Enhancing Patient-Centered Suicide Prevention: A Quality Improvement Project Addressing Educational Gaps In Staff Caring For Veterans, Shayla Craigue

Master's Theses and Capstones

Veterans are at significantly higher risk for suicidal ideation (SI) than the general population and often encounter barriers to care such as stigma, trauma, and distrust in healthcare systems. This quality improvement project, conducted at a Veterans Affairs (VA) Urgent Care Clinic, aimed to enhance trauma-informed care by addressing educational gaps among clinical staff. Using the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) model, the intervention included a pre-intervention survey to assess baseline knowledge, a targeted educational poster informed by survey findings, and a post-intervention survey to measure changes in staff confidence, resource awareness, and understanding of the role of the mental health response team, …

A Quality Improvement Project: Increasing Pre-Term Infant Safety By Enhancing Skin-To-Skin Time In The Nicu, Maureen A. Cassidy

Master's Theses and Capstones

Background: Skin-to-skin (STS) contact, also known as kangaroo care, is a critical intervention for preterm infants, especially for those in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). It promotes neurodevelopmental outcomes, physiological stability, and parental bonding. However, STS often falls below recommended daily levels due to a variety of berries. Exploring aids like belly bands may help address these barriers and promote improved outcomes.

Local Problem: STS time in this NICU microsystem falls significantly below nationally recommended levels, with most preterm infants receiving less than one to two hours daily compared to the World Health Organization’s recommendation of 8-24 hours per …

Positive Coping Within The Nicu, Abrielle Kautza, Allison Garrett, Manaar Muhammad

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

The focus of this paper is how nursing staff can cultivate positive coping strategies for both the parents and babies in the neonatal intensive care unit. This was done by analyzing four specific nursing interventions: music therapy, baby cuddling, spirituality, family centered care. The purpose of researching these interventions is because knowledge on their benefits allows for positive coping in both the parents and their baby. The articles chosen were retrieved from EbscoHost, Pubmed, and Wiley Online Library. The articles are primarily levels four and five on the hierarchy of evidence. Family centered care implementation showed a positive effect on …

Psychological Interventions In The Work Environment And Reducing Burnout In Critical Care Nurses, Amelia Bloom, Isabella Tisevich

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Burnout is an increasing issue in the nursing field, particularly for critical care nurses. The purpose of this systematic review is to discover how the work environment impacts burnout of critical care nurses, and how different psychological interventions instituted by the workplace impact their burnout levels. The PICO question is: In critical care nurses, do work environments that provide psychological interventions compared to work environments that do not provide psychological interventions document outcomes of less burnout? The articles used within this systematic review were found using the databases Academic Search Complete and PubMed. Articles were selected based on the inclusion …

Post-Incident Debriefings For Pediatric Intensive Care Nurse Burnout A Scoping Review, Sulah Emilie Monize

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Burnout is prevalent among pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) nurses, impacting between 42-77% of them. High emotional burden, physical demand, and cognitive overload contribute to significant PICU nurse burnout prevalence. Burnout is linked to increased job turnover, compromised patient care, and decreased staff mental well-being. Addressing burnout is crucial to ensure patient safety and maintain care quality. Burnout in adult ICU nurses is well documented but less so with PICU nurses, and they face stressors unique to their setting, such as a vulnerable patient population and unique dynamics with families and providers. This scoping review includes 9 articles examining the …

Exploring The Public Health Agency Of Canada’S And The Ontario Government’S Vaccine-Related Crisis Communication On X During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Sheraza Burney, Lorie Donelle Phd, Rn, Fcan, Anita Kothari

Publications

Crisis communication strategies must be tailored to the unique nature of social media. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, public health agencies have widely used social media to address vaccine hesitancy and misinformation. This research utilized the social media pandemic communication model to describe the key themes disseminated through the Ontario government and the Public Health Agency of Canada’s vaccine-related crisis communication on X (formerly Twitter). Between 27 January 2020 and 6 April 2021, 1271 posts related to COVID-19 vaccination were collected from three official government X accounts——two from the province of Ontario and one from Canada. Posts were analyzed …

Passive Remote Monitoring Technologies’ Influence On Home Care Clients’ Ability To Stay Home: Multiprovincial Randomized Controlled Trial, Lorie Donelle Phd, Rn, Fcan, Bradley Hiebert, Grace Warner, Michael Reid, Jennifer Reid, Salimah Shariff, Emily Richard, Sandra Regan, Lori Weeks, Kathleen Ledoux

Publications

Background: Researchers in Nova Scotia and Ontario, Canada, implemented a passive remote monitoring (PRM) model of home care unique to their health system contexts. Each PRM model integrated tailored PRM devices (eg, motion sensors, cameras, and door alarms) into home care patients’ residences with the aim of linking patients, family and friend caregivers, and health care providers to support older adults’ aging in place. Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine the use of PRM technologies in the home to support older adults’ safe aging in place and avoidance or delay of higher levels of care. Methods: This …

Examining Racial Discrimination Index And Black-Years Of Potential Life Lost (Ypll) In South Carolina: A Real-Time Social Media Research, Yunqing Ma, Peiyin Hung Ph.D, Xiaotong Shen, Zhenlong Li, Curisa Tucker Phd, Rn, Jiajia Zhang Ph.D.

Publications

Purpose: Despite efforts to reduce health disparities, Black Americans still face higher mortality rates than Whites. Racism has been recognized as a significant social determinant of health. Using social media data, human-being qualitative coding, and AI, we created a county-level racial discrimination index, exploring its association with years of potential life lost (YPLL) rates. Methods: Through human-AI collaborative approaches using X/Twitter data, we calculated yearly county-level racial discrimination index (RDI)—number of racial discrimination posts per 100,000 in-county non-duplicated posts and examined the relationship between RDI terciles and YPLL per 100,000 non-Hispanic Black individuals. Annual data for the covariates were derived …

Self-Determined Strategies For Physical Activity Motivation Among Women With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, Pamela J. Wright Phd, Ms, Med, Rn, Cen, Cynthia Corbett Phd, Rn, Faan, Bernardine M. Pinto Phd, Fapa, Fsbm, Fabmr, Michael D. Wirth Msph, Phd, Face, Robin M. Dawson Phd, Rn, Cpnp-Pc

Publications

BACKGROUND: According to clinical practice guidelines for polycystic ovary syndrome, first-line treatment includes performing 150 min of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity on most days of the week plus at least 2 days of resistance training. However, < 40% of women with polycystic ovary syndrome engage in regular physical activity, and about 60% are sedentary. Research evidence supports theory-informed physical activity interventions to improve motivation for physical activity. This study examined the fit of a behavioral change theory for women with polycystic ovary syndrome. OBJECTIVES: The purposes of this qualitative study were to analyze physical activity barriers through the lens of self-determination theory and identify motivational strategies that may promote initiation and maintenance of physical activity among women with polycystic ovary syndrome. DESIGN: The study involved a qualitative, descriptive design using theory-driven thematic analysis. METHODS: After emailing a demographic questionnaire and Personal Health Questionnaire-8 to screen for depressive symptoms, participants (n = 7) met three times via Zoom during the summer of 2021. Meetings were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analyzed. RESULTS: Participants were aged 33.9 (±8.1) years, premenopausal, mostly White (71%), educated (100% with at least some college), employed full-time (86%), and married (86%) with a mean depressive symptoms score of 6.4 (±3.4) indicating mild depression. Strategies such as a buddy system, physician support, technology, and behavioral change techniques are necessary to meet the psychological needs of autonomy, competence, and relatedness among women with polycystic ovary syndrome to help increase exercise motivation. CONCLUSION: Findings supported the use of self-determination theory by emphasizing that the social context of polycystic ovary syndrome can undermine physical activity behavior. Thus, physical activity interventions should consider the social context, peer support system, and mental health status of women with polycystic ovary syndrome, and include tailored programs and motivational strategies to help meet the psychological needs of autonomy, competence, and relatedness.

“I Feel Like It Gets Worse As I Get Older”: Perspectives Of Peri-Postmenopausal Women With Pcos, Pamela J. Wright Phd, Ms, Med, Rn, Cen, Cynthia F. Corbett Phd, Rn, Faan, Robin M. Dawson Phd, Rn, Cpnp-Pc, Charlotte Burts

Publications

Introduction: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a chronic endocrinopathy that transcends the reproductive years. Peri-postmenopausal women with PCOS remain at cardiometabolic risk or subsist with established comorbidity while continuing to contend with persistent PCOS signs and symptoms such as hirsutism. Evidence based information for peri-postmenopausal women with PCOS is scant. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the physical, psychosocial, and healthcare perspectives of peri-postmenopausal women with PCOS.

Methods: Peri-postmenopausal women with PCOS aged ≥43 years (n = 29) were recruited using ResearchMatch to participate in a virtual interview. Interviews were conducted using a semi-structured guide. The interviews …

Exploring Maternal Grief And Shame In Addiction Recovery For Pregnant And Early Parenting Women Using Community-Based Participatory Research: A Qualitative Descriptive Study, Phyllis Raynor Phd, Aprn, Pmhnp-Bc, April Hutto, Khushi Patel, Amber Goforth, Cynthia Corbett Phd, Rn, Faan, Delia West Phd, Kacey Eichelberger, Constance Guille, Nicole Nidey, Lori Vick Phd, Mat, Rn, Anef, Alain Litwin

Publications

Introduction: Little research has explored the constructs of grief and shame-proneness for pregnant and early parenting women seeking recovery from substance use disorders (SUD) and the impact on parents’ and children's well-being. Purpose: This study aimed to explore the contexts of reported guilt and shame and the associations with grief and loss among pregnant and early parenting women in SUD recovery.

Methods: Using a community based participatory research (CBPR) approach, we conducted in-depth interviews with 30 pregnant and early parenting women with SUD who were recruited from a residential drug recovery facility in the Southeastern United States. A qualitative descriptive …

Navigating “Being Seen”: Experiences Of Older Adult Arab Immigrants And Family Caregivers Accessing Health Care Services In Ontario, Selma Tobah, Lorie Donelle Phd, Rn, Fcan, Jodi Hall, Lloy Wylie, Sandra Regan

Publications

Immigrants to Canada face unique barriers to accessing health care including communication barriers, socioeconomic limitations, and a lack of health care system navigation knowledge. Arabs in particular face mainstream negative attitudes, propagated through political discourses as well as entertainment media. We sought to understand how older adult Arab immigrants and family caregivers accessed and experienced health care in Ontario. We conducted a critical constructivist grounded theory, using Charmaz’s approach to grounded theory. A critical constructivist grounded theory method asks not only “what” social processes are happening and “how” but also “why” and “who” benefits. Both older adult immigrant Arabs and …

Femtech In Context: A Critical Conceptual (Re)View, Danica Facca, Jodi Hall, Gail Teachman, Joanna Redden, Lorie Donelle Phd, Rn, Fcan

Publications

Emerging as a commercial category in 2016, ‘femtech’ has been publicly celebrated as a category of consumer-based digital health technologies designed to support the unmet and systemically marginalized health needs of women in areas such as menstruation, fertility, pregnancy, postpartum, and menopause, through data-driven apps, wearables, and self-diagnostic tools. Since its emergence, the term femtech has become culturally significant and has taken on a life of its own across commercial, public, and healthcare discourses. Despite the growth of femtech scholarship, clarity is lacking on how different disciplines have challenged the assumptions about sex, gender, health, technology, and innovation that shape …

The Association Between Social Determinants Of Health And Hiv Risk Behaviors And Hiv Testing Among Sexual And Gender Minority Individuals: A National Survey Study, Edith Nnenna Utaka, Xueying Yang Ph.D., Fanghui Shi, Huiyi Xia, Qingyang Li, Brooks Yelton Ma, Lmsw, Daniela Friedman Ph.D., Lorie Donelle Phd, Rn, Fcan, Xiaoming Li Ph.D.

Publications

Social determinants of health (SDOH) predispose Sexual and Gender Minority (SGM) individuals to HIV infection through risky behaviors and less HIV testing. This study used data from the 2022 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) survey to evaluate the association between composite measures of SDOH and HIV risk behaviors and HIV testing among adult SGM population in the US. SGM individuals were identified through two questions that asked about respondents’ sexual orientation and gender identity. Two primary outcomes of interest were HIV testing behavior and HIV risk behavior. SDOH was measured by ten items which were summed to get a …

Complex Role Of Digital Health Literacy In Awareness And Use Of Digital Sexually Transmitted And Blood-Borne Infections Testing: A Structural Equation Modelling Analysis Of The 2022 Getcheckedonline Survey, Ihoghosa Iyamu, Pierce Gorun, Sofia Bartlett, Geoffrey Mckee, Lorie Donelle Phd, Rn, Fcan, Hsiu Ju Chang, Rodrigo Sierra-Rosales, Devon Haag, Heather Nicole Pedersen, Nathan John Lachowsky, Catherine Worthington, Troy Grennan, Daniel Grace, Mark Gilbert

Publications

Background Although digital health literacy (DHL) is recognised as a determinant of access to digital sexually transmitted and blood-borne infection (STBBI) testing, empirical evidence about its contribution to access disparities remains limited. We applied multidimensional DHL measures to examine inequities in awareness and use of GetCheckedOnline, British Columbia’s (BC) publicly funded digital STBBI testing service. Methods We analysed data from GetCheckedOnline’s 2022 community survey of English-speaking BC residents aged ≥16 years who were sexually active in the past year. Outcomes were awareness and use of GetCheckedOnline (yes/no). DHL was measured using latent factors from the eHealth Literacy Scale: Information Navigation, …

Impact Of Online Interactive Decision Tools On Women’S Decision-Making Regarding Breast Cancer Screening: Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Patricia Villain, Laura Downham, Alice Le Bonniec, Charlotte Bauquier, Olena Mandrik, Tom Nadarzynski, Lorie Donelle Phd, Rn, Fcan, Raúl Murillo, Eleni L. Tolma, Sonali Johnson, Patricia Soler-Michel, Robert Smith

Publications

Background: The online nature of decision aids (DAs) and related e-tools supporting women’s decision-making regarding breast cancer screening (BCS) through mammography may facilitate broader access, making them a valuable addition to BCS programs. Objective: This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to evaluate the scientific evidence on the impacts of these e-tools and to provide a comprehensive assessment of the factors associated with their increased utility and efficacy. Methods: We followed the 2020 PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines and conducted a search of MEDLINE, PsycINFO, Embase, CINAHL, and Web of Science databases from August 2010 to …

Development And Validation Of A Revised Multidimensional Digital Health Literacy Scale: Secondary Analysis Using Cross-Sectional Data From The 2022 Getcheckedonline Community Survey In British Columbia, Canada, Ihoghosa Iyamu, Pierce Gorun, Hsiu Ju Chang, Rodrigo Sierra-Rosales, Devon Haag, Heather Pedersen, Sofia Bartlett, Nathan Lachowsky, Geoffrey Mckee, Catherine Worthington, Troy Grennan, Lorie Donelle Phd, Rn, Fcan, Daniel Grace, Mark Gilbert

Publications

Background: Digital technologies are reshaping health care, making digital health literacy (DHL) a critical competency for navigating online health information. Although widely conceived and measured as a unidimensional measure of DHL, the literature increasingly supports a multidimensional framing of the eHealth Literacy Scale (eHEALS). Studies propose alternative factor structures that can better inform population-level interventions, but these studies have not accounted for the ordinal nature of eHEALS response data. Objective: This study aimed to identify and validate an alternate multidimensional structure of eHEALS accounting for its ordinal response scale. Methods: Data were drawn from the 2022 GetCheckedOnline community survey of …

Harnessing Team Science In Dementia Research: Insights From The Alzheimer’S Disease Research Group In South Carolina, Sayema Akter, Eric Mishio Bawa, Nicholas Riccardi, Daniel A. Amoatika, Margaret C. Miller Ms, Ph.D., Otis L. Owens Mph, Ph.D., Caps, Lorie Donelle Phd, Rn, Fcan, E Angela Murphy, Daping Fan, Melissa Moss, Mihyun Lim Waugh, Sue E. Levkoff Scd, Msw, Sm, Freda Allyson Hucek, Jean Neils-Strunjas Ph.D, Ccc-Slp, Swann Arp Adams Ph.D., Ms, Face, Roger Newman-Norlund, Sarah Newman-Norlund Ph.D., James Hardin Ph.D., John Absher, Bankole A. Olatosi Ph.D., Xiaoming Li Ph.D., Lumi Bakos Ph.D., Quentin Mccollum, Chris Rorden, Leonardo Bonilha, Daniela B. Friedman

Publications

Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD) are complex and rapidly growing public health challenges that require integrative, collaborative approaches. To meet this need, the Alzheimer's Disease Research Center (ADRC) of South Carolina, a state-funded partnership across multiple institutions, has embraced a team science model that brings together expertise from four key disciplines: neuroimaging-neurology, health sciences, molecular biology, and engineering. This paper highlights the work at the University of South Carolina (USC) and how each discipline contributes uniquely yet collaboratively within a recurring loop model framework. Extending from USC's Cancer Prevention and Control Program, the framework guides scientific growth through four …

Variations In Postpartum Readmission By Individual Race, Ethnicity, And Rurality In South Carolina, Curisa M. Tucker Phd, Rn, Yunqing Ma, Jiajia Zhang Ph.D., Md Utba Rashid, Jihong Liu Sc.D., Berry Campbell, Xiaoming Li Ph.D., Peiyin Hung Ph.D, Msph

Publications

Importance Racial and ethnic disparities in postpartum readmission (PPR) remain a critical public health concern, with non-Hispanic Black individuals experiencing rates up to 3 times as high as non-Hispanic White individuals. PPR is often associated with mental health disorders (MHDs) and substance use disorders (SUDs), and barriers to care are particularly acute in rural communities. Objective To investigate intersections in the associations of individual residential rurality and race and ethnicity with all-cause, MHD-, and SUD-related PPR throughout 1 year post partum. Design, Setting, and Participants This statewide retrospective cohort study used data from birth certificates linked to all-payer hospital data …

Implementation Of An Electronic Medication Management System To Increase Medication Safety, Sierra R. Brown

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Project Abstract

Abstract

Purpose: Medication errors compromise medication safety by increasing patient harm. This quality improvement project aimed to increase medication safety through the implementation of an electronic medication management system (EMMS) at a residential treatment center for women with substance use disorders.

Background: The facility previously relied on paper-based systems and was overseen by unlicensed personnel, which contributed to the frequent medication and documentation errors, delayed refills, inconsistent audits, and limited oversight. These challenges posed a significant risk to client safety and treatment outcomes.

Methodology: The Model for Improvement guided the intervention, which involved three Plan-Do-Study-Act cycles. Customized EMMS was developed …

Financial Health Literacy Of Community-Dwelling Older Adults: A Qualitative Research Study, Kimberly Davis

Theses and Dissertations

Background: Financial health literacy (FHL) is an emerging concept with unique application to older adults. Multiple complexities converge in older age that create increased financial vulnerability (e.g., retirement, chronic disease). However, low financial and health literacy are common in older adults, impacting their ability to self-manage. The AWV’s focus on prevention offers an opportunity to incorporate a proactive approach to financial-related assessment. This study will explore the perceived value of assessing FHL in primary care settings and the financial-related barriers and facilitators to implementing the personalized prevention plan.

Methods: The conceptual framework was guided by the Individual and Family Self-Management …

The Association Between Implicit Bias From Healthcare Providers And Postpartum Depression Among Black Women., Chelsea T. Costa

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Postpartum depression is one of the most common issues that women face after birth. Many different factors can contribute to the development of postpartum depression, including perinatal complications, prenatal depression, or social factors. One of the social factors that Black women, specifically, face leading to postpartum depression is discrimination. The purpose of this literature review is to identify research that focuses on whether implicit bias and discrimination by healthcare providers contributes to postpartum depression among Black women. A literature review was conducted using databases including CINHAL Plus Text, CINHAL ULTIMATE, Medline, and APA Psycinfo, with terms that included “healthcare provider* …

Cognitive Impairment And Depression In Hispanic And Non-Hispanic White Low-Income Older Adults A Cross-Sectional Study, Cecil Latta

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Hispanic older adults represent a growing population in the United States and may be disproportionately affected by cognitive impairment and depression. We theorize that cognitive impairment would be more prevalent in the older Hispanic community and would affect the levels of depression in both Hispanic and non-Hispanic Whites older adults. This cross-sectional study examined the association between cognitive impairment and depression in 157 older adults, including Hispanic (n = 91, 57.96%, age: M = 76.4, SD = 6.8) and non-Hispanic White (n = 66, 42.04%, age: M = 76.2, SD = 6.5). We used the Memory Impairment Screen to assess …

Addressing Barriers In The Primary Prevention Of Hypertension In Black People, Makalah Pierre Rn Bsn

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Hypertension is a significant health concern among minority groups, and the black population is most at risk (Abrahamowicz et al., 2023). The black population experience higher prevalence rates of hypertension compared to other racial groups and are more likely to experience hypertension-related problems, including cardiovascular disease (CVD) and chronic kidney disease (CKD).  This literature review explores various nursing interventions aimed at preventing hypertension within this population. In this review, the term “black people or persons” is a broad term used to describe both African Americans and people of Afro-Caribbean decent. This includes various backgrounds such as Haitian, Jamaican, or otherwise …

Evaluating Coffee And Caffeine Intake In Adults With Cardiovascular Disease: A Comparative Literature Review, Adam Harrington

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Coffee is among the most commonly consumed beverages worldwide, and its bioactive components, including caffeine, affect the cardiovascular system through multiple physiological mechanisms. Patients with cardiovascular disease are typically advised to limit coffee and caffeine consumption because of potential cardiovascular harm, but emerging research challenges this recommendation. This review evaluates recent evidence regarding consumption of whole coffee, caffeine, or decaffeinated coffee in adults with established cardiovascular disease. Database searches conducted across three platforms for studies published after December 2021 yielded 360 records. Following screening against inclusion criteria, 11 studies were reviewed included in the final review. The studies showed variable …

2025-2026 Nursing Undergraduate Student Handbook, Morehead State University. Nursing Department.

Nursing Department Publications Archive

2025-2026 Undergraduate Student Handbook of the Department of Nursing at Morehead State University.

Effect Of Implementing An Educational Program About Post Kidney Transplant Care On Critical Care Nurses' Knowledge, Marwa Abdo, Asmaa Ibrahim Aboseda

Nursing

Background: Critical care nurses (CCNs) play a pivotal role in post-kidney transplant care, necessitating a comprehensive understanding of transplantation procedures, complications, and patient management. So, any knowledge gaps among CCNs may impact the quality of care provide to kidney transplant program. Aim: This study aimed to assess the effect of implementing an educational program about post-kidney transplant care on critical care nurses’ knowledge. Methods: A quasi-experimental study was conducted among 50 critical care nurses. A structured educational program was implemented, and nurses’ knowledge was assessed pre- program, post- program, and three months follow-up. Data was collected using a kidney transplantation …

Examining The Best Dietary And Lifestyle Interventions To Prevent Hyperinsulinemia And Insulin Resistance In Women With Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, Erica C. Morman

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) is a complex reproductive and metabolic disorder that affects up to 15% of women, contributing to insulin resistance, hyperinsulinemia, risk for developing type 2 diabetes. The interconnected hormonal and metabolic disruptions in PCOS create a feedback loop that exacerbates symptoms, making dietary and exercise interventions critical in its management. This literature review evaluates the efficacy of various dietary interventions including the ketogenic diet, high-protein diet, low-carbohydrate diet, and high-fiber diet, as well as exercise interventions such as high-intensity interval training (HIIT), resistance training, and moderate-intensity aerobic exercise. Results found that modifying carbohydrate intake, and increasing fiber …

Family Perceptions Of End-Of-Life Care For Terminally Ill Individuals In The Intensive Care Unit, Yunju Kim

Honors Undergraduate Theses

The Intensive Care Unit (ICU) provides specialized care for critically ill individuals, but despite aggressive treatments, the risk of mortality remains high. Transitioning from life-saving interventions to end-of-life care (EoLC) can be emotionally challenging for families and the healthcare team. Fear of EoLC can lead to a continuation of futile treatments, leading to ethical conflicts, emotional distress, and unnecessary suffering. The primary purpose of this literature review is to explore incongruencies in family expectations for EoLC in terminally ill individuals in the ICU in the transition of care from life-saving measures to EoLC. The secondary purpose of this literature review …

The Effects Of Nurse-Led Physical Activity On The Aging Population, Kaitlyn P. Carruba

Honors Undergraduate Theses

The aging population in the United States is increasing in proportion, yet older adults' physical activity levels have not increased much. The lack of physical activity leads to numerous health complications, such as an increased risk for cardiovascular disease, increased risk for falls and fractures, as well as lead to obesity and diabetes. Unfortunately, few healthcare facilities monitor or audit physical activity. Older adults are frequently placed on fall risk precautions, which heavily encourages a sedentary hospital stay. This commonly leads to older adults with declining abilities to accomplish their activities of daily living (ADLs) after hospitalization. Nurses, spending the …