Digital Commons Network^™

Can I Hit Your Juul? Nicotine Motives & Accessibility In College Students, Ashlen Grubbs

Scholars Week

The purpose of this project was to examine the associations between nicotine dependency, motives, and the impact of new laws on college student nicotine patterns. Motives for smoking can also be analyzed through categorizing motives into primary and secondary motives (Piasecki, et. al., 2011). Primary motives are reasons such as habit, tolerance, cravings, and loss of control (Piasecki, et. el., 2011). All motives for smoking have been shown to have a positive correlation with nicotine dependence except smoking to lose weight and for socialization (McEwen, et. al., 2008). Yet conflicting research by Aloise-Young, Grant, and Hansen (1994) indicates that smoking …

Face Masks And Ambiguity In Expressions: A Barrier To Social Affiliation?, Jessica Criddle, Daphne J. Jackson, Katherine D. Link

Scholars Week

First impressions are a key component of the formation of social relationships. Facial expressions and facial features inform impressions leading to social affiliation, such as trustworthiness. The usage of face masks, common with the incidence of COVID-19, veils features giving information on trustworthiness, attractiveness, and other factors informing social impressions. Existing literature shows ambiguity in expressions and in social situations can make individuals less trusting of others. This is prevalent in those intolerant of uncertainty or with a high need for closure, which is the need to find answers in ambiguous situations. Together, these findings suggest that ambiguity of facial …

Am I Laughing At What You're Laughing At?: The Relationship Between Humor And Empathy, Connor Brown

Scholars Week

How and when does someone decide to tell a joke? The current study is focused primarily on examining the relationship between using humor to communicate and empathy. It was hypothesized that there will be a positive correlation between using humor to communicate and empathy. This furthers previous research which has only commonly looked at enjoying humor as it correlates to empathy (Hampes, 2001; 2010). The current study was administered as an online survey to undergraduate participants (N = 70), and measured using communicative humor, and empathy, as well as other individual difference traits such as openness and conscientiousness. Results of …

Growth To Healthy Perfectionism: An Investigation Of Perfectionist Tendencies With Gifted And Talented Adolescents, Phoebe Pohlman

Scholars Week

The present study includes the creation, implementation, and results of an eight-session, school-based, primary-prevention program designed for gifted and talented middle school students. The unit, “Growth to Healthy Perfectionism” is designed to address each of the six dimensions of perfectionism according to Dr. Randy Frost, which include Parental Expectations (PE), Parental Concern (PC), Personal Standards (PS), Doubts About Actions (DA), Concern Over Mistakes (CM), and Organization (O) with the intent of decreasing unhealthy perfectionism and increasing healthy perfectionism in students.

The study was conducted in a southern middle school in a classroom of gifted and talented students in seventh and …

Education Reporters And Trauma-Informed Interviewing, Mallory Hlava

Scholars Week

No abstract provided.

The Nature Of Genes Expressed Differently After Environmental Drug Exposure, Nicci Siffel

Scholars Week

The Nature of Genes Expressed Differently after Environmental Drug Exposure

N. Siffel, S. Anderson, B. Subedi, D.R. Hammond-Weinberger

Drug use, of prescription or illicit varieties, alter bodily functions in different ways, especially in the nervous system. These drugs are found in sources of drinking water because they are not removed by wastewater treatment facilities. To investigate the effects of these drugs as they appear in mixtures, we exposed groups of zebrafish embryos to cocktails of drugs and screened for genes that were differentially expressed between the experimental and control groups and could thus give more insight into their biological functions. …

The Impact Of “Unchicken” Announcement On The Market Valuations Of Tyson Foods, Inc. And Beyond Meat, Inc., Samuel Noe, Naveen Musunuru

Scholars Week

Tyson Foods, Inc., the second largest processor and marketer of chicken, beef, and pork, has recently entered the plant-based chicken market with the unveiling of the “Unchicken” sandwich. Beyond Meat, Inc., a company that specializes in plant-based alternatives for consumers, is a direct competitor. On October 15, 2020 Tyson Foods, Inc., announced this new product for the company. This is an event study looking at the market effects on both Tyson Foods, Inc., and Beyond Meat, Inc. This study bases its’ findings on abnormal valuation.

A Historical Review Of The Effects Of Violence In The Media, D'Myia Thornton

Scholars Week

From the beginning of newspapers to the dawn of click-for-profit in media today, mass shootings have become a trend in the 21st century. This research paper gives more insight on the effects of media coverage on violence whether positive or negative. There is something wrong with the way the media reports violence. It’s detrimental to society to publicize so specifically, the details pertaining to these heinous acts. In addition, could it be also detrimental to withhold information? This study will be an empirical review of media coverage in the past, to determine the impact media has on mass shootings, violence …

Chicago Defender Referred To Be "Dangerous" A Study Of Chicago Defender's Editorials And Letter To The Editor In 1968, Abdullah Balobaid

Scholars Week

The Chicago Defender is the largest and most influential African American newspaper in the united stated. This newspaper rose to be one of the most influential African American newspapers during the earth and mid-20th century due to the role it played in addressing the issue of migration of African Americans from the south side to the north, as well as being at the forefront in fighting against racism, inequality and having a countrywide editorials standpoint. Founded in 1905 this newspaper rose to fame by using sensationalism to boost circulation. Due to its firm stand against white supremacy, the quest for …

Identification Of Non-Cholinergic Receptors In Embryonic Zebrafish Skeletal Muscle, Rhiannon Huffines

Scholars Week

No abstract provided.

Evaluating The Impact Of Common Fertilizers On Soil Properties After Planting Tomatoes And Marigolds, Rachel Stuckey, Iin Handayani

Scholars Week

There are many name brand fertilizers that are used today in gardening in the state of Kentucky. Due to the standardization of name brand fertilizer production in factories, this can cause the fertilizers to compromise the nutrients of soil, while all-natural fertilizers are seen as better quality for the consumers, plants and soils. Alaska, Miracle Grow, Monty’s, Pure Gold, Tiger Bloom are the top five fertilizers sold in the state of Kentucky. This study aims to determine the impact of five top commercial fertilizers on soil quality indicators including organic matter, acidity level and moisture content. These fertilizers were applied …

Implementing The Use Of Nasal Midazolam During Acute Seizures, Elizabeth Armstrong

Scholars Week

The first line emergency drug used for seizures is rectal diazepam. The use of nasal midazolam should be the priority drug used. This research develops reasoning as to why schools, hospitals, and clinics should switch to NM. The key findings included ease of administration, quicker action time, with cheaper cost. Patients will greatly benefit from this medication change because a shortened seizure provides for a greater quality of life.

Music Therapy As A Means Of Pain Reduction And Decreased Opioid Use In The Icu Setting, Dakota Shemwell

Scholars Week

Abstract

Being in the ICU as a patient is not a pleasant experience by any stretch of the imagination. Patients in the ICU have recently had major surgery, are ventilated, or are critically ill in other ways. On top of this are the painful procedures that take place in the ICU; repositioning the patient and endotracheal suctioning are just two such procedures that take place in the ICU. Music therapy has been proven effective in reducing a patient’s pain thus, leading to fewer needed doses of PRN opioid pain medications. With our nation in the midst of an opioid epidemic, …

Implementing A Standard Handoff Amongst Nurses, Brennan Kunkel

Scholars Week

For many years the nursing handoff procedure was an informal passing of information between two nurses. While informal this handoff was still very vital to the care of a patient in any given circumstance. It can provide key details and information that could be missed or unknown from a previous shift. The nursing handoff has gone through many changes and improvements throughout the years. This paper looks at the error in nursing handoff and implementing a standard form to reduce error and improve patient safety and satisfaction. Upon inspection it was noticed that this topic has been overlooked in the …

Implementing Trauma-Informed Care Early In The Lives Of Children And Adults, Carley Clymer

Scholars Week

Throughout the health care industry, providers are failing to recognize the implications that adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) have upon adult health. As a result, these patients not only have to endure these traumas, but they’re also faced with crippling health conditions that accompany them including depression, heart disease and obesity. The prevalence of common high-risk behaviors such as smoking, drinking and illicit drug use can also co-exist with adversity, which leads to an exacerbation of already poor health. This presentation aims to relay the significance of adopting a trauma informed care (TIC) approach early in the lives of clients to …

Implementing Mandatory Bedside Report Between Nurses, Tosha Taylor

Scholars Week

Implementing bedside report into nursing practice is shown to be the best evidence based practice. However, many nurses do not implement bedside report into their practice for various reasons such of lack of knowledge on how to properly conduct bedside report. Bedside report can reduce medication errors, increase patient safety, and increase nurse accountability among other issues. This paper reviews the benefits of bedside report as well as how to properly implement mandatory bedside report among nurses through policy.

Couplet Care, Melanie Husk

Scholars Week

Abstract

In many recent studies, maternity units in hospitals have been making the transition from traditional separate care for the mother and baby to couplet care for the mother and baby. (Brenneman, 2014; Abney-Roberts, 2012; Backus, 2017) Couplet care is family-centered care in which the mother and the baby stay together from childbirth until discharge. (Emory-Decatur, 2019) Studies have shown that this form of care has many benefits for both the mother and the baby. Parents become more educated on how to care for their newborn and infants gain the foundation for how they will develop socially, emotionally, and behaviorally. …

Implementing Mandatory Psychiatric Training For Medical-Surgical Nurses, Hannah Berry

Scholars Week

Hospitals worldwide experience poor outcomes for patients with mental illnesses. Psychiatric patients have a lesser likelihood of surviving a particular illness than does a person with that same illness who does not have a psychiatric comorbidity. This is a bleak reality that nurses have the unique opportunity to influence for the better. Destigmatizing mental illness is perhaps the largest component of stepping toward this goal. Our nurses being more educated on the nature of mental illnesses—their signs, symptoms, and common treatments—will improve care outcomes for patients who suffer from them. Not only should we educate nurses on mental illness for …

Music Therapy In The Labor & Delivery Setting, Erin Windham

Scholars Week

My presentation addresses the need as well as informs you of the benefits of having a policy that allows for music therapy interventions to be implemented in the labor and delivery setting to aid in pain and stress management.

Family Presence During Resuscitation, Brittany Whistle

Scholars Week

Background:

Families want more involvement in their loved one’s care than they did just twenty years ago. Especially, in the matter of resuscitation efforts, this involvement remains controversial.

Evidence and Findings:

Based on research, theories, and multiple educated opinions, family presence during resuscitation (FPDR) needs to be implemented in hospitals. Theories by Kolcaba and Helvie demonstrate a need for comfort and positive energy around patients to enhance the healing process. Evidence has shown multiple benefits of FPDR. The patient receives a holistic approach of care, the family gains closure and feeling of participation of care, and provides a plan for …

Implementation Of Music Therapy To Reduce Anxiety In Icu Patients, Calley Womack

Scholars Week

Current practice in intensive care units regarding anxiety commonly results in administration of an anxiolytic, which can potentially increase patient’s time admitted, increase costs due to adverse effects, and decrease patient involvement in care. An analysis of multiple research studies was conducted to explore the best practice for management of anxiety, particularly the implementation of music therapy. Studies have been conducted on the implementation of music therapy to reduce levels of anxiety in patients on intensive care floors. Specifically, extensive research with music therapy has been conducted on patients receiving ventilation in the ICU. Consequentially, these studies have shown that …

Implementing Dysphagia Screenings In Stroke Patients, Meredith Buller

Scholars Week

Dysphagia screenings are important to be done for all stroke patients in order to prevent aspiration, pneumonia, and other complications. All patients should be screened regardless of severity of stroke. Many policies outline that all patients should be screened, but many floors are not implementing the policy on all patients. This article reviews research associated with dysphagia screenings and how to properly perform one. Dysphagia screenings should be performed on all stroke patients at the hospital to achieve the best outcomes post-stroke.

Keywords: Stroke, aspiration, screening, dysphagia

Implementing Ppe And Precaution Use Among Patient Families And Visitors, Ashley Dunn

Scholars Week

The purpose of this paper is to discuss the current nursing policy regarding education, knowledge, and compliance of PPE (personal protective equipment) among patient families and visitors, and to further assess whether or not the policy in place needs to be strengthened and improved, or changed altogether. Upon investigation, it was found that PPE compliance and knowledge as well as hand hygiene compliance are lacking and are current issues seen among not only families and visitors of families, but nurses as well. There are few studies about this topic due to the fact that it is an issue that is …

Recommending That School Nurses Provide Mental Health Screenings To Students, Mariah Dufault

Scholars Week

Childhood mental health issues not being identified early, caused by a lack of knowledge and awareness in childhood mental health, can lead to lifelong debilitating issues. The Center for Disease Control states, “Mental disorders among children are described as serious changes in the way children typically learn, behave, or handle their emotions, which cause distress and problems getting through the day” (CDC 2020). These issues can lead to negative self-worth, a lack of ambition, thoughts of self-harm, aggression towards others, and suicidal ideations. Studies have even shown that, “Half of adults with mental health disorders report or have been shown …

Animal-Assisted With Nursing Home Residents, Kierstyn Stevens

Scholars Week

This study was conducted to evaluate the use of animal-assisted therapy in nursing home residents, particularly a Nursing and Rehabilitation center in Paducah, KY. Residents of long term care facilities, like a nursing home, face many challenges due to physical and mental changes. Factors contributing to these changes may include financial changes, loss of autonomy, mobility changes, etc. Various articles concerning animal-assisted therapy in elders, residents of hospitals, and residents of long-term care facilities were gathered to examine potential benefits. Findings indicated significant improvement in variables found often in elders, such as anxiety, depression, aggression, and loneliness. Many of these …

Implementing Music As A Distraction To Reduce Pain And Anxiety In Pediatrics, Marcanah Frye

Scholars Week

Music therapy is a safe and inexpensive intervention that can be used to reduce pain and anxiety in pediatric patients. There are several research articles that have proven that music therapy can positively affect patients. Various factors, like pain and anxiety scores, heart and respiratory rates, blood pressure, and oxygen saturation levels were observed throughout the study to help base the decision on whether or not music therapy was effective at reducing pain and anxiety. This therapy can be based upon the nursing theory of comfort by Katharine Kolcaba. Her goal for this theory of comfort was to put comfort …

Stat-Lock Stabilization, Michelle Hicks

Scholars Week

NUR 412 EBP Project Presentation- Stat-Lock Stabilization

Educating Nurses On Therapeutic Discussion Of Code Status, Alanna Wathen

Scholars Week

My presentation outlines the best ways according to current evidence on how nurses should discuss code status therapeutically with patients.

Requiring That Information On Umbilical Cord Blood Banking Options Be Provided Prior To Admission To The L&D Unit, Leighton Terrell

Scholars Week

This research project covers the topic of educating expectant mothers on the options for umbilical cord blood banking or donation. Through the research, it was determined exactly what umbilical cord blood banking was and the types of banking available. Umbilical cord blood banking has many benefits and has been proven to help treat various diseases. Transplantation of umbilical cord blood stem cells rather than bone marrow has improved the cure rates and survival rates of many treatments. Since the first transplantation in 1988, multiple lives have been changed, some even saved, by using blood that has been taken from an …

Incel Rhetoric: Origins Of Digital Misogyny, Virginia Sisemore

Honors College Theses

In this paper I outline the basic ideological beliefs of incels, which provide insight into the community’s violent tendencies. In addition, because I believe incel communities are more directly to blame for digital misogyny than a larger and more broad group of men, I examine posts from within their community and comments under Anita Sarkeesian’s video “Tropes vs. Women in Video Games” in order to demonstrate that the rhetoric in both online locations is from the same source. Finally, I discuss actions that can be taken to mitigate the online violence perpetrated by the incel community, which will, in turn, …