Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Pandemic Driven Innovation: Development Of An Alternative Respiratory Pathogen Self-Collection Device, Thang Nguyen

Theses & Dissertations

The SARS-CoV-2 virus outbreak has underscored numerous weak links in our biodefense countermeasures against highly communicable diseases. Many believe it was our lack of an effective testing model that allowed the virus to become a global pandemic within a short period. The gold standard collection method for the SARS-CoV-2 virus involves mechanical debridement of the nasopharyngeal cavity with a stiff swab applicator, which has been known to cause pain and injury to patients, subsequently resulting in low patient acceptance of the procedure. Due to the invasive nature of the nasopharyngeal swab collection method, it may not be conducive to the …

Safety Huddles: A Safety Net For Nurses Amid The Covid-19 Pandemic, Miranda Saint-Louis

DNP Qualifying Manuscripts

In March 2020, our 31-bed geriatric medical unit was designated the first COVID-19 unit in a teaching hospital located in a New York City COVID-19 hot zone. At the time, little was known about SARS-CoV-2 and the disease it caused. We needed to find a way to keep them calm, assure their safety, and provide competent and compassionate patient care in a situation where best practices had not yet been established. The concepts from this article can be applied to provide support staff in any crisis. Providing a safety net for staff enables a focus on life-saving patient care without …

A Systems Approach To Increase The Icu Nursing Workforce During A Pandemic, Jennifer Mendenhall

Master's Projects and Capstones

A Systems Approach to Increase the ICU Nursing Workforce During a Pandemic

Abstract

In early March 2020 an intensive care unit (ICU) patient died of COVID-19 in an integrated healthcare system hospital in Northern California. Data from China and the CDC indicated that more healthcare members would require intensive care and could overwhelm the 21 acute care hospital macrosystem. A microsystem pilot program to upskill peri-anesthesia care unit (PACU) RNs to care for ICU patients was initiated. Concurrently the upskill pilot program was reviewed by macrosystem nursing leadership. Over a three-week period, the program was standardized, disseminated and implemented across …

Creating A Thriving Informatics Culture, Nicholas Webb

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

Nurses thrive best when they are empowered to make decisions that can positively impact healthcare delivery. Knowledge and application of nursing informatics principles can influence clinical, quality, operational, and financial outcomes in ways that were not available in previous professional nursing generations.

If nursing informatics is the solution, what is the problem? A survey regarding use and attitudes about nursing informatics was taken of chief nurse executives (CNEs) at an integrated, not for profit healthcare system in the Northern California region, where the author oversees the electronic health record (EHR). The results were surprising. Half said they did not know …

Worst Time Being Poor? The Hunger Problem In U.S. During Covid-19 Pandemic, Yuanhang Hu

School of Professional Studies

Food insecurity is deeply rooted in American society during and before the COVID-19 pandemic. Food Insecurity usually associates with economic indicators, such as unemployment rate, income level, etc. Currently, there are two main tools to fight the war of hunger. The first one is the government food assistance programs. And the second one is food pantries from the private sectors of the community. Both tools are facing numerous challenges due to COVID-19. The purpose of this article is to provide rational reasons to persuade the government to enhance the benefits of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and use administrative …

Cvs Covid-19 Screening Website: Test Automation, Savya Rawat

School of Professional Studies

CVS Pharmacy is an American retail corporation, also known as, and originally named, the Consumer Value Store owned by CVS Health, it is headquartered in Woonsocket, Rhode Island. CVS Pharmacy is currently the largest pharmacy chain in the United States by number of locations over 9,600 and total prescription revenue. CVS sells prescription drugs and a wide assortment of general merchandise, including over-the-counter drugs.

Now, coming to the reason why I have selected CVS pharmacy’s website cvs.com as my case study topic is because of CVS’s response to the covid-19 pandemic’s no-cost testing strategy. Whole of the world is suffering …

Higher Education Responses To Crisis: A Case Study Of Clark University And The Pandemic Of 2020, Lisa Gillingham

School of Professional Studies

The COVID-19 pandemic has delivered an existential challenge to universities and other academic institutions at a time when they are already grappling with other weighty issues that may alter the fabric of higher education. COVID-19 has forced these institutions to consider and employ new ways of conducting its work with a sense urgency that is unprecedented in the recent history of the academy. The rate of learning around these models is rapid, and Higher Education is ripe for change.

Clark University has addressed the pandemic with a plan to protect and pivot using strategies that support the continuation of its …

Estimating Covid-19 Survival Rate And Inferring Case Severity With Respect To Milwaukee County Policy Change Using Logistic Regression, Geoff M. Chappelle

Theses and Dissertations

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a global issue, and it is affecting 170 countries in very different ways. In the United States, a lot of efforts have been made nationally and by individual states to curb the spread and severity of COVID-19. Policy changes and recommendations have been met with variable success across the country. There is a wealth of information on where COVID-19 infection and death are prevalent, and there are several articles discussing disparities in those outcomes among different populations. However, those findings are not necessarily tied to a policy change or, in the weeks that follow a …

Great Expectations: Phosph(On)Ate Prodrugs In Drug Design—Opportunities And Limitations, Victoria Yan

Dissertations & Theses (Open Access)

Phosphate and phosphonates are chemical moieties with historical precedence in anticancer and antiviral nucleotide analogues. Synchronous to modern efforts identifying novel therapeutic targets in cancer, such chemical moieties are being investigated in the design of novel inhibitors with antineoplastic potential. A central challenge to the delivery of phosph(on)ate-containing drugs is their anionic character at physiological pH, which portends poor membrane permeability. This limitation has been successfully overcome through the use of prodrugs. When attached to the phosph(on)ate moiety, prodrugs mask the negative charge and easily enable cell permeability. Upon cellular entry, the promoieties are enzymatically or environmentally cleaved to unveil …

Understanding The Significance Of Virtual Support During Global Pandemic In Young Adults Diagnosed With Hepatitis C, Veronika Arkhipova

Master's Projects and Capstones

Hepatitis C is a viral infection that attacks the liver and leads to inflammation. In recent years, the prevalence of hepatitis C infections among 20 and 30 years of age has increased by 300 percent, and between 30 and 39 years by 400 percent. Due to the global coronavirus pandemic, people diagnosed with Hepatitis C have lost access to mental health services and resources, including in-person meetings with support groups. Since most states enforced stay-at-home order, many community centers, non-profit organizations that work with Hepatitis C patients and the affected population provide limited to no access to support group meetings …

Developing A Community Innovation Grant In Response To Increasing Rural Critical Incidents In Agricultural Mental Health And Wellbeing, Community Trauma, And Natural Disasters, Chessa S. Quenzer

Capstone Experience

Spink Area Support Network (SASN) is a skilled team of community volunteers that facilitate rural critical incident response services in an effort to prevent a critical incident and offer structured support during the aftermath. SASN was developed in response to identified gaps in rural critical incident response and risk reduction through prevention in Spink County, South Dakota. SASN utilizes a collaborative team approach to fill in gaps between first responder silos and establish community interventions by providing support and resources while utilizing critical incident stress management methods. SASN requires funding to maintain response resources, training, prevention education, and follow-up services. …

Assessing Occupational Stress And Preparedness Among Campus Safety Officers And Dental School Employees At An Academic Medical Center During Covid-19, Decature Banker, Lorena Baccaglini, Miriam Mccann, Chandran Achutan

Capstone Experience

Job stress can lead to adverse physical and emotional health effects in employees and is worse during an emergency or pandemic. The complexity of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is taking a toll on the healthcare systems and their employees. This cross-sectional study looked at two different groups of academic medical center employees, Campus Safety Officers and Dental School employees, who’s work puts them at risk for COVID-19 exposure. We hypothesized that Campus Safety Officers and Dental School employees who felt adequately trained to conduct COVID-19 related work would not feel more stressed during the COVID-19 pandemic than they …

Caring Revisited: A Foucauldian Discourse Analysis On The Association Of Caring With The Profession Of Nursing, Margot Boulton

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

There have been numerous theories put forward by nursing theorists on the importance of caring in nursing. Very few studies have looked at the impact that this association has on the practice of nursing. This study will add to the existing literature by using a Foucauldian discourse analysis to examine the material effects that the caring discourse has on nurses’ ability to advocate for safe working conditions during a public health emergency. Using the outbreak of COVID-19 in Ontario, Canada in the Spring of 2020 as a context, this study seeks to establish caring as a discourse and examine how …

The Effect Of An Online Mental Health Promotion Program During Covid-19, Juliana Maldonado

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Background

The negative impact of Coronavirus 19 (COVID-19) on mental health has been observed through the pandemic. People have had to adapt to a new norm of social distancing, wearing a mask, and abstaining from big group gatherings. These changes have impacted all levels of society and the rise of mental health care continues to grow as COVID-19 continues at this time. Mental health promotion strategies may be enhanced through the use of telehealth.

Purpose

To determine if a six-week online mental health promotion intervention would improve the GAD-7 scores of participants.

Methods

This project utilized a quantitative quasi-experimental pre-test/post-test …

Infant Hearing Screening During The Sars Cov-2 Pandemic – A Descriptive Study In A Tertiary Health Care Centre In Southern India, Dr.Susmitha Sriperumbudur

Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Niveli I Depresionit, Stresit Dhe Ankthit Te Punëtorët Shëndetësorë Në Klinikën Infektive Në Qendrën Klinike Universitare Të Kosovës, Besart Lahu

Theses and Dissertations

Hyrje: Coronavirus (COVID-19) është sëmundje akute infektive e shkaktuar nga virusi Corona i ri. Sëmundja karakterizohet me kontagjiozitet të lartë dhe vdekshmëri relativisht të lartë krahasuar me sëmundjet tjera që përhapen përmes rrugëve respiratore. Mund ti prek njerëzit edhe në aspektin psikologjik. Në këtë kontekst, shumë njerëz përjetojnë reagime stresi, ankthi dhe depresioni. Ndër ta në radhë të parë janë punëtorët shëndetësor të profileve të ndryshme. Gjatë gjithë këtyre muajve përpos dinamikës së punës dhe rrezikut që u është kanosur, punëtorët shëndetësor kanë qenë të shqetësuar edhe për shëndetin e tyre dhe familjes si dhe ndryshimet në punë.

Qëllimi i …

The Effect Of An Online Educational Intervention On The Community Knowledge Of Physical Health, Mental Health And Self-Efficacy During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Kerstin Ashby Ferguson

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Background

Community health education during times of pandemic is of utmost importance to disseminate information regarding safety precautions, educate the public regarding the disease process, and provide accurate health information during a time when individuals are specifically vulnerable to inaccurate sources of information. During the COVID-19 pandemic, physical gatherings were highly restricted; therefore, it became important to incorporate technology into the educational process.

Purpose

The purpose of this project was to determine if a thirty-day, online community health education program would increase the health knowledge and self-efficacy of participants.

Methods

This project utilized a quantitative quasi-experimental pre-test/post-test design from a …

Perinatal Anxiety And Depression During The Covid 19 Pandemic, Helen Xumin Chen, Nancy Selix, Marcianna Nosek

DNP Qualifying Manuscripts

Abstract

The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak places perinatal women at higher risk of developing anxiety and depression. Uncertainty, fear, and confusion in medical, social, economic, occupational and political aspects of life in the US add to existing stressors that perinatal women experience. To optimize the quality of perinatal care during the pandemic, appropriate mental health interventions must be implemented to prevent and alleviate perinatal anxiety and depression and improve maternal and infant outcomes. Measures include increased screening, non-pharmacologic and/or pharmacologic interventions and the use of telehealth for care delivery.

Keywords: perinatal anxiety, perinatal depression, COVID-19, SARS CoV-2, maternal …

Strategies For Hybrid Teaching, Julia Bilotta

OTD Capstone Projects

This project aimed to work alongside the occupational therapy department at Belmont University to research, develop, and disseminate strategies for hybrid teaching. As the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic required universities to rapidly switch to online teaching, the need for strategies to complete this effectively arose. Moving months ahead to present day, Belmont University has adapted a hybrid model for teaching, which includes both online and in-person learning. With that being said, the department of occupational therapy expressed the need for lab experiences and clinical skill competencies that follow the ACOTE standards, that can be delivered through a virtual …

Understanding The Impact Of Social Distancing On Older Adults And Senior Centers To Better Adapt Towards A New Normal, Salina Jivan

Student Capstone Papers

COVID-19 brought about social distancing mandates that posed as a new barrier to meaningful social participation in the community. The purpose of this project was to understand the impact of social distancing on older adults and senior organizations to better inform the role of OT in helping seniors adapt towards a new normal within the community. A qualitative study and needs assessment were performed through phone interviews with seniors and organizations that support them from around the United States. Themes highlighted seniors desire for social contact and cautious return to the community once mandates are lifted. Both seniors and organizations …

Needs Assessment: A Food Pharmacy During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Genesis Talavera

Master's Projects and Capstones

Introduction

The needs assessment report discusses the effects of COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic on a low-income Hispanic/Latino population specifically for diabetic patients seeking food pharmacy services at a non-profit clinic in San Mateo County. Nutrition is an essential aspect of diabetes management, which can be challenging to obtain among low-income populations. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused additional challenges among the general population, making it more challenging for the diabetic low-income population. This project was undertaken to identify the effects COVID-19 has on the food pharmacy patients.

Methods

The needs assessment consisted of eleven in-depth interviews done in six week period. A …

Evaluation Of The Humoral Immune Response As A Potential Indicator Of Disease Severity For Patients Hospitalized With Covid-19, Spencer Sterling

Capstone Experience

Members of the family Coronaviridae, including the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronaviruses (SARS-CoV-1 and SARS-CoV-2), Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) and seasonal human coronaviruses (HCoV-HKU1and HCoV-OC43), are highly communicable respiratory viruses; SARS-CoV-1, SARS-CoV-2, and MERS can cause severe disease, while seasonal human coronaviruses present with mild to moderate illness. Coronavirus envelope spike (S) glycoproteins are involved in receptor binding and cell fusion, and are the primary target for a neutralizing humoral response. The S protein is comprised of the S₁ and S₂ subunits; the S₁ subunit contains the receptor-binding domain (RBD), while the S_{2 …}

Breaking Down Barriers: Utilizing Virtual Resources To Promote Occupational Balance Among Vulnerable Populations In The Midst Of A Global Pandemic, Roya Rezadoost

OTD Capstone Projects

The focus of this project was to utilize virtual media, resources, and technological advancements to create resource guidelines that facilitate the preservation of occupational balance and overall quality of life among under-served and marginalized populations during the COVID-19 global pandemic.

A Study Of Covid-19 Mortality Under Varying Patient Frailty, Alison N. Sifuentes

Theses and Dissertations

Modeled the spread and mortality of COVID-19 throughout the city of Chicago. By incorporating group frailty into a classic SEIR infectious disease model, we were able to differentiate the population of Chicago by their response to COVID-19. Three age groups with different COVID-19-induced death rates were examined, and the model sought to showcase the multiplicative deviation of each age group death rate from the average disease-induced death rate. This adjustment for different death rates among age groups accounted for heterogeneity within the population, and sought to introduce a more accurate manner for modeling the spread of infectious diseases.

Coronavirus, Carla Bonczak

Nursing Student Class Projects (Formerly MSN)

Coronavirus (COVID-19) is a novel virus that began its virulent spread in China December 2019. Since that time, it has spread worldwide and has affected individuals, business, and educational systems, as well as day to day life. COVID-19 has become a national pandemic. COVID-19 is spread through airborne droplets produced by affected individual that may or may not be symptomatic. Individuals may experience fevers, dry cough, and difficulty breathing. While most individuals with COVID-19 may be able to recover at home, several are requiring hospitalization. If patients are hospitalized, they are placed into an isolation negative air flow room for …

Understanding Covid-19, William Carson Ii

Nursing Student Class Projects (Formerly MSN)

The SARS-CoV-2 outbreak has changed the lives of many. To combat the disease referred to as COVID- 19, anesthesia providers must be educated on specific topics. Understanding of a brief history of previous strands of the disease details the need for measures to reduce healthcare providers exposure. As patients present to the operating room (OR), viral and antibody testing combined provides identification and prognosis of the disease with infected patients who can transmit the disease. Anesthesia providers encounter transmission entry points frequently increasing possibility of exposure. The disease process of COVID-19 can lead to progression of complications necessitating interventions from …

Sars-Cov-2 Or Covid-19, Amy Phillips

Nursing Student Class Projects (Formerly MSN)

The emergence of COVID-19 has stunned the world and challenged the medical field in ways not seen in almost a century. COVID-19 has proven to be unpredictable and can have effects ranging from mild to life threatening, including pneumonia, Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome, multi-system organ failure and death. This presentation discusses the presentation, pathophysiology, current treatments and implications on nursing for COVID-19. Research is ongoing to determine just how and why this virus attacks the way it does, how to best treat the virus and how to develop a vaccine to prevent future outbreaks.

Adolescents And E-Cigarette Use: Long-Term Effects, Behaviors And Lung Injury, Sarah Congdon

PCOM Capstone Projects

The use of Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS), commonly referred to as e-cigarettes, has become a deadly habit among adolescents across the nation. These devices are attractive with their sleek design, fun flavors, and youthful advertisements. E-Cigarettes entered the marketplace around 2007, and since 2014, they have been the most commonly used tobacco product among U.S. youth. In 2018, more than 3.6 million U.S. youth, including 1 in 5 high school students and 1 in 20 middle school students, currently use e-cigarettes. There have been increasing lung infections and chronic lung diseases rising in the younger community. The strong adolescent …

Financial Consequences Of Covid-19 For U.S. Hospitals, Laura Petty, Trevor Mullins

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Introduction: The coronavirus pandemic has caused many financial issues for many businesses including putting a substantial strain on hospitals in the U.S. The impact of COVID-19 on the financial well-being of hospitals has been evaluated and the severity is still being measured as the pandemic is ongoing. The purpose of this research was to assess the financial consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic for hospitals in the United States.

Methodology: A literature review with a semi-structured interview with an expert from a local hospital was used for the methodology of this qualitative study. Five government websites and five databases …

Debriefing Emergency Department Nurses During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Jessica Hailstock

Master of Science in Nursing Theses and Projects

This study examined the consequences of increased stress experienced by emergency department nurses related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The goal was to acknowledge that this particular population of nurses already experience high levels of stress and that being on the frontlines of healthcare during a pandemic exacerbates the issue. Nursing leaders within the emergency department must acknowledge and monitor the nurses’ stress. Findings suggest that debriefing led by qualified individuals is a powerful intervention to combat the negative effects of stress.