Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Comparing Nurse-Led Holistic Pain Relief Strategies And Sole Pharmacological Use In Enhancing Maternal Satisfaction, Reducing Pain, And Lowering Obstetric Interventions During Childbirth, Jessica C. Moore

Nursing | Senior Theses

Background: Childbirth has become heavily reliant on pharmacological management and obstetric interventions such as epidural use, labor induction, and cesarean deliveries (C-sections) even among low-risk pregnancies. While necessary in some cases, excessive reliance on pharmacological interventions can negatively impact the experience of birthing as a whole. Non-pharmacological interventions (NPIs) such as breathing techniques, positioning, hydrotherapy, massage, aromatherapy and continuous support have shown to be effective in reducing pain and supporting physiologic labor. The gaps in education and lack of standard implementation result in inconsistent application in practice. Purpose: This research proposal aims to evaluate the effectiveness of nurse-led NPIs compared …

How Social Media And Cyberbullying Correlate To Eating Disorders In Adolescents, Nicoli A. Panelo

Nursing | Senior Theses

Background: Social media is very prevalent in today’s society, particularly in adolescents. This time period is crucial for this age group in terms of developing a sense of purpose and identity. Although social media may keep many of our children entertained, they also can create negative impacts on them and ultimately hinder their overall development both mentally and physically through negative body image and unrealistic self-expectations. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to find the correlation between social media use and the rise of eating disorders in adolescents. Doing so would allow us to find ways to lower the …

Supporting New Graduate Nurses: Residency, Mindfulness, And Simulation, Shaianne Kaye S. Intal

Nursing | Senior Theses

The purpose of this research proposal is to examine the effectiveness of support systems in helping new graduate nurses bridge the potential gap between nursing education and clinical practice. It aims to address the inconsistencies in nursing education and clinical practice, and how these strategies can better support new graduate nurses. This study will focus on new graduate nurses within their first 2 years of practice in an inpatient setting. A mixed-methods convergent parallel design approach will be used by combining quantitative questionnaires with qualitative interviews at the same time. This will evaluate the effectiveness of nurse residency programs, mindfulness-based …

Bridging The Language Gap: The Impact Of In-Person Versus Remote Interpreter Services On Medication Adherence And Patient Safety In Adult Spanish-Speaking Patients, Ashley E. Alarcon Martinez, Jocelyn N. Lopez Maradiaga

Nursing | Senior Theses

Background: Significant health inequities are caused by language barriers between patients and health care staff, resulting in miscommunication among adult Hispanic patients with low English proficiency, reducing medication adherence, impairing patient safety, and raising the possibility of medical errors. To address this issue, interpreter services, both in-person and remote translation, have been introduced in healthcare settings to enhance communication. Objective: The purpose of this study is to investigate the differences in patient safety and medication adherence between in-person and remote translation services for adult Hispanic individuals with limited English proficiency in healthcare settings. Methods: The proposed research involves five local …

The Impact Of Parental Mental Health On Infant Outcomes In The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: Length Of Stay, Feeding, Bonding, And Developmental Progress, Andee L. Plaskett

Nursing | Senior Theses

Background: The neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) can be a highly stressful environment for both infants and their parents. Poorer infant outcomes, including longer hospital stays, feeding difficulties, and delayed developmental progress can all be a reflection and outcome of elevated parental distress. Currently, mental health distress and infant screening tools are used in most NICUs but are not seen in all practices, it is also important to provide interventions based on the screening results. Screening tools are used to identify a problem but interventions should be implemented to try to alleviate the problem. Objective: By implementing a standardized screening …

Health Disparities In Cardiovascular Care: The Impact Of Diabetes Education And Post-Discharge Interventions For African American Adults At Risk For And After Myocardial Infarction, Trinity L. Billingsley

Nursing | Senior Theses

Background: Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, affecting African American adults at higher rates compared to other racial and ethnic groups. Diabetes as a comorbidity is one of the risk factors of experiencing a myocardial infarction, remaining one of the leading causes of death among individuals with diabetes. Objective: To examine the effectiveness of structured diabetes education tailored to African American adults who are at risk for and after a myocardial infarction. Additionally assessing the complications of a myocardial infarction, the outcomes associated with structured education will be compared to the outcomes of …

Human Milk Feeding And Its Impact On The Incidence Of Necrotizing Enterocolitis, Maya C. Kern

Nursing | Senior Theses

One of the leading causes of morbidity and death for preterm and very low birth weight (VLBW) newborns is still necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). Existing literature consistently shows that the bioactive, anti-inflammatory, and microbiome-supporting components of human breast milk, including donor human milk, significantly lower the incidence of NEC. However, a lot of infants are forced to rely on formula and nutrient fortifiers because they cannot obtain maternal or donor milk. A critical gap persists regarding whether human milk derived fortifiers offer greater NEC protection than bovine derived fortifiers in infants who must receive formula. This thesis examines three interconnected themes; …

Blister Packaging Versus Bottles: Caregiver Accuracy And Child Safety In Pediatric Medication Gummy Administration, Paolo Olimpiada

Nursing | Senior Theses

The safety of medication in pediatric settings has become an increasing concern as gummy-formulated medications have gained popularity in children’s care. Gummy-formulated medications have a close resemblance to candy, and this may mislead children to ingest additional doses or more than what was prescribed. Children also depend a lot on their caregivers for medications. Therefore, the design of packaging would be impactful in supporting medication dosing accuracy. And studies have evaluated safety features of packaging related to adherence, misuse, and unintended administration. However, limited studies have examined the influence of medication packaging on the dosing accuracy at the time of …

Silver Nanoparticle-Induced Disruption Of Astrocytic Morphology And Synaptic Microarchitecture In Rat Brain, Elli Williams

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are widely incorporated into consumer and medical products due to their antibacterial properties, increasing the potential for chronic exposure. AgNPs can be released into the environment, enter the body through ingestion or inhalation, cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB), and bioaccumulate in brain tissue. Previous in vitro studies demonstrate that AgNP exposure disrupts cytoskeletal organization and induces neurite collapse in neural cells, suggesting vulnerability of cytoskeleton-dependent structures in vivo. Astrocytes, through their perisynaptic astrocytic processes (PAPs) and perivascular endfeet, play critical roles in maintaining synaptic and neurovascular architecture, both of which rely heavily on cytoskeletal integrity. This …

Using Genetically Diverse Mice To Examine The Effects Of Environmental Enrichment Of The Transcriptome, Michael Richard Leonardo

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Environmental impoverishment is a model of early life stress with direct consequences across a wide range of neurological and physiological conditions. Neuron morphology and density as well as anxiety disorders and addiction have shown to have significant relationships with environmental impoverishment models. Conversely, environmental enrichment confers therapeutic benefits that are protective across these conditions. There is an observed spectrum of resistance or vulnerability to the effects of housing conditions across populations, indicating genetics as an influential factor. Understanding this interaction is critical for deepening our knowledge of how genes and environment interact in ways that confer resistance or vulnerability, and …

Nicotine Self-Administration And The Impacts On Medial Habenula And Interpeduncular Nucleus Neurophysiology, Nathan Alexander Olszewski

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Nicotine use is a tremendous public health issue in the United States, with over 23 million people being dependent on the substance. Low cessation rates associated with nicotine use are largely attributed to the withdrawal and craving symptoms that occur after abstinence of use from nicotine. The medial habenula (MHb) and interpeduncular nucleus (IPN) are two brain regions heavily associated and linked with nicotine withdrawal. Here, I sought to understand how these brain regions are altered in their physiology during nicotine intake. Utilizing E-Vape self-administration, mice were first taught to selfadminister nicotine of various, clinically relevant, dosages which correlate to …

The Role Of Mentorship In Reducing Burnout In New Nurses And Nursing Students, Omari Andry

Honors College Theses

Burnout among new nurses and nursing students is a consistent issue affecting the healthcare system by adding to early career turnover, emotional exhaustion, and decreased quality of patient care. Structured mentorship programs have emerged as a promising intervention to alleviate burnout by giving emotional support, professional development, and coping strategies. This proposal explores the role of mentorship in reducing burnout symptoms, improving job satisfaction, and promoting emotional resilience among new nurses and nursing students alike. Based on existing scholarly articles, the project will investigate how structured versus informal mentorship affects burnout rates, the qualities of effective mentors, and the outcomes …

Short Time, Lasting Impact: Teaching Pediatric End-Of-Life Care In One Day, Mckenzie Taliaferro

Honors College Theses

Background: Pediatric nurses working in specialties that experience terminal diagnoses, death, and post-mortem care, often feel unprepared for the emotional toll and lack adequate support systems (Camera et al., 2024). Nurses report feeling under prepared due to a lack of hands-on opportunities before graduation (Richoux, et al., 2022). Pediatric death is a traumatic experience for families and nurses. Previous studies have shown that hands-on education increases nurses' confidence in caring for patients at the end of their lives (Cole & Foito, 2019; Noyes et al., 2023). Method: A one-day, hands-on multidisciplinary workshop on pediatric end-of-life (EOL) was created and offered …

Effects Of Dietary Perfluorobutane Sulfonate (Pfbs) On Adipose Tissue, Hannah Olofintuyi, Eric Gato

Honors College Theses

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are chemical substances used in a variety of industrial applications and consumer products. Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) is often used as a replacement for the more harmful (Perfluoroalkyl sulfonate) PFAS chemicals that have been around longer. It is believed that PFBS does not remain in the body as long as other PFAS compounds; however, there is a rising concern that it has the potential to cause damage to human health. This study focused on understanding how dietary PFBS exposure affects metabolism-related processes in adipose tissues in rats. To accomplish study objectives, Sprague Dawley rats were exposed …

How Is The Use Of Ai Impacting Nursing Students Education?, Lorna H. Strain

Honors College Theses

The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in education is rapidly increasing and reshaping how nursing students learn and engage with content. This thesis proposal looks at the impact of AI on the education of nursing students and explores students' perceptions of its use in their learning and education. As AI becomes more prevalent, many students are using it for study aids and content personalization, while schools are using it in simulations and textbook platforms. Many recognize its benefits, such as enhanced critical thinking, improved accessibility of materials, and more immersive learning. Concerns persist around ethical use, academic integrity, and the …

Validity Assessment Of Resting Heart Rate Variability From The Garmin Health Snapshot, Kayla M. Porter, Andrew Flatt

Honors College Theses

Purpose: To assess the agreement between the Garmin Forerunner 265 (a commercially available sports watch) and a single-channel electrocardiographic (ECG) chest strap for determining resting heart rate variability (HRV). Secondary aims were to assess the impact of skin tone and body position on measurement accuracy.

Methods: Young adults (n = 30, 57% women) aged 18–39 years without known cardiovascular conditions and without tattooing or scarring on the dorsal left wrist were recruited. HRV was recorded simultaneously using ECG and the Forerunner 265’s optical sensor during Garmin’s 2-minute “Health Snapshot.” Measurements were obtained in three standardized positions: supine, seated, and standing. …

Maternal Healthcare In The United States: An Exploration Of The Organizational And Political Determinants Of Maternal Healthcare Quality And Outcomes, Tamaya S. Browder

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Despite having an advanced U.S. healthcare system, childbirth remains risky in the US, especially for socially vulnerable populations. Medicaid covers a large portion of births and is equipped to implement large-scale interventions to improve maternity care and patient outcomes. Two studies were conducted to (a) examine the relationship between organizational factors in U.S. hospitals and adverse clinical outcomes among Medicaid-insured maternity patients, and (b) analyze state-level Medicaid bundled payment models for maternity care. Guided by the Donabedian Quality of Care Model, Study One used logistic regression on data from the 2018-2020 National Inpatient Sample to explore how hospital organizational factors …

Novel Socially Assistive Robot For Alzheimer's And Dementia Home Care; Lived Experiences Of Families, Audrey V. Downs

Honors Theses and Capstones

Informal caregivers for individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) typically experience high levels of subjective caregiver burden due to strenuous role demands, notably the need to provide frequent reminders and 24/7 monitoring to address care recipient cognitive decline. The purpose of this study was to understand the lived experiences of informal caregivers using a novel Socially Assistive Robot (SAR) to care for individuals with ADRD in a home setting and evaluate SAR impact on caregiver subjective burden. SARs are autonomous, interactive devices that can provide timed reminders and monitor home environments, potentially alleviating some caregiver role demands and …

Perinatal Inflammation And Oxidative Stress Alter Adult Rat (Rattus Norvegicus) Motor Behavior, Alexander Young

Honors College Theses

Recent evidence in comparative animal models suggests that early life exposure to elevated inflammation (via LPS exposure) and oxidative stress (via acetaminophen exposure) may synergistically interact to alter typical neurodevelopmental trajectories, resulting in lasting effects on both behavior and gut-brain neurochemistry. The current study observed emotional and motor behaviors and collected fecal-boli to measure Tyrosine (TE) levels in male and female Long-Evans (Rattus norvegicus) rats. Subjects were either treated with [1] saline [2] lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to introduce an inflammatory state, [3] acetaminophen (APAP) to introduce oxidative stress, or [4] a dual-hit of both LPS + APAP on postnatal day (PD) …

What Is The Evolving Role Of Nurses In Telehealth As Future Healthcare Professionals?, Emma G. Lowry

Honors College Theses

Telehealth has evolved into an essential component of healthcare delivery in today's world, something that occurred alongside the COVID-19 pandemic. As healthcare professionals, nurses must be adequately prepared and equipped to use the tools for telehealth. This paper examines the evolving role of nurses in telehealth by assessing undergraduate nursing students’ and practicing nurses’ knowledge, attitudes, and perceived competencies. Data will be collected through a Qualtrics survey utilizing the Awareness, Knowledge, Attitude, and Skills (AKAS) Scale for Telemedicine, supplemented by interviews with telehealth practitioners to provide qualitative context. It is expected that variations in proficiency and attitudes, from previous biased …

Development Of Tunable Rose Bengal Based-Nanogumbos As Potential Selective Chemotherapeutic Agents, William J.A. Russell

Honors College Theses

As cancer remains one of the greatest threats to the global population, the development of chemotherapeutic agents that are selective and tunable is of critical importance. Herein, a series of Rose Bengal (RB)-based GUMBOS, a group of uniform materials based on organic salts, were synthesized via counterion exchange between [Na]₂[RB] and three organic cations: tetrabutylphosphonium bromide [TBP][Br], tetraphenylphosphonium chloride [TPP][Cl], and 1-dodecyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride [C₁₂MIm][Cl]. The resulting GUMBOS were characterized through FT-IR, ESI-MS, NMR, and UV-Vis Spectroscopy. Partition coefficient studies indicated all GUMBOS exhibited hydrophobic physiochemical characteristics. These hydrophobic RB-based GUMBOS …

Optimizing Healthy Aging: A Preventative Approach To Support Community-Dwelling Older Adults, Jada Welke

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Introduction: Healthy aging is a complex and multidimensional process influenced by physical, cognitive, psychosocial, environmental, and lifestyle factors across the lifespan. Increasing evidence from researchers suggests that many health care systems continue to rely on reactive models that address decline only after functional limitations emerge. Preventive interventions initiated in midlife have the potential to significantly influence long-term health outcomes, independence, well-being, and quality of life. As a result, there is growing recognition that multidimensional, proactive screening and intervention should begin earlier, before age-related conditions become clinically significant.

Purpose: The purpose of this scholarly project was to address this need through …

From Play To Pressure: Understanding Early Sports Specialization Through An Occupational Lens, Kiley Jade Washnieski

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Background: Youth sport participation plays a significant role in the daily lives of children ages 6-12 (Lee et al., 2018). Participation in organized sports can offer numerous benefits; however, the expectations surrounding youth sports have evolved over time. Increased emphasis on early specialization has intensified training demands and performance pressures placed on youth athletes during critical developmental years (Brenner et al., 2019). Although occupational therapy is well positioned to address both the physical and psychosocial demands of youth sport participation, the profession’s role within this context remains underexplored (Bulan et al., 2025).

Purpose: The purpose of this scholarly project was …

Enhancing Wheelchair Education Throough Technology, Anna Elizabeth Voegel

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Purpose: The World Health Organization states there are more than 65 million wheelchair users worldwide, with the number expected to grow (Gilani, 2023). Many wheelchair users face challenges with not knowing how to properly maintain their equipment or develop the skills needed to navigate their environments (Boccardi et al., 2022; Morgan et al., 2015; Smith et al., 2016; Toro et al., 2017). This product aims to provide practitioners with accessible educational materials that address commonly encountered barriers, usable in the clinic setting or for patients and caregivers to access from a distance.

Methods: A needs assessment was conducted, which included …

The Role Of Ot In Enhancing Mental Health Outcomes For Primary Care Patients, Amorelle Upton

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Purpose. Primary care settings often serve as the first point of contact for individuals experiencing mental health concerns. However, occupation-based and function-focused interventions remain underutilized in these settings. The purpose of this Doctoral Experiential Capstone (DEC) was to implement an Occupational Therapy Mental Health Toolkit designed to support holistic and integrative mental health care in primary care settings.

Methods. This project was guided by the ecology of human performance (EHP) model. Methods included a literature synthesis, development of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and structured learning objectives, contextual needs assessment through stakeholder collaboration and site observation, and a product design, …

Supporting Reentry: An Occupation-Based Approach, Savannah B. Ullyott

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Introduction: Individuals transitioning back into the community following incarceration need holistic care to support a successful reintegration process (National Institute of Justice [NIJ], 2023). There are a variety of supports and barriers to successful reintegration that should be considered when guiding programming for this population, as these individuals often face many challenges when transitioning back into the community (Galletta et al., 2021). Specific supports facilitating successful transitions back into the community includes those of basic or daily needs, often related to housing, employment, transportation, social supports, food security, and access to mental and physical health services (Galletta et al., 2021; …

Expanding Access To Hand Therapy In Rural Wyoming Through Telehealth, Cheyenne Rose Thompson

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Individuals living in rural Wyoming experience significant barriers to accessing specialized hand therapy services, including geographic isolation, limited availability of certified hand therapists, and inconsistent healthcare infrastructure, resulting in delayed rehabilitation and reduced functional outcomes (Hirth et al., 2022; Rural Health Information Hub, 2025). Although telehealth has emerged as a potential solution to improve access, challenges related to clinician training, safety, and adaptation of interventions to virtual environments persist (Feldhacker et al., 2022; Morris, 2024). The purpose of this scholarly project was to develop an evidence-based telehealth hand therapy program to improve access to upper extremity rehabilitation services in rural …

Enhancing Interdisciplinary Care In Functional Cognition, Madison Anne Thomas

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Purpose: Functional cognition plays a critical role in determining a patient’s ability to safely perform daily activities, manage medications, and discharge from acute care settings. Functional cognition refers to the integration of cognitive processes and performance skills necessary for completing real-world tasks safely and independently (American Occupational Therapy Association [AOTA], 2023). Occupational therapy practitioners are uniquely positioned to assess functional cognition using performance-based measures and support safe discharge planning. Limited awareness and understanding of functional cognition impairments among hospitalists and interdisciplinary team members may lead to inconsistent occupational therapy referrals and potential safety concerns during discharge planning (D’Cruz et al., …

Supporting Inclusion: Occupational Therapy’S Role In Paraprofessional Education For Sensory Processing Difference, Jalen Taylor

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Background: Students with individualized education programs (IEPs) in rural school settings often experience challenges related to sensory processing and emotional regulation, which can impact their ability to engage in classroom routines and academic activities. Paraprofessionals play a significant role in supporting these students throughout the school day, however, many report limited access to formal training, practical strategies, and clear guidance for addressing sensory and behavioral needs. These gaps can lead to inconsistent support and decreased opportunities for student participation in educational occupations and classroom activities.

Purpose: The Paraprofessional Sensory and Regulation Training Program was developed to increase paraprofessional knowledge, confidence, …

Occupational Wellness For Mother & Baby: Education For Young Mothers In Rural North Dakota, Kaelyn Talley

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Purpose: The purpose of this project was for an occupational therapy doctoral student to collaborate with the staff of a maternity home in rural North Dakota. The goal of this collaboration was to provide the residents of the maternity home with education on safety and caring for their child as well as information regarding pregnancy, postpartum, and bonding with their child. This will help to support the mother in her newfound role as well as the child in their various occupations as an infant. Women face many barriers in pregnancy that may lead to them being in maternity homes. The …