Digital Commons Network^™

Willow Creek Women's Hospital Internship, Destinee Ross

The Eleanor Mann School of Nursing Undergraduate Honors Theses

While the use of midwifery is proven to improve outcomes for low-risk mothers and infants, many healthcare providers, nurses, and patients in Northwest Arkansas continue to be skeptical about utilizing midwifery care. During my internship, I worked directly with labor and delivery nurses, physicians, and a midwife at Willow Creek Women’s Hospital and provided high-quality care to women during their birthing process. This hospital focuses entirely on women and infant care and provides gynecological, obstetric, and newborn services. Willow Creek Women’s Hospital is also one of the few hospitals in Arkansas to implement a certified nurse-midwife (CNM) and has two …

Implementing A Community-Based Breastfeeding And Infant Support Tent At University Of Arkansas Athletic Events, Moranda Clark

The Eleanor Mann School of Nursing Undergraduate Honors Theses

Breastfeeding is such an important role in a mother and baby’s relationship as it establishes a unique bond while also providing health benefits for both parties involved. Unfortunately, many women are discriminated against for trying to breastfeed in public and with little to no designated breastfeeding areas or sanitary places in such spaces; they are left with very few viable options. During the last year I have been completing an internship surrounding the subject of breastfeeding and have helped to implement a breastfeeding and infant support tent at University of Arkansas athletic events. My work has included extensive research, lactation …

Washington Regional Student Nurse Internship-Cardiology, Lillie Watson

The Eleanor Mann School of Nursing Undergraduate Honors Theses

The Student Nurse Internship Program was started as a way to allow nursing students to gain the skill set of patient care and communication while allowing us additional educational opportunities. The first 4 weeks of my internship were the orientation period in which 2 weeks we followed a nurse and then the other 2 weeks we followed a nursing assistant. These initial 4 weeks really gave us the opportunity to have educational opportunities by following the nurse, but also allowing us to work with another nursing assistant before working on our own. Through my internship at Washington Regional, I was …

Exploring Perceptions And Attitudes Of Health In Marshallese Adolescents Who Are Overweight In Northwest Arkansas, Lauren Love

The Eleanor Mann School of Nursing Undergraduate Honors Theses

Purpose

Childhood obesity is a growing public health problem in the United States. An increasing number of children are becoming overweight or obese and facing the negative health issues from this diagnosis. They might also suffer socially due to their weight because they are more likely to be bullied or picked on. This project explored the perceptions and attitudes of health in Marshallese adolescents that are overweight in Northwest Arkansas. The goal of our project was to investigate themes for commonality amongst adolescents that are overweight about how they perceive their weight and their beliefs towards health and body image. …

Does Pre-Pregnancy Bmi Predict Transfer To A Hospital From A Birth Center For Pain Management?, Audrey Fleenor

The Eleanor Mann School of Nursing Undergraduate Honors Theses

Background:Birth centers are staffed predominantly by midwives and nurses who care for a patient population consisting of low-risk pregnancies. The American Association of Birth Centers requires that the birth center has an agreement with a local hospital to transfer patients if need-be before, during or after delivery in case any complications arise that may result in needing alternative care (Rathbun, 2017). The rate of obesity in the United States has been rising for years. Obesity affects overall health as well as a woman’s pregnancy and pregnancy outcomes. Overall, an obese individual does not prioritize physical exercise and lacks healthy …

Addressing Barriers To Maternal Healthcare For Marshallese Islanders In Northwest Arkansas: An Internship Experience, Victoria Richardson

The Eleanor Mann School of Nursing Undergraduate Honors Theses

The Marshallese community is a rapidly growing population in Northwest Arkansas. Approximately 12,000 people migrated from the Marshall Islands and settled in the state of Arkansas due to the signing of the Compact of Free Association (COFA) in 1986. Although the population in Northwest Arkansas is experiencing rapid growth, there are significant health disparities that coincide with it. Due to vast cultural differences, language barriers, low economic status, and political barriers, the Marshallese community suffers from prenatal health inequalities and poor maternal and fetal outcomes, including low birth-weight infants, premature births, and increased infant mortality. During my internship, I provided …

Cardiology Student Nurse Internship, Chimdera Nzelu

The Eleanor Mann School of Nursing Undergraduate Honors Theses

This past summer and into my final semester in the Eleanor Mann School of Nursing, I became a student nurse intern at Washington Regional Medical Center in the Cardiology department. Heart disease and other heart-related morbidities are on the rise within our population, especially as the baby-boomer generation continues to age – and healthcare must follow suit. The Cardiology department combined with the Walker Heart Institute of Washington Regional is a champion within Northwest Arkansas for the best care related to the heart, and I had the incredible opportunity to serve and learn from their talented healthcare team. Through my …

The Association Between Advanced Maternal Age And Short Interpregnancy Intervals On Preterm Labor, Kristi L. Duchanois, Hannah N. Burns

The Eleanor Mann School of Nursing Undergraduate Honors Theses

Background: Preterm birth is the leading cause of neonatal and infant mortality and has become a major health concern due to the increasing rates of infant deaths in the United States (WHO, 2017). Studying maternal risk factors for preterm labor provides insight to this obscure condition and can assist in the identification of high risk women, as well as facilitate appropriate pregnancy planning. Purpose: Although research can be found on interpregnancy intervals and maternal age as independent risk factors for premature labor, gaps exist within the relation of these variables. This study was done to investigate whether there is a …

Eat Better Move More: Educational Program Teaching Healthy Eating Habits To Low-Socioeconomic Elementary School Students, Megan March

The Eleanor Mann School of Nursing Undergraduate Honors Theses

Obesity is a growing problem and has shown no signs of improvement over the past decade, with an estimated one in five children between the ages of six and seventeen are overweight. This problem is even more prevalent in ethnic minorities and socioeconomically disadvantaged families. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of the EBMM program nutrition module on 4th and 5th grade student’s food choices. The study was conducted at an elementary school in Northwest Arkansas. A convenience sample of 4^th and 5^th grade students was chosen to participate in the study. Nursing students …

A Framework For Learning During An Honors Internship: Embold Health Inc., Haley Haldeman

The Eleanor Mann School of Nursing Undergraduate Honors Theses

Embold Health Inc. is a health care analytics start-up company that identifies top performing providers using large data sets and clinically nuanced measurement. A comprehensive assessment of quality, appropriateness, and cost is what Embold Health delivers. Embold allows payers more control in choosing providers within their region. Being able to identify top provider behaviors through rigorous data driven measurement is significant both clinically and commercially; it provides the opportunity to increase value of care, decrease waste, and drive down cost.

Over the past year as an intern, I’ve had a first-hand look into the complexity that surrounds data driven health …

Effects Of An Educational Intervention On Nutrition And Healthy Eating Habits In Minority Group Parents And Children Living In Arkansas, Peri Clay

The Eleanor Mann School of Nursing Undergraduate Honors Theses

Background: The Hispanic population is the largest growing minority ethnic group in the United States today. Minority groups have an added struggle with obesity and have higher rates of obesity in this country than the caucasian counterparts. While minority group parents want more for their children they face many cultural and language barriers related to proper nutrition and hydration. This prevents these families from gaining adequate nutrition.

Objective: The purpose was to evaluate the impact of nutrition education on obesity rates through implementation of a year long educational intervention for minority group mothers and their children through and …

The Perception Of Iron-Deficient Anemia In Bolgatanga, Ghana Among Women Of Childbearing Age, Sydney Albrecht

The Eleanor Mann School of Nursing Undergraduate Honors Theses

Objective: To understand the perception of anemia among the women of childbearing age in Bolgatanga, Ghana, and to correlate the reasoning with the high incidence of anemia in the area.

Method: This research was a qualitative study consisting of 67 interviews over the course of the three weeks that were spent in Bolgatanga. 50 of these interviews were women of childbearing age (15-49), 6 were health professionals, and 11 were women older than the age range provided. Interviews were taken from the maternity clinics nearby as well as from women in a rural area that was a 10-minute taxi ride …

Mental Health Advocacy Internship, Hannah Cogburn

The Eleanor Mann School of Nursing Undergraduate Honors Theses

While statistics indicate an increased need for mental health treatment in the United States, the stigmatization surrounding mental illness prevents many from seeking help. During my internship, I worked with multiple mental health advocacy groups in Northwest Arkansas, including Mental Health America and Judicial Equality for Mental Illness, to bring about beneficial change for mental health consumers. These groups have been successful in bringing additional treatment centers to our area and raising community awareness for the importance of mental health. Through my internship, I learned how to organize public awareness events, how to advocate politically, and how to meet the …

The Impact Of A School-Based Program On Diabetes And Cardiovascular Risk Factors, Lindsey Thielman

The Eleanor Mann School of Nursing Undergraduate Honors Theses

Obesity is an increasing health issue both in the United States and worldwide. Furthermore, childhood obesity is increasing in prevalence. Childhood obesity is associated with an increased risk of comorbidities in adulthood. Obesity in childhood and adolescence makes one more likely to become obese during adulthood. This study sought to determine the effect of a school-based obesity prevention program on diabetes and cardiovascular risk factors such as body mass index (BMI), blood pressure, waist circumference, and acanthosis nigricans. Measurements were taken before education in the fall semester, and again after two education sessions in the spring semester. Student and faculty …

Correlation Between Myostatin And Lean Muscle Mass In Older Adults, Mishann Luedders

The Eleanor Mann School of Nursing Undergraduate Honors Theses

Correlation Between Myostatin and Lean Muscle Mass in Older Adults.

Luedders, M., Gray, M., Patton, S., Washington, T., Binns, A. Exercise Science Research Center, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR.

Background: Our older adult population is growing exponentially and with it, the number of falls and debilitating injuries that afflict their population grows as well. A fall brings with it many possible injuries, healthcare costs, fear and increased mortality. There seems to be a lack of preventative measures in our healthcare system to help protect our elders. One possible measure is a simple blood test that looks at the level of …

Effects Of Eat Better, Move More (Ebmm) Educational Program On Obesity Rates In Latino Children Residing In Northwest Arkansas, Allison Jones

The Eleanor Mann School of Nursing Undergraduate Honors Theses

Background: Childhood obesity, especially in ethnic minority populations, is a growing problem with no signs of improvement over the past decade. The Latino population is one of the fastest growing minority groups in the United States. Unfortunately, they have experienced substantial health disparities and socioeconomic disadvantages that contribute to the high rates of obesity in their youth. Decreasing obesity rates would not only have many health advantages, but also financial benefits as well. It would reduce the risk of co-morbidities such as cardiovascular disease and depression. Healthy children are more likely to grow into healthy adults, ultimately lowering the cost …

Implementing An Honors Nonprofit Internship: Hub Of Hope, Janet Wagner

The Eleanor Mann School of Nursing Undergraduate Honors Theses

Human trafficking is the term used to describe modern-day slavery, which is a global problem, but it is also present here in the United States. During this last year, I have worked with the Northwest Arkansas nonprofit Hub of HOPE. This organization, founded in 2016 by Jennifer Sorey, supports victims of human trafficking and raises awareness by educating Arkansans on the pervasiveness of human trafficking and its implications for our community. As part of my work, I completed the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner training to understand how to work with human trafficking victims who are also victims of sexual assault …

Eat Better, Move More: An Educational Program Teaching Healthy Exercise Habits To Low-Socioeconomic Elementary School Students, Haley Davis

The Eleanor Mann School of Nursing Undergraduate Honors Theses

The unhealthy habits of our modern culture show a concern for our future generations. The combination of our genotype with social and cultural interactions can lead to obesity. This study was conducted because there is little evidence of school-based interventions for the health of ethnic minority students. The purpose of this study was to evaluate to what extent the Eat Better, Move More (EBMM) program exercise content affected 4^th and 5^th grade students exercise habits. A convenience sample of twelve fourth-grade and twelve fifth-grade students completed the EBMM exercise module. A quasi-experimental design was used through a single …

The Association Between Advanced Maternal Age And Short Interpregnancy Intervals On Preterm Labor, Hannah N. Burns, Kristi L. Duchanois

The Eleanor Mann School of Nursing Undergraduate Honors Theses

Abstract

Background: Preterm birth is the leading cause of neonatal and infant mortality and has become a major health concern due to the increasing rates of infant deaths in the United States (WHO, 2017). Studying maternal risk factors for preterm labor provides insight to this obscure condition and can assist in the identification of high risk women, as well as facilitate appropriate pregnancy planning. Purpose: Although research can be found on interpregnancy intervals and maternal age as independent risk factors for premature labor, gaps exist within the relation of these variables. This study was done to investigate whether there is …