Digital Commons Network^™

Supporting Discharge Preparation For Children With Medical Complexity: A Scoping Review, Emily Moore, Mia Waldron, Darlene Acorda, Cara Gallegos, Barbie Giambra, Stacee M. Lerret, Christine R. Platt, Danielle A. Sarik, Zara Sajwani-Merchant, Nesibe Sumeyye Kutahyalioglu, Pamela Gampetro, Susan Groshong, Marianne Weiss, Teri L. Hernandez, Sandra Staveski

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

Background

The transition from hospital to home is a critical period for children with medical complexity (CMC) and their caregivers, often associated with increased risks and stress. Both registered nurses and advanced practice nurses play a pivotal role in facilitating this transition through discharge preparation, including planning, coordination, and teaching. However, best practices for optimizing discharge processes for CMC remain unclear. The need for a comprehensive understanding of hospital discharge during this crucial time is apparent as adverse events following discharge are common and are often attributed to insufficient preparation and communication. This scoping review aims to identify key nursing …

Experience To Evidence: A Nurse-Initiated Framework For Mechanical Circulatory Support Withdrawal, Graysen Q. Fulbright

2025 Nursing Research Symposium

No abstract provided.

No One Dies Alone, Jessica Schmidt, Jennifer Rice

2025 Nursing Research Symposium

No abstract provided.

Conference Proceedings: Select Abstracts Presented At The 2025 Advocate Aurora Scientific Day, Advocate Aurora Scientific Day

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

This abstract supplement includes findings presented through oral or poster presentations at the 51st annual Scientific Day event held on May 21, 2025. Scientific Day provides both an in-person and virtual forum for the sharing of research, quality improvement, and case studies conducted by Illinois- and Wisconsin-based faculty, fellows, residents, and other health professionals associated with Advocate Health.

Social Disparities, Delirium Occurrence, And Related Outcomes Among Hospitalized Older Adults, Alan P Pan, Kathryn Agarwal, Thomas Potter, Karim Borei, Sara Nowakowski, Courtenay R Bruce, George E Taffet, Farhaan S Vahidy

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Underlying socio-economic and health burden may variably impact delirium presentation among older adults. We characterized differences in patient factors related to social marginalization and studied their effects on delirium occurrence and hospital outcomes.

Methods: We conducted a 7-year retrospective analysis of older adults (aged ≥ 70 years) who systematically underwent screening for delirium at an 8-hospital healthcare system. Our primary exposure included patient characteristics related to demographics and social marginalization. Multivariable logistic regression models were built to identify factors associated with increased odds of delirium occurrence, either (1) present-on-admission (D-POA) or (2) hospital-acquired (HAD). Secondary outcomes included hospital length …

Usa V. Natalya Shvets

2025 Decisions

USDC for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania

Project #119: Early Conversations, Better Outcomes: Advance Care Planning In Critical Care, Kristen Chasteen, Hannah Musgrove, Jessica M. Haeusler, Rachel Eklund, Sarah Beldin, Veronica Ronco, Lori Doyle, Kelly Susalla-Boyd, Eman Chami, Denise M. Robinson, Paul S. Villalba, Gillian Grafton, Jennifer Swiderek, Amy B. Engelhardt, Arielle H. Gupta

Quality Expo 2025

No abstract provided.

Chimes: September 29, 2025, Calvin University

Chimes

Calvin's international population remains high amid uncertainty by Ashley Hamons

Calvin celebrates 150 years with homecoming weekend by Ellery Johnson

When it rains it pours: Torrential rains bring flooding around campus by Maya Oeverman & McKenna Wilkinson

"Pioneers": Calvin's Triathlon team leaves lasting legacy after being cut by Zach Kern & Hendrik Beelen

Explainer: Creeds, Confessions and what they mean for Calvin by Joe Toly

Loren "Lory" Trent

African American Funeral Programs

Funeral program for Lorene Trent. Service was held in 2023

Families Touched By Dementia Support Mind Center, Bill Dabney

University of Mississippi News

OXFORD, Miss. – Though a recent anonymous million-dollar match helps bring the campaign to build a central clinic for the Memory Impairment and Neurodegenerative Dementia Center closer to success, reaching the $10 million goal is possible because of the many gifts the University of Mississippi Medical Center has received since the campaign's launch in 2023.

Acute Care Of Patients With Moderate Respiratory Distress: Recommendations From An American College Of Emergency Physicians Expert Panel., Christopher W Baugh, Jim F Neuenschwander, Jesslyn Lenox, Jennifer Hoh, Kara Ward, Sara Muramoto, John Casey, Antonio Anzueto, Hajirah Ishaq, Jared Mount, Peter M Deblieux

Ambulatory and Primary Care Articles

INTRODUCTION: Patients with respiratory distress are frequently encountered in the emergency department (ED). Efforts to assess, initiate treatments, and stabilize these patients require a systematic and rapid response. Emergency physicians need a comprehensive and efficient approach for evaluating, treating, and managing patients presenting to the ED with moderate respiratory distress.

METHODS: The American College of Emergency Physicians convened an expert panel of academic and community emergency physicians, critical care specialists, respiratory therapists, hospitalists, and pharmacists to develop and subsequently disseminate consensus recommendations regarding the diagnosis and treatment of patients with moderate respiratory distress presenting to the ED.

RESULTS: A digital …

The Emerging Role Of Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine In Enhancing Quality Of Life For Palliative And End-Of-Life Patients: A Narrative Review, Ambrose Loc T. Ngo, Linda Nguyen, Cynthia Shahbandeh, Jared W. Nichols

Student Publications

Palliative and end-of-life care aim to minimize suffering and optimize the quality of life for individuals nearing the end of their lives. Osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM) represents a potentially valuable nonpharmacological approach within this integrative care framework. Emerging evidence from clinical observations, small-scale studies, and foundational osteopathic principles suggests that OMM may help support patient comfort, alleviate certain symptoms, and contribute to dignity in care. Techniques such as myofascial release, cranial manipulation, and lymphatic drainage have been reported to improve comfort and emotional well-being; however, these findings are based primarily on limited and heterogeneous studies. This narrative review synthesizes current …

Industries, Self-Rated Health, And Status Characteristics: An Exploration Of Health In Industries At The Intersection Of Race/Ethnicity, Gender, And Disability, Emmanuel Legarreta

Dissertations and Theses

While industries, occupations, and health outcomes have been widely studied, research has neglected self-rated health (SRH) and the intersectionality of different status characteristics in various industries. Using an IPUMS version of the Current Population Survey, this study explores the possible relationships between industries and SRH. More specifically, it seeks to find if workers' disability status, racial minority status, or gender moderates (i.e., differentiates) the relationship between their industry and SRH. Findings show that certain industries are significant predictors of SRH, and that women with disabilities working in Mining and Construction, and Business and Repair Service have significantly worse SRH than …

Improving Healthcare Provider Knowledge & Satisfaction With The Organ Procurement Process, Brooke Judd, Sandra Rogers

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Introduction / Background:
Most people understand the term death. However, in the world of organ donation, death can have different meanings. Donation after brain death (DBD) is when there is irreversible cessation of all brain activity due to lack of blood and/or oxygenation, a condition commonly referred to as being “brain dead.” The other form is donation after circulatory death (DCD) in which the patient has not deteriorated to brain death but there still may be an opportunity for families to opt for organ donation. Research has shown that healthcare providers working in intensive care units (ICUs) are not always …

A Heart-Breaking Decision: An Ethical Dilemma Involving Pacemaker Deactivation At End Of Life, Haley Grannan, Kimberly Battle-Miller, Kavita Sharma

Aurora GME

Background Requests for pacemaker deactivation at end of life raise unique ethical challenges. Physicians often experience moral distress when patient autonomy conflicts with perceived duties of beneficence and non-maleficence. Case A 74-year-old man with metastatic renal cell carcinoma receiving checkpoint inhibitor therapy presented with third-degree heart block. He underwent extensive evaluations, including cardiac catheterization, transvenous pacing, and steroids. After two cardiac arrests, a permanent pacemaker was implanted. Despite treatment for several weeks, he experienced progressive functional and nutritional decline. He requested pacemaker deactivation with goal of comfort focused care. The hospital ethics committee affirmed his decisional capacity and noted that …

Pediatric Heart Failure: A Practical Guide For Primary Care Providers Supporting Families Across The Care Continuum, Shahnawaz Amdani, Kriti Puri, Julie Glickstein, Joseph A Spinner, Jonathan N Johnson, Ashraf S Harahsheh, Majd Makhoul, Susan Denfield

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background/Objectives: Pediatric heart failure (HF) is a complex clinical syndrome with diverse etiologies and presentations. Primary care providers (PCPs) are critical in early recognition, family education, and coordination of ongoing care in collaboration with pediatric cardiologists. This review provides a comprehensive guide for PCPs to understand the causes, symptoms, treatments, and longitudinal considerations for children with HF.

Methods: We conducted a narrative review synthesizing published evidence and expert consensus guidelines, focusing on the clinical presentation, treatment options, and longitudinal care strategies in children with HF.

Results: HF in children most commonly results from congenital heart disease and …

Lessons Learned: Creation Of A Global Classroom Initiative, Kim Alexander Decker

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Creating global classroom initiatives are incredibly important for future health care providers as they enter a rapidly changing and complex health care environment as demonstrated by the recent pandemic. Global classroom initiatives promote student readiness to become global citizens. This presentation will describe an international academic experience between a school of nursing in the Midwestern United States and a school of nursing in the United Kingdom. The goal was to add an international dimension to a senior level community health nursing didactic course (USA) and a baccalaureate nursing honors course (UK) without leaving their campuses. Both courses focused on the …

Research Findings Describing Home-Based Nurses’ International Scope And Standards Of Practice, Susan M. Hinck, Mary C. Narayan

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background. The International Home Care Nurses Organization and the American Nurses Association (ANA) are collaborating to develop the International Scope and Standards of Home-Based Nursing Practice. The first step was to conduct research with home-based nurses (HBNs; nurses who provide care for patients in their homes) to develop an evidence-base for the international scope and standards document.

Methodology. This IRB-reviewed study consisted of a literature review to locate key documents (e.g.; ICN, 2021; Narayan et al., 2017; Nursing and Midwifery Council, 2024; Rusli et al., 2021, Saari et al., 2024) and four surveys: 1) status of country’s Home-Based Nursing …

Gathering At The Table: Using Food To Heal On One’S Grief Journey, Jamie B. Daugherty, Jada Staat, Julie Rachford

Journal of Community Engagement and Higher Education

This research study explored the registered dietitian nutritionist’s (RDN) role and impact while supporting those on their grief journey. Data collection methods included a focus group, journaling, workshop evaluations, and photo elicitation. Qualitative data analysis highlighted three themes emerging from a six-week culinary nutrition education support workshop: providing intention, building community, and showcasing RDNs as encouraging companions, by contributing their skills of nutrition education and hands-on culinary applications, supporting individuals continuing to grieve.

Helping Persons Experiencing Homelessness Complete Advance Directives: A Model For Service Learning Within A Community-Academic Partnership, Woods Nash, Sandra J. Mixer, Polly M. Mcarthur, Annette Mendola, Kylie Jackson, Caroline Darlington, Bruce Spangler, Merrell Pressley, Erin Conley

Journal of Community Engagement and Higher Education

Despite their interest in completing advance directives (ADs), persons experiencing homeless-ness (PEH) appear to have fewer surrogate decision-makers and limited opportunities for ad-vance care planning (ACP). Nursing students and faculty, a hospital bioethicist, and social ser-vice agency staff formed a community-academic partnership that helps PEH complete advance directives. This unique service-learning opportunity offers a model for assisting vulnerable pop-ulations with advance care planning. Model effectiveness and limitations are described from each partner’s perspective in their own words.

Book Review: Service Learning And Literary Studies In English By Grobman & Rosenberg (2015), Zak K. Montgomery

Journal of Community Engagement and Higher Education

No abstract provided.

In Like Flint: How The Innovation Incubator At Um‐Flint Fosters Social Entrepreneurship In A City Remaking Itself, Nic Custer

Journal of Community Engagement and Higher Education

This paper focuses on how the University of Michigan-Flint’s Innovation Incubator supports emerging for-profit businesses and nonprofit organizations through programming, business plan development, and ongoing mentorship. The incubator is especially interested in supporting start -ups that address key social issues in the surrounding community, including economic vitality. This goal aligns with the university’s mission, which emphasizes that engaged citizens can exercise some control over the social, environmental, and economic factors in the larger community.

Student Reflections On Service‐Learning: Cognitive, Affective, And Behavioral Lessons, Maria L. Claver, Lisa A. Lares, Lauren Gelgur

Journal of Community Engagement and Higher Education

Service-learning is an educational experience that allows students meaningful interaction with older adults. Students in a gerontology course completed service-learning and recorded their experiences in weekly journals. This study explored student-reported reflections, which indicated cognitive, affective, and behavioral lessons. Future research should include the perspectives of faculty members, agencies, and older adults; long-term influences of service; and approaches to facilitating service-learning for hybrid and online courses.

The 505 Initiative: Service Learning And Student Philanthropy In Graduate Social Work, Jessica Averitt Taylor, Caroline Macke, James E. Taylor

Journal of Community Engagement and Higher Education

This case study describes a community engagement project involving graduate social work students. The project centered on a specific area in Northern Kentucky: the Westside neighborhood of Newport. Efforts included a student philanthropy component that fostered community exploration, an assessment of strengths and challenges, service learning and an involved grants process, and student-initiated volunteer hours. The students demonstrated increased commitment to community and connected community engagement with student philanthropy and course concepts.

Mindful Design And Techno-Empathy. Toward A Better Tomorrow, Dominika Sobolewska

Learn X Design Conference Series

This paper explores the integration of techno-empathy and mindful design as tools for addressing global challenges through speculative storytelling and interdisciplinary collaboration. Drawing on principles advocated by Neri Oxman and others, it positions design as a bridge between technological progress and imaginative, socially engaged practices. Design is presented not merely a as a medium of representation, but as a research method, persuasive tool, and mode of speculative fabulation—capable of crafting alternative futures through material and interactive experimentation. Mindful Design Studio (MDS) at the Eugeniusz Geppert Academy of Art & Design exemplifies these principles by emphasizing simple interactive technologies that create …

Decolonizing The Engineering Designer, Leslie Wexler, Matt Borland, Kate Sellen

Learn X Design Conference Series

In a dynamic conversation between three design educators, the group explores their experiences in decolonizing education and fostering transformative learning environments. Their discussion emphasizes nurturing the "whole self"—intellectual, emotional, physical, and spiritual dimensions. The educators reflect on how to integrate holistic practices into a graduate level Engineering design reading course (SYDE760 - Decolonizing Engineering Design) that challenged traditional approaches which prioritize technical skills and expertise. Instead, their goal was to balance all aspects of the self, creating spaces where students could authentically engage and grow. The conversation highlights practical classroom experiences associated with Indigenous pedagogies and traditional knowledges, such as …

Let’S Figure This Out Together: Building Social Support Through Cross-Pollinative Design Studio Pedagogy, Zhengping Liow, Ye Zhang

Learn X Design Conference Series

In an era characterised by global interconnectedness and complexity, integrating diverse perspectives through cross-pollinative design processes has become paramount. However, the unidirectional, the ubiquitous One-on-One Master-Apprentice design studio pedagogy has negated the potential of Social Support towards a divergent and explorative design process. This study discussed the impact of social support on academic scores of beginning design students in two district studio pedagogical frameworks: the traditional One-on-One Master-Apprentice model and the experimental Cross-pollinative Team Learning (CTL) studio pedagogy. With a longitudinal quantitative Randomised Controlled Trial (RCT) design, participants’ perceptions of Social Support as Teacher-student relationship (TSR) and Student-student relationship (SSR) …

Willie Kirkland

African American Funeral Programs

Funeral program for Willie Kirkland. Service was held on September 20, 2025 in Statesboro, Georgia

Delorise Smith Smart

African American Funeral Programs

Funeral program for Delorise Smart. Service was held on September 20, 2025 in Statesboro, Georgia

Assessing And Addressing Distress For Informal Caregivers Caring For Oncology Patients, Megan Bridget Murphy

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background: Distress clearly impacts cancer patients, but it also impacts their loved ones, their informal caregivers (ICG). Not only do these ICGs experience distress, but ICGs often experience even more distress than patients receiving treatment (Amonoo et al., 2022; Wang et al., 2023). Despite the prevalence of ICG distress, they are often not screened for distress or provided resources to help them cope (Nightingale et al., 2024).

Purpose: This quality improvement project aims to assess the effect of implementing a distress screening tool for informal caregivers in an outpatient regional cancer system. Distress levels of ICGs will be noted in …