Digital Commons Network^™

From Classroom To Bedside: Sense-Making And Embodied Information Practices Of Nurses, Aldrin Joseph Parilla Campos, Kathleen Lourdes Ballesteros Obille

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Dervin’s Sense-Making Methodology (SMM) represents the process of translating knowledge into actual practice [3, 11]. Embodied information practices are associated with actions, habits, and intuitions acquired through both cognitive and physical experiences, and play a crucial role in nursing skill acquisition [7]. This study explored the role of information practices in education and professional development of nurses by examining how nurses acquire and apply knowledge and skills.

Researchers conducted interviews in July-August 2024 with seven registered nurses to explore the transition from classroom learning to bedside practice. The interview questions were constructed in an open-ended, semi-structured approach that allowed the …

Exploring The Experience Of Nurses Practicing During The Great Resignation, Jolene Kittle

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Background: The number of workers resigning from their jobs in the years after the COVID-19 pandemic reached rates so high, the time period has been called the “Great Resignation”. There is minimal formal research on this phenomenon in workers generally. Similarly, much of the literature available specific to nursing during this time period are editorials and surveys. Studies that were conducted prior to the “Great Resignation”, focused on the reasons nurses were leaving the profession. This study seeks to understand what motivates nurses to work. The Motivation to Work theory posits factors including salary, working conditions, and policies– many of …

The Predictors Of Mental Health And Suicidal Ideation Among People With Homelessness, Pi-Ming Yeh

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Introduction/Significance: A record-high 653,104 people experienced homelessness with 39.3 percent unsheltered in 2023. This is more than a 12.1 percent increase over the 2022. Homelessness is an important societal problem. Mental illness, adverse childhood experiences, and substance use are serious issues among people with homelessness.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the predictors of psychological well-being, suicidal ideation, anxiety, and depression among people with homelessness.

Methods: Sixty people with homelessness were recruited in Tennessee, USA. This was a cross-sectional descriptive research design. IRB was approved. Questionnaires were used to collect data. SPSS 28.0 was used to analyze …

The Impact Of Telemedicine On Pediatric Specialty Patients’ Access To Care, Barbara R. Medvec, Tamara L. Hill, John D. Knight

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Background: Pediatric patient no-shows to specialty clinic appointments are a problem, with no-show rates as high as 50%. The limited number of pediatric specialty providers leads to longer lead times when rescheduling, further delaying care. One often cited no-show factor is inconvenient appointment access. COVID-19 offered telemedicine as an additional patient access method. In this study, we compared no-show rates before the COVID-19 pandemic with no-show rates during the pandemic and in the post-pandemic period to evaluate (1) the impact of telemedicine patient access on the overall no-show rate for pediatric ambulatory clinic visits and (2) the telemedicine no-show rate …

Mitigating Fast Turnover Rates Of The Internationally Educated Us Rns, Lei Toquero, Miriam Pascua

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Introduction: The nursing shortage in the United States is a significant and ongoing challenge for the healthcare system. Internationally educated nurses (IEN) make up a substantial portion of the nursing workforce in many countries including United States to help address nursing shortages. But IENs often face unique challenges related to cultural differences, language barriers, and professional practice variations which can affect their successful integration and retention. This quality improvement project developed, implemented, and evaluated a comprehensive orientation program to reduce turn-over rates in IENs.

Methods: Databases such as PubMed, Scopus, Joanna Briggs, and CINAHL were used to search for evidence. …

Preventing Interruptions Improve Adherence To On-Time Medication Administration, Anjana Roy

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Medication errors are a significant global challenge in hospitals, occurring at various stages of the medication management process. Wrong-time medication administration errors (WTMAE)—defined as administering medication beyond prescribed time—are most frequent during medication administration phase. It poses major risks to overall healthcare outcomes.

This project aimed to reduce WTMAEs and improve adherence to on-time medication administration with "No Interruption Sign" (NIS) in a medical-surgical unit.

It was a cross-sectional study. It was conducted for 8 weeks from February 19 through April 14, 2024, in an Academic Hospital in New York focusing on the 10 am medication administration process. Initially, the …

Who Cares For The Forgotten Parent? The Overlooked Grief Of Non-Birthing Parents In The Nicu, Ron Ryan Bautista

Biennial Convention (CONV)

This research presentation examines the experiences of loss and emotionality of the non-birthing parents in NICUs, where most of the conventional support structures address themselves to birthing parents. Using a phenomenological research method of semi-structured interviews and applying thematic analysis, this research gathers the motivational and granular experiences of the non-birthing parents, who are often left emotionally drained and encouraged to suppress their emotions for the birthing partner. Best practices are called for that emphasize emotionally supportive programs and services that recognize all parents as individuals who may need help coping with the demands of parenting. According to the study, …

Bias-Based Bullying Among Middle Eastern & North African Students: Potential Protective Factors, Nadeen Alshakhshir, Barbara Mcmorris, Hana-May Eadeh

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Bullying victimization among school students is associated with negative psychosocial experiences such as anxiety, depression, and sometimes suicidality.^1,2 Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) students experience bias-based bullying in schools at high rates compared to other non-minority groups.^1,3 Although much research focuses on this phenomenon, few studies explore the possible protective factors that buffer the effects of bias-based bullying among this specific group of students, such as religious participation and certain developmental assets. Religious participation is associated with less depression and anxiety symptoms among Asian American students.⁴ Developmental assets of empowerment, social competence, and positive identity enable …

Characteristics Of The United States Acute Care Nurse Practitioners’ Work Environment, 2012 To 2022, Kristin Hittle Gigli

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Background: Acute care comprises a significant amount of health care, with over 35 million hospitalizations in the United States annually.¹ As the population ages and comorbidities and chronic illness increase, demand for hospital care is forecasted to grow.² To meet the demand for acute care, clinicians, healthcare organizations, and policymakers are calling for increased nurse practitioner (NP) utilization in hospital care.^3,4

Significance: Acute care NPs practice across clinical specialties and assume diverse roles providing high-quality, interdisciplinary hospital care.^3,5,6 Despite demand for NPs in hospital care, barriers, including organizational regulations and state scope-of-practice restrictions, limit …

Combatting Weight Bias In Healthcare Students, Jacy Ghast, Holly Farley, Johnna Paulson

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Healthcare workers often hold implicit biases against patients with obesity, impacting communication, quality of care, and health outcomes. This pilot study explored implicit weight bias among pre-licensure nursing students towards obese patients, implements a structured intervention, and assesses changes in attitudes, perceptions, and confidence levels. The study's purpose is to enhance nursing education curricula by incorporating training that promotes unbiased, patient-centered care for obese patients. Ideally, students will have the capability to reflect, respect, and respond to patients in a positive manor. Grounded in social constructivist theory, the intervention employs simulated learning experiences, followed by debriefing and reflection. Pre- and …

Building Confidence And Clinical Judgment In Nursing Students Through Bcma Simulation, Arielle St. Romain, Sharonda Johnson

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Medication errors are a persistent problem in healthcare, with the Institute of Medicine (2007) highlighting their prevalence, estimated at one error per patient per day in hospitals. Healthcare organizations have increasingly implemented Barcode Medication Administration (BCMA) systems to improve medication delivery accuracy. However, many nursing students receive limited exposure to BCMA, which may impede their readiness for practice (Ledlow et al., 2022); (Strudwick et al., 2018). Simulation-based education offers a solution, allowing students to practice essential clinical skills, such as medication administration, in a controlled, risk-free environment (Alexander et al., 2015). High-fidelity simulations improve clinical decision-making, exposing students to realistic …

Policy Engagement And Advocacy To Transform Child Health Care Delivery And Improve Child Health, Kristin Hittle Gigli, Ashleigh F. Bowman

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Background: There have been significant advancements in health care and science over the last century. However, these changes have not adequately addressed child health needs. Children have increasing health care needs associated with rising rates of mental health conditions, chronic diseases, and violence-related injuries.¹ Further, health care reform has almost exclusively focused on adult populations and cannot be adapted to pediatric populations.² Over a three-year period, two committees were convened by the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) to examine opportunities for innovation within policy and the health care system to improve child health and …

Unlocking Leadership: Mentoring Globally, Connecting Deeply, Transforming Personally, Wedad Ashkar, Krista A. White

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Background: Mentoring is a key process in which experienced individuals provide guidance to help others transform personally and professionally. Sigma’s Global Leadership Mentoring Community (GLMC) is a platform that matches dyads across the globe to develop transformational nurse leaders. Mentorship fosters leadership skills, academic productivity, and job satisfaction, thus, empowering clinicians to drive healthcare innovation that strive to improve health outcomes.

Aims: (1) Describes the reciprocal benefits of the relationship of an experienced academician in the United States and an early career Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) in Israel; (2) Shares leader attributes being developed through our journey; and (3) Examines …

Adult Residents' Knowledge, Attitude, And Involvement In Malaria Prevention In Ikot Ekpene, Nigeria, Idongesit Akpabio, Esther Inokon, Alberta Nsemo

Biennial Convention (CONV)

INTRODUCTION:The sub-Saharan Africa has a high prevalence of malaria being one of the leading causes of mortality in the local population. This study were to investigate knowledge and attitude towards prevention, prevention strategies, vector control and materials needed for prevention. Five null hypotheses guided the study.

METHOD: This involved descriptive design and Focus Group Discussion FGD. The target and accessible population were 7862 and 1,534 residents from eight villages respectively. Subjects were 487 selected from 32 households using systematic random sampling. Questionnaire with Content Validity Index of .89 and test-retest reliability of .87 was used for data collection. FGDs …

Medication Administration Simulation For Undergraduate Pharmacology Nursing Students, Hannah Landgrave, Ashley Turner, Ashley York

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Medication administration and safety constitute vital components of a nurse's clinical practice, necessitating a comprehensive understanding of pharmaceuticals, informatics, and clinical judgment. Research indicates that up to 30% of newly licensed nurses are involved in medication errors, with 23% lacking the requisite competencies to make informed clinical decisions .1,2 Simulation offers an opportunity for students to apply theoretical knowledge within a controlled, risk-free environment, thereby enhancing clinical judgment and mitigating medication administration errors.3

The objective of this study was to evaluate the satisfaction and self-confidence of undergraduate nursing students engaged in a simulation activity integrated into a didactic pharmacology course. …

Detecting Metabolic Syndrome Among Older African American Women With A Phenotype Of Heart Failure, Carolyn B. Sue-Ling

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Background: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) appears to play a pivotal role in the development of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), one of two phenotypes of heart failure (HF). HFpEF has emerged as the more dominant cardiometabolic phenotype in older women worldwide, estimated to be present in 20-25% of older African American (AA) women. Recognizing MetS in older AA women would prompt the use of recently identified highly effective medications and lifestyle-based treatments that would impact patients with HFpEF.

Purpose: To determine whether the triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index, a product of triglyceride and fasting plasma glucose, alone or combined with waist …

Measurement-Based Mental Health In Adolescents, Ayzia Taylor

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Measurement-Based Care (MBC) is a data-driven approach that enhances mental health management by enabling real-time feedback and treatment adjustments. Through validated screening tools integrated into clinical workflows, MBC provides standardized measures of symptoms and progress, helping clinicians make evidence-based decisions tailored to individual patient needs. This approach fosters collaboration between clinicians, patients, and caregivers, ensuring patient-centered care and improving engagement and treatment outcomes.

MBC advances evidence-based practice (EBP) by using validated screening tools to identify symptoms, track progress, and refine treatment goals. Tools such as the PHQ-9 and GAD-7 provide actionable insights that guide decisions for both pharmacological and therapeutic …

The Phenomena Of Homeless People’S Suicidal Ideation And Mental Health, Pi-Ming Yeh

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Introduction/Significance: In 2023, the number of people experiencing homelessness in the United States was 653,104. Compared to the previous year, this was a 12.1% increase. Homelessness is an important societal problem.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the phenomena of mental health and suicidal ideation among people with homelessness in Tennessee, USA.

Methods: Sixty people with homelessness were recruited in Eastern Tennessee, USA. This was a cross-sectional descriptive research design. Questionnaires were used to collect data. SPSS 28.0 was used to analyze the data. Descriptive data analysis was used.

Results: There were 42 males (70%) and 18 …

The Prevalence Of Healthcare Inequity In The Treatment Of Women With Opioid Use Disorder, Bridget R. Scott-Fletcher, Mary Annapoorna, Dana El Hajj

Biennial Convention (CONV)

In trying to achieve gender equity in society there continues to be a shortfall with the burden of childcare, household duties, generational caregiving, working, and other duties still being unequally placed on women. The article by Cerrato & Cifre (2018) highlighted this in that women spend an average of 38 hours per week caring for children as opposed to men who were noted to spend an average of 23. This is irrespective of the fact that women continue to strengthen in numbers in the workforce these hours remain unchanged. A man, in contrast, will neither see nor realize any change …

The Importance Of Educating Patients On Side Effects Of Weight Loss Medications, Hannah Ledger, Teresa Teasley, Michelle Dykes

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Obesity has become more of a problem in the world that is leading to further health issues. Research shows that worldwide obesity has contributed to over a million deaths every year. Obesity leads to increased risks of diabetes, cardiovascular problems, and many others. Medications such as glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP1-RAs) are now available for weight management in an injectable and oral form. There are risks and benefits to both the injectable and oral forms that patients may not be aware of when deciding the best option for them.

With the craze surrounding the use of these weight loss medications, …

Advances In Clinical Care Management For Postpartum Hemorrhage With The Jada® System In Rural Health, Angela Hernandez, Allyson Doyle, Terisa Valdez, Tandra Dunn, Jessica Kloeppel

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Background: San Luis Valley Health (SLVH) is in rural, southern, central Colorado. SLVH serves about 46,000 people and is the only hospital that provides maternal delivery services in the valley. Nearly 50% of the population is Hispanic. The Hispanic population has a higher maternal mortality rate and higher incidences of postpartum hemorrhage (PPH). Uterine atony causes up to 80% of PPH and is one of the leading causes of maternal mortality and the primary cause of severe maternal morbidity. PPH requiring blood transfusions is the leading cause of maternal morbidity.

Purpose: The purpose of this evidence-based project and PDSA was …

Psychological Distress And Spiritual Care – An Effective Intervention?, Rebekah Rose

Biennial Convention (CONV)

On the rise globally is the epidemic of psychological distress, which encompasses mental illness, hopelessness, depression, and stress. When left untreated, further harm can occur with distressed individuals, not only affecting mental health, but potentially, even affecting quality of physical health outcomes. With extensive, systemic prevalence globally, cost-effective and widely available interventions are needed. This systematic review of the literature explores an economical and universally-available approach – the application of spiritual care to patients experiencing psychological distress. This review addresses the clinical question: In patients over 13 years of age affected by psychological distress, how do spiritual care interventions compared …

Reflect And Respond On The Importance Of Caring And Shared Decision Making In Leadership Development, Ann Langan, Christine Fardellone

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Purpose Statement: There is a gap in the literature related to leadership behaviors with a caring component unique to the nursing profession. Nurses require leaders who support caring, honesty, exemplary professional practice, new knowledge, and approach situations with moral and ethical transparency.

Background Information: Nurse leaders who model the attributes of the authentic nurse leader support a healthy work-life balance and enhance nurse engagement. One of the most important focuses of leadership in healthcare today is shared decision-making. The Authentic Nurse Leadership theoretical framework is based on Jean Watson's Theory of Human Caring. Significance Learning more about the self-perception of …

Implementation Of A Montessori-Based Dementia Program To Improve Healthcare Delivery In A Ltc/Snf, Erica N. Judka

Biennial Convention (CONV)

A 60-bed long-term care facility face challenges in dementia care. Staff report decreased confidence in managing behaviors (WeCare Connect, n.d.), which impacts person-centered care (Dookhy & Daly, 2021). Low engagement affects residents’ quality of life. This project aims to improve dementia care and increase resident and staff satisfaction.

The Montessori-Based Dementia Care Program (MBDP) engages residents in meaningful activities by utilizing long-term memories (Montessori Method, 2020) to reduce behaviors and improve care quality (Erkes et al., 2021). This project aims to reduce incidents by 20%, increase engagement by 25%, and improve staff satisfaction by 15% by December 2025. …

Building Resilient Nursing Students: Faculty Mentorship And Tech Innovation To Prevent Burnout, Morgan L. Taylor

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Purpose Statement: This study examines the transformative impact of combining faculty mentorship with technological innovations to enhance resilience in nursing students and promote long-term success.

Problem: High turnover rates among nurses and NCLEX failure are contributing to a critical shortage in the nursing workforce (Opoku et al., 2021). Many nurses leave bedside roles within 3 to 4 years due to burnout and poor work-life balance (Gamble, 2024). Additionally, 29% of students who took the NCLEX between January 2022 and June 2024 failed, limiting the flow of new nurses into the field (NCSBN, 2024). These challenges intensify staffing shortages in healthcare …

Gaps Identified By Nurses In Their Transition To Practice: The Profession Of Nursing Must Respond, Amy Lynn Zipf

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Purpose Statement: It is essential that the profession of nursing reflect upon and respond to the gaps identified by the newly graduated nurse in their transition from academia into professional practice.

Background: The world is experiencing a nursing workforce shortage that is only expected to increase through 2030 (World Health Organization, 2024). Simultaneously, across the globe newly graduated nurses continue to struggle in their transition from academia into professional practice; and while the gaps they experience are widely acknowledged, they are not well defined or understood (Sabei, et al., 2024; Zipf, 2025).

Study Design, Methods and Outcomes: A convergent mixed-methods …

A Foundation For Success: Social Support, Stress, And Resilience, Among Pre-Nursing Students, Leslie A. Jennings, Regina Wilder Urban, Kelle George

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Background: To combat the nursing shortage, universities focus on retention of nursing students; however, more than one-third of U.S. nursing programs report less than a 70% graduation rate.¹ Nursing students encounter many barriers, and these socially imposed forces can impact academic progress. The Social Determinants of Learning (SDOL™) contains six domains that play a role in achieving learning effectiveness and includes psychosocial factors (stress and resilience) and social support.² In nursing students, social support is positively associated with resilience³ and negatively associated with stress.⁴ In pre-nursing students who have not begun formal nursing education training or …

Advancing Nurse Practitioner Education Using Targeted Curriculum In Critical Care Obstetrics, Jennifer Brower, Caitlin Luebcke

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Purpose: Adult-gerontology acute care nurse practitioner (AGACNP) education has not held a historical emphasis on care of acutely ill obstetric patients. The aim of this study was to examine the knowledge base and self-efficacy of AGACNP students pre- and post-multimodal instruction in the care of this vulnerable patient population.

Background: Maternal mortality has risen in the United States from 7.2 deaths per 100,000 live births in 1987 to 23.8 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2020. Obstetric patients are more likely to be of advanced age with chronic illnesses and using reproductive technologies than in previous years. An increase in …

A Decision Tree For Evaluating Generative Ai Output And Input For Bias, Debra Henline Sullivan, Christine Frazer

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Generative AI models, such as GPT-4.o, have become increasingly prevalent in various domains, from creative content generation to decision-making support. However, these models are susceptible to biases present in their training data, which can lead to biased or unfair outcomes. While various methods exist for detecting and mitigating bias in AI, there is a lack of standardized, accessible tools for systematically evaluating AI-generated content. Biases in Generative AI input (both implicit and explicit) will result in biased Generative AI output, so it is also important to analyze input. This poster presents a decision tree as a systematic tool to help …

Implementation Of A Dementia-Specific Advance Care Planning Tool: A Quality Improvement Pilot, Stephanie Nichole Johnson

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Purpose: There are 55 million cases of dementia worldwide and the cost of care for these individuals is estimated to rise to $2 trillion by 2030. Dementia-specific Advance Care Planning (ACP) can help to reduce the burdens of providing care to those diagnosed with dementia. This study sought to determine if the implementation of a dementia-specific ACP tool increases knowledge and decision-maker confidence, as well as decrease inappropriate healthcare utilization rates.

Method: At a Program for All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE), individuals diagnosed with a cognitive deficit (CD) and their surrogate decision-maker (SDM) were recruited as dyads to participate …