Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Medical Response Times And Their Effect On Prehospital Care, Storm Santos

Scholars Week

Medical Response Times and Their Effect on Prehospital Care

Storm J. Santos, Rural Health Scholar

Dr. Naber, Faculty Advisor

Department of Health Sciences

Abstract

Medical emergencies happen in a variety of different environments. Each environment comes with unique challenges that emergency medical responders must work through to safely alleviate any given medical emergency. This study examines the effect of medical team response times on the overall care of the patient as well as if population density (rural vs urban) further affects the overall care of the patient. This study was inspired by works that compared various environmental factors and their …

Health Nutrition In Murray, Ky, Tiya-Toonse Muuka

Scholars Week

Health nutrition in Murray KY

There are many health related issues that affect a community. One of those issues that affect Murray, KY is the poor nutrition. People are uneducated or ignorant to some of the health issues in their community because they do not take the time to find out. Learning more about health nutrition could be easier for all age groups. Some people are not equipped with the best education, but are still able to get educated by using local resources. In Murray, there are three places someone could find more information about nutrition. Those places include the …

Group Education In Hypertension, Abby Lara

Scholars Week

Abstract Title: Group Education in Hypertension

Presenter: Abby Noisworthy APRN, FNP-BC

Category: Clinical Concerns for Practicing APRNs

Purpose/Goal Statement: Evaluate the effectiveness of group education in improving knowledge and self-reported compliance.

Clinical Question: In hypertensive patients, does increased education, including group educational seminars, increase knowledge and therefore self-reported compliance?

Methods: 45-minute group seminar designed to increase knowledge and promote compliance. Pre- and post-tests administered to evaluate effectiveness. Pre- and post-test means were calculated using Microsoft Excel. Eight-week follow up phone calls were made to evaluate self-reported compliance.

Findings: Mean pre-test score was 69%. Mean post-test score was 98%. A 29% …

Improving Tissue Integrity In Intensive Care Unit Patients, Stacie L. Hearell

Scholars Week

Throughout clinical experiences in western Kentucky intensive care units, it has been observed that critically ill patients are not receiving fully implemented skin care practice according to hospital and company policy. Patients are not turned completely to one side or the other due to size, mechanical intubation, and other medical devices that may be intimidating to staff. Alderen et al., (2011) states that “in mechanically ventilated, critically ill patients, pressure ulcer risk is high and may result in negative patient outcomes and increased healthcare costs.” Gallant, Morin, St-Germain, and Dallaire (2010) state that “In practice, pressure ulcers are indicators of …

Sedation Selection: Minimizing The Occurrence Of Patient Complications, Casey Ceri

Scholars Week

Sedative Selection Practice Change to Minimize the Occurrence of Patient Complications

Murray State University/Baptist Health

Casey Ceri, SRNA, BSN

Anesthesia providers have long struggled to find the ideal anesthetic agent combination with the greatest benefit and least detrimental side effects. In the provision of quality anesthesia patient care, influential factors in anesthetic choice include the provider’s and the patient’s perspective as well as the procedure’s anesthetic requirements. Since many institutions do not impose any protocol regarding sedation selection, the provider’s personal experience and knowledge are increasingly the influential factors in anesthetic agent selection.

Dexmedetomidine was introduced in 1999, indicated for …

Clinical Simulation In Preparing Srnas For Complex Surgery, Mary Nguyen

Scholars Week

Clinical Simulation for SRNA Education and Preparation for Complex Surgical Cases

Mary Nguyen, BSN, RN

Baptist Health/Murray State University, Program of Nurse Anesthesia

Abstract

Complex surgeries, such as craniotomy, encompass numerous anesthetic considerations and risks. Student Registered Nurse Anesthetist’s (SRNA) have low familiarity and confidence from lack of experience due to low case availability. Resultant clinical errors pose serious safety risks to patients. Clinical simulation provides SRNAs with a safe, replicable learning environment to learn step-by-step anesthetic considerations and gain confidence. This project evaluates the efficacy of clinical simulation in SRNA comprehension, preparedness, and self-perception in craniotomy anesthesia.

A qualitative, …

Promotion Of Independent Crna Practice In Rural Areas, Kenneth Hinkle

Scholars Week

Promotion of Independent CRNA Practice in Rural Areas

Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) provide the majority of anesthesia care in rural areas across the United States (Seibert, Alexander, & Lupien 2004). No federal mandate exists which states CRNAs must be supervised, yet some facilities require CRNAs to be supervised by anesthesiologists. CRNAs are equally safe in providing anesthesia care as physician anesthesiologists (Dulisse & Cromwell, 2010). Yet many policy makers and hospital administrators are unaware that regulations permit the safe, cost effective care of CRNAs. Indeed, many facilities are facing pressure to allow anesthesiologists to oversee practice, even in many …

Preventing Sepsis Mortality, Karli Tabers

Scholars Week

This research project explores recent evidence based research on preventing sepsis mortality in inpatient units. Sepsis mortality is an increasing problem in the state of Kentucky and demands immediate intervention. At Baptist Health Paducah, 44 deaths were related to sepsis in a 5-month period. Most deaths related to sepsis can be prevented. This research looks at how these deaths can be prevented and how nurses must change their practice to avoid further mortality from sepsis. This paper includes a literature review of recent research proving that sepsis mortality can be prevented by focusing on discharge teaching to all patients, implementing …

Tb Screening Guidelines For Transitional Care Unit, Caleb E. Newcomer

Scholars Week

The basis of this research was the formation of new TB screening and risk assessment guidelines on a Transitional Care Unit within a medical center. Current evidence-based research studies helped to guide the recommendations for the policy changes based on their results and findings. The most pertinent policy changes are the treatment offered for patients suspected with HIV, the rigorous use of the Risk Assessment Tool, and BAMT testing for TB.

Personal Protective Equipment Use For Patients With Clostridium Difficile, Mallory L. Compton

Scholars Week

In researching the literature on correct PPE by healthcare staff when a patient has C. diff. I have found that the policy on PPE for patients with C. diff at Baptist Health Paducah is compliant. The theoretical framework used for this research is that of Imogene King. Their policy is evidence based and is also cost effective when it comes to preventing the spread of infection from patient to patient. There is no need for change to this policy at this time because it is supported by evidence in the literature.

Obesity In The Murray Community, Taylor E. Miller

Scholars Week

The issue of obesity in the Murray community.

Obesity Due To Poor Snack Choices And Lack Of Physical Activity, Kaleb S. Adams

Scholars Week

Obesity Due to Poor Snack Choices and Lack of Physical Activity

A chronic issue in my immediate community, Murray State University, is obesity due to unhealthy diets and a generally lethargic lifestyle. The muffin picture represents the average healthiness of snacks available on campus. While students are working towards their education on campus it has become increasingly difficult to acquire snacks that are both convenient and health conscious. Places such as the T-Room cater towards less healthy foods by making them far more available and also making them much less expensive. For a student to get a quick lunch consisting …

Fast Way To Health, Angelika Ford

Scholars Week

A health issue that I am passionate about and wish to raise awareness about to make a difference in Murray is increase obesity due to food choices and low gym attendance. I would like to change the way people eat fast food. My first picture is a picture of the outside drive through at McDonald’s during lunch hour. I believe this is a barrier because there are many cars at the drive through order lanes. People are eating on the go; thus they are not spending time sitting down to enjoy the food they are consuming. This situation happens because …

Lighten Up, Brittany G. Burress

Scholars Week

Looking at the effects of fast food restaurant convenience as well as physical activity opportunities and how the two contrast in the community of Murray, Kentucky.

Copd In The Community, Caye Hagarty

Scholars Week

This presentation focuses on COPD in Calloway County.

Substance Abuse, Javarius Hodge

Scholars Week

- One of the biggest issues in the Murray community is substance and drug abuse. In our community we have a lot of college students and older people in the community that are disabled or retired. College students in our community strive very hard to graduate or to even complete a simple assignment. For some students, adderol and vyvanse is the trigger to get them to be motivated enough to do their work or to just complete college because it helps them focus on and complete their work. They also sometimes take Xanax to help them sleep through the night …

Assets And Barriers To Osteoarthritis, Allison K. Wiles

Scholars Week

Osteoarthritis has remained a prevailing health concern in our society for many years. OA is most commonly seen in middle aged men and women suffering from pain and stiffness in the hip, knee, and thumb areas. Risk factors for OA include age, obesity, previous joint injuries, overuse of joint areas, and weak muscles. If not treated, OA could lead to permanent discomfort and pain, and potentially develop into depression, lowered quality of life, or a need for long-term home health care.

By providing photo footage of every day health care issues, Photo voice persuades community members to change habits and …

Photovoice Of Obesity On Murray State University's Campus, Karley Wray, Melissa Godby

Scholars Week

The issue we decided to discuss on campus using Photovoice was obesity. Obesity is becoming a very big topic that we all need to start focusing on. Obesity is defined as having a BMI at or above 30. This is becoming more common with our cultural change. We are becoming more fast food eaters and are not exercising as much as we should. It is even getting worse on college campuses. We all knew of what was called the freshmen 15, but now it is becoming a four year 15. It is becoming more common for college students to become …

Assets And Barriers To Infection Control On A College Campus, Kimberly A. Whitaker, Matthew Allen, Chelsey Delaney

Scholars Week

An abstract about a photovoice done concerning infection control on college campus.

Effects Of Heart Disease, Autumn Brown

Scholars Week

I did my paper on the effects of heart disease in Calloway County and the two photos attached in my paper include a pro and a con of how to help prevent heart disease in Calloway County.

Roommate And Relationship Difficulties, Alexus Flowers

Scholars Week

This is to aid and improve coping skills of sharing living spaces for (in particular) college students. Information is provided on understanding the benefits and the drawbacks of living with others, and more importantly how it should be considered a community health concern/issue that should not be taken lightly.

Helmets Vs. No Helmets, Marcy Marie Turner Ms.

Scholars Week

Motorcycle helmet safety. Here in KY there is no helmet law in place at this time. It is completely up to each individual to decide if they choose to wear a helmet or not. Yes the helmets look simple and like they don't look like they could do much for your protection or make much of a difference, but according to the CDC helmets saved over 1,630 lives and over $2.8 billion in economic costs in 2013. Helmets reduce risk of death by 37% and risk of head injury by 69% also mentioned by the CDC.

So by wearing a …

Seat Belt Safety, Houston J. Hartz

Scholars Week

The issue that I decided to discuss is seat belt safety. According to the CDC, 21,022 vehicle passengers died in motor vehicle crashes in 2014 with more than half of these resulting from the individual not being restrained in the vehicle. A car crash isn’t planned, it can happen at any time to anyone. The only way to prepare for something like that to happen is to always take the right precautions which includes putting on your seatbelt every time you get in the vehicle. Over 2.3 million drivers and passengers were treated in emergency departments in 2014. Young adult …

Survey Of Professional Education Background In Guatemalan Speech-Language Pathologists, Anna Gregovich

Scholars Week

The purpose of this research is to gain insight into the educational background of Guatemalan Speech-Language Pathologists—or those who provide speech and language services. Guatemala has a scarcity of professional training and services surrounding the field of Speech-Language Pathology. Therefore, there is an unmet need for trained professionals to provide speech and language services. A survey was developed and distributed to professionals who provide speech and language services at Brillo de Sol, a school that provides individualized education and rehabilitation to students who would may not normally have the chance to receive an education. This project has been designed as …

The Relationship Between Canine Nasal Length And Second-Hand Smoke Cotinine Levels, Sierra Wilson, Terry Derting

Scholars Week

Second-hand smoke (SHS) has been associated with respiratory cancers in canines, with the predisposed locations determined by the cephalic ratio (head length / head width). Exposure to SHS is frequently measured by analyzing urine or blood samples for the nicotine by-product cotinine. We investigated the suitability of saliva as an alternative source for cotinine analyses in dogs because obtaining saliva is less invasive and cotinine concentrations from SHS exposure are instantaneously measurable in saliva compared to other collection methods. Specifically, we tested for a quantitative relationship between cephalic ratio and the salivary concentration of cotinine. Our null hypothesis was that …

Medication Reconciliation: Preventing Errors And Improving Patient Outcomes, Amanda S. Boren

Scholars Week

No abstract provided.

Fall Prevention, Cody Durbin

Scholars Week

During clinical shift at Baptist Health Paducah Hospital on the CCU floor the question asked was, what needs to be researched? After watching the charge nurse help patients all day I asked her what she thought needed to be researched. After thinking for a while she went on to tell me about how they are getting hit pretty hard on infections so there is no need for more research on that. After that she went on to tell me that their fall prevention protocol was lacking pretty badly. They do a fall risk assessment and based on the number decide …

The Effect Of A Five-Week Exercise Intervention Using Emg Biofeedback On Scapular Stabilizer Muscle Activation And Scapular Kinematics., Samantha Gunderson

Scholars Week

This study investigated the effects of a five-week EMG biofeedback intervention on scapular stabilizer muscle activation, and scapular kinematics, in a healthy population. Twenty subjects participated in the study (n = 10 exercise with biofeedback, n = 10 exercise only). Both groups participated in exercises targeted at activating the serratus anterior and lower trapezius muscles three days a week for five weeks. The exercise with biofeedback group completed a biofeedback session once a week. All subjects were tested at baseline, week 6, and week 8 for muscle activation of the upper trapezius (UT), lower trapezius (UT), and serratus anterior (SA), …