Digital Commons Network^™

Empowering Nurses As Change Agents For Climate Action: A Global Advocacy Action Plan, Ongelique Conflenti

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Background: The World Health Organization has identified climate change as the single biggest threat to human health¹. Healthcare systems will inevitably struggle to meet the increasing demand of a sicker population as climate hazards increase in frequency and intensity (e.g. extreme heat, air pollution, extreme weather events)². The healthcare sector itself, however, is a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions, exacerbating the burden of disease on the patients and communities it serves³. Radical transformation of the healthcare sector and its workforce is urgently needed to create climate-resilient health systems that align with the …

Perceived Long-Term Benefits Of An Intervention To Improve Health Equity Of Minority Grandparents, Patricia R. Lawrence, Jessica Marcus, Tonya Stoudmire, Regena Spratling

Biennial Convention (CONV)

In the United States, grandparents raise 2.6 million children in parent-absent homes (Generations United, 2022). Grandparents serving as surrogate parents for their grandchildren can take a toll on grandparents’ lives, physically and emotionally (Whitley & Fuller-Thompson, 2017). These research findings have underscored the need for effective interventions to enhance the health of custodial grandparents. One particular intervention program was designed to improve the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of minority grandparents raising their grandchildren, and subsequent studies demonstrated this program’s effectiveness in improving grandparent health. However, what is not known are the effects over time of this intervention on the …

Reflecting On Tobacco And Alcohol Use Impact On Mental Health In Lung Cancer Patient-Caregiver Dyads, Bassema Abufarsakh, Chizimuzo T. C. Okoli

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Lung cancer (LC), a leading cause of morbidity and mortality, imposes significant burdens not only on patients but also on their caregivers,^1,2,3,4 creating a unique dynamic within patient-caregiver (LC-PG) dyads. Tobacco and alcohol use, which are associated with both the development and exacerbation of anxiety and depressive symptoms, present critical individual-level factors that require further investigation, particularly given the potential for reverse causality.^5,6,7

The purpose of this study was to determine the concordance and predictive association between alcohol and tobacco use and anxiety and depressive symptoms among LC-SC dyads using the actor-partner interdependence model (APIM).

Method: LC …

Indigenization In Nursing Education Programs In Saskatchewan: A Critical Discourse Analysis, Delasi Essien

Biennial Convention (CONV)

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (TRC), established in 2008, released its final report containing 94 Calls to Action to redress the historical legacy of cultural assimilation against Indigenous peoples (TRC, 2015). Since the release of the TRC’s Calls to Action there has been a push within the nursing academy to Indigenize nursing education (Essien, 2022). Situated within the context of the colonialism and Whiteness, the goals of this study were to deconstruct and analyze the discourse of Indigenization in the undergraduate nursing education programs in Saskatchewan and examine the discursive practices that sustain, reproduce, and/or transform structures of …

Improving Skin Cancer Knowledge And Screening Among Older Chinese Americans Males, Yan Wang, Anne Derouin, Barbara Turner, Hanzhang Xu

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the U.S. with more than 5 million cases diagnosed annually. It is estimated that about 1 in 5 Americans will develop skin cancer by the age of 70, a prevalence that has been increasing annually (Adams et al., 2021; Aggarwal et al., 2021; Dildar et al., 2021; Trager et al., 2022). As reported by the ACS, men are more likely to develop melanoma compared to women. At the age of 80, men are three times more likely to develop melanoma than women, nearly double the number of male deaths due to the …

A Mobile Medical Unit Program To Improve Access To Care For Veterans Experiencing Homelessness, Jillian Weber, Rebecca Kinney

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Background: Veterans experiencing homelessness often have unmet medical needs and experience barriers to accessing and/or engaging in traditional clinic-based care.^1,2 The Veterans Affairs (VA) Homeless Patient Aligned Care Team (HPACT) model provides primary care, mental health, housing services, case management, and key wrap-around services in a multi-disciplinary, population-tailored approach that is designed to address these unique needs and distinct challenges homeless veterans face. Combing these elements with a mobile medical unit (MMU) provides the HPACT team with the necessary infrastructure to provide care in community-based settings in a safe and confidential space with medical supplies and equipment readily available. …

Bridging The Gap: A Scoping Review Of Simulation Use In Np Programs With Inacsl Standards And Cbe, Alanna Elizabeth Kavanaugh, Stephanie Bork, Carla Nye

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Simulation-based education (SBE) has become an integral component of nursing education, particularly in Nurse Practitioner (NP) programs, where it is increasingly used to bridge the gap between classroom learning and clinical practice. This scoping review examines the implementation of simulation in NP programs, with a focus on its alignment with International Nursing Association for Clinical Simulation and Learning (INACSL) standards and the principles of competency-based education (CBE). The review aims to explore the current evidence, identify best practices, and highlight gaps in research regarding the integration of simulation to enhance NP competencies.

A systematic search was conducted across multiple databases, …

The Impact Of Teamstepps Debriefing On Teamwork Perceptions: Reflections From A Family Birth Center, Jamie M. Emery

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Purpose: This quality improvement (QI) project assessed baseline teamwork perceptions among labor and delivery nurses, implemented a unit-specific debriefing tool to guide nurse-led debriefing sessions after every birth, and re-evaluated teamwork perceptions following the intervention.

Background/Problem: Patient harm events are a persistent global healthcare issue with significant implications for patients, families, and healthcare providers. These events often stem from preventable factors, including communication breakdowns, leadership issues, and inadequate situation monitoring within healthcare teams. To address this, a team implemented a QI project at a Pacific Northwest community hospital's family birth center with nurse-led debriefing sessions after every birth. Debriefing, a …

Health Management Self-Efficacy, Stephanie Yvette Store

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Minority populations, such as Black adults of non-Latinx descent, are more likely to develop chronic diseases and complications related to disease severity when compared to non-Latinx Whites (NLW). Furthermore, Black adults of non-Latinx descent people are less likely to engage in and maintain health-promoting behaviors (HPB) to prevent disease development. HPB are effective in preventing or delaying chronic disease. This research explores the relative impact of aspects of health, built environment, and key demographic domains on the health management self-efficacy (HMSE) of a national sample of Black adults.

Methods: Hierarchical regression modeling was performed utilizing data from the 2018 National …

Developing Nurse Scholars: An Innovative Strategy To Introduce Ebp Competencies In A Dnp Program, Karen J. Whitt, Karen Kesten

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Background: Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) nurse scholars represent professionals prepared with evidence-based practice (EBP) competencies that are essential to respond to challenges and address opportunities to transform healthcare. However, evidence suggests there is a need to improve EBP skills among practicing nurses (Melnyk, et al., 2021). Innovative ways are needed to integrate EBP content in curriculum to optimize DNP students’ attainment of these competencies.

Purpose: This longitudinal study evaluates how implementing an innovative competency-based education (CBE) approach to incrementally introduce learning opportunities in courses offered throughout a DNP program demonstrates students’ progress towards achieving EBP competencies.

Methods: Four courses …

Improving Confidence In Newly Hired Medicine Icu Registered Nurses, Bryan A. Klein, Laken Keathley, Sandra Rogers

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Intensive care topics were taught by clinical nurse experts in structured lectures covering several critical care topics including pulmonary catheters, external pacing, massive transfusion, prone therapy, cardiopulmonary arrest, Minnesota/Blakemore tubes, continuous renal replacement therapy and rapid sequence intubation at a large academic university medical center in the southeastern United States.

Among a small sample of newly hired intensive care nurses (P) who attended ICU lectures (I) how much did they improve (C) their scores for confidence in caring for patients with specific conditions (O)?

Through the analysis of the empirical data collected in a simple matched-response pretest and posttest survey …

Side Effects Of Antipsychotics Impacting The Revolving Door Of Admissions At The Bellevue Hospital, Sandra Lorraine Chisholm-Ford

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Background: Antipsychotic medications are very effective in mitigating the symptoms associated with schizophrenia. However, patients receiving these medications often develop side effects with therapy. Side effects to antipsychotic medications is a global problem resulting in non-compliance, relapse, and re-hospitalizations.

Objectives: The study aimed to identify the prevalence of adverse reactions and side effects experienced by patients with schizophrenia taking antipsychotic medication, as well as the prevalence of readmissions to the Bellevue Hospital due to medication noncompliance.

Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional survey was done among forty-four patients diagnosed with schizophrenia admitted to acute and sub-acute care wards at the Bellevue Hospital. …

Turning Setbacks Into Strength: Developing The Emerging Concept Of Reclaiming Power, Nadine Cesaire

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Reclaiming power represents a transformative journey where individuals restore autonomy, resilience, and intentional participation in life. This concept emphasizes a shift from disconnection and diminished engagement to active involvement in personal growth and change. It redefines setbacks as opportunities for self-discovery, fostering openness to life’s unpredictability and challenges.

Substance Use Disorder (SUD) affects 14.5% of individuals aged 12 and older in the United States, equating to 48.7 million people (SAMHSA, 2023). This chronic condition, characterized by compulsive substance use, often leads to cycles of recovery and relapse. Overdose deaths rose by 50.9% between 2019 and 2022 (CDC, 2023), with relapse …

Innovative Teaching Strategies To Engage Students In Health Promotion Teaching And Research, Zepure Samawi, Mary Murphy-Smith

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Purpose: To present an exemplar of a teaching project for promoting population health through student teaching and applying the research process. Faculty will disseminate the teaching and learning strategies outcomes from the faculty and student perspectives.

Participants: 34 undergraduate pre-licensure nursing students enrolled into the health promotion practicum across the life span course completed this innovative population based clinical teaching practicum and scholarship innovation.

Methods:
The teaching projects process and implementation were to:
1. Collaborate and engage with community clinical partners to identify health promotion needs for a target population
2. Formulate learning outcomes for the health promotion teaching …

A Global Interprofessional Approach To Nursing Education, Andrea Grace Renwanz Boyle, Olivia Catolico

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Education for tomorrow’s nurses requires approaches that are forward- thinking, innovative, culturally relevant, and designed to address current and future health issues and challenges. Nursing education also must focus on global interprofessional collaboration between educators, students, and clinicians. The purpose of this presentation is to describe the development of a global undergraduate nursing course for implementation with student groups from both USA and rural Uganda nursing programs.

The proposed course builds on existing relationships between nursing faculty working in a small US university and faculty working in a small nursing program in rural Uganda. The course is designed to address …

The Nurse Practitioner’S Role In Managing Care Of Clients With Sepsis/Septic Shock, Nakiesha L. Shepherd

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Sepsis is a secondary infection that causes a dysregulated physiological systemic response, which may lead to shock with multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS). Approximately 350,000 adults who develop sepsis die during their hospitalization or after discharge. Most adult clients who develop septic shock have complex comorbidities that complicate the management of care which impairs quality of life after treatment; and increases mortality. The burden of care falls on the client as well as their family. Not only do nurse practitioners (NPs) serve a significant role in managing care for clients; they educate the community on sepsis awareness and primary prevention. …

Experiences Of Non-Hispanic Black And African American Women With Postpartum Healthcare, Margaret F. Sposato, Claire Draucker, Jasmine D. Johnson, Kristin Tully, Julie Otte

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Racial and ethnic disparities in maternal mortality and morbidity are stark in the United States, especially for non-Hispanic Black and African American women who experience elevated rates of pregnancy-related deaths and severe maternal morbidity.^1,2 Effective postpartum healthcare is essential for optimizing birthing people’s health,³ yet little is known about non-Hispanic Black and African American women’s experiences with postpartum healthcare in the year following delivery. The purpose of this study was to describe non-Hispanic Black and African American women’s experiences with postpartum healthcare throughout the one-year postpartum period from their perspectives. For this qualitative descriptive study semi-structured interviews with …

Technology, Education, Access, Communities And Healthcare: Teach Toward A Healthy Rural Wisconsin, Kathleen Abrahamson, Debbie Walrath, Shanon Brickner, Christine Davidson, Heidi Hansen, Seon Yoon Chung

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Purpose statement: The purpose of this project is to educate the future nursing workforce on tele-healthcare delivery skills that will reduce barriers to care and improve rural chronic illness outcomes in Wisconsin.

Background: Nearly one-third of Wisconsin citizens reside in rural areas (Wisconsin Policy Forum, 2023). Rural Wisconsinites are disproportionately at risk for adverse health outcomes (Rural Health Information Hub, 2023). A lack of available healthcare services and providers in rural Wisconsin compounds this risk. All non-metropolitan counties in Wisconsin experience a shortage of primary care providers (U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, 2023). Nurse-supported telehealth services provide a …

Innovative Offshore Transition-To-Practice Model For International Nurses Using Tele-Simulation, Lisa Mceathron, Christian Striggow, Jose Arnold Tariga

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Empirical evidence underscores the importance of optimal nurse staffing in delivering high-quality patient care, improving outcomes, and enhancing nurse well-being. Internationally educated nurses (IENs) play a crucial role in addressing staffing shortages in the United States, yet they face challenges in bridging gaps between varying international nursing standards and US healthcare practices. Innovative approaches are essential to ensure their readiness to integrate effectively prior to arrival.

The International Transition to Practice Program leverages tele-simulation as a pioneering strategy to address these challenges, providing an offshore, immersive learning experience for IENs. This program was implemented from July 2023 to September 2024, …

Improving Hiv Knowledge And Attitudes Of The Youth In The Philippines Through Mobile Text Messaging, James Montegrico

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Background: The Philippines has the highest HIV incidence rate in the Asia-Pacific region, with the highest incidence between the ages 15 to 34 years. There are low levels of HIV knowledge, negative attitudes towards people with HIV/AIDS, and a lack of interventional studies to improve HIV knowledge and attitudes in the country. The high rate of mobile phone use and text messaging in the Philippines offers potential in using technology to address gaps in HIV knowledge and negative attitudes regarding HIV.

Purpose: This pilot study determined the feasibility and effectiveness of mobile text messaging (MTM) in improving HIV/AIDS knowledge …

Enhancing Pediatric Emergency Medication Safety With Nurse-Led Innovation And Technology, Lindsey Catterson, Jessica Revet, Zainab Alzawad

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Purpose: Ensuring the safe handoff of controlled substances during patient transfers is critical in pediatric emergency care. Recognizing gaps in documentation and chain-of-custody processes, this nurse-led initiative aimed to design an innovative, technology-driven approach to enhance patient safety and ensure compliance with regulatory standards. The project focused on integrating advanced tools to streamline workflows, minimize errors, and safeguard pediatric patients.

Methods: A multidisciplinary team, led by pediatric emergency nurses, collaborated to develop a documentation framework leveraging existing health technology. The team adapted the Epic Rover mobile application and electronic medical record (EMR) systems to enable real-time documentation of …

A Mobile Meditation Application To Impact Nursing And Nursing Student Stress, Lisa Corry

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Nurses care for all members of the community and are expected to be representatives of good health. They often place the needs of their patients before their own while they are faced with a variety of stressful situations and working environments (Linton & Koonmen, 2020). Nurses experience high levels of stress which can have negative effects on an individual. Over time, untreated stress for nurses may lead to burnout or compassion fatigue which has been associated with poor patient outcomes, decreased patient satisfaction, and high attrition rates (Bonamer & Aquino-Russel, 2019). This can result in increased costs related to callouts, …

Sexual Attitude Towards Adolescents Use Of Online Sexual Content, Maria Aracely Marquez Vega

Biennial Convention (CONV)

The general objective of the study was to determine the relationship between the use of sexual content online and sexual attitudes in adolescents. The study design was descriptive-correlational. The sample consisted of 260 adolescents between the ages of 15 and 19 from a public high school in Monterrey, Nuevo León. A 95% confidence level and a power level of 90% were estimated. A sociodemographic data sheet and the instrument for the use of sexual content on the Internet and the scale of sexual attitudes were applied. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used, as well as the Spearman correlation coefficient and …

Assessment Of Cognitive Decline During Cancer Treatment: A Mixed-Methods Study, Katy Fisher-Cunningham, Trista Michelle Anderson

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Background: Cancer-Related Cognitive Impairment (CRCI), often termed "chemo brain," impacts 50-70% of chemotherapy patients and 12-75% of cancer survivors, with symptoms such as memory difficulties, attention issues, and executive dysfunction potentially lasting up to 20 years. Most research has centered on breast cancer, leaving gaps for other cancer types. Non-treatment factors can also induce CRCI, including the cancer itself. The mechanisms of CRCI share similarities with Alzheimer's disease. Currently, there is no standardized assessment tool for CRCI, emphasizing the need for tailored evaluation methods.

Objective/Specific Aims: This study aims to assess CRCI in patients with current cancer diagnoses and explore …

Responding To A Health System Need: A New Clinical Nurse Specialist Model, Jade Roper, Amy Ries, Beckie Kronebusch, Lisa Mcconnell, Rachel Ann Moody

Biennial Convention (CONV)

The purpose of this presentation is to share our journey in developing a new clinical nurse specialist (CNS) model to respond to a health system need for advancing nursing excellence across patient populations, specialties, and the continuum of care. Our goals were to optimize the work and span of the CNS, while staying true to the CNS core competencies. This model redesign allows for an equitable approach to meet the needs of a complex health system spanning two states with multiple hospitals and clinics that support community and rural healthcare. This model utilizes immersive and consultative strategies to partner with …

Addressing Malnutrition In Togo: A Community Nursing Initiative For Sustainable Health Outcomes, Estevao Frederico De Souza, Tricia M. Grinder

Biennial Convention (CONV)

This community nursing project was developed as part of an international clinical initiative in partnership with global organizations in Togo. Findings from assessment tools and research identified malnutrition as a critical issue among children, significantly contributing to high childhood mortality rates. The World Food Programme (2022) reported that 24% of Togolese children suffer from chronic malnutrition, and the Global Hunger Index ranked Togo 92nd out of 120 countries (Global Nutrition Report, n.d.).

The Togo nursing initiative addressed malnutrition through three levels of intervention: education, screening, and treatment. At the primary intervention level, nursing education aimed to raise awareness about nutrition …

Multidisciplinary Mass Casualty Simulation Toolkit, Catherine Miller, Toni Morris

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Background/Introduction: The United States continues to experience mass casualty events at a staggering rate [1]. The preparation of healthcare students in both undergraduate and graduate programs can be supported with enhanced preparedness through a disaster simulation event. [3, 5] Specialized training with SMART Triage, Stop the Bleed, enhanced nursing, athletic training, police and cadets response to a mass casualty event. The application of a formalized toolkit allows for seamless construction of a disaster simulation supported by INACSL simulation best practice.

Purpose: An extensive search for an all-inclusive disaster simulation toolkit revealed a gap in available resources. The presentation will share …

Creating Practice Experiences In Online Rn-Bsn Community Health Class, Denise Isibel

Biennial Convention (CONV)

The White paper from the AACN on practice experiences in post licensure nursing programs states Nursing faces new and different challenges and there is a need to strengthen nursing for provide high quality care. Practice experiences in Community health online RN to BSN programs support and create critical learning. In a post licensure community health course, faculty designed 2 experiential assignments introducing the student to community assessment and health teaching with vulnerable populations.

Community assessment provides the basis and rationale for clinical interventions in community health nursing. Assessing and developing a plan of care for an aggregate is an essential …

Re-Envisioning The Path To Sustainable Practice Change With The Mountain Model, Jayne Jennings Dunlap, Julee Briscoe Waldrop

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Although Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) and Quality Improvement (QI) are frequently used to guide practice change, EBP lacks the sustainability component of QI and QI traditionally favors the use of internal evidence to the exclusion of external (research) evidence. EBP models focus on finding research evidence, critically appraising it and then synthesizing it to identify the intervention best suited to the problem, population, and context. Next, a practice change is developed, implemented, and evaluated but then what? What about continuous monitoring and sustaining the change? EBP models are weak in the continuous monitoring and sustaining of practice change. On the other …

The Value Of Education In Healthcare: Moving Beyond Intuition To Data-Driven Advocacy, Emily Calabro, Robin Petersen

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Background: Healthcare education departments face increasing pressure to demonstrate their value amidst budget constraints and restructuring, often leading to resource cuts that hinder their ability to improve patient care and staff development. This necessitates a robust method for quantifying the return on investment (ROI) of educational initiatives.

Methods/Procedures: This initiative describes the development and validation of a novel ROI calculator designed to empower educators and advocate for their crucial role. Grounded in the Institute for Healthcare Improvement's Plan-Do-Study-Act model, the calculator incorporates advanced data analytics and predictive modeling, drawing data from sources such as the Healthcare Quality Report, historical financial …