Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Reducing Skin Injury And Breakdown In Neonatal Patients, Emily Herring

Symposium of Student Scholars

Abstract

The integumentary system is known for being the body’s largest organ, comprised of water, fats, protein, and minerals, for which composition plays a significant role in protecting the body against thermal, chemical, and microbial agents. However, the skin’s functionality is reduced in neonates as the stratum corneum is thin at birth due to diminished water-holding capacity (Oranges et al., 2015). The skin’s fragility is further stressed among preterm neonates and newborns in neonatal intensive-care units (NICU) due to medical status, procedures, and exposure to skin irritants (Visscher et al., 2009). Reduction in skin injury and breakdown in NICU patients …

Unmasking The Leading Injuries In Hospitals And A Promising Change, Taylor Karisny

Symposium of Student Scholars

Abstract

The problem that will be studied is the increased development of pressure ulcers among hospitalized intensive care unit patients. The incidence of pressure ulcers is increasing due to our aging population and the increase in the elderly living with disability. Learning how to manage pressure ulcers appropriately and effectively is increasingly important for all professionals in wound care. The review of the literature shows, hospital-acquired pressure ulcers are expensive to treat with the U.S. median cost at $39,000 per patient stay and costing U.S. health care system $3.6 billion per year. Several interventions and preventive measures are current used …

Intermittent Auscultation Versus Continuous Fetal Monitoring In Low-Risk Pregnancies And Deliveries, Heather Wood

Symposium of Student Scholars

Intermittent auscultation (IA) became the standard of practice during labor through the monitoring developments of Von Winkel. He defined fetal distress parameters that were constant until the development of electronic fetal monitoring (EFM). EFM has since eclipsed the use of IA. However, not to the benefit of the low-risk mother and child. Currently, the global caesarean rate is 21% and the US rate is 31.8%. Research indicates that the use of IA decreases the rate of caesarean section, decreases ICU admissions, and increases fetal well-being outcomes such as higher Apgar scores, lower neonatal seizures, and lower perinatal mortality. With continuous …

For Bedside Nurses In Acute Care, Can Additional Education Contribute To Adequate Performance Of Prevention And Treatment For Hospital-Acquired Pressure Injuries?, Hannah Ly

Symposium of Student Scholars

Background: Hospital-acquired pressure injuries (HAPIs) are common preventable medical issues among patients receiving acute or critical care, such as cancer, spinal cord injuries, or heart disease. Despite the rapid development of healthcare, HAPIs remains one of the biggest challenges that affect patient outcomes, breach patient safety, and become an economic burden for many healthcare facilities worldwide. The healthcare members, especially nurses, often underestimate the harms because the issues are not a life-threaten concern in the inpatient setting. However, HAPIs can lead to emergency conditions such as sepsis. This study aims to access and provide additional education that acknowledges and improves …

Interventions To Combat Burnout In Intensive Care Unit Nurses, Emily C. Randall, Amber T. Mcclarty, Omotoyosi Ogedengbe

Symposium of Student Scholars

Background: This literature review summarizes the knowledge, causative factors, associations/relationships, and interventions of burnout, positive work environments, and sleep quality in intensive care unit (ICU) nurses.

Objectives: To answer the question, how effective is a positive work environment compared to psychological interventions, specifically improved sleep habits, in reducing burnout in ICU nurses?

Methods: A literature search was conducted using combined keywords in 4 databases of 10 peer reviewed publications from 2016 to 2022. Information related to burnout, positive work environments, and sleep quality in intensive care unit (ICU) nurses was compared and summarized.

Results: There is sufficient evidence that positive …

Project Proposal Abstract For Bedside Nurses In Acute Care, Can Additional Education Contribute To Adequate Performance Of Prevention And Treatment For Hospital-Acquired Pressure Injuries?, Hannah Ly

Symposium of Student Scholars

Background: Hospital-acquired pressure injuries (HAPIs) are common preventable medical issues among patients receiving acute or critical care, such as cancer, spinal cord injuries, or heart disease. Despite the rapid development of healthcare, HAPIs remains one of the biggest challenges that affect patient outcomes, breach patient safety, and become an economic burden for many healthcare facilities worldwide. The healthcare members, especially nurses, often underestimate the harms because the issues are not a life-threaten concern in the inpatient setting. However, HAPIs can lead to emergency conditions such as sepsis. This study aims to access and provide additional education that acknowledges and improves …

Risk Assessments In The Reduction Of Medication Errors In Older Adults With Polypharmacy, Jacquelyn Blackwell

Symposium of Student Scholars

Abstract

Background: An increasing number of people are on multiple medications which is referred to as polypharmacy. Research has shown that polypharmacy increases the risk of adverse events related to medication errors, especially among elderly patients who are more sensitive to the effects of medication due to physiologic changes that occur due to aging. Information also exists on interventions that may decrease the likelihood of medication errors. However, there is a lack of research on the success of said interventions in preventing medication errors. This project aims to identify, develop, implement, and evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed interventions, …

Reducing Diaper Dermatitis In The Nicu, Yesenia Alvira

Symposium of Student Scholars

Abstract

Purpose: This evidence-based project aims to support the acquisition of diaper dermatitis protocols that include nursing interventions, assessment tools, and educational opportunities for NICU nurses. Neonatal diaper dermatitis cases are common in the NICU due to the skin of neonates often being underdeveloped and sensitive to the environment. Diapers, especially, can irritate the perineal skin of neonates. Nurses who do not comply with standard perineal skin care can compromise the neonate's skin integrity. This can cause diaper dermatitis, which, if left untreated, can pose a risk of infection and cause pain to the neonate. Literature review: The review of …

How Does Sleep Effect Hospitalized Patients, Luke Stewart

Symposium of Student Scholars

In the time I spent in hospitals both for school and work, I saw a common trend of patients complaining they were exhausted. In the hospital vitals are taken every 4 hours, labs drawn multiple times throughout the night, provider rounds, and medication administration. With constant interruptions throughout the night it is no surprise patients constantly feel tired. Sleep is very important for not just the body’s health, but its ability to heal. The overall purpose of the research is 1) how can hospital staff ensure better sleep for patients that have been hospitalized and 2) what does constantly waking …

In Full-Term Pregnant Women With Gestational Diabetes, Does Induction Of Labor Increase The Risk Of The Patient Requiring An Emergency C-Section When Compared To Spontaneous Labor?, Melissa Hernandez

Symposium of Student Scholars

Abstract

Background: Gestational diabetes (GDM) during pregnancy can have serious complications where an induction might be recommended instead of waiting for spontaneous labor (SL) to occur. With all labor, there is a risk of an emergency cesarean section (c-section). Women with GDM might require induction for their safety and the safety of their babies. According to the Mayo Clinic, problems that arise with GDM include the infant with excessive birth weight, congenital defects, and hypoglycemia. Women might develop preeclampsia, birth trauma, or delayed wound healing. The purpose of this project is to compare induction versus SL in full-term mothers with …

Comparison Of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy And Pharmacologic Intervention In Alcohol Use Disorder Treatment, Analily Wong, Collin Owen, Meghan Vatave

Symposium of Student Scholars

Background: Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a condition that can result in chronic health conditions that negatively impact a person’s life. Methods to treat AUD involve cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and pharmacologic intervention, including disulfiram (DIS), naltrexone (NTX), and acamprosate (ACA).

Objectives: The purpose of this review is to determine the efficacy of CBT compared to pharmacologic intervention within one year of treatment in adult patients who have been diagnosed with AUD.

Methods: A reference search was conducted using various databases to locate literature. Combined keywords and Boolean operators were utilized to reveal desired articles. A total of 10 …

Interventions To Prevent The Incidence Of Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia, Taylor Arnett

Symposium of Student Scholars

Background: Healthcare-acquired infections (HAIs) such as ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) are common complications patients can acquire after being hospitalized. These complications can be preventable through the implementation of appropriate methods of prevention. Objective: This study was designed to discover interventions healthcare facilities and staff can implement to help prevent the incidence of VAP. Method: Research was conducted using CINAHL, EBSCO, and PubMed. The commonly used phrases to find search results include “prevent ventilator-associated pneumonia” and “methods to reduce ventilator-associated pneumonia.” Articles were excluded if they were published prior to 2017 or were not written in the English language. Results: Five articles …

Interventions To Prevent Hospital Acquired Pressure Injuries, Astrid Geronimo

Symposium of Student Scholars

Background: Hospital acquired pressure injuries (HAPIs) are the most common preventable complication among critical care patients. This project is conducted to compare the effectiveness between the current implemented preventative measure versus the new measures that have data supporting their effectiveness. Brief Significance: Five articles were chosen that outlined the prevalence of hospital acquired pressure injuries in critical care patients and alternative interventions that have been effective in the prevention of HAPIs. These evidence-based interventions include: The application of multilayered foam dressing with hypo oxygenated fatty oils which would reduce sheer and provide support from the pressure of laying in the …

Nurse Role In Preventing Substance Abuse, Catherine Williams

Symposium of Student Scholars

Background: Pain is the number one reason why people seek medical attention, meaning pain management is an important intervention in caring for patients. However, over prescribing opioids has caused a major problem in healthcare. The United States is facing a crisis related to opioid abuse and opioid overdose deaths. A major contribution to this crisis is from an over prescription of opioids, which has caused a four-time increase in prescription opioid overdose death since 1999. It is the nurse’s responsibility to screen, assess, monitor, and educate patients about substance abuse. All patients while being triaged should be screened for abuse; …

Effectiveness Of Distraction Techniques In Reducing Pain And Anxiety During Pediatric Venipuncture, Gina Hernandez

Symposium of Student Scholars

Abstract

Venipuncture is consistently identified as one of the most painful and feared experiences of hospitalized children, often resulting in traumatic memories and resistance to future procedures. Currently, standard practice for pediatric venipuncture involves physical restraint, either by another person or by utilizing a restrictive tool. This proposal will explore the efficacy of various distraction techniques in mitigating pain and anxiety experienced by pediatric patients undergoing venipuncture. Current research shows that procedural pain and anxiety can be significantly reduced by implementing distraction techniques such as bubble-blowing, deep breathing, audiovisual distraction, and immersive virtual reality. Effectiveness of each technique varies based …

Nurse-Initiated Protocols Leading To Improved Patient Flow, Shanyne Douglas

Symposium of Student Scholars

As we grow and age as a population, more people are frequenting the emergency department (ED). Leading to an increase in ED capacity and longer wait times. These long wait times have been shown to lead to increased length of stay, decreased patient satisfaction, and increased mortality. There are many studies on ways to improve these ED challenges. The most common consensus is to improve patient flow. Patient flow is the patient's movement from admission to discharge. The best way to improve patient flow in the ED is to have a competent triage system. The Emergency Severity Index is what …

Educating Parents On Infant Safe Sleep To Reduce Sleep-Related Deaths, Marleni Cervantes

Symposium of Student Scholars

During my pediatric clinical rotation, I saw parents practicing unsafe sleeping practices with their infants. Infants would sleep with their pillows, blankets and in non-supine positions. There are around 3000 sleep related infant deaths annually in the United States (Patrick et al., 2021). To combat this issue a safe sleep education program should be implemented in labor and delivery and NICU units to ensure parents are getting the proper training before discharge. Parents will attend an education program before discharging from the hospital. The program will be completed in 2 days to ensure the parents are able to ask questions …

Reduction Of Analgesia Delivery Time Based On Pca Data, Jonathan Lynch

Symposium of Student Scholars

Evidence based practice changes motivated by reduced time between patient's reported pain onset and analgesia administration as shown by PCA research.

Preventing Clabsi In Bedside Nursing, Ashlyn Winegarner

Symposium of Student Scholars

Abstract

Central line associated blood stream infections, better known as CLASBIs, are a prominent problem in the hospital setting. Due to the direct connection between the blood stream and the outside world, these catheters are at great risk for growing infections that can spread to the bloodstream within hours. Research has been done on how compliant registered nurses are in regards to keeping these catheters sterile. A survey was conducted on one hundred and seventy-one nurses that concluded only seventy percent of the nurses were compliant in following the proper central line protocol. Another study was performed that introduced five …

Best Practice For Confirmation Of Nasogastric Tube Placement In Pediatric Patients, Joey Gondhalekar, Hannah Baines, Jacob Barcenas, Kaci Giles, Katie Crocker

Symposium of Student Scholars

Abstract

Background: Nasogastric (NG) tubes are used to provide nutrition or charcoal to patients who cannot swallow or are intubated. For pediatric patients, auscultation confirmation is often used to confirm placement despite the evidence that x-ray confirmation is a more accurate way to confirm placement. Incorrect placement leads to incidents of higher rates of healthcare acquired infections, financial strain on the hospital, and longer lengths of stay for patients.

Objectives: The objective of this evidence-based review is to review relevant published studies in determining the best practice for confirmation of NG tubes in pediatric patients.

Methods: A database search was …

Prenatal Care: Access For All?, Jasmin Stewart

Symposium of Student Scholars

Prenatal care is an essential part of a woman’s pregnancy journey. It ensures that both mother and child are doing well, and helps to locate and diagnose any issues before they become complications. Without regular check ups, mothers will not be aware of life-threatening complications such as preeclampsia or placenta previa. Women in low socioeconomic brackets often do not have good access to prenatal care. Research studies have interviewed women and have stated many times there are no providers in the area where they live and they have to make long trips to see a doctor, which they cannot afford. …

Does Triage Education Reduce Classification Errors In The Ed?, Rachel Abukhdeir

Symposium of Student Scholars

IN A METRO ATLANTA LEVEL TWO EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT, DOES THE APPLICATION OF TRIAGE EDUCATION REDUCE TRIAGE CLASSIFICATION ERRORS?

Abstract

Incorrect triage of patients leads to excessive wait times, an increase in length of stay, and escalating medical conditions. One of the most common triage systems in the United States is the Emergency Severity Index (ESI), a five-level triage system that focuses on prioritizing patient care based on the urgency of the patient’s illness. An assessment is performed by nurses to determine patients’ level of acuity. This method is subjective to the nurse performing triage. Currently, nurses have no or minimal …

Making Strides To Improve Quality Nursing Care, Arielle Holland

Symposium of Student Scholars

Background: Over the last few decades America’s non-English (predominantly Spanish) speaking population has significantly increased and is predicted to continue rising in the coming years. With an increase in Spanish speaking patients and low numbers of nurses who are fluent, miscommunications between nurses and non-English speaking patients are inevitable. These language barriers lead to increased sentinel events, mistrust, and dissatisfaction with nursing care for patients and their families. The purpose of this research study is to call for reevaluation of current practices and implementation of more reliable techniques for communication between nurses and their non-English speaking patients. Methods: Two acute …

Cauti Prevention In The Icu, Kai Zheng, Christie Emerson, Nerma Redcross

Symposium of Student Scholars

Project Proposal Abstract

Background: ICU patients are often bedbound for extended periods. Routine insertion of a urinary catheter, lack of proper Foley care techniques, and reluctance to remove the urinary catheter increase the risk of CAUTI. Each day a catheter is left in place, the patient's risk for CAUTI increases by 5%.

Brief Literature review: The incorporation of the Plan-Do-Study-Act approach helped to reduce CAUTI by deliberately layering single interventions over an extended period of time, it allowed the nurses to fully adopt each intervention before moving on to the next.

Methods: Interventions included considering alternatives to indwelling urinary catheters, …

Prevention Of Pressure Ulcers Interventions, Halle Borgel

Symposium of Student Scholars

Pressure injuries continue to be a rising problem in hospitalized patients, specifically non-ambulatory patients. Without frequent turning and pressure relieving surfaces, patients may develop a pressure injury that costs them more and lengthens their hospital stay. By comparing frequent turning schedules and pressure relieving foam mattresses in the prevention of pressure injuries, thousands will be prevented. After a thorough search review on articles, five articles were selected in determining which prevention method happens to be the best. Although no articles researched the clinical prevention in foam mattresses and frequent turning, conducting a proposed project is effective. The proposed project consists …

Copd Rehabilitation Benefits, Jena Killian

Symposium of Student Scholars

Abstract

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is a progressive illness restricting airflow that is long term burden due to its uncurable nature and incapacitating symptoms such as dyspnea and a chronic cough. Pulmonary rehabilitation is shown to increase quality of life and exercise capacity. This project is aimed at emphasizing the benefits of PR and different approaches to increasing self-induced participation in rehab facilities and at home. From different articles gathered, there was a variety of tests completed including 6-min walk (6mWT), mMRC dyspnea scale, COPD assessment, pulmonary function test using incentive spirometer, etc. showing increased lung function and decrease symptom …

Point-Of-Care Devices To Reduce Iatrogenic Anemia Among Preterm Infants, Jenna Craven

Symposium of Student Scholars

Abstract

In neonatal intensive care units (NICUs), the prevalence of anemia and required blood transfusions continues to rise. Blood testing is necessary in this population in order to accurately develop diagnoses and treatment options. However, blood loss in the NICU is the main cause of preterm neonatal anemia. Preterm infants tend to experience larger amounts of blood loss compared to other infants in the NICU. They are born with fewer red blood cells and are not able to rapidly reproduce these blood cells when needed, and multiple blood draws further deplete the infant’s hemoglobin and hematocrit levels. In current practice, …

Cauti Infection In Acute Care Setting, Kai Zheng, Katherine Waldron, Andrea Medina

Symposium of Student Scholars

CAUTI Infection in Acute Care Setting

Background: Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infections (CAUTIs) is one of the most common and costly hospital-acquired infections (HAI) within the acute care setting that prolongs the length of stay and negatively affect patient health outcomes. Purpose: This evidence-based practice project addresses the question: Within the acute care setting, what nursing interventions are effective in preventing CAUTI? Methods: PRISMA was utilized, and various peer-reviewed literature have been appraised using the John Hopkins Evidence-Based Practice Tools to determine the most effective interventions to reduce the prevalence of CAUTI within the adult acute care setting. Results: Implementation of …

Noise Reduction In The Intensive Care Unit, Carolina Gomez

Symposium of Student Scholars

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to analyze the noise levels in an intensive care unit (ICU) in a metro atlanta medical facility and to establish interventions that could be used to reduce the noise. Determining the effects is significant because it can improve a patients’ outcome in the ICU. The challenge explored was evidenced by 15 out of 20 patients stating that they are suffering sleep deprivation due to excessive noise levels. After 3 days in the ICU, patients have developed confusion and delirium; they are not oriented to date and time without reminders. After 3 days in …

How Frequent Oral Care Can Decrease The Incidence Of Aspiration Pneumonia Within The Critical Care Setting, Patrick Subers

Symposium of Student Scholars

Within the critical care hospital setting, many patients are declared NPO, or nothing by mouth, for various reasons. Typically, these patients have had a stroke, are at risk for aspiration, or are pending an operation. In the case of stroke patients, they are often held NPO for an extended period while their ability to swallow improves to a safe level. One of the greatest risks for this patient population is the development of aspiration pneumonia, as they have a decreased ability to clear secretions from their throat and mouth. Pair that with the fact that this population is heavily care-dependent …