Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

The Influence Of Surgical Stress And Inflammatory Biomarkers On The Occurrence Of Postoperative Delirium, Kirsten Davis, Yulisa Flores

Symposium of Student Scholars

Research focusing on hypothermia has established a relationship between surgical stress and inflammatory biomarkers on delirium incidents in critically ill non-cardiac surgical patients. Unfortunately, postoperative delirium is a common complication after surgery and results in acute brain failure. Though the cause of delirium is still relatively unknown, systemic inflammation with neurological involvement is one of the leading etiologic theories. Another common complication in surgical patients is the occurrence of unplanned hypothermia during non-cardiac surgeries. For our study, we will be looking at two inflammatory biomarkers: C-reactive protein (CRP), and Interleukin 6 (IL-6). CRP is produced in the liver and is …

Training In The Use Of Interpretive Services For Patients With Limited English Proficiency, Kristina Wooten

Symposium of Student Scholars

In clinical settings, there is a disconnect between health care professionals (HCPs) and patients with limited English proficiency (LEP). HCPs rely on ad hoc interpreters to communicate with patients with LEP (e.g. nurses using untrained friends and family or nursing students to interpret care information). Refusing to use or misusing professional interpreters and other interpretive services may lead patients with LEP to avoid seeking necessary care, misunderstand their diagnoses and treatment regimens, and fail to return for follow-up care. This increases the already existing health care disparity between patients who speak English and patients with LEP. Studies show that if …

High Anxiety In Pediatric Oncology Patients? What About Art Therapy?, Rebekah Love

Symposium of Student Scholars

Anxiety and depression are becoming more prevalent in the pediatric population today. In addition to the general pediatric population experiencing an increased risk of mental illness, children with an oncology related diagnosis have an even heightened risk. Most pediatric oncology patients reported fear or worry daily, which is cited to be most severe when they had an appointment or went to the hospital for a fever. It is imperative we discover interventions to lessen the anxiety and depression pediatric oncology patients experience daily. A literature review revealed conclusive interventions have not been determined. The purpose of this research is to …

Alternative Precautionary Measures Yielding Lower C. Diff Infection Rates In Healthcare Facilities, Matthew Kramer

Symposium of Student Scholars

Background: An international healthcare concern is the persistent spread of Clostridium difficile, a Gram-positive spore forming bacterium that is responsible for the most common hospital-acquired infection, amongst patients.

Objective: A systematic review was performed to summarize evidence that the interventions utilized in healthcare facilities which indicate a patient’s precautionary status are insufficient, outdated, and commonly lead to infection in neighboring patient rooms. Databases such as PubMed, NCBI, Google Scholar, and APHA’s Medical Care were searched, covering the period from 2017-2022. Studies were included if their focus concentrated on C. diff and the precautionary measures taken by employees at healthcare …

Stretching To Reduce Chronic Back Pain In Nurses & Care Partners, Jennifer Monyhan

Symposium of Student Scholars

DO PRE- AND POST-SHIFT HUDDLE STRETCHING EXERCISES REDUCE CHRONIC LOWER BACK PAIN AMONG NURSES AND CNAS OVER A THREE- TO SIX-MONTH PERIOD?

Abstract

Many nurses and care partners develop job-related chronic lower back pain due to constantly repositioning immobile patients, changing linens, and bathing patients. These strenuous job requirements involve bending and lifting, as well as standing for extended periods of time during long shifts. This proposal will investigate the effectiveness of a targeted, thirty-second stretching session incorporated into each shift change huddle, for employees beginning their shift as well as employees ending their shift, on reports of lower back …

The Effects Of Prenatal Patient Education Regarding Epidural Anesthesia, Auburn Merritt

Symposium of Student Scholars

This project is important because there is a lack of education for prenatal women regarding epidural anesthesia which causes misunderstanding, confusion, a deficit of knowledge, and a lack of support. The purpose of this project is to analyze and suggest the importance of proper education regarding epidural anesthesia. Proper prenatal education causes resolution of misconceptions as well as causes patients to be more satisfied with their pain management during labor. Evidence that I found suggested that after proper education more pregnant women planned to receive epidural anesthesia (Cutajar, 2018). Women preferred detailed education to increase knowledge of the risks and …

A Better Way To Non-Invasively Measure Bilirubin Levels To Protect Infant Health, Kristen Mackeil

Symposium of Student Scholars

Background: Jaundice screening using transcutaneous bilirubin(TcB) monitors often produce inaccurately low results for lighter skin tone newborns and inaccurately high results for darker skin tone newborns. While high jaundice levels for lighter skin tone newborns risk going undetected, darker skin tone newborns receive unnecessary follow up heel sticks for serum bilirubin determination. This is a problem because dangerous jaundice levels may be under or over reported. Additionally, unnecessary heel sticks for darker skin tone newborns increase the risk of complications from puncture and increase newborn discomfort. Performing the heel stick and processing the blood sample also cost nurses and …

Food Deserts: Hungry For Answers, Lawren Cumberbatch

Symposium of Student Scholars

In 2010, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) reported that 23.5 million people in the United States live in food deserts. As defined by the USDA, a “food desert” is a neighborhood that lacks healthy food sources. This can be measured by distance to a store, number of stores in an area, individual-level resources such as family income or vehicle availability, and neighborhood-level resources such as availability of public transportation. Past research provides evidence that food deserts are especially likely to occur in communities heavily populated by minorities. As a Black Indian pre-med student aiming to join the world …

Examining The Relationship Between African-Americans And Their Physicians, Genesis Weever

Symposium of Student Scholars

For years, there has been a bad history amongst the relationship between African-Americans and their fellow medical institutions. Many African-Americans do not believe that medical professionals have their best interest at heart. Oftentimes, their white counterparts may receive better care, even when they have the same condition. Many African-Americans may even face barriers that their white counterparts will not experience, and will be denied access to healthcare. This results in more deaths and critical illnesses of African-Americans. In order to discover the underlying problem and a possible solution, a review of the literature was initiated. Using a literature matrix and …