Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Smoke Evacuation In The Operating Room, Meghan Holley, Mckenzie Moon

Nurse Residency

In perioperative staff, does mandating the use of smoke evacuation in the surgical setting compared to no smoke evacuation decrease the amount of exposure to toxic byproducts found in surgical plume for each surgical case?

Purewick Versus Foley Catheters, Ashleigh Lunt, Grace Tibbetts, Tia Hufstader

Nurse Residency

Background: A Foley catheter is an indwelling urinary drainage device that is placed in a patient's urethra and remains in their bladder, continuously draining urine into a bag. In hospital settings, there are many indications for indwelling catheters such as strict I&O monitoring, incontinence, retention, end of life comfort, surgery, and immobility.

Help Programs Impact On Delirium, Abigail Holt

Nurse Residency

Background: Delirium is a condition that affects 1/3 of patients in the hospital. It is a condition that is preventable and reversible.

The Benefits Of Simulation-Based Training, Brooke Taylor

Nurse Residency

Background: Due to COVID-19, many hospitals shut down their in-person classes and simulated trainings. This has had a negative impact on the education of our new graduate nurses.

How Environment Of Care Standards Impact Patient Satisfaction, Taylor Tantingco, Raeven Bilugan

Nurse Residency

Background: Environment of Care (EOC) are standards of care that revolve around the safety and well-being of both the staff and the patient.

EOC takes into account variables such as a clean environment, basic standards of care (ADLs), and access to resources/materials.

Evidence-Based Diabetes Exercise Intervention, Laura Smith

Nurse Residency

Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a chronic, noninfectious disease that affects a large population of adults in the world. Typically, it is associated with obesity, a sedentary lifestyle, and the consumption of undesirable meals (Nakrani et al., 2020/2023). Even with various treatments available for type 2 diabetes, most patients find it challenging to maintain a steady blood glucose level.

The Comparison Between Chlorhexidine And Providone-Iodine Antiseptics In The Operating Rom To Prevent Surgical Site Infections, Eleanor Decarolis

Nurse Residency

Background: Surgical site infections (SSI's) are one of the most common and costly complications from surgery. Chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) and Povidione-Iodine (PVI) are the most common antiseptics used in surgery. The efficacy and uses of these surgical preps have been studied to determine the most effective in preventing surgical site infections.

Fall Rates In Patient Populations With Remote Video Monitoring Compared To Companions, Alexandra Volpe, Catherine Close

Nurse Residency

Background: Healthcare facilities are constantly searching for new and improved interventions to minimize injury and fall rates within their units. 1:1 companions, or ‘sitters’, have been used to provide the patient with close monitoring in order to accomplish these goals. However, companions are not always a liable option for facilities due to poor staffing and increased expense in order to staff a ratio of 1 companion to 1 patient. Research has started to develop on the benefits of remote video monitoring, or ‘telesitting’, as an intervention to minimize fall risk and injury.

The Impact Of Prone Ventilation Among Patients Diagnosed With Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Mary Steward, Kimberly Loomis

Nurse Residency

Background Mechanical ventilation is a commonICU intervention for patients in respiratory distress. Proning is a form of mechanical ventilation that has been recently studied which improves gas exchange and lung perfusion among patients specifically diagnosed with ARDS.

The Therapeutic Use Of Intraoperative Music To Reduce Postoperative Pain In Patients Receiving General Anesthesia, Caroline Ford

Nurse Residency

Background: The recovery from surgery can be very painful for some patients and require opioid management and longer hospital stays for unmanaged pain. Music has been a non-analgesic way of helping patients with chronic pain and recent studies have shown that music intraoperatively can greatly improve the patients' pain after surgery requiring general anesthesia.

Environmentally Friendly Disposal Of Pharmaceuticals In The Hospital Setting, Kate Sobanik

Nurse Residency

Background: The Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Drug Enforcement have regulations on the safe handling of narcotics as well as guidelines for environmental sustainability with the disposal of all pharmaceuticals. Federal, state and local regulations can vary but hospitals are required to dispose of pharmaceuticals in specific ways to prevent injury to the environment and living organisms.

Initiating Chlorhexidine Wipes For Infection Prevention In The Icu, Samantha Carey

Nurse Residency

Background

• Central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) result in approximately 28,000 deaths and approximately $2.3 billion in added costs to the U.S. healthcare system each year, and yet, many of these infections are preventable (Reynolds, 2021).

• Chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) is an antiseptic that can be used for skin cleaning and has been shown to be effective against a wide range of organisms, including some antimicrobial-resistant organisms.

• The primary objective of this study was to assess the incidents of CLABSI’s when CHG wipes were implemented compared to traditional bathing soap and water for patients with a central line in …

How Important Are Regular Breaks For Bedside Nursing Staff?, Gabriel Wohl

Nurse Residency

Background: A career in nursing can be a challenging one and a rewarding one. Nurses work directly with patients in need, in a way that their efforts have an immediate and tangible impact. Due to the nature of the work itself, nursing is also a physically, mentally, and emotionally demanding career that often leads to exhaustion, burnout, and in many cases, a departure from the profession altogether. It is well known that nurses work long hours and often receive little to no breaks. Is this lack of proper breaks a chief accessory to the overall dissatisfaction and burnout that nurses …

Implementation Of Frequent Skin Assessments, Tiffany Gagnon

Nurse Residency

Background:

The current skin assessment policy at the Behavioral Health Unit at Southern Maine Health Care requires more frequent skin checks for patients who are immobile in a mental health department.

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) reports “hospital-acquired pressure injury rates continue to rise across the United States” (Pittman et al., 2022).

The Registered Nurse, Fall Prevention, And Mobilization Alarms, Anna Williams

Nurse Residency

Background:

Current Maine Health policy requires response to a mobilization alarm within 5 minutes by a RN, CNA or other clinician. Fall risk assessments are required upon arrival and admission, at the beginning of each shift, transfer between units, changes in patient condition and after a fall.

Current practice involves the TIPS tool.

Effect Of Preoperative Skin Cleansing On Instances Of Surgical Site Infections, Katie Armington, Jessica Blank, Madison Waterhouse, Cynthia Gavett, Hailey Tofflemoyer, Rachelle Cassidy, Lindsay Bushnell, Jennifer Barriere, Anastasia Colbath

Nurse Residency

Background

• On a single square centimeter of skin, there can be as many as 10 million aerobic bacteria

• Bacteria on a patient’s skin is the leading cause of infection related to surgery

• 17% of all hospital acquired infections come from surgical site infections

• Surgical site infections cost about $3,000 $29,000 per patient

Is Sepsis Hiding In Plain Sight? Implementation Of An Interprofessional (Ip) Sepsis Simulation To Detect Early Sepsis, Sarah Chang, Amanda Bennett, Anne Dean, Meaghan Anderson, Micheline Chipman

Costas T. Lambrew Research Retreat 2023

Early detection of hospital-acquired sepsis can be challenging. With highly effective IP teams and efficient healthcare systems, sepsis treated quickly can influence morbidity and mortality. This project is aimed at training IP teams in early recognition of sepsis using simulation. Nurses and providers rarely have opportunities to learn together. Simulation followed by an IP debrief is an excellent tool to collaborate for safe patient care.

Resilience Of Regional Hospital Nursing Staff Working During The Covid-19 Pandemic Measured By The Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale, Jill Petzel Baer

Costas T. Lambrew Research Retreat 2021

Low resilience is widespread in nursing staff during the COVID-19 pandemic

Spiritual/Religious Orientation And Moral Distress In Pulmonary Care Nurses: An Exploration Of Ethical Norms, Moral Agency And Moral Resilience, Kristiina Hyrkas, Myrna Koonce

Costas T. Lambrew Research Retreat 2021

Introduction

• Nurses who provide care which they perceive as increasing suffering often experience moral distress (MD).

• Response to MD is a key factor in nurse wellbeing and retention, and is widely studied in nurses.

• Less research exists on foundations of moral belief and practice among nurses.

The Center For Nursing Research And Quality Outcomes, Jennifer Laflamme, Kristiina Hyrkas

Annual Reports

10 Year Anniversary Book of Research, Magnet Conference and Quality Improvement Project Abstracts, 2010-2020: Index. Cover and Table of Contents published separately.

The Center For Nursing Research And Quality Outcomes, Jennifer Laflamme, Kristiina Hyrkas

Annual Reports

10 Year Anniversary Book of Research, Magnet Conference and Quality Improvement Project Abstracts, 2010-2020: Cover and Table of Contents. Index published separately.

Partnership, Maine Medical Center

Annual Reports

Biennial Report on Nursing, 2015-2016

Partnership, Maine Medical Center

Annual Reports

Biennial Report on Nursing, 2013-2014

Spirit And Practice Excellence, Maine Medical Center

Annual Reports

Biennial Report on Nursing, 2011-2012

Spirit & Practice, Maine Medical Center

Annual Reports

Annual Report on Nursing, 2009-2010

Mmc Nursing...Caring Through Leadership, Knowledge & Compassion, Maine Medical Center

Annual Reports

Report on Nursing, vol. 1, 2007-2008

Mmc Nursing...Caring Through Leadership, Knowledge & Compassion, Maine Medical Center

Annual Reports

Report on Nursing Research and Quality Outcomes, vol. 2, 2007 & 2008

We Have Arrived!: Magnet Status 2006, Maine Medical Center

Annual Reports

Report on Nursing, vol. 1, 2005 & 2006

We Have Arrived!: Magnet Status 2006, Maine Medical Center

Annual Reports

Report on Nursing Research and Outcomes, vol. 2, 2005 & 2006