Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Covid-19 Lockdown: Impact On College Students’ Lives, Wendy C. Birmingham, Lori L. Wadsworth, Jane H. Lassetter

Faculty Publications

Objective: In light of COVID-19, leaders issued stay-at-home orders, including closure of higher-education schools. Most students left campus, likely impacting their employment and social network. Leaders are making decisions about opening universities and modality of instruction. Understanding students' psychological, physiological, academic, and financial responses to the shut-down and reopening of campuses can help leaders make informed decisions. Participants: 654 students from a large western university enrolled during the pandemic shutdown. Methods: Students were invited via email to complete an online survey. Results: Students reported stress, depression, loneliness, lack of motivation, difficulty focusing on schoolwork, restless sleep, appetite changes, job loss …

Educating Patients About Opioid Disposal: A Key Role For Perianesthesia Nurses, Katreena C. Merrill, Valynn Christina Haslam, Karlen E. (Beth) Luthy, Craig Nuttall

Faculty Publications

Purpose: To examine opioid prescription practices, patient use of opioids after laparoscopic cholecystectomy, and patient knowledge about disposal of unused medication.

Design: Mixed methods design with a chart review and structured phone interview.

Methods: Thirty-four patients were interviewed by phone and asked how many opioids were prescribed, how many excess pills they had 6 to 10 days postoperatively, and if they knew how to dispose of them.

Findings: Average number of excess pills ranged from 0 to 42 (mean = 14; SD = 11.7). Nearly half of patients (47%) perceived the prescribed quantity as “too many.” Seventy-one percent of patients …

Antibiotic Stewardship: The Role Of Clinical Nurses And Nurse Educators, Sharon Sumner, Sandra Forsyth, Katreena Collette Merrill, Caroline Taylor, Todd Vento, John Veillette, Brandon Webb

Faculty Publications

Within 10 years of the breakthrough development of Penicillin, antibiotic resistance was reported. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention (CDC, 2017), each year 2 million cases of antibiotic resistant bacteria occur resulting in approximately 23,000 deaths in the United States. The World Health Organization (WHO) also reports that approximately 25,000 people die from antibiotic resistant organisms annually in the European Union (WHO, 2014). To combat these alarming trends, antibiotic stewardship (AS) programs have been strongly recommended by the WHO, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the …

A Whooping Cough Education Module For Wic Clients In Utah, Karlen E. Luthy, Alicia Anderson, Janelle L. B. Macintosh, Renea L. Beckstrand, Lacey M. Eden, Ryan Amy, Christopher I. Macintosh

Faculty Publications

Background: Clients in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) are required to complete education modules quarterly to maintain eligibility. The purposes of this project were to: (1) create a whooping cough vaccination education module for WIC clients; (2) evaluate baseline perceptions of WIC clients on the whooping cough vaccine and disease; and (3) evaluate whooping cough knowledge following completion of the module. Problem: A decline in vaccination rates among infants and children using WIC services was reported by a local WIC program director who requested whooping cough vaccination education materials. This quality improvement project included …

Identifying United States And Territory Education Requirements For Childhood Vaccination Exemptions, Lacey M. Eden, Emily G. Dunn, Karlen E. Luthy, Katelyn Wells, Janelle L. B. Macintosh, Renea Beckstrand

Faculty Publications

Background: : Children are required by law to receive vaccinations to enter school. States and territories offer exemptions for parents who refuse to vaccinate their children. Types of exemptions vary by state or territory, as does the exemption filing process. The purpose of this research was to identify the various education-related processes implemented by states and territories which allow parents to exempt children from vaccinations.

Methods: A questionnaire was distributed to immunization program managers in the 50 United States, District of Columbia, the United States Indian Health Service, and eight United States territories. Managers reported vaccination requirements for their jurisdiction …

Qualitative Analysis Of Student Perceptions Of Bachelor Of Science-To-Doctor Of Philosophy In Nursing Programs, Neil E. Peterson, Karen O. Moss, Gwyneth R. Milbrath, Jane R. Von Gaudecker, Eunhee Park, Mihee Chung

Faculty Publications

Background: To address the shortage of PhD-prepared nursing faculty, universities in the United States of America offer direct entry BSN-to-PhD nursing programs. Little research has been done to explore students’ perceptions of these programs and formally evaluate the successes and opportunities for growth of this academic track. Methods: Focusing on the perceptions and experiential reflection of BSN-to-PhD education, a survey with open-ended questions was distributed among voluntary participants who are current BSN-to-PhD students or recent graduates (years) from various universities in the country. Textual data were analyzed using a qualitative descriptive approach with thematic analysis. Results: This article elaborates on …

Nursing Students: Untapped Resource For Running Computerized Patient Simulators, Starla Aragon, Amy Kotter, Patricia K. Ravert, Suzan E. Kardong-Edgren

Faculty Publications

High-fidelity simulation (HFS) is sweeping the nation as a legitimate and exciting new resource for nursing educators. As with most new technologies, HFS is not without its difficulties. It can be a costly program to run and may also cause anxiety among the faculty required for implementation. There is a simple solution to help increase the ease of its implementation: using student workers. This article discusses how using students to help run the simulations can not only reduce overall cost and anxiety associated with this new technology but also increase learning among those participating in HFS.

Nps' Perceptions Of Disaster Preparedness Education: Quantitative Survey Research, Milada Tichy, A. Elaine Bond, Renea L. Beckstrand, Barbara Heise

Faculty Publications

Nurse practitioners need to be effective in responding to large-scale natural and man-made disasters. However, disaster core competencies for NPs are largely nonexistent. The purpose of this study was to assess NPs' level of disaster preparedness and determine how NPs acquired knowledge about disaster preparation. Findings suggest that a consistent national NP curriculum for disaster preparedness, including communication with other disaster agencies, is needed. With proper education, NPs can play a major role in disaster management.

Improved Cancer Care Through Increased Basic Cancer Education, Patricia Rushton, Lillian Nail, Sherry Brown

Faculty Publications

Literature shows that nursing care in rural communities improves when the nurse has increased knowledge through continuing education. Specific oncology studies in areas of stress, pain assessment and documentation, and death and dying.(Hedman-1990,Camp-Sorrell-1991,Foglesong-1987,Webber-1991) demonstrate similar results. It is reasonable that continuing education in areas of the cancer process, standard therapies, and methods of symptom control would improve patient care. This project allowed nurses who had limited access to cancer education in rural areas of Utah to receive basic cancer education. The subjects of this education included: 1) the cancer process, 2) chemotherapy, 3)radiation therapy, 4) the use and care of …