mitigating CLABSIs. The primary objective is to assess the impact of various educational strategies on reducing CLABSI rates in adult intensive care units. This review aims to analyze the efficacy of educational interventions in preventing CLABSIs, encompassing diverse educational methods, both in combination and alone. A systematic search of relevant databases was conducted to identify peer-reviewed studies focusing on educational interventions aimed at preventing CLABSIs. Studies were included if they assessed the …

What Are The Effects Of Psychological Trauma On Nurses With Psychological Trauma, As Well As Their Care To Patients?, Abigail Marsh

Academic Festival

Nursing encompasses the promotion of health and prevention of illness, the care of the healthy, the physically ill, mentally ill, and disabled people of any age, in all health care and community settings. It is among one of the most sought-after professions, as well as a profession that will always be necessary. “Internationally, nurses are recognized as an integral part of healthcare with a number of reports highlighting the value of nursing and the importance of nurses being able to practice to their full potential” (Bragadóttir, H., Burmeister, E. A., et. al, 2020).

Historically, nurses have worked closely with doctors, …