Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Let's Talk About Sex & Prep: District 2 Does!, Chrissa M. Shaffer

Georgia Public Health Association Annual Meeting and Conference

Defining what a PrEP Service Program entails and how it could benefit your district or county health center. Discussing methods that have been used to set up PrEP Services within a district – including training, resources, and promotion. Identifying the challenges and working through them. Reviewing the results of the PrEP Services over the past year, and the ongoing goals to encourage and increase our PrEP Services.

Nursing Students’ Perceptions Of The Impact Of Teamwork And Collaboration On Patient Care, Riana Square

Honors College Theses

Teamwork and communication are two topics that a vast majority of nursing students are introduced to in their first semester of nursing school. Many nursing students have a desire to improve their communication skills and have a better understanding of the inner workings of interdisciplinary collaboration. A study across multiple cohorts of Georgia Southern Nursing students was conducted to explore their perceptions of the correlation between teamwork and patient care outcomes. This study also explores nursing students’ readiness to communicate with other healthcare professionals and the effectiveness of the means to practice these communication skills while in nursing school. It …

Moral Distress As A Predictive Variable Of Perceived Job Retention In Senior Nursing Students, Rebekah L. Barber

Honors College Theses

New Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) graduate nurses are leaving careers within inpatient healthcare facilities presumably because of moral distress related to the anticipated workload of registered nurses (RN). BSN curriculums are responsible for providing practical education through clinical instruction; however, many students experience inconsistencies in best practice recommendations. The inconsistencies predominantly originate between didactic nursing instruction and clinical learning within inpatient healthcare facilities. Using a cross-sectional descriptive research design, this thesis utilized the validated Moral Distress Scale-Revised (MDS-R), a 21-item instrument that assesses the frequency and intensity of moral distress experienced by healthcare workers. Student responses to the …

A Study On The Correlation Between The Study Habits Of Nursing Students And Perceived Exam Anxiety, Rebecca A. Bracken

Honors College Theses

Anxiety is a concept very familiar to many university students. This especially applies to students who have decided to major in nursing. With the knowledge and experiences that accompany attending nursing school, come a series of rigorous, high-stakes exams. Nationwide, many students share a common struggle to be successful on these exams, which often leads to a sense of anxiety that becomes associated with one's experience during testing, known as test anxiety. A study across multiple baccalaureate nursing school cohorts was completed to determine a correlation between the various methods used by nursing students to prepare for an exam and …

Effect Of Covid-19 On Icu Nurse Burnout, Kayce Sheppard

Honors College Theses

Burnout is becoming increasingly worse for those in the nursing field after the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. While all nurses are at risk, ICU nurses are seen as at a higher risk for this increased burnout due to the already high stress environment they are subjected to in their unit. Without proper intervention of this issue, the levels of burnout are expected to continue to remain high, leading to job dissatisfaction, short staffing, and reduced patient satisfaction. The objective of this study is to review the level of burnout among ICU nurses. A burnout study was conducted on ICU …

Covid-19 Vaccination: A Study Of College Students’ Perceptions Regarding Inoculation Post-Covid Infection, Analisa Harter, Wilma Matti

Honors College Theses

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), known as Covid-19, was first identified in China and proclaimed a pandemic in March 2020 by the World Health Organization (WHO). Covid-19 is a virus transmitted via respiratory droplets and becomes airborne when a person who carries the virus coughs, sneezes, or breathes out droplets, and the virus enters a susceptible host. Since the pandemic outbreak, three vaccines have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Despite FDA approval, many Americans are hesitant to receive Covid-19 vaccinations. The perceived severity of SARS-CoV-2 and the perceived safety of the vaccine appear to …

Prepare For The Flare: Preparing Georgia Southern College Of Nursing Students On How To Properly Assess And Educate Patients With Atopic Dermatitis, Charlotte V. Moore

Honors College Theses

Atopic dermatitis is a skin disorder commonly known as eczema. This autoimmune disease is common and can appear on multiple parts of the body as dry, itchy skin. This thesis will discuss research on educational programs presented to nursing students in a Bachelor’s of Science nursing program on how to recognize atopic dermatitis and its triggers and be able to properly educate future patients about it. Nurse-led education is beneficial in reducing disease severity and improving quality of life by enhancing self-management, adherence and patient/guardian engagement. Are nursing students aware of the signs and symptoms of the disease, and do …

Understanding Nursing Students' Cultural Competency Levels And Implicit Biases, Deja J. Gillans

Honors College Theses

In the United States, non-Hispanic Black women are approximately three times as likely to die from pregnancy-related complications as non-Hispanic White or Hispanic women. Racism has been identified as a significant barrier to health equality and the improvement of maternal health outcomes for Black patients. Cultural competence and implicit bias in health care has emerged in part to address factors that may contribute to racial/ethnic disparities in health care. Both can impact the way nurses consciously and subconsciously deliver healthcare to patients of a different gender, race, religion, culture, socioeconomic status, etc. Nurses who are more culturally competent and aware …

Eating Disorders: Barriers To Peer And Self Recognition And The Ability To Seek Or Give Help, Savannah Mcvey

Honors College Theses

A lack of knowledge concerning eating disorders has been found to play a major role in self-recognition, peer recognition, and barriers to seeking treatment at all. More specifically, straight men were more often not able to identify these issues in themselves or others. Theories that have been presented involve the image of eating disorders being a “woman’s issue” and a possible obsession with weight lifting and changing one’s body to take on a more masculine build. Combatting this issue needs to begin in the form of basic education on college campuses due to the prevalence in this particular age group. …

Staffing Up For A Pandemic And Beyond: Utilizing A Prn Nursing Pool, Leyna Mashburn, James Watkins

Georgia Public Health Association Annual Meeting and Conference

The COVID-19 pandemic’s early vaccination stage required health department staff to work long, odd hours to accommodate the needs of Georgia residents. This presented a challenge since some health departments only have 2-3 full-time nurses. District 2 hired a pool of PRN nurses to cover significant gaps in workforce throughout multiple vaccination phases of the pandemic response. This additional workforce allowed District 2 to maximize number of vaccine doses given.

During later COVID vaccination phases (summer 2021 – present), PRNs allowed health departments to resume regular services alongside high vaccination capacity. With various funding sources, District 2 used the PRNs …

Nursing Students' Competence With Anesthesia, Mallory Groover

Honors College Theses

Anesthesia management is diverse and complex. As a Registered Nurse (RN), it is imperative that the basic pathophysiology of anesthesia complications is understood in order to provide competent care. The effects of anesthesia can vary greatly depending on factors such as age, sex, health status, and lifestyle. Since there are several variables, it takes years of experience working with a diverse population to anticipate adverse effects and patient outcomes. Preparedness for anesthesia management could be improved through the use of simulations during nursing school relating to post-anesthesia care, as well as more in-depth lectures over the potential complications and pharmacodynamics …

Implementation Of A Virtual Nurse Residency Program For Public Health Nurses: A Pilot Study, Ashlie L. Pullen

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Implementation of a Virtual Nurse Residency Program for Public Health Nurses: A Pilot Study

Background: Nursing retention is a growing concern for many healthcare organizations. One of the Georgia Department of Public Health’s goals is to improve the recruitment and retention rates of public health nurses in the state. In this cohort study of nurses with less than 18 months of experience in public health, pre and post-tests were conducted to measure stress, confidence, job satisfaction, and public health core competencies.

Methods: The participants took part in asynchronous and synchronous online content led by public health professionals. These two modules …

From The Other Side: Nurses’ Perception On The Use Of Negative Pressure Wound Therapy In Clinical Setting, Chinal Patel

Honors College Theses

Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (NPWT) is a revolutionary technology being used more frequently in clinical settings across the United States. Though there has been extensive research on the efficacy of NPWT medically and otherwise, there has been little research regarding the healthcare providers’ perception of use of “wound-vacs,” the device used for NPWT. As new techniques and/or devices are made available for use in a clinical setting, the burden to educate staff falls upon patient care providers. The administration of NPWT is wholly reliant on a nurse as they are the ones to apply the dressing, change it and document …

Infant Car Seat Safety Education And Confidence Measure For Maternal-Child Nursing Students, Mariah A. Arnett

Honors College Theses

Studies have shown that nursing students experience a greater-than-normal amount of anxiety and decreased clinical confidence when in settings involving infants and children, which is said to have a negative impact on the learning experience (Lassche, 2013; Moscaritolo, 2009). Patient education is a vital aspect of nursing, but one that the student nurse may not feel comfortable taking part in, either because of their lack of nursing experience or because of a lack of experience with infants and infant safety (Potter, 2020; Lassche, 2013). This project attempts to assess for a change in clinical confidence after providing a subject specific …

Nursing Students’ Perspectives On The Covid-19 Vaccines: Moderna, Pfizer, And Johnson And Johnson, Savannah M. Workman

Honors College Theses

There are very few things that everyone in the world shares in common, but there is one thing that has recently plagued our entire world and has impacted each person’s life. The first case of COVID-19 occurred in the United States in January of 2020. In the United States during March of 2020, life as we knew it changed. Restrictions were put in place, schools closed, food and supply chain shortages occurred, travel was banned, and we were warned to stay away from others as they could be symptomatically or asymptomatically carrying the novel coronavirus. Since the time of quarantine …

College Students’ Perceptions Of Anxiety And Coping: Physical Activity Versus Alcohol Use, John M. Neville

Honors College Theses

Anxiety is likely to impact every single person in the world. It can, at times, be advantageous; however, at other times, it can be crippling. There is not a consensus as to its cause. But, through years of research it has been discovered it results from structural and chemical changes within the brain. It is believed these changes contribute largely to the development of anxiety. Other factors such as stressors, trauma, and substance abuse may exacerbate anxiety and accelerate its development. This has prompted researchers, scientists, and clinicians to explore ways in which individuals may cope with this condition. For …

Bridging The Gaps: Exploring Factors Associated With Goal Achievement Within An Accountable Care Organization Care Coordination Program, Jessica L. Polk

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Background: Healthcare cost in the U.S. has been increasing at an unsustainable rate due to the growing population diagnosed with multiple chronic conditions and a fragmented healthcare system. The high-risk patient population includes persons who over utilize the healthcare system with frequent avoidable hospitalizations, emergency room visits, and exacerbations of their chronic conditions. This high-risk population makes up five percent of the U.S. but accounts for over fifty percent of all healthcare spending. Care coordination models have emerged to focus proactive health interventions for the highest-risk patient populations to reduce overutilization and empower patients to improve long-term health. Evidence has …

Cyberbullying In Middle School Students: An Intervention Using An Educational Mobile Application For Caregivers: A Pilot Study, Gregory C. Claxton

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Cyberbullying among middle school students is a growing problem that is shown to affect psychological development in middle school youth which can result in self-harm and suicide. Evidence suggests more frequent communication between children and their caregivers is a protective factor against cyberbullying. The KnowBullying app is designed to increase caregiver and student communication to prevent bullying. This study examines the effectiveness of the KnowBullying app regarding enhanced caregiver and child communication and cyberbullying experience reduction in middle school students. Five students and nine caregivers were given surveys before and after the caregivers downloaded and used the KnowBullying app. The …

In The Midst Of A Pandemic: Exploring Nursing Students' Attitudes And Beliefs Toward Their Training And Education, Harper C. Lewis

Honors College Theses

During Spring of 2020, didactic and clinical courses for nursing students at Georgia Southern University transformed to virtual platforms due to COVID-19. Student nurses learn their profession with experiences in both classroom and clinical settings. Clinical setting helps students strengthen psychomotor skills learned during simulated laboratory work. While all health profession students expressed stress as a major factor for well-being, student nurses seemed to experience more stress. Stress threatens nursing students’ sense of control over present and future performance. Competently performing skills required of newly graduated nurses greatly determines new graduates’ ability to secure employment as a registered nurse in …

School Of Nursing News, Georgia Southern University

School of Nursing News (2013-2023)

• RN to BSN Program Recognized for Affordability

School Of Nursing News, Georgia Southern University

School of Nursing News (2013-2023)

• School of Nursing Reaccredited

School Of Nursing News, Georgia Southern University

School of Nursing News (2013-2023)

• Lewis Receives Eagle Excellence Award

School Of Nursing News, Georgia Southern University

School of Nursing News (2013-2023)

• Hagerty Earns Fellowship Credential

Obesity Bias: Bachelor Of Science Nursing Student Perceptions, Ashlyn Nicole Beasley

Honors College Theses

The National Institutes of Health identifies that one in three adults is obese. Obesity is defined as a body mass index (BMI) of 30 and above. Patients with obesity may deny themselves healthcare due to the mistreatment and mistrust they may develop within the healthcare system. If the prejudice against obese patients is addressed, it could prevent future issues for patients and healthcare providers. Not only can bias against obese patients lead to injury, but it can also lead worsening conditions. When a patient perceives the stigma of a weight bias from a caregiver, it can cause them to withdraw …

School Of Nursing News, Georgia Southern University

School of Nursing News (2013-2023)

• RN to BSN Program Ranked No. 4 in Georgia

• Nursing Students Assist with COVID-19 Vaccinations

Does Religious Belief Affect Attitudes Towards Mental Illness?, Robert B. Conway

Honors College Theses

There has been an increase in recent years in the effort to raise awareness of mental health issues, particularly suicide. However, awareness does not equate to understanding and there has been little in the way of public education. One of the biggest obstacles faced by those suffering from a mental illness is the public stigma associated with it. Given the high percentage of the population in the South who identify as being religious, this study looked at the relationship between religiosity and public stigma towards mental illness. Two hundred forty-two university students drawn from undergraduate biology and nursing classes completed …

The Presence Of Spirituality And Its Effect On Attitudes Towards Death, Isabel F. Cortez

Honors College Theses

ABSTRACT

Rationale Implementing spirituality practices in healthcare is not heavily emphasized yet has the potential to increase positive patient outcomes.

Hypothesis If an individual identifies with having a strong sense of spirituality, then they will have decreased negative reactions towards dying.

Methods Data was collected via distribution and processing of surveys on the Statesboro campus of Georgia Southern University. The survey included a series of questions regarding general demographics, strength of spirituality, feelings associated with death, and coping ability. The information collected was processed through SPSS in order to evaluate correlations present.

Results It was found that individuals who indicated …

School Of Nursing News, Georgia Southern University

School of Nursing News (2013-2023)

• Faculty Publish Work

School Of Nursing News, Georgia Southern University

School of Nursing News (2013-2023)

• Nursing Students Celebrate Accomplishments

School Of Nursing News, Georgia Southern University

School of Nursing News (2013-2023)

• Nursing Faculty Awarded Grant