Digital Commons Network^™

Reduction Of Order-To-Scan Times To Increase Patient Throughput And Improve Patient Outcomes: A Quality Improvement Project, Jason Harrington

Master's Theses and Capstones

Background: Throughput is a key metric for both the emergency department and the hospital system. Diagnostic tests, such as CT scans, can lead to a large delay in patient throughput which can negatively impact patient satisfaction and patient outcomes. Finding ways to reduce delays in CT scan acquisition can positively impact patient satisfaction and patient outcomes.

Aim: The specific aim of this quality improvement project was to decrease the amount of time it takes to complete abdominal CT scans with IV contrast once ordered from 61 minutes to below 35 minutes by July 1^st, 2022

Methods: Plan was …

Standardizing Nursing Hand-Off Report Using I-Pass On A Behavioral Health Unit: A Quality Improvement Project, Sarah Pennisten

Master's Theses and Capstones

Background: Deficient or ineffective communication in clinical hand-off has been established by prominent international health organizations as a significant cause of adverse clinical events, compromising clinical safety, an ongoing common problem for healthcare professionals and institutions. Existing literature unanimously called for improvement in hand-off communication to improve patient outcomes and recommended beginning such efforts by building various types of structure into hand-off (McCloughen et al., 2008).

Aim: The aim of this quality improvement project was to improve clinical communication among nurses transferring care of patients in acute psychiatric care.

Methods: Utilizing the Plan, Do, Study, Act framework over a total …

Quality Improvement Initiative Through Staff Development: Using Education To Increase Preoperative Handoff Communication, Victoria L. Mcgovern

Master's Theses and Capstones

Abstract

Background: Handoff communication is essential for patient safety, especially in the perioperative setting as a critical care environment. Preoperative communication between operating room nurses and preoperative room nurses was suboptimal in a local microsystem as evidenced by pre-intervention data collection where 82% of cases did not participate in handoff, 11% with partial adherence of policy and only 7% in full adherence. The global aim of this project was to improve the handoff communication between the preoperative nurse and operating room nurse in the surgical day center (SDC) within the chosen microsystem to promote patient safety and positive patient outcomes. …

Associations Of Short And Medium Chain Saturated Fatty Acids And Dairy With Cognitive Functioning In The Boston Puerto Rican Health Study, Sophie M. Kenny

Master's Theses and Capstones

Cognitive decline is a major public health concern. Evidence suggests that Hispanic/Latino adults, specifically Puerto Rican adults, in the US are at a higher risk of developing dementia or cognitive decline due to the high prevalence of risk factors, including cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Emerging evidence suggests that specific dietary fatty acids, short and medium-chain-length saturated fatty acids, that are found in dairy may be beneficial for cognitive function. However, there are limited observational studies examining the effects of SMCSFA and dairy on cognitive function in Hispanic/Latino adults. We examined the cross-sectional and prospective associations between SMCSFA and dairy consumption …

2021 Unh Extension Merrimack County Highlights Sheet, Amy Loader

UNH Cooperative Extension

No abstract provided.

“Usefulness Without Use," Or, The Power Of The Virtual: Lu Xun On The Vital Efficacy Of Literature, Wenjin Cui

Faculty Publications

This article explores Lu Xun’s distinct view of the vital efficacy of literature, as

captured in his well-known conception of literature’s “usefulness without use.”

Starting with the highly idealistic vision of his youthful years, which posits an

unmediated flow of power from the free play of poetry to the direct action of politics,

I follow Lu Xun on the strenuous and crisis-ridden path he took in coming to terms

with the uselessness of literature vis-à-vis the power of politics, until he finally

reaffirmed the vital power of literature by pitching the self-transcending virtual

impetus of literature against the conservative actual …

Implementing Daily Schedules To Prevent Episodes Of Agitation In Pediatric Patients Boarding In The Emergency Department With Behavioral Health Diagnoses., Alex W. Carbone, Kathleen Kiley Bsn, Rn, Cpen, Anne Meginniss Msn, Fnp-Bc, Kerry Nolte Phd, Fnp-C, Debra Lajoie Jd, Phd, Msn, Rn, Esq.

Honors Theses and Capstones

Abstract

Background: Pediatric psychiatric emergencies have been recognized as a national crisis in the United States (Roman et al., 2018). Emergency department (ED) visits for pediatric behavioral health (BH) conditions rose 31% from April 2020 to October 2020 (Bartek et al., 2021). This increase in ED visits for BH concerns, matched with overwhelmed inpatient psychiatric treatment centers and lacking community support programs, has resulted in an increase in BH ED boarders (Bartek et al., 2021). This population of patients who remain in the ED while awaiting placement at a psychiatric care program are at risk for prolonged boarding durations in …

Variables That Affect Parental Goals For Visiting A Children’S Museum, Isabella M. Livingston

Honors Theses and Capstones

Children’s museums are informal educational environments that foster creativity, support sensory exploration, and provide places for both free play and learning (Gong et al., 2020). This study aimed to more fully understand parental goals for taking their children to a children’s museum, and how those goals varied based on characteristics known to play a role in how parents and children interact together. Subjects included 70 child-parent dyads. Each parent completed a demographic questionnaire, the Child Behavior Questionnaire-Very Short Form (Putnam & Rothbart, 2006) to assess temperament, and responded to an open-ended prompt related to visit intent. Dyads were then recorded …

Addressing Job Satisfaction In Nursing Staff Through Mindfulness: A Quality Improvement Project, Abigail Isenberg

Master's Theses and Capstones

Background: As the single largest group of healthcare professionals, comprising a workforce of over 4 million in the United States, keeping nurses satisfied in their positions is a vital component of providing quality patient care (Perry et al., 2018). It is estimated that 68% of nurses will experience significant job dissatisfaction at a point in their career (Ayalew et al., 2018). Mindfulness practice, specifically Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) is a recognized tool to lower work-related stress and increase job satisfaction of nursing staff (Henry, 2014).

Local Problem: The state of the specific microsystem had been high levels of dissatisfaction among …

Reducing Patient Handoff Inadequacies Using An Electronic Medical Record Based Standardized Handoff Tool In The Critical Care Unit, Mariah E. Needham

Master's Theses and Capstones

INTRODUCTION: Inadequate handoff communication is a contributing factor in sentinel events and adverse patient outcomes. Research has shown that the use of a standardized handoff tool can improve quality of handoff communication. This quality improvement (QI) project sought to standardize handoff and reduce the risk of adverse patient outcomes by utilizing the I-PASS handoff tool available in the electronic medical record (EMR).

AIM: The aim of this quality improvement project was to improve the accuracy of nurse-to-nurse patient handoffs.

METHODS: The outcomes measured by the post-intervention survey were the number of reported handoffs received with omissions, the percentage of staff …

Improving Disinfectant Cap Use On Central Lines In The Icu To Reduce Patient Risk For Clabsi: A Quality Improvement Project, Tali Cherim

Master's Theses and Capstones

BACKGROUND: Central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI) are the most common type of preventable healthcare-associated bloodstream infection, and may increase length of stay (LOS), facility treatment costs, and patient mortality rates. Intensive Care Unit (ICU) patients are especially vulnerable to CLABSI due to their critical health conditions and other comorbid factors. A literature review provided evidence supporting the use of alcohol-impregnated disinfectant caps, such as SwabCap®, on central line (CL) ports to significantly reduce patients’ risk for CLABSI. This quality improvement project took place within an adult ICU of a Level II trauma facility in New England, where the Infection Prevention …

Optimizing Cardiovascular Patient Education At Discharge, Olivia Marciano

Master's Theses and Capstones

Background: Without a clear understanding of proper discharge instructions or a lack of educational material, patients may leave the hospital feeling conflicted as to what to do. In 2021 a research study noted that patients who do not have enough information prior to discharge have decreased compliance, decreased patient safety, increased risk of hospital readmission, and poor overall satisfaction (DeSai, Janowiak, Secheli, et. al., 2021). This quality improvement project sought to increase patient knowledge related to exercise and nutrition following a cardiovascular event that led to a hospital admission.

Methods: For the purpose of this quality improvement project, the PDSA …

Increasing Patient Satisfaction With Noise Reduction On Medical Surgical Units: A Quality Improvement Project, Chennah Sharpe

Master's Theses and Capstones

Background: Noise has been linked to negative impacts on patient’s rest, length of stay (LOS), the immune system’s ability to fight infections, pain and anxiety levels, and readmission rates. Quality improvement projects in non-intensive care units are needed to determine major causes of noise and factors which impact patients’ rest, perception of noise, and satisfaction with medical-surgical unit care.

Aim: The global aim of this quality improvement project was to increase medical-surgical patients’ satisfaction by reducing the impact of noise in their inpatient stay. The specific aim was to increase the percent of patients, who responded Always to the Hospital …

Promoting Inpatient Sleep Quality Through The Distribution Of A Sleep-Kit Upon Admission: A Quality Improvement Initiative, Monicka Puchlopek

Master's Theses and Capstones

Background: Hospitals are expected to provide a quiet and calm environment for the promotion of rest, healing, and well-being for their patients. Excess hospital noise levels and disturbances severely interfere with patient sleep and overall patient satisfaction.

Local Problem: Patients have discussed inability to sleep, need for sleeping medications, and lack of appetite due to hindered sleep following admission. An increase in patient withdrawal and decrease in level of participation in the plan of care has recently been observed.

Method: This project followed the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) framework to facilitate a rapid intervention implementation and change cycle. In addition, the Richards …

Unh Receives $3.5 Million To Develop Innovative Stem Education Programs, Robbin Ray

Media Relations

No abstract provided.

On The Bookshelf, Susan Dumais

UNH Today Archive

No abstract provided.

“Many Thanks For Your Words”, Dave Moore

UNH Today Archive

No abstract provided.

The Language Of Stem, Robbin Ray

UNH Today Archive

No abstract provided.

Rolling Up Our Sleeves, Susan Dumais

UNH Today Archive

No abstract provided.

Law And Sampling Theory, Jack Thorlin

The University of New Hampshire Law Review

Law involves a fundamental tradeoff, a sampling problem. In science, sampling problems emerge when trying to understand something complicated by considering discrete, manageable subsets of it—samples. When doing that, scientists must compromise between accuracy and resource-expenditure. Perfect accuracy requires infinite resources, such as a perfect digital image with infinite file size. Perfection being unattainable, scientists must decide what level of accuracy is best for any given case. Every kind of law, from parking regulations to criminal to high constitutional theory, is subject to the same dynamic.

Law’s sampling problem is the tradeoff between accurate representation of a community’s moral preferences …

Ihpp 2020 Annual Report, Institute For Health Policy And Practice (Ihpp)

All Materials

No abstract provided.

Reducing Waste On Campus, One Piece Of Trash At A Time, Cassie Hollasch

Sustainability Institute Blog

No abstract provided.

Beeutiful Partnership For Pollinators And Our Ecosystems, Cassie Hollasch

Sustainability Institute Blog

No abstract provided.

The Power Of Liberal Arts, Dec. 7, Kassidy Taylor

UNH Today Archive

No abstract provided.

Convergence: Eos News And Updates, November 2021, Unh Institute For The Study Of Earth, Oceans And Space

Convergence: EOS News and Updates

No abstract provided.

Public Humanities Seed Funding, Katie Umans

UNH Today Archive

No abstract provided.

Meet The Sustainability Institute Fall 2021 Interns, Cassie Hollasch

Sustainability Institute Blog

No abstract provided.

Interdisciplinary To The Core, Maria Emanuel

UNH Today Archive

No abstract provided.

New Hampshire's Early Childhood System In The Time Of Covid-19: Child Care Access And Regional Systems Coordination, Nh Preschool Development Grant

Preschool Development Grant

No abstract provided.

Fall 2021 Inquiry Journal: Editorial Staff And Table Of Contents, Brigid C. Casellini

Inquiry Journal Fall 2021

No abstract provided.