Digital Commons Network^™

Maternal And Child Health Research, Delaney Harris

Symposium of Student Scholars

Breastfeeding infants is arguably the best way for an infant to receive not only their nutrition but also build up their antibodies and their immune health. Exclusively breastfed infants are also at a lower risk for sudden infant death syndrome as well as decreased risks for infant malnutrition. Being exclusively breastfed after the age of six months is proven to reduce the child’s susceptibility to sinus infections past infancy as well as protect against autoimmune diseases and respiratory allergies. As the number of children in a single household increases the likelihood of an infant being exclusively breastfed after 6 months …

Nurse Role In Preventing Substance Abuse, Catherine Williams

Symposium of Student Scholars

Background: Pain is the number one reason why people seek medical attention, meaning pain management is an important intervention in caring for patients. However, over prescribing opioids has caused a major problem in healthcare. The United States is facing a crisis related to opioid abuse and opioid overdose deaths. A major contribution to this crisis is from an over prescription of opioids, which has caused a four-time increase in prescription opioid overdose death since 1999. It is the nurse’s responsibility to screen, assess, monitor, and educate patients about substance abuse. All patients while being triaged should be screened for abuse; …

Effectiveness Of Distraction Techniques In Reducing Pain And Anxiety During Pediatric Venipuncture, Gina Hernandez

Symposium of Student Scholars

Abstract

Venipuncture is consistently identified as one of the most painful and feared experiences of hospitalized children, often resulting in traumatic memories and resistance to future procedures. Currently, standard practice for pediatric venipuncture involves physical restraint, either by another person or by utilizing a restrictive tool. This proposal will explore the efficacy of various distraction techniques in mitigating pain and anxiety experienced by pediatric patients undergoing venipuncture. Current research shows that procedural pain and anxiety can be significantly reduced by implementing distraction techniques such as bubble-blowing, deep breathing, audiovisual distraction, and immersive virtual reality. Effectiveness of each technique varies based …

Nurse-Initiated Protocols Leading To Improved Patient Flow, Shanyne Douglas

Symposium of Student Scholars

As we grow and age as a population, more people are frequenting the emergency department (ED). Leading to an increase in ED capacity and longer wait times. These long wait times have been shown to lead to increased length of stay, decreased patient satisfaction, and increased mortality. There are many studies on ways to improve these ED challenges. The most common consensus is to improve patient flow. Patient flow is the patient's movement from admission to discharge. The best way to improve patient flow in the ED is to have a competent triage system. The Emergency Severity Index is what …

Implementation Of A Nurse Led Bereavement Committee To Show The Effects On Increased Nursing Confidence In Providing Care And Increased Patient Satisfaction In A Women’S Services Department., Payton Ethridge

Symposium of Student Scholars

Abstract

The purpose of this project is to understand the importance of comprehensive education and appropriate resources when providing care to bereaved patients. Within the department of women’s health, fetal demise and maternal/infant mortality are unforeseen circumstance that nurses and patients can experience. Families that experience such tragedies deserve proper care regarding their grief and confident staff to care for them. These patient situations can be some of the hardest cases that nurses care for in the settings of women’s services and nurses need support and proper access to resources to provide this care. If this situation is not addressed, …

Educating Parents On Infant Safe Sleep To Reduce Sleep-Related Deaths, Marleni Cervantes

Symposium of Student Scholars

During my pediatric clinical rotation, I saw parents practicing unsafe sleeping practices with their infants. Infants would sleep with their pillows, blankets and in non-supine positions. There are around 3000 sleep related infant deaths annually in the United States (Patrick et al., 2021). To combat this issue a safe sleep education program should be implemented in labor and delivery and NICU units to ensure parents are getting the proper training before discharge. Parents will attend an education program before discharging from the hospital. The program will be completed in 2 days to ensure the parents are able to ask questions …

Reduction Of Analgesia Delivery Time Based On Pca Data, Jonathan Lynch

Symposium of Student Scholars

Evidence based practice changes motivated by reduced time between patient's reported pain onset and analgesia administration as shown by PCA research.

Preventing Clabsi In Bedside Nursing, Ashlyn Winegarner

Symposium of Student Scholars

Abstract

Central line associated blood stream infections, better known as CLASBIs, are a prominent problem in the hospital setting. Due to the direct connection between the blood stream and the outside world, these catheters are at great risk for growing infections that can spread to the bloodstream within hours. Research has been done on how compliant registered nurses are in regards to keeping these catheters sterile. A survey was conducted on one hundred and seventy-one nurses that concluded only seventy percent of the nurses were compliant in following the proper central line protocol. Another study was performed that introduced five …

Best Practice For Confirmation Of Nasogastric Tube Placement In Pediatric Patients, Joey Gondhalekar, Hannah Baines, Jacob Barcenas, Kaci Giles, Katie Crocker

Symposium of Student Scholars

Abstract

Background: Nasogastric (NG) tubes are used to provide nutrition or charcoal to patients who cannot swallow or are intubated. For pediatric patients, auscultation confirmation is often used to confirm placement despite the evidence that x-ray confirmation is a more accurate way to confirm placement. Incorrect placement leads to incidents of higher rates of healthcare acquired infections, financial strain on the hospital, and longer lengths of stay for patients.

Objectives: The objective of this evidence-based review is to review relevant published studies in determining the best practice for confirmation of NG tubes in pediatric patients.

Methods: A database search was …

Voice Assistant For Improving Patient's Lives: The Implementation And Case Study, Anh Duong

Symposium of Student Scholars

Over the last few years, the adoption of voice assistants in IoT devices has experienced rapid growth as a result of advanced technology alongside the development of artificial intelligence. According to a survey conducted by Juniper Research, over 2.5 billion digital voice assistants were being used in devices around the world by the end of 2018. By 2023, the number is expected to triple to 8 billion. Voice assistants (VA) have integrated into and become a part of human’s modern life with the purpose of making things more accessible and easier to use, hence, improving the users’ living experience. VA …

Prenatal Care: Access For All?, Jasmin Stewart

Symposium of Student Scholars

Prenatal care is an essential part of a woman’s pregnancy journey. It ensures that both mother and child are doing well, and helps to locate and diagnose any issues before they become complications. Without regular check ups, mothers will not be aware of life-threatening complications such as preeclampsia or placenta previa. Women in low socioeconomic brackets often do not have good access to prenatal care. Research studies have interviewed women and have stated many times there are no providers in the area where they live and they have to make long trips to see a doctor, which they cannot afford. …

Does Triage Education Reduce Classification Errors In The Ed?, Rachel Abukhdeir

Symposium of Student Scholars

IN A METRO ATLANTA LEVEL TWO EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT, DOES THE APPLICATION OF TRIAGE EDUCATION REDUCE TRIAGE CLASSIFICATION ERRORS?

Abstract

Incorrect triage of patients leads to excessive wait times, an increase in length of stay, and escalating medical conditions. One of the most common triage systems in the United States is the Emergency Severity Index (ESI), a five-level triage system that focuses on prioritizing patient care based on the urgency of the patient’s illness. An assessment is performed by nurses to determine patients’ level of acuity. This method is subjective to the nurse performing triage. Currently, nurses have no or minimal …

Making Strides To Improve Quality Nursing Care, Arielle Holland

Symposium of Student Scholars

Background: Over the last few decades America’s non-English (predominantly Spanish) speaking population has significantly increased and is predicted to continue rising in the coming years. With an increase in Spanish speaking patients and low numbers of nurses who are fluent, miscommunications between nurses and non-English speaking patients are inevitable. These language barriers lead to increased sentinel events, mistrust, and dissatisfaction with nursing care for patients and their families. The purpose of this research study is to call for reevaluation of current practices and implementation of more reliable techniques for communication between nurses and their non-English speaking patients. Methods: Two acute …

Improved Sleep In Acute Care Settings, Bryce Lyons

Symposium of Student Scholars

Background

Patients in the cardiac telemetry unit report poor sleep quality and sleep satisfaction.

Significance

Having quality sleep can make a huge impact on patient recovery and length of stay.

Purpose

The purpose of this project is to find methods that promote patient sleep and satisfaction while in the hospital.

Literature Review

After researching, the best evidence for improved sleep quality in an acute care setting are methods that reduce or minimize the number of disturbances. A sleep menu can be easily incorporated in the cardiac telemetry and provides clients with items to block out sleep disturbances. A nightime protocol …

Relation Between Emotions And Students’ Code Quality Using Iot, Lisero Mugula

Symposium of Student Scholars

Programming can be a mentally demanding exercise. The objective of this study is to explore the effects emotions have on a programmer’s quality of code. Programmers in the study are given a Rainfall Problem to solve as their emotional data is collected simultaneously. Emotional data is collected using EMOTIV’s neuroheadset. There are 6 emotions tracked in this study: engagement, excitement, focus, interest, relaxation, and stress. One control group is relaxed prior to beginning the programming problem. An EEG-powered relaxation device called Muse is used to accomplish this task. Coding quality is measured based on 6 parameters: average, sum, count, sentinel, …

Cauti Prevention In The Icu, Kai Zheng, Christie Emerson, Nerma Redcross

Symposium of Student Scholars

Project Proposal Abstract

Background: ICU patients are often bedbound for extended periods. Routine insertion of a urinary catheter, lack of proper Foley care techniques, and reluctance to remove the urinary catheter increase the risk of CAUTI. Each day a catheter is left in place, the patient's risk for CAUTI increases by 5%.

Brief Literature review: The incorporation of the Plan-Do-Study-Act approach helped to reduce CAUTI by deliberately layering single interventions over an extended period of time, it allowed the nurses to fully adopt each intervention before moving on to the next.

Methods: Interventions included considering alternatives to indwelling urinary catheters, …

Reducing The Effects Of Sleep Deprivation On Nursing Staff, Haley Huckaby

Symposium of Student Scholars

Reducing the Effects of Sleep Deprivation on Nursing Staff Abstract

Bedside nurses overcome many obstacles during their weekly shifts, but one very preventable problem is still an issue. Sleep deprivation in nursing staff can lead to medication errors, decreased reactivity times leading to treatment delays, and subpar overall patient care; all of which directly compromises patient safety. Recent studies have found that the majority of nurses report fatigue interfering with their cognition and memory during their shifts and additionally even more nurses report having made a math error when drawing up and preparing medication for their patients. Despite sleep deprivation …

Impacts Of Food And Exercise On Blood Glucose: A Study For Predicting Glucose Concentration In Non-Invasive Monitoring., Sumaiya Mishu, Maria Valero

Symposium of Student Scholars

Abstract

In our daily life, we consume different types of foods. The food we intake greatly balances our blood sugar levels and minimizes highs and lows. It is very important to understand certain food that affects our blood sugar. Maintaining a proper diet can keep our blood sugar within the right range. In this study, we are conducting an analysis of the food that people take in their daily life and how it impacts blood glucose. We have collected data from various sources including National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey performed by CDC(1). We also collected datasets from The Baker …

Prevention Of Pressure Ulcers Interventions, Halle Borgel

Symposium of Student Scholars

Pressure injuries continue to be a rising problem in hospitalized patients, specifically non-ambulatory patients. Without frequent turning and pressure relieving surfaces, patients may develop a pressure injury that costs them more and lengthens their hospital stay. By comparing frequent turning schedules and pressure relieving foam mattresses in the prevention of pressure injuries, thousands will be prevented. After a thorough search review on articles, five articles were selected in determining which prevention method happens to be the best. Although no articles researched the clinical prevention in foam mattresses and frequent turning, conducting a proposed project is effective. The proposed project consists …

Copd Rehabilitation Benefits, Jena Killian

Symposium of Student Scholars

Abstract

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is a progressive illness restricting airflow that is long term burden due to its uncurable nature and incapacitating symptoms such as dyspnea and a chronic cough. Pulmonary rehabilitation is shown to increase quality of life and exercise capacity. This project is aimed at emphasizing the benefits of PR and different approaches to increasing self-induced participation in rehab facilities and at home. From different articles gathered, there was a variety of tests completed including 6-min walk (6mWT), mMRC dyspnea scale, COPD assessment, pulmonary function test using incentive spirometer, etc. showing increased lung function and decrease symptom …

The Effectiveness Of Non-Pharmacological Interventions On Care And Length Of Stay In Babies With Neonatal Abstience Syndrome, Emily C. Gilliland

Symposium of Student Scholars

Abstract

Background: The number of babies born with Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) has had a dramatic increase nationally as substance use is becoming more prevalent. This syndrome is defined by symptoms of withdrawal developed when born and require admission for the baby to begin treatment. There are scoring tools that determine the usage, dosage, and frequency of Morphine, however these can be flawed with subjective scoring.

Brief Literature Review: Quality improvement methods have shown that moving away from the Finnegan Scoring System and transitioning to the “Eat, Sleep, and Console” method for withdrawal assessment has decreased the usage of scheduled …

Stretching To Reduce Chronic Back Pain In Nurses & Care Partners, Jennifer Monyhan

Symposium of Student Scholars

DO PRE- AND POST-SHIFT HUDDLE STRETCHING EXERCISES REDUCE CHRONIC LOWER BACK PAIN AMONG NURSES AND CNAS OVER A THREE- TO SIX-MONTH PERIOD?

Abstract

Many nurses and care partners develop job-related chronic lower back pain due to constantly repositioning immobile patients, changing linens, and bathing patients. These strenuous job requirements involve bending and lifting, as well as standing for extended periods of time during long shifts. This proposal will investigate the effectiveness of a targeted, thirty-second stretching session incorporated into each shift change huddle, for employees beginning their shift as well as employees ending their shift, on reports of lower back …

The Efficacy Of Self-Management Of Type 1 Diabetes In The Inpatient Setting., Bryan Chappell

Symposium of Student Scholars

Type one diabetes is a chronic illness that affects millions of adults in the United States alone. It is a disease that requires constant self-management and monitoring. Through the recent inventions and refinements of diabetes technology, diabetes care has never been easier or more accessible. While self-management and care in the outpatient setting has been shown to have positive social, and sometimes other positive healthcare outcomes, such research in the inpatient setting is lacking. Despite general treatment guidelines for diabetes informing inpatient caregivers and providers to allow self-management of diabetes in the inpatient setting where clinically appropriate, few institutions seem …

Designing And Synthesizing A Warhead-Fragment Inhibitory Ligand For Ivyp1 Through Fragment-Based Drug Discovery, Samuel Moore

Symposium of Student Scholars

Fragment-based drug discovery (FBDD) is a powerful tool for developing anticancer and antimicrobial agents. Within this, magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) provides a comprehensive qualitative and quantitative approach to screening and validating weak and robust binders with targeted proteins, making NMR among the most attractive strategies in FBDD. Inhibitor of vertebrate lysozyme (Ivyp1) of P. aeruginosa serves as an excellent target because of its active cellular location and implications in clinical prognosis for cystic fibrosis and immunocompromised patients. This study uses current NMR and biophysical techniques to develop a covalent, fragment-linked warhead inhibitor for Ivyp1 through synthetic methods, warhead linking, and …

Emergency Department Wait Time Interventions Impacts On Patient Outcome And Hospital Stay, Natalie Vondra

Symposium of Student Scholars

Care Management Activities of Patients in Emergency Department

Background: In the healthcare setting, emergency room visits and wait times have always been a topic of discussion. Patients can suffer short and long-term consequences by having prolonged wait times and delay in the emergency department. Purpose: This project aims to address the question: Among adult patients in the emergency room, what are the care management (Interventions and Activities) that impact their health outcomes and hospital stay? Methods: This evidence-based practice project utilized PRISMA diagram and Johns Hopkins Evidence-Based Practice Tools to appraise and analyze literature, identify evidence levels and quality rating. …

Breastfeeding Rates Based On Income Group Globally, Trashauna Franklin

Symposium of Student Scholars

The primary source of nutrition for most new-born babies is breastmilk. Breast milk contains fats, proteins, carbohydrates and a variety of minerals and vitamins. Breastmilk lowers the risk of developing infections and long-term diseases such as type 1 diabetes in infants and children. Studies have suggested that 1 in 5 children have never been breastfed, which could be contributed to where those children are born. Factors such as socio-economic status, lifestyle, and other social determinants in an infant’s place of birth may all contribute to whether a child get breastfed exclusively. The purpose of this research is to see if …

Point-Of-Care Devices To Reduce Iatrogenic Anemia Among Preterm Infants, Jenna Craven

Symposium of Student Scholars

Abstract

In neonatal intensive care units (NICUs), the prevalence of anemia and required blood transfusions continues to rise. Blood testing is necessary in this population in order to accurately develop diagnoses and treatment options. However, blood loss in the NICU is the main cause of preterm neonatal anemia. Preterm infants tend to experience larger amounts of blood loss compared to other infants in the NICU. They are born with fewer red blood cells and are not able to rapidly reproduce these blood cells when needed, and multiple blood draws further deplete the infant’s hemoglobin and hematocrit levels. In current practice, …

The Dangers Of Long Shifts In Mines, Phillip Beeslaar, Michael W. Paul

Symposium of Student Scholars

Michael and Phillip

The Dangers of Long Shifts in Mines

There are many reasons for workplace injuries, ranging from not paying attention, being inadequately trained, or working at a time outside of the normal working hours. Sleep deprivation is usually not thought of as a reason for workplace injury, but it can significantly increase the risks of injury or accident in the workforce. This becomes especially prevalent in jobs with long shifts and low light conditions such as work done in mines. Mines are already notorious for having higher rates of workplace injuries and since mines run 24 hours a …

Cauti Infection In Acute Care Setting, Kai Zheng, Katherine Waldron, Andrea Medina

Symposium of Student Scholars

CAUTI Infection in Acute Care Setting

Background: Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infections (CAUTIs) is one of the most common and costly hospital-acquired infections (HAI) within the acute care setting that prolongs the length of stay and negatively affect patient health outcomes. Purpose: This evidence-based practice project addresses the question: Within the acute care setting, what nursing interventions are effective in preventing CAUTI? Methods: PRISMA was utilized, and various peer-reviewed literature have been appraised using the John Hopkins Evidence-Based Practice Tools to determine the most effective interventions to reduce the prevalence of CAUTI within the adult acute care setting. Results: Implementation of …

“It’S Getting Hot In Here”: Climate Change And Tensions Surrounding Environmental Injustice For Minority And Low-Income Communities, Symone Gaskin

Symposium of Student Scholars

Our current climate crisis presents the perfect opportunity to address other social ills that reflect environmental injustice. The purpose of this research was to explore if, when, and how climate change disproportionately impacts minority communities. A thematic analysis was developed through the creation of a literature review matrix comprised of twenty academic and practitioner articles. This thematic analysis uncovered four key themes: implications in the workplace, the housing market, the economy, and the standard of health. Consequently, confirming the disenfranchisement of marginalized groups in relation to the environment, this research uncovered the long-lasting effects of systemic racism as an important …