Digital Commons Network^™

In Here., Kierra Byrd

Showcase of Undergraduate Research and Creative Endeavors (SOURCE)

The three-personality theory denotes that there are three personas: the persona for the world, the persona for your inner circle, and the persona for yourself or “true-self.” Many, including myself, might face difficulties determining whether they are presenting their true or genuine self. I want to treat this art project as a therapeutic tool for myself and others struggling with the idea of help. I also aim to convey the “true self” by showing the world you create in your mind along with the personalities you inhabit using my own perspective. I will create a short story utilizing animation and …

The Coupled: A Graphic Novel Proposal, Joshua Lively

Showcase of Undergraduate Research and Creative Endeavors (SOURCE)

Identity, especially in a creative environment, is something which we are encouraged to grasp by the end of our college careers. I’ve found, however, that this is a big question. College alone is a major step towards autonomy which entirely shifted my sense of self, and I’m sure that many in my situation can relate. As a result, I want to center a story around this idea of autonomy, and what it means to find one’s personal identity. I will be creating a graphic novel proposal, titled The Coupled, which will consist of both a written and digitally illustrated portion. …

The Pillow King, Sierra Wheeler

Showcase of Undergraduate Research and Creative Endeavors (SOURCE)

In children’s books the relationship between parent and child is often shown. What isn’t always shown are the hiccups that can happen in this relationship. In my picture book, I tell the story of a more rebellious, imaginative child not wanting to do what his parent wants, but still ultimately being loved and cared for by them as they work through it. The book will serve as a fun and fantastical twist on a bedtime story that emphasizes and focuses on the importance of the relationship between a child and their parents/guardians, and how a bedtime routine can be a …

Ptsd And Suicidality Among Student Service Members And Veterans (Ssm/Vs), Kimberly Gomes

Symposium of Student Scholars

Background: Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a commonly diagnosed condition among student service members and veterans (SSM/Vs). Many SSM/Vs who report PTSD symptoms also report suicidal ideation and/or suicide attempts. Consequently, it is important to understand which factors may buffer or contribute to the risk for suicide among SSM/Vs with PTSD to inform appropriate interventions and future research.

Methods: A sample of student service members and veterans (SSM/Vs) from five southern universities (N = 377) completed self-report measures of PTSD symptoms (i.e., PCL-5), suicidality (i.e., DSI-SS), dysfunction, and recovery (i.e., DRDI). We conducted two moderation analyses to examine interactions …

Heavy Eyes, Medication Errors, And Night-Shift Nursing, Mackenzie Hull, Doonya Mereby, Randolph Rich, Kat Wallace

Symposium of Student Scholars

Heavy Eyes, Medication Errors, and Night-shift Nursing

Recorded Video Upload

Undergraduate Student(s): Kat Wallace, Doonya Mereby, Randolph Rich, Mackenzie Hull

Research Mentor(s): Karen Armstrong

Background: Medication errors occur in every hospital setting, but the question is always how can they be avoided? Night shift and day shift differences play a significant role in medication errors. Further research is needed to delineate specific causes of medical errors between the two types of nursing work shift types. This study aims to identify whether night shift nurses working 12-hour shifts (7pm-7am) experience more medication errors than their day shift counterparts (7am-7pm), as well …

In Hospitalized Adult Patients Experiencing Sleep Disturbances At Cobb Hospital Cardiac Telemetry Unit, Will A Nonpharmacological Multi-Component Sleep Promotion Protocol Compared To Current Pharmacological Practices, Effectively Result In Better Patient Sleep Quality And Satisfaction Scores?, Janet Hall

Symposium of Student Scholars

Background:

The purpose of this evidence-based practice project is to implement and evaluate a nonpharmacological multi-component sleep promotion protocol for adult patients experiencing sleep disturbances related to hospitalization. Sleep is extremely important and plays a major role in restoring and healing our bodies. However, recent studies have shown that roughly 30 to 60% of hospitalized patients experience sleep issues or disturbances.

Brief Literature Review:

Poor sleep negatively impacts all physiological systems, impairing immune function, delaying wound healing, and increasing the risk of various comorbid diagnoses such as diabetes, obesity, depression, heart attacks, and hypertension. Current sleep promoting methods used on …

Altering Training To Decrease Anxiety And Stress In Newly Graduated Pulmonary Nurses, Raina Davis

Symposium of Student Scholars

Abstract

Becoming an RN is never an easy feat, yet within the last half a decade there have been numerous studies done that illuminate significantly higher levels of anxiety, stress, and burnout rates in new nurses. There are many facets to why these levels are rising exponentially in new nurses, and one factor that contributes to these higher levels of anxiety and stress is the alterations that occurred to initial on-the-job training due to the pandemic. The importance of training rose when many universities had to go completely virtual because new nurses were graduating with as little as zero in-person …

The Effects Of Nursing Overtime Work Hours On Medication Errors And Patient Safety, Camilla Byrd, Halle Borgel, Mykayla Stephens, Jena Killian, Mya Kinney

Symposium of Student Scholars

Abstract

Background: The recent global pandemic has uncovered health care inequities among nursing professionals. The nursing shortage has placed pressure on overworked nurses to perform higher level critical care under dire and unsafe conditions. The stress of overworked nurses is a culprit for medical errors that affect the quality and effectiveness of patient care. Methods: Kennesaw State Library, PubMed, 35 articles screened. After thorough screening of various articles addressing this topic, we examined the quantitative and qualitative studies performed in all areas of nursing. Results: Research suggests that nurses working overtime versus full-time hours experience physical, mental, and emotional exhaustion …

Ant-Lanta: Ant Diversity As A Proxy For Ecosystem Health, Sofia Cuenca Rojas, John Paul Hellenbrand, Clint Penick

Symposium of Student Scholars

Ants are found across a wide range of habitat types and play a crucial role in supporting ecosystem health. Because of this ubiquity, ants are considered an indicator species – one whose diversity in an ecosystem can be used as a proxy for ecosystem health. Our study examines the presence of ants across an urban gradient in Atlanta to understand how urbanization may be affecting our local community inhabitants. A total of 48 Sites were organized into three groups: Urban Managed Land, Urban Park, and Urban Forest. Sites were grouped based on ground cover percentages. We used bait samples to …

Indications And Outcomes Of Or Circulators Continually Leaving The Room During Surgery, Kelly Mckay

Symposium of Student Scholars

Abstract

Surgical inefficiencies are a major concern for hospitals due to the fact that they can cause extended OR time, increased costs, and a decrease in patient safety. The primary goal of this research is to understand how operating room circulators leaving the room continuously for missing or needed items can be minimized. In turn, that will increase the efficiency and safety of the surgery. The research will identify and evaluate factors that influence the duration of time in which the circulator is out of the room and how to improve them. The AORN Position Statement states that one perioperative …

The Effect Of Chronic Quercetin Supplementation On Bone Health In Postmenopausal Women: A Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Investigation, Stephen M. Carbonneau, Alyssa R. Bailly, Garrett M. Hester, Robert Buresh, Michaela M. Alesi, Trisha A. Van Dusseldorp

Symposium of Student Scholars

Currently, there is limited research investigating the effects of quercetin on bone turnover and density. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the efficacy of 90-day quercetin supplementation on bone turnover, inflammation, body composition, and physical function in postmenopausal women. Thirty-four healthy postmenopausal women (59.2 ± 7.0 yrs, 80.7 ± 15.6 kg, 29.8 ± 6.1 kg⸱m²) participated in the double-blind placebo-controlled investigation. Participants were randomly assigned to one of two groups: 500 mg of Q or 500 mg of fiber (placebo; PLB). Data collected during the pre-and post-supplementation assessments included: bone turnover (osteocalcin, P1NP, CTX), inflammation markers (IL-6, TNF-alpha, …

Post-Operative Delirium: Can Retraining On The Cam-Icu Tool Increase Nurses’ Confidence In Patient Assessment?, Alison Farraher

Symposium of Student Scholars

Background: Delirium is defined as an acute condition consisting of confusion, altered mental status, and disorganized thought processes. Patients who develop delirium have higher mortality rates, increased lengths of stay in the hospital, worse clinical outcomes, and place a higher burden on hospital staff. Affecting up to fifty percent of cardiac surgery patients, delirium is recognized as a major post-operative complication highlighting the importance of early detection. The Confusion Assessment Method for the ICU (CAM-ICU) is a widely accepted screening tool used to detect delirium in the ICU setting. Despite being clinically validated, many nurses lack adequate training on how …

Monthly Debriefing Sessions For Critical Care Nurses: Evaluating Nurse Burnout And Retention, Emilei Ison

Symposium of Student Scholars

Nurse burnout and retention is an ongoing issue in the trauma/surgery ICU, especially following COVID-19. Critical Care Societies Collaborative (CCSC) recently held a summit to address the issue of burnout among critical care professionals and call for action to implement change and promote research. Studies have shown that increased burnout amongst nurses is associated with increased healthcare associated infections, increased patient mortality, and decreased perceived quality of teamwork. With the cost of turnover being 1.2 to 1.3 times an RN’s salary, preventing burnout is a major issue for healthcare organizations. The purpose of this evidence-based practice project is to address …

A Better Way To Non-Invasively Measure Bilirubin Levels To Protect Infant Health, Kristen Mackeil

Symposium of Student Scholars

Background: Jaundice screening using transcutaneous bilirubin(TcB) monitors often produce inaccurately low results for lighter skin tone newborns and inaccurately high results for darker skin tone newborns. While high jaundice levels for lighter skin tone newborns risk going undetected, darker skin tone newborns receive unnecessary follow up heel sticks for serum bilirubin determination. This is a problem because dangerous jaundice levels may be under or over reported. Additionally, unnecessary heel sticks for darker skin tone newborns increase the risk of complications from puncture and increase newborn discomfort. Performing the heel stick and processing the blood sample also cost nurses and …

A Project Proposal: The Effects Of Standard Protocols During Cpr On Hospital-Acquired Infections Of Post-Open-Heart Surgery Patients In The Cvicu, Jessica Monahan

Symposium of Student Scholars

Abstract

A Project Proposal: The Effects of Standard Protocols during CPR on Hospital-Acquired Infections of Post-Open-Heart Surgery Patients in the CVICU

Background: Hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) are one of the most common complications post-cardiac surgeries and are associated with longer hospitalizations, elevated use of healthcare resources, and increased morbidity and mortality. The effects of HAIs after cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in recent post-open-heart surgery patients remains largely unexplored. Therefore, the purpose of this project was to determine, in the CVICU does implementing standard protocols during CPR on recent post-open-heart surgery patients reduce HAIs?

Literature Review: HAIs during CPR can be acquired through …

Smart Voice Assistant For Diabetes Management With Non-Invasive Iot Software, Anh Duong

Symposium of Student Scholars

Over the last few decades, the rapid growth of the Internet of Things (IoT) technology has been exponentially expanding and positively impacting different aspects of life. Alongside the innovations and developments of artificial intelligence, smart voice assistant (SVA) was invented and is widely used on a daily basis—controlling home automation, performing tasks such as playing music, accessing and checking information—to make people’s lives easier. Furthermore, SVA has also been integrated into and is used in healthcare, especially personal assistance for elderly patients. In this study, we first explored and surveyed the usages and impacts of SVA in healthcare and particularly …

The Continual Prevalence Of Hiv/Aids Within The African American Gay Male Population, Kayla Bartell, Crystal Darby, Julia Wozniacki, Jasmin Cabeza

Symposium of Student Scholars

Background: Black/African American males that identify as gay or bisexual are more affected than any other ethnicity. Countless amounts of young adults who have contracted HIV have below standard medication adherence.

Aim: The purpose of this study is to explore accessibility and adherence to pre-exposure prophylactic medications for young African American gay adults who have contracted HIV.

Methods: The Johns Hopkins Evidence-Based Practice Model and Guidelines were used in the literature review, critical analysis, leveling of evidence, and quality rating. The PRISMA flow diagram was used to map out the number of records for inclusion and exclusion. PubMed, …

A Smart Illicit Discharge Monitoring System, Alexander Campbell, Henry S. Armstrong, Tien Yee

Symposium of Student Scholars

In the present study, we attempt to use a variety of sensors to monitor illicit discharges that are present near the Kennesaw State University Marietta Campus. The US Environmental Protection Agency defines an illicit discharge as “any discharge into a storm drain system that is not composed entirely of stormwater”. Each year, approximately 860 billion gallons of sewage spills are reported throughout the country. In Georgia, sewer spills data shows that spills may range from hundreds of gallons to millions of gallons depending on the severity of the leak. The undetected sewer leaks may degrade the water quality in nearby …

Gynecological Care For Transgender Men As Compared To Cisgender Women, Mary Daniel, April Schlinkert, Corinne Fielder, Loan Tran, Serena Mercado

Symposium of Student Scholars

Background: A large majority of the transgender male population experiences unequal healthcare especially in gynecological care. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to answer the question: In transgender men, how does gynecological healthcare compared with cisgender women’s gynecological care affect the outcome of the transgender man’s health? This presentation will discuss the differences in gynecological care for transgender men as compared to cisgender women. Methods: Data was collected using scholarly articles and past studies to support the research. Results: In comparison to cisgender women’s gynecological care, transgender men receive unequal care and less care overall. The lack of …

Reducing Catheter-Associated Infections Through A Two-Nurse Protocol, Jennifer Balagani

Symposium of Student Scholars

Catheter-associated infections related to Foley catheter insertion and maintenance is a current problem in my practicum unit and across the United States. Although we are only in the third month of 2022, my practicum unit has already documented three cases of catheter associated infections occurring this year. Unfortunately, these cases are not outside of the norm, in the United States, catheter-associated infections are the second most common hospital acquired infection (Zurmehly, 2018). The purpose of this project is to propose trial interventions at Kennestone Hospital that have been effective in other hospitals like the Shepherd Center to reduce the occurrence …

Ramifications Of Sleep Deprivation On Army Soldiers, Zoey Coker

Symposium of Student Scholars

While hazardous and largely preventable, sleep deprivation and its negative consequences remain common in the military, more so in the U.S. Army. Sleep deprivation relates to an insufficiency of sleep duration (i.e., seven or fewer hours of sleep). The common duration of sleep among military populations is <6 hours per night, intensified during situational training. Sleep deprivation increases risks for developing behavioral health concerns such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and relates to several health consequences such as worsening traumatic brain injury (TBI) symptoms. Beyond the direct negative effects of sleep deprivation, it also poses an occupational hazard as it affects service member’s focus, point of view, and overall health/readiness. Decreased readiness in combat environments is a factor directly diminishing effective and safe performance. Failure to understand a task and carry out efficient execution ultimately escalates the probability of an unsuccessful operation. There have been few attempts to withstand these repercussions, such as experimenting with a soldier’s caffeine intake to improve readiness, but these efforts come with little progress. This project examines existing literature about the ramifications of sleep deprivation specifically among Army personnel, explains how behavior and resilience is connected to sleep deprivation, and addresses potential solutions to combat the persisting problem of sleep deprivation in the military.

The Effects Of E-Cigarettes Versus Traditional Cigarettes On The Health Of Young Adults, Taylor Arnett, Sami Johnson, Victoria Leggett, Miranda Susman

Symposium of Student Scholars

Background: Electronic cigarettes, more commonly referred to as e-cigarettes, were initially designed as a less harmful alternative to traditional cigarette users. Although there are some benefits to transitioning to e-cigarettes, the benefits do not outweigh the health risks both cause to the cardiovascular and pulmonary system. Objective: This study was designed to better understand the consequences that traditional cigarettes and e-cigarettes have on young adults' health. Method: Research was conducted using CINAHL, EBSCO, and PubMed. The commonly used phrases to find search results include “traditional versus e-cigarettes effects on cardiovascular system” and “traditional versus e-cigarettes effects on respiratory system.” Boolean …

The Relationship Between Intimate Partner Violence And Alcohol Consumption Among Young Adults In The Us And Uganda: A Comparative Analysis, Aissa Sylla

Symposium of Student Scholars

Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) is a significant human rights issue that is highly prevalent internationally and has serious health consequences. Alcohol consumption may be related to elevated IPV risk. The risk of both IPV and excessive alcohol use may be greater among young adults when compared with older adults. Further, the relationship between IPV and alcohol may differ internationally. The AUDIT scale was used to measure alcohol consumption, and the CAS-R was used to measure IPV perpetration. Data were stratified by country and sex, and Fisher’s exact tests were used to assess whether there was a statistically significant relationship between …

Electronic Signal System User Outcomes In Fall Risk, Aynur Asgarova

Symposium of Student Scholars

According to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, there are 3 to 5 fall incidents for 1000 bed days on average. Moreover, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention reports, “Each year about $50 billion is spent on medical costs related to non-fatal fall injuries and $754 million is spent related to fatal falls”. The inpatient fall expenses for Georgia were approximately $850,000,000-1,349,000,000. Kennestone Hospital is interested in preventing falls, and it leads to better outcomes. There are several interventions that found to be effective in fall prevention. First, there are universal fall precautions which include environment checking, patient …

Demonstrating That Labor Induction Of At-Risk-Pregnant Women At Kennestone Hospital Leads To Better Health Outcomes, Raissa Ekwalla Moungang

Symposium of Student Scholars

Background: The process of labor induction involves the artificial initiation of labor/stimulation of uterine contractions in pregnant women, through mechanical methods or medication use. The purpose of this research is to show that while spontaneous labor is preferred by most patients, labor induction for certain indications, not only leads to better patient outcomes but also the avoidance of C-sections. Brief literature: Historically, women dying during childbirth or postpartum was common, but with technological and scientific advancements, it is now a rare occurrence. Care at Kennestone Hospital doesn’t just involve mitigating damages inflicted by illness, trauma, or others, but also focuses …

Understanding Humanity: Demarginalizing The Intersection Of Black Masculinity And Feminity For The Psyche, Kandice Fowlkes

Symposium of Student Scholars

As the intersection of race and gender is a feat for the strong Black man and strong Black woman, the double edged sword is the deterioration of mental health overlooked by the need to maintain the guise of perfection. The social disadvantages of this intersection include a myriad of traumas such as financial stability, violence and oppression, and the internal stigma of judgment, which causes Black men and Women to delay or go undiagnosed for mental health disorders. In turn, this enables an unstable community to unite for mental health reform. Aside from seeking medical help, the conversation of mental …

Are Prenatal Exercise Volume And Level Different Between C-Section And Natural Birth Groups?, D'Shonti Phillips, Brianna Lee, Ami Eho, Juliana Meireles, Sadaf Dabeer, Katherine Ingram, Janeen Amason

Symposium of Student Scholars

Title: Are prenatal exercise volume and level different between c-section and natural birth groups?

Authors: Brianna Lee1, DJ Phillips1, Ami Eho2, Juliana Meireles, Ph.D.2, Sadaf Dabeer, Ph.D.3, Janeen Amason, Ph.D.1, Katherine Ingram, Ph.D.2

Institution: 1Wellstar School of Nursing, Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, GA, USA 2Department of Exercise Science and Sports Management, Kennesaw State University,

3 Department of Endocrinology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA

Background: According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the ideal rate for c-section births is between 10% and 15% of births. However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports there is a current rate of …

Exertional Heat Strokes Incidents In Service Members, Adria Cosby, Brian A. Moore

Symposium of Student Scholars

A serious health concern active-duty service members (SMs) face is heat strokes (Donham et al., 2020). Heat strokes are caused when the body is overworked by extended periods of heat and dehydration that can result in convulsions, brain damage, and death (Shimazaki et al., 2022). Active-duty requires a lot of exertional training on their soldiers such as long-distance runs and weight-bearing exercises which may increase their risk of developing heatstrokes (Donham et al., 2020). However, there is a dearth of literature examining heat strokes among SMs. As such, the present study sought to examine incidence rate trends of heatstroke diagnoses …

Social Vulnerability, Diabetes, And Obesity In Georgia, Danny Jang

Symposium of Student Scholars

This project examines factors of health geography and population geography by examining the spatial correlation between diabetes and obesity prevalence among the population of Georgia. Diabetes and obesity are closely linked together, however, they are still far apart in various aspects which can be from personal to environmental impacts like geographical locations. This research attempts to investigate diabetes and obesity prevalence by examining the SVI of given counties of a state. This project uses data from the Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Opendata (which can be found on ESRI). Future studies can examine these health factors …

Examining The Experiences Of Black, White, And Other Student Groups On Campus, Christopher Pauyo, Reanna Tran, Kaelyn Ireland

Symposium of Student Scholars

The climate of a university can be critical to the experiences and mental health of students on a university’s campus (Budge et al., 2020), as such it is necessary to examine the experiences that perpetuate a university’s racial climate. Past psychological research has aimed to reduce negative emotional reactions born of race-related experiences in targeted and marginalized groups (Carter & Forsyth, 2020; Kim, 2016). Although the focus of prior research was essential in improving the experiences of people of color, other directions such as, analyzing the similarities and differences between experiences and emotional reactions of different racial groups, exist as …