Digital Commons Network^™

Evidence-Based Suicide Assessment And Managment Training For Mental Health Professionals, Clara Abit

DNP Scholarly Projects

Background: Suicide is a significant public health concern both nationally and globally. While the suicide rate has been decreasing in recent years, evidence shows that the rate of suicide among teenagers and adolescents has been on the rise. Teenage suicide accounts for 14% of all deaths by suicide in the United States, calling for effective interventions in various settings. However, inadequate knowledge of the potential signs and risk factors of suicide hinders mental healthcare professionals' ability to recognize at-risk patients.

Purpose: The project's objective was to evaluate the effects of the intervention on mental health workers' knowledge, skills, and screening …

Gnss-Based Accurate One-Way Latency Characterization Of Transcontinental And Transoceanic Internet Paths, Lizhi Xu

Master's Theses and Capstones

One-way latency is a non-trivial aspect of network quality that can reveal more about network performance than other quantities that are easier to measure. One-way latency is the amount of time from transmission of a packet along a network path to its reception. To measure one-way latency, transmission and reception times must be measured in the same time base. Thus the most important precondition for accurate one-way latency measurement is time synchronization between the transmitting and receiving nodes on the network.

Our research is designing a feasible method for measuring accurate one-way latencies using the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS). …

Improving Provider Retention Through Addressing Burnout At A Federally Qualified Health Center: A Quality Improvement Initiative, Emily Grattan

DNP Scholarly Projects

Background: Primary care providers employed by federally qualified health centers (FQHC) working with underserved populations experience high levels of burnout as patients are often medically complex, face healthcare disparities and societal stigmas. The aim of the project was to alleviate burnout and improve provider retention through introduction of organizational support measures. Participants involved were healthcare providers, as well as nurse management and senior leadership.

Methods: The quality improvement approach for this project utilized the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycle and a driver diagram to guide the selected interventions. Interventions were based on categories from Mayo’s Clinic’s Nine Organizational Strategies to Promote Engagement …

Decreasing Post-Operative Ventilator Time In The Cardiovascular Surgical Patient: A Nursing Education Quality Initiative, Amanda J. Bruno Roberts

DNP Scholarly Projects

Extended mechanical ventilation times after open heart surgery can contribute to complications prolonging recovery and length of stay, as well as increasing mortality. Standardized staff education of immediate post-open-heart recovery and ventilator weaning protocols, combined with the use of ABCDE and VAP bundles can reduce these complications. At Hospital X during summer of 2022, the average length of time patients remained mechanically ventilated after open heart surgery increased. After an initial needs survey was distributed to nursing staff, a set of novel QR codes was created to simplify and centralize training for staff in the ICU to facilitate early extubation …

Nutritive Comparison Of Ruminant Feed, Integrating Crab And Lobster Meal, Kelsi L. Devolve

Honors Theses and Capstones

In attempts to increase livestock production and decrease waste products from the seafood industry, crab meal and lobster meal were tested as a potential cattle feed ingredient. Jonah crab waste, Atlantic Red crab waste, soybean meal, and blood meal were collected from various vendors and utilized in an in vitro study, an in situ study, and a nitrogen analyzer to determine crude protein in each feed. After allowing the samples to sit in a DAISY incubator for 48 h, mimicking a rumen environment, degradability for the soybean meal, blood meal, lobster meal, and crab meal were 100.13%, 76.36%, 43.77%, and …

“Wilfrid Sellars And Pragmatism”, Willem A. Devries

Faculty Publications

A brief survey of Wilfrid Sellars' relation to Pragmatism, focusing on the priority of the practical in the constitution of meaning, the critique of the given, and sociality of thought and inquiry.

Using Education To Improve Timeliness And Efficiency Of Medication Administration In An Inpatient Hospital Setting: A Quality Improvement Project, Kevin Christopher Lane

Master's Theses and Capstones

Background: Timeliness of medication administration is important for optimal patient care. Technology, interdepartmental communication, and nursing workflow influence on-time delivery of medications. Improving knowledge through PowerPoint™ education and visual aids such as medication alert placards improves interdepartmental communication and positively influences nursing workflow leading to improved medication delivery times.

Local Problem: Nurses spend considerable time looking for and administering medications to patients on the unit. A goal was established to reduce the amount of time nurses spent looking for medications by 5% after implementing PowerPoint™ education to improve workflow.

Methods: This project used the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) strategy for implementation. …

Promoting Safety Of Medication Administration And Reducing Medication Errors Using Photographic Patient Identification In An Inpatient Psychiatric Setting: A Quality Improvement Initiative, Kyla Kelly

Master's Theses and Capstones

Abstract

Background: Medication errors pertaining to patient wristband workarounds in a behavioral and mental health inpatient unit can affect patient outcomes, safety and can even be fatal. The proper verification of the five rights of medication administration, patient acuity, diagnosis, and unit staffing can impact the need for patient wristband workarounds to occur. Improving staff and patient education and reducing the need for wristband workarounds through the utilization of patient photographic identification significantly reduces the number of medication errors relating to wristband workarounds during the medication administration process. Additionally, a significant reduction in the time it takes to administer medications …

Reducing Instances Of Staff Exposure To Ionizing Radiation In The Pacu, Christina Mcauliffe

Master's Theses and Capstones

Abstract

Background

On the Post Anesthesia Care Unit mobile X-Rays were necessary on site for confirmation of medical device placement. There was an unofficial procedure in place which consisted of announcing when an X-Ray was to be taken, and which bay it was taken in.

Local Problem

Upon observation it was noted that the mobile X-Ray unofficial procedure was only being adhered to for approximately 25% mobile X-Rays taken on the PACU, unnecessarily exposing staff to ionizing radiation. There was also no written procedure or standardized training policy available at the facility.

Methods

Baseline ionizing radiation knowledge was assessed using …

Using Education To Promote Waste Segregation And Waste Reduction In The Operating Room: A Quality Improvement Initiative, Sarah E. Landgraf

Master's Theses and Capstones

Background: The operating room (OR) is known to be one of the largest producers of medical waste and of the surgical specialties, orthopedic surgery tends to the largest portion of this. Waste from the OR can be mitigated by recycling non-contaminated materials. This reduces the number of raw materials needed to create new products, decreases landfill use, and lowers hospital costs.

Local Problem: It was observed that a gap in knowledge existed related to recyclables in the OR of a large medical center in New England. Also, it was observed that there was potential for waste and recycling to be …

Giving Effective And Timely Hospice Education To Lessen Participant Stress (Get Helps), Caroline Rose Carter

Master's Theses and Capstones

In 2022, 1.72 million people chose to use hospice as their end-of life care. This is a 6.8% increase from 2019, and the number of patients who choose to use hospice is increasing (Summers, 2022). The aim of this quality improvement (QI) study was to decrease levels of stress reported by the patient and informal caretakers by combining the information from the hospice program’s admission packet and other approved handouts, while standardizing the verbiage through a Flesch-Kincaid readability scale to an eighth-grade reading level. Pre-survey perceived stress scores averaged 22.97 on a modified Perceived-Stress Scale, and the mean of the …

Effective Leadership Styles To Ensure Organizational Success, Nicholas Collishaw

M.S. in Leadership

A look into the different leadership styles that can ensure organizational success within the law enforcement field. Each generation that comprises of the law enforcement field have different preferred leadership styles and traits that keep an organization running effectively. Finally, an analysis of the different theories revolving around leadership and the benefits of each theory if implemented effectively.

Assessing The Bioavailability Of Infused Lysine And Rumen-Protected Lysine Supplements Using The Area Under The Curve Technique And The Plasma Free Amino Acid Dose-Response Method, Megan Vetter

Honors Theses and Capstones

The milk production of lactating dairy cows is dependent on factors such as housing conditions, lineage, climate, and health, but the quality of their diets is generally the most influential. Maintaining a proper balance of nutrients is necessary to achieve the greatest milk production at the lowest cost. Maximum feed efficiency is not only critical for increasing the economic profits of an individual farm, but also for increasing food supply without increasing environmental demand. Supplementing cows’ diets with lysine (Lys), an essential amino acid (AA), can aid in maximizing protein synthesis. Providing this nutrient in a rumen-protected (RP) coating can …

Waterville Estates Village District Annual Report 2022, Waterville Estates Village District Representatives

Waterville Estates Village District of Campton & Thornton, NH Annual Reports

This is an annual report containing vital statistics for a Village District in the state of New Hampshire.

The Impact Of Compensation Framing On Work Relationships, Jack Wixson

Honors Theses and Capstones

This paper attempts to understand the effects of compensation framing on performance, work relationships, and organizational citizenship behavior. 108 study participants worked under either a bonus or penalty framed contract to complete an effort-based task. The results of the study indicate that employees will exert more effort to get to know their supervisor and demonstrate more good behavior under a bonus frame versus a penalty frame. These findings are important for companies to recognize how different compensation structures impact their employees. Companies can be more successful if they put in more time and effort to better understand their employees.

Heparin Vs. Saline: Evaluating Evidence-Based Best Practice For Maintaining Patency Of Implanted Ports, Shannon D. Murdock

Master's Theses and Capstones

Background Implanted ports are frequently used for central venous access in the adult oncology population. Maintaining patency of these ports is important for continuing uninterrupted treatment and supportive care for oncologic patients. Historically, heparin solution has been used as a locking solution for implanted ports to prevent occlusion. However, evidence shows that 0.9% sodium chloride (normal saline or NS) as a lock solution is equally effective as heparin solution at maintaining implanted port patency and poses less risk to patients.

Local Problem In an ambulatory adult oncology clinic serving Seacoast New Hampshire, a gap was identified between clinical practice where …

Enhancing Education To Mitigate Workplace Violence To Increase Staff Safety In A High Acuity Setting: A Quality Improvement Project, Michelle Crowley

Master's Theses and Capstones

Background: The current microsystem is a critical access 8 bed Emergency Department with 3 hallway beds. On average it can see anywhere from 30-50 patients in a 24 hour period. Due to the nature of the microsystem, staff are at high risk for experiencing workplace violence (WPV). Within this microsystem staff do not have a readily available communication device on their person in case of an adverse event leaving them susceptible to patient to staff WPV. Staff within this microsystem are Management of Aggressive Behavior (MOAB) 1 and 2 trained, however this does not provide education on risk factors for …

Globe Srs Poster Gallery, Globe U.S. Coordination Office

Resources

No abstract provided.

New Hampshire Volunteer Beach Profile Monitoring Program (Vbpmp): Implementation, Field Methods, And Data Processing, Larry G. Ward, Rachel C. Morrison, Alyson Eberhardt, Wellsley Costello

New Hampshire Sea Grant

The New Hampshire (NH) Volunteer Beach Profiling Monitoring Program (VBPMP) monitors beach elevation profiles at multiple stations along the NH Atlantic coast on a near-monthly basis using the Emery method. The program grew from three monitoring stations in 2016-2017 to thirteen stations across six beaches in 2018, with an additional station added in 2022. The overarching goal of the VBPMP is to assess the stability of New Hampshire’s Atlantic beaches over multiple years to determine seasonal changes and long-term trends using citizen science methods. Included in the assessment of beach stability are erosional or accretional trends, response to storms, and …

The Angel Investor Market In Q1q2 2022: A Surge In Seed Financing, Jeffrey E. Sohl

Center for Venture Research

No abstract provided.

Strafford County 2022 Annual Report Of The Commissioners, Treasurer, Other County Officers, And The Strafford County Delegation For The Year Ending December 31, 2022., Strafford County Representatives

Strafford County, NH Annual Reports

This is an annual report containing vital statistics for a county in the state of New Hampshire.

Quality Assurance Report For Year 2021 Estuarine Water Quality Datasonde Monitoring, Lara Martin

PREP Reports & Publications

No abstract provided.

Great Bay Estuary Submerged Aquatic Vegetation (Sav) Monitoring Program For 2023-2027, Kalle Matso, Raymond Grizzle, Michael Routhier, Trevor Mattera

PREP Reports & Publications

No abstract provided.

Improving Patient Safety Associated With Intramuscular Injections By Educating Nurses On Recommended Practice: A Quality Improvement Project, Alex Annutto

Master's Theses and Capstones

Background: Intramuscular (IM) injections are used to deliver medication quickly and efficiently. However, the Centers for Disease Control has changed their guidelines on how to administer medication using the IM injection route. A quality improvement was conducted at Wildcat Hospital that focused on increasing healthcare professionals’ IM injection knowledge.

Methods: A pre-intervention survey was administered to RNs, LPNs, and Paramedics to assess their knowledge and IM injection technique. After the initial survey, an educational PowerPoint was presented to staff and management. This was followed with pamphlets that reviewed the information covered in the presentation. A post-intervention survey was administered to …

4-H Rockingham & Strafford County Favorite Foods Festival Info Packet, Cooperative Extension

UNH Cooperative Extension

No abstract provided.

Depersonalizing Troubles In Institutional Interaction: Routinizing In Parent-Teacher Conferences, Danielle M. Pillet-Shore

Faculty Publications

This article advances our understanding of institutional interaction by showing when and how it can be advantageous for professionals to treat addressed-recipients as non-unique. Examining how teachers talk about children-as-students during parent-teacher conferences, this investigation illuminates several specific interactional methods that teachers use to depersonalize the focal student’s trouble, delineating as among these the novel practice of “routinizing”—citing firsthand experience with other similar cases. Analysis demonstrates how teachers use routinizing to enact their expertise, both responsively as a vehicle for attenuating and credentialing their advice-giving to parents/caregivers, and proactively to preempt parent/caregiver resistance to their student-assessments/evaluations. This research …

Reducing Clabsi Rates Through Education On Maintaining Cvc Dressing Integrity: A Quality Improvement Initiative, Hanna I. Lentine

Master's Theses and Capstones

BACKGROUND: Central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) are a type of hospital-acquired infection (HAI). They arise as a complication from patients having a central venous catheter (CVC) placed. CVCs can provide numerous benefits for patients who require long-term venous access or hemodynamic monitoring. Acquiring a CLABSI can place patients at higher risk for complications, increased length of stay, and mortality. Reducing the risk of infection is imperative for all patients, but especially those who are more vulnerable to opportunistic infections, such as those in critical care units.

LOCAL PROBLEM: This quality improvement project took place at a 234-bed, level II trauma …

Utilization Of The Broset Violence Checklist For Early Identification Of Aggressive And Violent Behavior To Improve Unit Safety: A Quality Improvement Initiative, Emily Sharretts

Master's Theses and Capstones

BACKGROUND: There continues to be an increase in workplace violence nationally in the healthcare setting which jeopardizes patient and staff safety. Liu et al. (2019) found about 59% of health care workers experience workplace violence. Kafle et al. (2022) emphasizes the link between workplace violence and increased levels of nurse burnout and therefore decreased job satisfaction.

LOCAL PROBLEM: The microsystem assessment revealed that there was no risk assessment tool to identifying early aggressive or violent patient behavior.

METHODS: The Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) framework was used for this quality improvement project to reduce workplace violence on this unit.

INTERVENTIONS:After completion …

Employing Chronic And Rare Disease Printed Drug Information Related To Health Literacy To Improve Patients Perceived Knowledge In An Outpatient Setting: A Quality Improvement Initiative, Mikaela Dowd

Master's Theses and Capstones

Abstract

Background: An infusion center in a critical access hospital provides education to patients and their families to address health literacy which supports shared decision-making and patient centered care. This education includes medication knowledge to support self-care. The goal of this project was to create printed drug education rack cards (DERC) for patients to review prior to their first treatment to increase their perceived confidence in drug knowledge. There are many different aspects to consider for each drug treatment given within the microsystem including side effects, administration schedules, and lab and diagnostic procedures. Many of these aspects are unknown to …

Improving Accuracy Of I&O Documentation For Patients On A Medical-Surgical Telemetry Unit, Corinna Moskal

Master's Theses and Capstones

Background

This paper explores suggested ways to increase intake and output (I&O) monitoring accuracy on a medical-surgical telemetry unit. I&O is a crucial marker for many patients to examine their hydration status and intervention efficacy. Various articles were explored to see best practices and varied in setting and outcomes.

Local Problem

A medical-surgical telemetry unit was analyzed and found to have miscommunication in their ability to monitor I&O for patients' ordered fluid restrictions accurately. Patients may be ordered fluid limits for various reasons; however, the most frequent indication on this unit is for heart failure patients.

Methods

A medical-surgical telemetry …