Digital Commons Network^™

Closing The Gap: Educational Research On Secondary Traumatic Stress In The Healthcare Workplace, Natalie Noel Tracy

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Secondary traumatic stress (STS) is a post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) like phenomenon characterized by biological, emotional, and psychosocial symptoms resulting from direct exposure to someone’s traumatic experience frequently occurring in caring-based work environment. First defined in 1995 by Charles Figley, STS is classified using the same categories as PTSD: Avoidance, hyperarousal, and intrusion. Avoidance consists of numbness to or lack of participation in usual interests and avoidance of triggers that serve as reminders of the indirect trauma experienced. Hyperarousal occurs when a person becomes highly alert or has a “fight or flight” response to a triggering experience related to a …

Nurse Practitioners Comparison To Other Hospital Providers: Patient Safety, Thomas Kippenbrock, Deanna Jan Emory

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Purpose: Patient safety remains a critical challenge in healthcare services. According to the World Health Organization, approximately 10% of patients suffered harm within healthcare systems, resulting in an estimated million deaths annually due to unsafe practice. The study objective was to compare advanced practice nurses, physician assistants, and attending physicians’ responses to overall patient safety ratings and error reporting.

Methods: An Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality data set provided responses of patient safety and error reporting submitted by 3,659 advanced practice nurses (APN), 1,044 physician assistants, and 5,140 attending physicians. The Hospital Survey of Patient Safety Cultural version 2.0 …

Ai: It's Not Going Away! Harnessing Ai To Enhance Learning In Nursing Education, D'Ann Wilson Somerall, Chris Hickman, William E. Somerall Jr.

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has transformed learning, but to what extent? Is AI preventing students from using their creativity and knowledge? Is AI negating the development of scholarly writing skills? Do students understand the academic use of AI and the possibility of generating inaccurate information they may share with others, thinking it “came from the internet,” so it must be correct?

ChatGPT, an AI tool used extensively by college students, was released in November 2022. Multiple other programs have been released in the past two years, and more tools are launched daily. Sadly, many academicians have not embraced AI or developed …

Intersecting Civic Engagement Among Nurses With Service-Learning In Nursing Education, Carrie Rewakowski

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Following the timely declaration by the World Health Organization that 2020 was the “Year of the Nurse and the Midwife” (Howard, 2019), the profession of nursing was thrust into the national spotlight. Nurses can leverage this spotlight by using their voices to advance the health of those they serve through civic engagement. Civic engagement refers to involvement in significant activities that influence and shape society (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, 2024). Healthy People 2030 identified civic participation as a crucial element in Social Determinants of Health that includes both voting and volunteering (Pronk et al., 2023). With over 5.2 …

Lessons Learned In Educating, Developing, And Nurturing Nurse Leadership Skills For Challenges Ahead, Nancy M. Valentine

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Every Nurse is a Leader. This declarative statement is promulgated by professional nursing organizations that acknowledge the potential for nurses to be widely recognized as effective change agents.^1,2,3,4 It can be inspirational and daunting, whether for aspirants embarking on a career or seasoned nurses unaccustomed to perceiving themselves as leaders.

Organizations play a key role; some empowering, others perhaps disinterested in nurse-driven initiatives. Given these shifting realities, we must collaborate to make proactive nurse leadership a component of practice for every nurse.
Based on research, are leaders born or made, every nurse has the potential to be a leader. …

Nurses’ Role In Using Prayer As A Complementary And Alternative Spiritual Care Tool, Sonia H. Wisdom

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Praying is a spiritual and religious ritual that patients may use to support healing and cope with stress. Illness may challenge the patients’ ability to pray and nursing assistance is needed (Gad et al., 2022). Nurses are uncertain of their role in responding to patients’ prayer needs, as the use of prayer remains controversial (Nilsson, 2022).

This quantitative study explored nurses’ attitudes and perceptions of their role in praying. Data were collected from a self-selected sample of 2,688 RNs in the Florida Board of Nursing, using a 33-item 5-point Likert-scale questionnaire. Factor analysis extracted four subscales labeled as attitudes to …

The Transformative Impact Of Stakeholder Engagement In Assessment Planning, Kathleen M. Williamson, Sharon F. Beasley

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Stakeholder engagement is a cornerstone of robust evaluation and decision-making processes, playing a critical role in shaping the direction and effectiveness of assessment initiatives in a nursing education program. This presentation explores the multifaceted contributions of stakeholders in assessment planning, emphasizing their ability to provide diverse perspectives, align goals with organizational and community needs, and ensure the relevance and inclusivity of evaluation frameworks.

Through active involvement, stakeholders help assessments transcend mere data collection, adding layers of context and meaning that enhance depth, accuracy, and validity. By leveraging their unique insights, organizations can achieve outcomes that are not only informed and …

Aligning Strategic Goals & Personal Growth: Innovative En-Renc Teaching Strategies At Raffles Hospital, Lilian S. M. Yew, Dira D. Haridas, Jai Vaishnavi D. Jayakumar, Hui Wen Ten, Nur Shida Binte Zainal Abidin

Biennial Convention (CONV)

The Enrolled Nurse Role Expansion Nursing Nurse Course (EN-RENC) at Raffles Hospital(RH) aligns training with strategic goals & individual development. It enhances patient care, operational efficiency, and financial viability while supporting career advancement & job satisfaction for enrolled nurses (ENs).

Purpose: Demonstrates alignment of strategic objectives and individual development via innovative teaching in EN-RENC.

Program Overview: EN-RENC equips ENs with advanced skills like intramuscular injections, wound dressing, venepuncture, & diabetic foot care, improving patient care & satisfaction^1,2. Upskilling ENs reduces dependency on agency staff & overtime, lowering labor costs & optimizing workflow.

Efficiency and Cost Savings: Enhanced EN …

Identifying Barriers To Accessing Early Intervention Services, Michelle Y. Gilbert

Biennial Convention (CONV)

This mixed-methods study examines disparities in referral and enrollment rates for Early Intervention (EI) services among children under age three at risk for or diagnosed with developmental delays. The research focuses on a cohort of children referred from Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs) to High-Risk Clinics or BabyNet services who did not receive recommended services. Qualitative and quantitative data were collected to analyze referral and enrollment rates, identify factors associated with underutilization, and explore provider and parental perceptions of EI services. Common barriers to accessing services and characteristics influencing enrollment were also identified.

Existing studies have highlighted the importance of …

Workplace Violence In The Ed As A Global Phenomenon: Literature Review, Katelyn George, Julie Kientz Elting

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Purpose: This presentation reviews the literature to explore the experience of workplace violence towards healthcare workers from patients/families in the emergency department as a global phenomenon.

Background: Attention to workplace violence (WPV) in emergency departments (ED) by patients or families toward healthcare workers in the US has been increasing (Carey & Hendricks, 2023; Doehring et al., 2024; McLaughlin & Khemthong, 2024). Since EDs are a point of entry to care, WPV can be exacerbated due to the fast-paced and unpredictable environment (McLaughlin & Khemthong, 2024). Patients are commonly admitted experiencing pain, substance use issues, and mental health crises which may …

Inclusion Of Students With Physical Disabilities In Nursing Education, Julie Kientz Elting

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Purpose: The purpose of the research was to explore the perceptions of nursing faculty that create educational barriers for academically prepared students with physical disabilities. A case report of a woman who uses a wheelchair and earned her undergraduate nursing degree is presented.

Background: The Americans with Disabilities Act requires employers to identify the essential functions of employee positions to prevent discrimination against people with disabilities. For in-patient RN roles this might include standing for 12 hours or ability to lift 50 pounds. Pre-licensure nursing programs often use these functions as technical standards in admission requirements. This is not consistent …

The Mediating Role Of Self-Efficacy And Symptom Distress In Cancer Patients, Kailei Yan, Hsiao-Lan Wang, Brent Small, Victoria Marshall, Amanda Elliott, Danielle Tometich, Theresa M. Beckie, Susan C. Mcmillan

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Cancer symptoms significantly impact the quality of life (QOL) among cancer patients (Almståhl et al., 2019; Bashir et al., 2020; Nayak et al., 2019). Self-efficacy plays a key role in managing symptoms and improving QOL (Cox-Martin et al., 2020; Erickson et al., 2021; Frensham et al., 2020; Thieser et al., 2021; Wu et al., 2019). Symptom distress, defined as the suffering from symptom occurrence, predicts QOL in cancer patients with symptoms (Badana et al., 2019). However, it is not clear whether self-efficacy and/or symptom distress mediate the effects of symptoms on QOL. This study seeks to explore if and how …

Clinical And Demographic Profiles Of Pediatric Burn Patients: A Descriptive Retrospective Analysis, Gifty Osei Berchie, Susanna Aba Abraham, Christiana Okantey, Benjamin Kofi Anumel

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Introduction: Burn injuries are a leading cause of preventable mortality and disability among children, with approximately 96,000 pediatric cases globally each year (Asefa et al., 2024). In low- and middle-income countries, particularly in Africa, children account for nearly 90% of burn cases, with those under five being most vulnerable due to developmental factors, lack of supervision, and domestic hazards. Socioeconomic challenges such as overcrowded living conditions and inadequate safety measures exacerbate the risk (Mok et al., 2023). Burns are primarily caused by scalds from hot liquids, contact burns, and flame injuries linked to unsafe cooking practices and improper storage of …

Community Engagement Within Doctoral Dissertations In Nursing, Sarah Elise Janek, Rahim Z. Miller, Miles C. Perry, Adrian Williams, Rosa M. Gonzalez-Guarda, Kathryn E. Muessig, Marta I. Mulawa

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Community engagement is increasingly recognized as a key research approach across disciplines with the goal of promoting health equity (Key et al., 2019), yet the benefits and best practices for incorporating this approach within doctoral dissertations remain understudied. Other health sciences, such as social work, have recorded student and community benefits in conducting community-engaged dissertations (Yan et al., 2021), but there remains a significant gap of considerations for nursing dissertations. This presentation seeks to discuss the benefits, challenges, and pathways of community-engaged dissertations informed by an ongoing doctoral dissertation in nursing focused on sexual health equity. This dissertation engages community …

Alzheimer's Disease And Related Dementia Among Black Adults Stratified By Nativity, Setor Kofi Sorkpor, Yijiong Yang, Brittany Lane, Hongyu Miao, Jing Wang

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Purpose: This study aims to explore the prevalence of Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias (ADRD) among US-born and non-US-born Black individuals, identifying risk factor differences and informing targeted interventions.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted using data from 77,069 Black individuals in the All of Us Research Program. Two cohorts—US-born and non-US-born individuals with ADRD—were analyzed, with 1:1 propensity score matching applied to balance key demographic and socioeconomic factors. Statistical analyses were performed using R and Python, with significance set at α = 0.05.

Results: Of the 72,311 US-born and 4,758 non-US-born Black individuals, 1:1 propensity score matching resulted …

Mentoring: Taking The Scary Out Of Clinical Inquiry, Rebel L. Heasley, Brandee Duncan

Biennial Convention (CONV)

The Institute of Medicine challenged healthcare workers to ensure that 90% of decisions were evidence-based by 2020. As of 2017, it was estimated that only about 18% of decisions were evidence-based (Melnyk & Fineout-Overholt, 2023). Research has shown a correlation between a culture of evidence-based practice (EBP) and improved patient outcomes. However, nursing confidence and competence in EBP are barriers to implementation (Bridges et al., 2024). Historically, nursing projects at this community hospital were quality or performance improvement projects. With Magnet designation came the expectation of nursing excellence and unparalleled safety, quality, and service. Nurse (RN) residents must now complete …

Using Mixed Reality-Driven Virtual Coach Technology In Promoting Mobility Among Older Adults, Michael Joseph S. Dino, Ma. Kristina Malacas, Rommel Hernandez

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Objective. Physical inactivity among older adults remains a global burden, leading to a variety of health challenges and even mortality. This study evaluated the impact of a novel virtual humanoid coach-driven physical exercise program among older adults.

Method. A non-randomized (quasi) experimental research was conducted in two community senior centers. The recruited participants (n = 130) were primarily female older adults with a mean age of 66.40 and agreed to be purposively assigned to either experimental or control groups. Trained healthcare providers performed health assessments at three time points using valid and reliable tools. Descriptive statistics, t-tests, and RM-ANOVA were …

Menopause And Motherhood: Shaping Women’S Lived Experiences, Michelle M. Ness

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Motherhood is a multifaceted role influenced by various transitions during midlife, including changing relationship dynamics with children and significant others and the onset of menopause. Mothers often shift from hands-on caregiving to an advisory role with their adult children during this time. This shift coincides with hormonal changes associated with menopause, exacerbating physical and psychological symptoms, including hot flashes, mood swings, and sleep disturbances. The hormonal changes associated with menopause profoundly impact women's emotional well-being and interpersonal relationships, potentially increasing susceptibility to mood disorders such as depression and anxiety. Additionally, the increased demand for balance between family responsibilities and professional …

An Er Pilot Study Utilizing A Novel Mobile App For Just-In-Time Teaching And Performance Feedback, Jennifer Wilde, Emily Calabro

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Purpose/Background: Emergency departments (EDs) present a challenging environment for new graduate nurses (residents), often impacting proficiency and retention. This pilot study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of an ED Train the Trainer (T3) program utilizing a novel mobile app to enhance resident proficiency, confidence, and retention, as well as preceptor confidence. The program addressed the transitional gap between academic preparation and clinical practice by focusing on critical thinking and task management skills, leveraging technology to provide just-in-time learning and real-time feedback.

Methods: After IRB approval, a time-series design was employed. The T3 program incorporated various learning modalities, including face-to-face sessions, …

Recipe For Success: Mixing A Savory Partnership With Hr In Cooking Up A Nurse Leader Succession Plan, Lourdes Moore, Jacqueline Brock, Maureen Padilla

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Succession planning is vital to transformational leadership which advocates for ongoing leadership development.¹ In 2016, Nursing strategically cooked up a savory nurse succession plan program with a secret sauce-Human Resources (HR). The plan’s purpose was to establish a cohort of leaders with skills and knowledge continuity, manage risk of retirements, and offer overall leader development.² Strengthened in 2022, the Nursing-HR partnership added key ingredients: a defined plan with leadership competencies, alignment to organizational culture and priorities, and multi-layered development.^3,4 The plan consists of five courses (phases).

1. Assess: Target critical roles with high-level oversight: chief nursing officer …

From Insight To Impact: Cns Consults In The Cvicu, Sarah Beldin, Kristina Boudreau

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNSs) are frequently consulted for their expertise, but formalizing this process via the electronic medical record (EMR) provides new opportunities for direct correlation of utilization of the CNS as a patient intervention to outcomes improvement. This project established a structured CNS consult process in the Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit (CVICU), enabling multidisciplinary team members to order CNS consults tied to various concerns and access detailed post-consult notes in real time.

This project aimed to formalize CNS consults in the CVICU using EMR integration to enhance interdisciplinary collaboration and improve patient outcomes. By enabling team members to request …

Exploring Variations In Emotional Intelligence And Burnout Among Nursing Students, Carrie Ann Bailey, Lynn Beeler, James Lewis

Biennial Convention (CONV)

The purpose of this research is to further validate a clinician language centric self-assessment of emotional intelligence and burnout to determine if there is a difference in the subscales that measure Emotional Intelligence between the accelerated baccalaureate student nurses (ABSN) and the traditional baccalaureate student nurses (BSN). Junior level traditional BSN students and first semester ABSN students were recruited and surveyed using the Maslach Burnout Inventory and the Scale of Emotional Functioning in Medicine. Demographic data was also compared between the two groups. Data was analyzed using Independent-Samples Mann-Whitney U Test. Results: The two groups of students were significantly different …

Representing Rns And Mas: Reflections On Patient Portal Messaging Experiences And The Future With Ai, Carlene Lugtu, Cynthia Dorantes Cortez, Briana Williams, Chrystal L. Lewis

Biennial Convention (CONV)

BACKGROUND: Though meant to enhance health care delivery, the electronic health record (EHR) has evolved to be the predominant tool used amongst clinicians. The EHR is also intensifying stress among clinicians, especially with the growing volume of patient communications through patient portals messages (PPM, better known as the In-Basket).1 This academic health science center had an dramatic rise in PPM from 332,000 messages total between fiscal years (FY) 2014 to 2018 to 1.6 million messages in FY 2023 without additional staff. Generative artificial intelligence (AI) products and subsequent explosion of large language models may transform PPM responses.2–6 Discussions …

Innovative Teaching Strategies: Linking Social Determinants Of Health To Diabetes Management, Christine A. Sump, Donna L. Rose, Nicole Frazier

Biennial Convention (CONV)

With an estimated 38.4 million Americans having diabetes (Center for Disease Control [CDC], 2024) and well-documented diabetes disparities, it is imperative that social determinants of health (SDOH) and its impact on diabetes outcomes be an integral part of undergraduate nursing education. Literature supports a direct relationship in SDOH to diabetes prevalence, complications, and patient outcomes (American Diabetes Association [ADA], 2024; Hill-Briggs & Fitzpatrick, 2023). There is much literature describing learning strategies in diabetes education. However, there is minimal literature regarding SDOH research in nursing curricula (Lee & Wilson, 2020; Liu et al., 2023). There was no literature support found that …

Seeking Zero: Development Of A System-Wide Clabsi Prevention Policy, Daniel Martin, Cindy Beckett, Kady Martini, Todd Tussing, Emma Kociba

Biennial Convention (CONV)

In September 2024, at a 17-hospital Midwest United States healthcare system, quality assurance and nursing staff identified that a standardized system-wide central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) prevention and maintenance policy did not exist. This revelation occurred after an investigation noted an increase in CLABSIs, an issue compounded as each of the organization's hospitals were without system-level guidance on the prevention of CLABSIs. Therefore, using the PICOT question “In high-risk patients (P), how do system-wide best practices/strategies (I) compared to current practice (C) affect CLABSI (O)?, a systematic review of the published literature was conducted using CINAHL, PubMed, Scopus, and Embase …

Oh My…Emotions Can Influence Social Media Use Among Pre-Licensure Baccalaureate Nursing Students, Julie Skrabal

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Background: Nursing students use social media (SM) daily, leading to the challenge of maintaining clear boundaries when managing professional and personal information (Daigle, 2019). As boundaries blur, information posted to SM becomes unprofessional. This is a concern among educators despite having guidelines and SM policies in place regarding professional use. Although limited research is available, a few studies demonstrated unprofessional SM use. Sadd (2019) found 22% of students surveyed posted inappropriate information they did not want others to see. Duke et al. (2017) discovered 100% of nursing students posted information on SM that they would not want prospective employers to …

Women’S Experiences With Traditional Medicine For Treatment Of Cervical Cancer: A Qualitative Study, David Asakitogum, Lydia Aziato, Lillian Akorfa Ohene

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Background: Over 60% of patients with cancer in sub-Saharan Africa used traditional medicine for cancer treatment (Alegbeleye et al., 2020, Mwaka et al., 2020). The common predictors of traditional medicine use include being a female (Kristoffersen et al., 2022, Aboufaras et al., 2023). However, there is limited empirical information about the experiences of women with traditional medicine usage for the treatment of cervical cancer. The current study explored the experiences of women who used traditional medicine for the treatment of cervical cancer in Accra, Ghana.

Methods: An exploratory qualitative research design was used in this study. A semi-structured interview …

Integrating The 'My Pt Care Strategy' Into Behavioral Health Nursing Curriculum: Reflective Insights, Nadia Ali Muhammad Ali Charania, Lorraine Wadlington, Mona Shattell

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Professional development for nursing educators in person-centered care (PCC) is essential for advancing its integration within academic and clinical settings, particularly in preparing nursing professionals to address the complexities of modern healthcare. The World Health Organization (2022) emphasizes the necessity of inclusive stakeholder engagement in mental health care, while organizations such as the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (2021) and Quality and Safety Education for Nurses (2020) advocate for holistic, evidence-based and individualized care. Despite these guidelines, there are gaps in effectively incorporating PCC within mental health services, underscoring the urgent need for innovative educational approaches.

The newly developed …

Success Rate Of Ultrasound-Guided Intravenous Intervention In Difficult Intravenous Access Patients, Evelyn Almera Factora Mulvaney

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Background: Traditional visualization, palpation, and landmarking peripheral veins for IV access are not helpful in patients with difficult veins. However, multiple studies and publications on difficult intravenous access (DIVA) of hospitalized patients have shown that using ultrasound to guide the cannulation of a peripheral vein improves the success rate in the first attempt to establish IV access in DIVA patients.

Purpose: This evidence-based practice (EBP) change project aims to train critical care nurses on the use of ultrasound in patients with difficult IV access and to increase first attempts on DIVA patients with the use of ultrasound.

Methods: The translational …

Podcasting In Pediatrics: Engaging Students Through Faculty-Led Conversations, Sarah Mcgraw, Mary Melissa Mcbride, Johnna C. Riddick

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Generation Z learners often prefer fast-paced, engaging, pragmatic learning environments and material. As digital natives, they are accustomed to the role of technology in education.¹ One study found that podcasts “enhance knowledge and skills, in particular for international students and those with special learning needs.”² To keep up with today’s learners, including those with diverse learning styles, faculty from a traditional baccalaureate nursing program sought to utilize a different instructional modality through podcasting. In order to ensure that all students placed in various clinical settings were exposed to crucial conversations in pediatric nursing, three podcast episodes were developed …