Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Using Detection Dogs And Rspf Models To Assess Habitat Suitability For Bears In Greater Yellowstone, Jon P. Beckmann, Lisette P. Waits, Aimee Hurt, Alice Whitelaw, Scott Bergen

Western North American Naturalist

In the northern U.S. Rockies, including the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE), connectivity is a concern because large carnivores have difficulties dispersing successfully between protected areas. One area of high conservation value because of its importance for connecting the GYE to wilderness areas of central Idaho is the Centennial Mountains and surrounding valleys (2500 km2) along the Idaho–Montana border just west of Yellowstone National Park. The current expansion of grizzly bears (Ursus arctos) and other large carnivore populations outside protected areas of Yellowstone National Park and Grand Teton National Park has placed a greater emphasis on potential linkage zones …

Empathy In Nursing Students: The Impact Of A Poverty Simulation, Kristen Hamblin, Gaye Ray

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Empathy is an essential characteristic in nursing. In fact, the skill of empathy, the ability to understand the feelings or situation of another, is of paramount importance to the nurse-patient relationship. Additionally, empathetic interactions often lead to increased patient satisfaction, compliance, and overall quality of life. Empathetic nurses are more able to identify patient needs and provide high quality care and service.

National Study Of Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Nurse’S Perceptions Of Obstacles And Supportive Behaviors In End-Of-Life Care, Katie Hillary, Renea Beckstrand

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Neonatal end-of-life (EOL) care supports a peaceful and dignified death for the infant as well as provision of loving support to the family (National Association of Neonatal Nurses, 2010). Infant mortality in the U.S. is 6.05 infant deaths per 1,000 births (MacDorman, Hoyert, & Matthews, 2013). Due to this infant mortality rate, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) nurses need to understand how to provide EOL care to patients and families. NICU nurses who care for dying infants are faced with unique EOL care obstacles and challenges. EOL nursing care for infants not only includes the patient, but also the family. …

Electronic Health Records In Simulation And Its Effects On Student Knowledge Of Patient Condition, Katie Holiday, Debra Wing

Journal of Undergraduate Research

As a nursing student I have been involved in countless simulations throughout my time in the BYU nursing program. All have been different, challenging, and enlightening, helping me to learn the art of nursing. However, I noticed, as I became a facilitator of these simulations that very often students don’t remember very much about the scenario or the patients they work with. I began to think about this and how we could help students understand what they learn in simulations to help them remember more about the scenarios and their patients. It was at the National Student Nurses Conference that …

Increasing The Number Of Adults In Utah County Who Receive The Pertussis Vaccine Through Proper Education, Sarah Jones, Beth Luthy

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Pertussis is a vaccine-preventable disease that has plagued our nation for many years. Since the vaccine’s creation in 1945, rates of pertussis thankfully decreased overall. However, in recent years, due to the decrease in the number of vaccinated individuals, especially adults, pertussis cases have drastically increased, rising by 500% since 2002 (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2012). For the first time since 1955, the United States has had more than 40,000 cases of pertussis in a single year (CDC, 2012). Even more startling, however, is the fact that Utah County had 76.6 cases per 100,000 people, compared to …

Parents Of Children With Type 1 Diabetes And Their Needs, Janelle M. Neu, Donna Freeborn

Journal of Undergraduate Research

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) more than 13,000 young people are diagnosed with type 1 diabetes (CDC, 2008b). This autoimmune disease destroys the pancreatic cells that create insulin, a necessary hormone for carbohydrate metabolism. This disease affects every aspect of not only the child’s life, but also of the child’s parents and family (Moreira, H., Frontini, R., Bullinger, M. & Canavarro, M.C., 2013). When a child is diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, parents, alongside their child, must acquire a new repertoire of skills. Parents must become professionals at anticipating their child’s appetite and activity each …

Caring For Dying Children: A Systematic Review Of The Literature, Megan Watts, Debra Mills

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The death of a child is experienced with great resistance because it is understood as an interruption in the life cycle—often seen as untimely and unfair. Pediatric nurses care for children in high-mortality environments, such as the pediatric intensive care and oncology units and, as a result, are directly affected by childhood death (Papadatou, 2000). Caring for a dying child and their family is an emotionally charged situation (American Academy of Pediatrics, 2000; Catlin and Carter, 2001; Stutts and Schloemann, 2002). Nurses spend much time caring for their patients but forget to look after themselves. Caring for the nurse is …

A National Study Of Nursing Students’ Recommendations Regarding End Of Life Content In Nursing Education Curricula, Danielle Shkapich, Barbara Heise

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The purpose of this qualitative study was to analyze the recommendations of nursing students nationwide who have experienced a patient death while in nursing school regarding end-of-life (EOL) curricula. Many nursing students are not adequately instructed on how to perceive and react to death. For registered nurses, dealing with death is an evitable part of their careers. Without adequate instruction, student nurses are less prepared to deal with such circumstances in their future practice. While many studies regarding the benefits of EOL training have been published, this study takes the next step in determining, on a national basis, what students …

Specialty Selection In The Face Of An Aging Demographic In Taiwan, Ian Christensen, Michael Barnes

Journal of Undergraduate Research

As of the end of August, 2013, senior citizens accounted for 11 percent of Taiwan’s population¹. According to a report published by Taiwan’s Ministry of the Interior earlier this year, Taiwan’s population is predicted to be “hyper-aged”,with 20% of the population 65 or over, by 2025. With the world’s lowest birth rate (less than 0.9 children per woman)² and a universal health care system, the aging of Taiwan’s population constitutes a massive challenge for the Taiwan health care system. Such a challenge is not, however, unique to Taiwan. Many populations, especially in developed nations such as those …

The Use Of Teamstepps® In The Development And Implementation Of Staff Nurse Councils, Katreena Collette Merrill

Journal of Undergraduate Research

1. TeamSTEPPS training: As a result of this project, 395 number of students received training on TeamSTEPPS. Students created case studies and role play videos about communication in healthcare.
2. In addition to the effect on the senior undergraduate nursing students and family nurse practitioner graduate students, we were able to implement TeamSTEPPS into a new interprofessional education course STDEV 214R.
3. As a result of this project, we were contacted by the Agency for Healthcare Research Quality for an interview on how we have applied TeamSTEPPS. Results of the interview will be posted on the web site in 2015 citing Brigham Young …

The ‘Ohana Mana Challenge: An Intervention Study On Native Hawaiian And Pacific Islander Nutrition And Activity, Jane H. Lassetter

Journal of Undergraduate Research

In our recent study, 84.4% of Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders (NHPIs) in Hawaii and Utah were overweight or obese, which puts them at increased risk for obesity-related diseases, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and some cancers. Pre-colonization NHPI diets were rich in fresh fruits and vegetables and fish, but research indicates current NHPI diets consist largely of processed and fast foods. Along with this change in NHPI diet came a change in activity, from fishing and farming to more sedentary jobs. The changes in diet and activity likely contribute to high NHPI overweight and obesity prevalence. People can make wise …

My Patient Died: A National Study Of Nursing Students Perceptions After Experiencing A Patient Death, Barabara Heise, Debra Wing

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The purpose of this national study was to answer the following questions:

1. What is the prevalence of nursing students encountering death in the clinical setting?
2. What are the perceptions of nursing student’s first clinical encounter with death?
3. What are the students’ perceptions of their knowledge and communication abilities to manage patient situations at end-of-life (EOL)?
4. What actions by nurse educators might mitigate this potentially stressful situation according to students?