Digital Commons Network^™

Who Sleeps Well In Canada? The Social Determinants Of Sleep Health Among Middle-Aged And Older Adults In The Canadian Longitudinal Study On Aging., Rebecca Rodrigues, Amy Jing, Kelly K. Anderson, Rea Alonzo, Piotr Wilk, Graham J Reid, Jason Gilliland, Guangyong Zou, Kathryn Nicholson, Giuseppe Guaiana, Saverio Stranges

Epidemiology and Biostatistics Publications

OBJECTIVES: Sleep health inequities likely contribute to disparities in health outcomes. Our objective was to identify social determinants of sleep health among middle-aged/older adults in Canada, where prior evidence is limited.

METHODS: We analyzed cross-sectional data from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging, a survey of over 30,000 community-dwelling adults aged 45-85years. Self-reported measures included sleep duration, sleep satisfaction, and sleep efficiency. We explored associations between sleep measures and social determinants of health. We used modified Poisson regression to estimate prevalence ratios for sleep satisfaction and sleep efficiency, and linear regression for sleep duration. Estimates were adjusted for all social, …

What’S Your Q? Empowering Nurses To Answer Clinical Questions Through The Evidence-Based Practice Process, Jodie Pufundt

Nursing Research & Professional Development Conference

Background/Rationale

The research-to-practice gap of approximately 15 years is due to many factors, one lacking clinician’s evidence-based practice (EBP) knowledge, skills, and competency. Evidence-Based Practice is a problem-solving process incorporating external evidence, clinical expertise, and patient preferences, guiding clinicians to integrate evidence into practice. Fostering a spirit of inquiry empowers nurses to engage in the EBP process to solve clinical practice problems and improve patient outcomes. A system-wide practice change for filtering IV fluids led to a wondering question about the best practice for filtering intravenous parenteral nutrition in the neonatal population.

Purpose

To engage clinical nurses in the EBP …

One And Done - A Process For Improving Chg Bathing Compliance, Michelle R. Johnson

Nursing Research & Professional Development Conference

The prevention of hospital-acquired infections is a growing topic in healthcare. This has resulted in an increased focus being placed on CHG bathing, as it helps to reduce the patients’ risk for developing infections while hospitalized, as well as the associated costs. At Carolinas Rehabilitation, the expectation is that all patients who have central lines inserted and those who have tested positive for MRSA infections will receive CHG daily CHG baths for a specified period. Chart audits helped to confirm the lack of consistency with getting the CHG baths completed and/or documented by our Nursing and Therapy teammates.

We tried …

Because The Muddiness Of Mud Must Be Uttered: A Personal Essay, Dorothy Ellen Palmer

The Goose

"Because the Muddiness of Mud Must Be Uttered," by disabled senior writer Dorothy Ellen Palmer, is a personal, braided, nonfiction essay tracing how her access to and understanding of moving on land has been shaped by ableism, ageism, and the pandemic.

Psychostimulant Misuse Among American Indian, Alaskan Native, Or Native Hawaiian College Students In The U.S. From 2015 To 2019, Fares Qeadan, Sydney Ross, William A. Barbeau, Erin F. Madden, Kamilla L. Venner, Kevin English

Parkinson School of Health Sciences and Public Health

Introduction: This study examines factors associated with psychostimulant misuse, including polysubstance use and social factors, among the understudied American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian (AI/AN/NH) college student population.

Methods: Data were from the 2015 to 2019 American College Health Association-National College Health Assessment IIc (ACHA-NCHA IIc) survey. Multivariable logistic regression models and odds ratios were used to estimate associations between psychostimulant misuse and potential risk and protective factors among AI/AN/NH college students, including licit and illicit substance use, social support, relationship factors, exposure to violence or abuse, mental health symptoms, drug and alcohol education, and sample demographics.

Results: Opioid misuse among AI/AN/NH …

Surface Tension, Kerry Ryan

The Goose

"Surface Tension" is a piece of creative nonfiction by Kerry Ryan.

Off By Heart Lake, Gayle I. Sacuta

The Goose

Memoir, history and critique of girlhood on a farm on the Alberta prairie in the 1970's and 1980's.

What, Then, Is The Walk?: Reflecting On Pedestrianism In Jane Austen’S Persuasion, Jasmine Redford

The Goose

Jane Austen’s Persuasion (1818) contains a surprising amount of social walking and leisurely walking parities undertaken by Anne Elliot and her upper-class compatriots. Viewed through an Austenian lens, a reflection of the walk highlights the similarities and differences between nineteenth-century and post-millennial walking for pleasure. What is the cultural history of nineteenth-century pedestrianism in England, and why was it so important in literature and polite society alike? What, then, is the walk? Why indulge in a stroll, a promenade, or a pastoral ramble? How does this sociocultural pedestrianism reinforce the distinction between the classes? Perhaps Austen’s walk, both an …

Reducing Team Member Injuries Through Culture Change, Monika Bogun-Dzioban

Nursing Research & Professional Development Conference

Background:

Injuries resulting from handling patients lead to lost time from work, medical expenses, and long-term effects including disability (Andersen et al., 2019). While research suggests the number one initiative to prevent back injuries is consistent use of assistive devices, sustainment of results is driven by culture change of the organization (Wahlin et al., 2020).

Local Problem:

One of Sherman`s SPH committee`s goals are to eliminate team member injuries related to lateral transfers, boosting and repositioning. While the committee maintains efforts in place for the in-patient tower, it was lacking collaboration with supporting departments such as transport, and outpatient care. …

Keep Calm And Screen For Sepsis, Nicole Hamilton

Nursing Research & Professional Development Conference

Background:

Pediatric emergencies have been found to be challenging for emergency professional teams. Sepsis is one of the leading causes of mortality in children in the US with 1.2 million pediatric patients are diagnosed with sepsis annually.

PICO statement: Nurses and patient care technicians in the Emergency Department caring for a pediatric patient aged 5 years or younger presenting with symptoms of sepsis will have improved outcomes when comparing current practice after a skill-based program that will improve knowledge, skill, and confidence of Nurses and Patient Care.

AIM: Focus of the initiative:

• Improved outcomes for included pediatric sepsis positive screened …

Site-Wide Hapi Reduction Strategies, Stephannie Oppermann, Jessica Yates

Nursing Research & Professional Development Conference

Background: Over 2.5 million patients are negatively impacted by Hospital Acquired Pressure Injuries (HAPI) each year in the United States (Gould et al., 2019). Research demonstrates that adherence to a pressure injury prevention bundle including nursing assessment, identification of high-risk patients, and repositioning can be effective in reducing HAPI (Alshahrani et al., 2021). Employing these strategies and reducing HAPI requires a collaborative effort among the care team (Gould et al., 2019).

Local problem: In August 2022, there were 9 HAPI identified during the quarterly Prevalence Survey.

Method: In January 2023, a quality improvement project lead by the Nursing Professional Development …

Modification Of A Children’S Hospital Early Warning Score (Chews) Algorithm, Kelly Perez, Jessica Panice, Kelly Pujo, Emily Dawson

Nursing Research & Professional Development Conference

Background

Advocate Children’s Hospital (ACH) adopted the children’s hospital early warning score (CHEWS) from Boston Children’s Hospital. This objective assessment tool categorizes patients by level of risk and tracks changes over time. CHEWS allows for early identification of patient deterioration, proactive management, and prevention of arrest. Each hospital must develop an escalation algorithm based on organizational resources and workflows.

Local problem

The general pediatric inpatient units have been using a CHEWS escalation algorithm with minimal modifications since 2018. Recently, nurses and physicians raised concerns regarding unnecessary CHEWS huddles and rapid responses. These were burdensome, particularly amid times of peak inpatient …

Think Stroke Before You Choke: Increasing Dysphagia Screening Compliance In The Emergency Department, Katie Cruz, Bryna Shefferly, Amy L. Kuehni, Ryan Vander Schaaf, Danielle Manske, Lea Jopke, Holly Burkette, Tanya Erke, Stephanie Petrucci

Nursing Research & Professional Development Conference

Background: Dysphagia in the stroke population can lead to serious complications including aspiration pneumonia, increased length of stay, and increased mortality. Early dysphagia screening and identification can help prevent these complications.

Local Problem: A Midwest community hospital identified an opportunity to improve dysphagia screening compliance in patients undergoing a stroke evaluation. Despite initial attempts to increase screening from July to December 2022, rates remained below target at 82.8% in the Emergency Department (ED). During the same timeframe, the aspiration pneumonia rate in stroke patients was 2.6%. Data analysis revealed most fallouts occurred in patients > 65 years who had received a …

Type Ii Violence During The Covid-19 Pandemic: Nurses' Experiences And Implications For Practice, Cindy Andersen

Nursing Research & Professional Development Conference

Background

Type II violence is customer/client violence and can range from verbal abuse and intimidation to actual physical assault. The World Medical Association declared violence against health care workers, “an international emergency that undermines the very foundations of health systems and impacts critically on a patient’s health” (Vento, Cainelli, & Vallone, 2020).

Purpose

This study examined the psychological adverse effects of Type II violence among nurses through surveys and individual interviews with nurses who identified as victims of Type II violence.

Method

A mixed methods convergent design was used to answer research questions dealing with measuring distress, impact of Type …

Health & Wellbeing Of The Nurse, Erin E. Bichler, Regina Michler

Nursing Research & Professional Development Conference

Background and/or Rationale:

Central Shared Governance focused on the strategic goal of promoting nurse health and well-being. A survey found interrupted or skipped meal breaks were common on inpatient units. We reviewed the literature and found that the majority of nurses experience workplace stress and that adequate breaks and break areas can decrease stress. Central Shared Governance identified this common occurrence as being misaligned with our nurse health and well-being goals.

Aim or Purpose:

We decided to promote and support uninterrupted, restorative breaks and provide high quality break areas to reduce stress based on the evidence we found.

Implementation Plan: …

Do Your New Nurses Have What It Takes To “Escape”?, Kathleen Kingman, Megan Kirchen, Mary Mcmanus

Nursing Research & Professional Development Conference

Background: The Nursing Education Professional Development Team were challenged to limit new hire orientation to one in-person learning day and transition all essential content to self-paced computer-based modules. The Nursing Education Professional Development Team are accountable for supporting new hires to achieve established goals in the clinical setting with less time.

Aim: New tools were needed to support new hires to validate the uptake of the essential content. The Nursing Education Professional Development Team reviewed innovative best practices to reinforce organizational education and orientation needs.

Implementation Plan: The Nursing Education Professional Development Team redesigned the curriculum and created …

Take The Lead Or Fall: Nurse-Led Fall Prevention Improves Patient Outcomes, Stephanie Marx, Heather Ludy

Nursing Research & Professional Development Conference

Background

Among older adults (ages 65 years and older), falls are the leading indication of unintentional injury and resulting mortality. The average total cost of an inpatient fall is $62,000 in the United States. Nurses are essential in providing and implementing evidence-based practice interventions to prevent falls and reduce the financial burdens associated with inpatient falls. In 2021, a medical-surgical unit at a community-based hospital had ten total falls.

Method

Nurses identified redundant interventions that failed to improve the unit’s total fall rate. These interventions also led to alarm fatigue and overuse of equipment and resources. Nurses led the implementation …

Evaluating The Rates Of Opioid Overdose By County In Middle Tn, Khanh Nguyen, Isha Kapoor, Sarah West

Science University Research Symposium (SURS)

Opioid misuse presents a well-documented and substantial threat to human health, with potentially life-threatening issues. Improved access to healthcare and increased social support are believed to contribute to better health outcomes for individuals in higher socioeconomic classes (McMaughan et al. , 2020). Conversely, individuals in lower socioeconomic classes may experience poorer health and engage in more hazardous occupations (Ravesteijn et al. , 2013). These disparities are thought to be linked to factors such as limited access to quality healthcare and greater exposure to non-prescription opioid drugs among those in lower socioeconomic classes. Data was obtained from mySidewalk. Specific variables of …

Fall 2023 Student Showcase For Research And Creative Inquiry Program, Office Of Student Research, Longwood University

Fall Showcase for Research and Creative Inquiry

No abstract provided.

Safe Patient Handling: The Key To Teammate Safety, Sue Harvey, Sherise Lopez

Nursing Research & Professional Development Conference

Background

Healthcare workers are at risk for patient handling injuries (PHI). PHI result in pain, lost days of work and employer costs with required reporting of significant cases to Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). PHI are preventable with Safe Patient Handling (SPH) equipment and techniques.

In 2022, there were 30 PHI at South Suburban Hospital. The PHI rate was 3.1 injuries per 200,000 hours worked with OSHA reportable PHI rate of 1.9. Our goal was to reduce injury rate by 25%.

Method

Pandemic related barriers included reduced training time, high staff turnover/ agency staff, supply shortages, and conflicting priorities …

Bonus Time! Using A Rewards Program To Encourage Engagement In A Nurse Residency Program, Michelle Grube, Melissa Oberle, Veronica Bigott

Nursing Research & Professional Development Conference

Background/Information

Within a virtual Nurse Residency Program, the opportunity existed to increase engagement among nurse resident participants. Program facilitators self-reported low level of engagement citing, “difficult to get engaged,” “offer activities for conversation,” and “allow time for engagement activities.” Literature suggests participants may feel uncomfortable engaging in virtual environments. Thus, a Rewards Program was developed to encourage engagement of participants and piloted in ten Nurse Residency cohorts.

Purpose/Objective

The program's key purpose was to enhance engagement by incentivizing participants to complete activities offered throughout a 6-month Nurse Residency Program. Program activities stimulated communication, fun, and teamwork leading to positive evaluations. …

Enhanced Photocatalytic And Antimicrobial Properties Of Undoped And Aluminum‑Doped Zinc Oxide Nanosheets Synthesized Via Novel Laser‑Assisted Chemical Bath Technique, Elbadawy A. Kamoun, Elbadawy A. Kamoun

Nanotechnology Research Centre

The urgency of antibiotic resistance has been recognized, necessitating prompt, and focused efforts from the scientific community. Innovative alternatives, such as nanoparticles and photocatalytic agents, have been investigated to confront drugresistant microbes. As an antimicrobial and photocatalytic agent, zinc oxide (ZnO) has demonstrated considerable promise. This study utilized a cutting-edge method called laser-assisted chemical bath synthesis (LACBS) to create undoped and Al-doped ZnO nanostructures without a catalyst. X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), UV–Vis spectrophotometry, and Fourier-transform infrared spectra (FTIR) were used to verify the structural and optical properties of the prepared nanostructures. The influence of doping concentration was …

Falling Into Action, Kent Hoffman

The Goose

Kent Hoffman explores human movement, his own mobility, and how it influences the way he moves on land. This personal essay, told through the lens of disability and accessibility, outlines his experience of living with Becker muscular dystrophy. Hoffman's approach to walking and mobility is heavily influenced by a fear of falling. As his mobility is changing, he's adapting and seeking out new ways to move on land. Different modes of mobility determine the way we experience personal movement, but accessibility determines who is welcome in spaces in the first place. Accessibility in the form of providing equal access is …

“This Is A Book About Relations”: Pollution Is Colonialism By Max Liboiron, Thomas Letcher-Nicholls

The Goose

Book Review of Pollution is Colonialism (2021) by Max Liboiron.

Strolling And Scrolling: On Mycologies And Queer Environmental Futures, Sabine Lebel

The Goose

This essay uses queer mycologies to advocate for radical rest in the face of anti-queer organizing and hate. The author explains how a burnout diagnosis forced her out of the office and into the woods with her dog. Learning to walk the dog on a leash precipitated a deep queer kinship with the dog, mushrooms, and slide molds in the Acadian forest.

Weather And Walking: Sensing Snow On Suburban Paths And Trails, Abbi Flint

The Goose

In this paper, reflections on walking and archival research come together to explore how weather influences experiences of movement along paths and trails. In this case – a consideration of the different ways that snow shapes multi-sensory, and multi-species, engagements with suburban paths in South Yorkshire, UK.

The Difference In Physical Health Between High-Income And Low-Income Populations In Tennessee, Ailise Newton, Max C. Blessinger, Perrin Perdue

Science University Research Symposium (SURS)

Good overall physical health can be a protective factor against cognitive decline in aging. A good diet, routine exercise, and mindfulness to personal mental health are three main aspects that help determine one’s overall well-being. Socioeconomic status may play a factor in the ability to have access to resources for all three aspects of overall health previously stated. This data is important because it may impact how future researchers go about finding ways to help underprivileged communities. This study aimed to report significant factors that contribute to physical health in relation to cognitive aging from studying six different counties throughout …

Taking Songs To Heart: An Investigation Into Musical Appreciation, Anna Kate Lockhart, Eric A. Febles, Valeria Draine, Kaitlin Pendasulo

Science University Research Symposium (SURS)

Abstract

Music cross-culturally occupies a central part of day-to-day living (Trehub et al., 2015). Research has demonstrated music’s consistent ability to modulate emotional states, through the investigation of properties like tempo and key (Res, 2011; Bella, 2001; Jongwan,, 2018; Schellenberg, 2010). Heartbeat is a steady rhythm that each human alive and well experiences daily, and heart rate, specifically the resting heart rate, has been suggested to set a baseline rhythm that may influence perception of musical valence (Koelsch & Jancke, 2015). The current study aims to investigate this hypothesis by establishing a resting heart rate level and modulating the speed …

Living Alone: Cognitive Aging In Tennessee, Monica Bennett, Gavin Mitchell, Angel Carroll, Sydney Willis

Science University Research Symposium (SURS)

Living alone in old age is increasingly common. In the United States, the percentage of older adults living alone has more than quadrupled since the 1900s. “In 2014, 26% of older adults lived alone, representing 12.5 million people” (Portacolone et al., 2018). Those who live alone experience different aspects of aging, whether that be socially, cognitively, or physically. The data we used was gathered by mySidewalk, which offered over 600 points of data, aggregated at the zip code level, from across the entire state of Tennessee. The variables we examined more closely included "Seniors in Family Households of 2 or …

Erythrocyte–Brain Endothelial Interactions Induce Microglial Responses And Cerebral Microhemorrhages In Vivo, Hai Zhang, Rachita K. Sumbria, Rudy Chang, Jiahong Sun, David H. Cribbs, Todd C. Holmes, Mark J. Fisher, Xiangmin Xu

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Background

Cerebral microhemorrhages (CMH) are associated with stroke, cognitive decline, and normal aging. Our previous study shows that the interaction between oxidatively stressed red blood cells (RBC) and cerebral endothelium may underlie CMH development. However, the real-time examination of altered RBC–brain endothelial interactions in vivo, and their relationship with clearance of stalled RBC, microglial responses, and CMH development, has not been reported.

Methods

RBC were oxidatively stressed using tert-butylhydroperoxide (t-BHP), fluorescently labeled and injected into adult Tie2-GFP mice. In vivo two-photon imaging and ex vivo confocal microscopy were used to evaluate the temporal profile of RBC–brain endothelial interactions associated with …