Mental Health Literacy In Biology Graduate Teaching Assistants: Perception, Knowledge, And Training Needs In College Stem Education, Kanza Arshad, Ricardo Montoya, Nicole Scheuermann, Heather E. Bergan-Roller

Honors Capstones

College students experience a high prevalence of mental health challenges, and STEM students exhibit lower mental health literacy than students in other disciplines. Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTAs) play a crucial role in supporting undergraduate students, yet little is known about their mental health literacy (MHL) or how they navigate student disclosures in instructional settings. This preliminary study examines MHL among GTAs in biology, as well as their knowledge, perceptions, and training needs regarding MHL. We used semi-structured interviews and thematic analysis to examine how biology GTAs understand mental health, their responsibility related to student well-being, and what supports they identify …

Misconceptions About Nursing In High School Students Of Color: Promoting Diversity In Nursing, Veronnica D. Pham

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

Background: Equitable and culturally competent care can reduce health disparities among underserved populations; yet the nursing shortage the US faces does not allow for better patient outcomes. One barrier is how the profession can be negatively viewed among high school students of color.

Methods: A comprehensive literature search was performed to identify how perception of nursing affects a student’s career choice and what influences these perspectives. Three databases were utilized for this search: The Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), PubMed, and Scopus. Six articles were selected for this review. The following themes have been identified: misconceptions, …

Capstone Project Proposal: The Role Of Nutrition Education On Dietary Vitamin B12 Intake In Decreasing Postpartum Depression- A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial, Andrea Villalba Torres

Department of Nutrition Student Projects

Postpartum depression (PPD) is a mental health condition that affects many women after giving birth but tends to go untreated. Research has identified that nutrition has an essential role in neurological health, including iron, folate, and the B vitamins. However, recent research regarding PPD and dietary interventions is limited. To address this gap, a 12-week-long pilot randomized controlled trial is proposed to evaluate the effectiveness of a text-based nutrition education program, encouraging dietary vitamin B12 intake, on reducing PPD symptoms in women 2-6 weeks postpartum. 128 participants will be recruited from 15 different Miami-Dade WIC clinics. The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression …

From Fear To Familiar: Decreasing Technology Anxiety Among Older Adults In A Senior Community, Regina Rayz

Master's Projects and Capstones

Objective: Older adults (defined by the WHO as those 65 and older in developed countries) are more susceptible to technophobia than younger adults (Song et al., 2025). The fear and anxiety occurs with use of smartphones, tablets, social media, and telehealth and is associated with higher rates of social isolation and reduced autonomy. Technology-use anxiety is a preventative obstacle that inhibits both technology acceptance as well as overall health (Kim et al., 2023). Aim: To reduce technology-related anxiety among older low-income adults living in a senior residential facility in Richmond, CA by at least 25% using a brief, individualized technology …

Improving Staff Satisfaction And Flu Vaccine Uptake Through Standardized Workflow Tools, Salma Adriana Blanco

Master's Projects and Capstones

Objective: Insufficient workflows can cause documentation to be confusing, which ultimately

limits staff engagement. This has led to staff dissatisfaction and a low vaccination uptake in

outpatient clinics. The implementation of a standardized workflow tool and proper staff

education and training can improve staff satisfaction and vaccination adherence, as indicated by

a review of literature. Aim: The purpose of this quality improvement project is to implement a

change in workflow in the electronic health record and staff training in an urban community

health clinic primarily serving low income and Latino patients. This intervention seeks to

increase medical assistant user satisfaction …

Reimagining Nurse Education: Virtual Reality & Didactic Education For Better Nurse Handoff And Documentation, Haley M. Whalen

Master's Projects and Capstones

Setting: The pediatric perianesthesia unit (pre-operative and post-anesthesia care unit). Problem: Gaps in perianesthesia documentation contribute to poor handoff communication, leading to adverse events and increased hospital costs. Additionally, inconsistent documentation reduces clarity and consistency during handoffs. Context: Staff in the microsystem reported low confidence scores with required OP-Time documentation, inconsistent workflows, and I-PASS handoff expectations. These factors contribute to incomplete charting and a lack of standardization across providers. Interventions: A two-part educational intervention was conducted, consisting of eight sessions. The first component is a Virtual Reality (VR) simulation that demonstrates an accurate perianesthesia I-PASS handoff. The second …

Promoting Interprofessional Collaboration By Increasing Visibility Of Volunteer Doula Services, Ciera Rose Zelie

Master's Projects and Capstones

Objective: The 22-bed Labor and Delivery (L&D) unit lacks a standardized model to introduce doulas, clarify their scope of practice, or communicate the value of the services they provide. To address this gap, the team developed a standardized doula awareness poster featuring each doula's name, photo, years of experience, and personal interests. Aim: Enhance visibility and promote the integration of doula support to strengthen team collaboration and patient engagement. Methods: A pre- and post-implementation survey was distributed exclusively to the volunteer doulas. After the doula awareness poster was displayed for four weeks, a post-survey assessed these same domains to determine …

Emergency Preparedness Education And Simulation Training For Nursing Students In Southern India, Kevin C. Cameron, Taryn Mccoy, Laura Gray, David Phillippi

DNP Projects

Introduction

To address the identified gap in emergency preparedness education and training among nursing students at a teaching hospital in southern India, a private university in the southeastern United States partnered with the site to develop a quality improvement initiative aimed at strengthening these skills. Nursing students at the partner hospital have limited access to simulation-based training opportunities due to constraints in both curriculum and availability of simulation resources. This lack of exposure may hinder the development of critical emergency preparedness competencies

Methods

Educational content focused on triage and basic life support (BLS). One hundred twenty-four students participated in the …

Standardizing The Use Of The Sinc Screening Tool In A Rural Clinic, Madison Foss

DNP Projects

Unmet contraceptive need represents a persistent quality gap in rural primary care, where reproductive health discussions are often inconsistently addressed. A rural primary care clinic in Shelbyville, Tennessee lacked a standardized, evidence-based process for screening women of childbearing age (15–44 years) for contraceptive needs. This quality improvement project evaluated the feasibility and effectiveness of implementing the Self-Identified Need for Contraception (SINC) screening tool to support routine, patient-centered care. The SINC tool consists of a single validated question designed to identify patients who wish to discuss contraception or pregnancy prevention during clinical visits. Plan–Do–Study–Act cycles were used to integrate the tool …

Enhancing Flu Vaccination Rates Through Improved Electronic Health Record User Workflow Training, Grace Sayre

Master's Projects and Capstones

A quality improvement project was implemented at an urban community health clinic primarily serving low-income, underinsured, and Latinx individuals. The site had a history of poorly organized flu vaccine rollout and low vaccination rates among the patient population. Seasonal influenza infects millions of people across the US each year, resulting in hundreds of thousands of deaths (Garza et al., 2023), and vaccination is the best prevention. Electronic health record training has been shown to reduce user burnout and improve efficiency (Gordon et al., 2022). The QI project aims to increase medical assistant satisfaction with the flu vaccine rollout by 15%, …

Charting The Course: Improving Psychotropic Medication Documentation Through Staff Education To Promote Patient Safety And Cms Compliance, Anne J. Bertram Rn

Master's Projects and Capstones

The University of San Francisco master’s level nursing program culminates with a clinical nurse leader (CNL) quality improvement project. The objective of this project is to reinforce the program’s didactic CNL classes by allowing students the opportunity to design, implement, and analyze a quality improvement project in a microsystem. SETTING: Skilled nursing facilities often prescribe psychotropic medications to help manage residents’ behavioral and psychological symptoms. Due to the possibility of side effects and increased sedation, there are concerns for patient safety and quality of life. Inadequate management of these patients and symptoms compromises patient safety and breaches state and federal …

Improving Chemotherapy Patients' Confidence And Preparedness Through Dual-Format Teaching, Jasmine Esther Aminpour, Harshpreet Kaur, Ana Ruvalcaba, Sarah Muwanas

Master's Projects and Capstones

Section I: Abstract

Objective

Chemotherapy initiation is widely recognized as a period of heightened anxiety and cognitive overload for oncology patients, often limiting their ability to retain essential information during traditional one-time, nurse-led education sessions (Gucuyener & Karabacak, 2025; Howell et al., 2020). This quality improvement (QI) project sought to address gaps in comprehension, preparedness, and digital engagement within an outpatient oncology infusion microsystem by integrating evidence-based digital chemotherapy education with structured follow-up support.

Aim

The project aimed to determine whether a nurse-guided walkthrough of a digital chemotherapy education platform, paired with standardized follow-up calls, would improve patient comprehension, confidence …

Enhancing Patient Safety In A Skilled Nursing Facility With A Post-Fall Huddle Protocol: A Quality Improvement Initiative, Evelin Yajaira Dominguez Dominguez

Master's Projects and Capstones

Objective To implement a post-fall huddle guide at a San Francisco Bay Area skilled nursing facility to address the 75 resident falls that occurred over an eight-month period. The literature emphasized the positive impact of huddles on staff communication, awareness, and collaboration which ultimately created a safe environment. Aim By November 4, 2025, the overall fall rates among patients in a San Francisco Bay Area SNF will decrease by 25%, from 4.8 falls per 1,000 patient days to 3.6 falls per 1,000 patient days. Methods Pre-implementation and post-implementation surveys were completed by LVNs and CNAs to assess knowledge of post-fall …

From Incomplete To Impactful—Finalizing Unfinished Nursing Projects In Nart And Polypharmacy For Lasting Improvement, Paula Thanh Nhat Pham, Armine Lianna Chamichyan, Anastasia Yerofeyeva, Stelene Alexis Tragus

Master's Projects and Capstones

This quality improvement project addressed the problem of incomplete or unsustained clinical initiatives at a long-term care facility by introducing Kotter’s Change Model, an evidence-based framework designed to support and sustain lasting improvements in clinical practice. Within the context of a religious-based residential community for older adults with complex chronic needs, the objective was to strengthen the facility’s capacity to implement and sustain change more effectively. By using two previously unfinished initiatives, the NaRT triage tool and Polypharmacy management process, the project applied Kotter’s model to evaluate how structured change strategies can improve staff engagement, leadership alignment, and long-term project …

Factors Influencing The Re-Emergence Of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases Using The Social Ecological Model: A Scoping Review, Glenda Dorina Rodriguez Lenarduzzi

Master's Projects and Capstones

Abstract

Background.

Several factors contribute to the resurgence of vaccine-preventable diseases, affecting coverage rates and vaccine uptake during recent outbreaks. The pandemic has underscored how crucial it is to comprehend vaccine literacy, as this understanding influences people's perspectives and behaviors toward vaccination, particularly in their approaches to problem-solving and decision-making.

Objective.

The present study conducts a scoping review of research on the impact of vaccine literacy and vaccine uptake on the re-emergence of vaccine-preventable diseases in the United States, framed by the social ecological model (SEM).

Design.

PubMed and Google Scholar were utilized as online databases to identify papers published …

Food, Fitness, And Filipino Culture: Evaluating And Reimagining Chronic Disease Interventions For Filipino Americans Through The Pen-3 Framework, Juliana Mastro

Master's Projects and Capstones

Filipino Americans experience high rates of chronic diseases such as diabetes and hypertension. This paper reviews nutrition and exercise interventions targeting this population through the strengths-based PEN-3 cultural framework, focusing on cultural identity, relationships and expectations, and cultural values. It identifies effective strategies that engage these cultural components, and highlights gaps such as limited research on Filipino-American health outcomes. Recommendations include family-centered approaches, culturally relevant activities like tinikling dance, and community-driven online healthy recipe archives to promote positive health behaviors. These culturally informed strategies aim to improve self-efficacy, support lasting health behavior change and reduce chronic disease prevalence nationwide.

Improving Doula Visibility And Integration In The Labor & Delivery Unit Through The Implementation Of Creative Standardized Visual Strategies, Ninna Alessandra Arcena Acebedo

Master's Projects and Capstones

Objective: The 22-bed, Labor and Delivery (L&D) unit lacks a standardized model to introduce doulas, clarify their scope of practice, or communicate the value of the services they provide. To address this gap, the team implemented a standardized doula awareness poster that included each doula’s name, photo, years of experience, and personal interests. Aim: The goal is to enhance visibility and promote integration of doula support to strengthen team collaboration and patient engagement. Methods: A pre- and post- implementation survey was distributed exclusively to the volunteer doulas. After the doula awareness poster was displayed for four weeks, …

Increasing Nursing Staff Confidence And Documentation Compliance For Psychotropic Medication Use, Ei Chit Paing

Master's Projects and Capstones

Objective: Psychotropic medications place a high risk for side effects such as confusion, dizziness, falls, and death in older adults above age 65 (Seifert et al., 2024). Educational training on appropriate psychotropic drug use to nursing staff is linked to a decrease in penalties (Jung et al., 2021), side effects, and an increase in staff knowledge in caring for patients with behavioral and psychological symptoms (Pinazo-Clapés et al, 2020). Aim: Facility A in Northern California is currently non-compliant with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) guidelines for appropriate psychotropic use due to limited staff understanding of regulations and …

Nurses’ Voices In Prevention: Evaluating Enhanced Bedside Signage To Reduce Hospital-Acquired Pressure Injuries, Jorge Pinzon Figueroa

Master's Projects and Capstones

Abstract

Objective: Hospital-acquired pressure injuries remain a patient safety concern despite standard practice of nurses’ prevention protocols (National Pressure Injury Advisory Panel, 2022). Barriers include: inconsistent two-hour repositioning, documentation burden, inadequate staffing, lack of visual cues of patient risk level, and inconsistent compliance with the overall comprehensive prevention bundle (Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, 2023).

Aim: HAPIs occur within two adult medical-surgical and telemetry units at a tertiary hospital. In response, staff were surveyed on potential interventions, resulting in the production of a visual cuing system.

Methods: Pre- and post-surveys were conducted on the two medical-surgical units to assess …

Improving Dka Protocol Adherence In The Emergency Department, Anjolaoluwa Lawani

Master's Projects and Capstones

Problem There was inconsistency in implementation of the DKA protocol by nurses in the emergency department at the Hospital A. Only 58% of the nurses reported feeling comfortable following the DK protocol, and 84% of the nurses described the DKA order set as confusing. Context Hospital A is a large magnet-recognition hospital system in the Bay Area. The emergency department at Hospital A averages about 12 DKA patients per quarter. Intervention Education sessions were held during pre-shift cuddles across day and night shifts to clarify the DKA protocol and answer any questions or nurses may have. Measures Baseline surveys and …

Effects Of Communication Boards On Improving Communication In Assisted Living Care Facilities, Koleen Beatrice Arribas

Master's Projects and Capstones

Problem: A Residential Care facility utilizes paper charting causing limited access to vital information such as code status, allergies, and/or diet for those caring for the resident.

Context: Exceptional charting only when a resident’s condition changes may not provide enough vital information for the caregiver to administer medication or provide proper support during an emergency, such as the resident’s DNR status.

Interventions: A communication board was placed in a secure space near the nurses’ station with key resident information. Nurses would huddle at the board at before the change of shift and make updates as necessary.

Measures: Staff input in …

Improving Pressure Injury Prevention With Educational Programs For Caregivers And Nurses, Michella B. Kahanding

Master's Projects and Capstones

Problem: Pressure injuries are preventable with adequate interventions and knowledge by healthcare staff; however, skilled nursing facilities struggle with pressure ulcer prevention (PUP). Patient suffering and associated costs with treating these injuries are considerable.

Context: Staff education in knowledge regarding PUP is lacking, and annual PUP education is ineffective in reducing the number of pressure injuries in these facilities.

Interventions: Staff education on prevention strategies includes education, pre- and post-knowledge assessments, return demonstration and product use will be implemented

Measures: Results from the baseline knowledge of appropriate PUP in caregivers, pre- and post-test for knowledge retention, teach back techniques to …

Improving Interdisciplinary Communication And Collaboration With The Standardization Of Doula Care Through An Informatics Tool, Shela Le

Master's Projects and Capstones

Objective: The 22-bed Labor and Delivery (L&D) unit lacks a standardized model to introduce doulas, clarify their scope of practice, or communicate the value of the services they provide. To address this gap, the team implemented a standardized doula awareness poster that included each doula’s name, photo, years of experience, and personal interests. Aim: The goal is to enhance visibility and promote integration of doula support to strengthen team collaboration and patient engagement. Methods: A pre- and post-implementation survey was distributed exclusively to the volunteer doulas. After the doula awareness poster was displayed for a month, a post-survey assessed these …

A Quality Improvement Initiative To Streamline Flu Vaccine Documentation And Increase Staff Engagement, Carla E. Giron

Master's Projects and Capstones

Objective: This quality improvement project was implemented in an urban community health clinic primarily serving low-income and Latinx patients. Factors such as demographics, socioeconomic status, health, and transportation contribute to low U.S. influenza vaccination rates (Chen et al., 2020), while EHR training can improve provider satisfaction and efficiency (DiAngi et al., 2019). This microsystem faced inconsistent workflow processes, limited EHR training, and documentation errors that contributed to low staff satisfaction rates and influenza vaccination rates. An average of 11.4% of patients received a flu vaccine in October 2023 and 2024. Medical assistants (MAs) completed a pre-intervention survey indicating that 35% …

Bridging Gaps In Safety: A Team-Based Approach To Reducing Falls Among Older Adults, Enzali Min

Master's Projects and Capstones

A skilled nursing facility in the San Francisco Bay Area is experiencing fall rates surpassing the national average throughout the year. Falls among elderly residents lead to multi-level complications, from minor bruising to major injuries such as fractures, head injuries and hospital transfer, and in the most severe cases, higher mortality rates. To address the issue of high fall rates at the nursing facility, the post-fall huddle protocol was developed on the unit. The team intends to reduce the facility's fall rate by 25% over the next five weeks, from October 1 through November 5, 2025, along with improving the …

The Pressure Is On: A Quality Improvement Project To Educate Nurses On Hospital Acquired Pressure Injuries, Lance Ward

Master's Projects and Capstones

Objective Hospital acquired pressure injuries (HAPIs) are injuries developed by admitted patients, from treatment interventions that they encounter during their hospital stay. If a patient acquires a HAPI during their stay, the hospital is required to cover all expenses related to the injury. An in-patient trauma unit at a large medical center wishes to improve patient care by educating nursing staff on preventive measures of HAPIs. A review of relevant literature on HAPIs from the past five years was conducted to identify HAPI preventions tools, such as the Braden Scale and SKINS bundle, as well as the best methods to …

From Fear To Familiar: Reducing Technology-Induced Anxiety In Seniors, Justin Kyle V. Manalang

Master's Projects and Capstones

Abstract

This quality improvement project focuses on reducing the average technology-induced anxiety score among senior community members through 1:1 mentorship sessions. Aim During an eight-week period from September 10, 2025, to November 5, 2025, this project will reduce the severity of technology-induced anxiety by 25% from the established baseline. Methods: A 5P Microsystem assessment was conducted alongside an initial questionnaire to gauge the residents’ interests and concerns regarding technology use. From the results, focused mentorship sessions were conducted once a week and pertained to the chief complaint the resident had for eight weeks. The mentorship sessions were one-to-one and individualised …

From Fear To Familiar: Alleviating Technology Anxiety In Older Adults Through A Community-Based Mentorship Program, Inyoung Jang

Master's Projects and Capstones

This quality improvement project was implemented in a senior residential facility in Richmond, California, catering to older low-income adults who frequently experience elevated levels of technology anxiety. Aim This project aims to reduce the mean modified technology-anxiety score among residents aged 65 and older by at least 25% from baseline by November 5, 2025. Methods The Abbreviated Technology Anxiety Scale (MTAS) was modified to consider the cognitive, linguistic, and experiential differences among target population. The original 11-item instrument, which was validated primarily within college-aged populations, used terms and repeated items irrelevant to older people. The adapted tool included five simplified …

Implementing A Standardized Doula Awareness Tool To Improve Team Collaboration And Patient Understanding, Stephanie Wong

Master's Projects and Capstones

Setting: 22-bed, Labor and Delivery (L&D) unit in the Bay Area serving diverse birthing patients. Problem & Context: The unit lacks a standardized model to introduce doulas, clarify their roles, or communicate their value. Evidence shows that doulas feel unseen by other hospital staff (Kett et al., 2022) and report that their role can be misunderstood, undervalued, or unrecognized, creating barriers to effective partnership (Louis-Jacques et al., 2024). Pre-survey: Only 19.2% of the participating volunteer doulas felt patients understood their role as a doula, and 11.5% felt patients were only slightly knowledgeable. In terms of collaboration, just 15.4% felt consistently …

Standardizing Care: Strengthening Dka Protocol Implementation Among Emergency Department Nurses, Toni Joy Angelique Biliran Miculob

Master's Projects and Capstones

Objective: The objective of this project was to address the inconsistent understanding and utilization of the Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA) protocol in a high-acuity emergency department within a large hospital system, where baseline survey results showed that 84% of nurses found the DKA order set confusing and only 15% felt “very comfortable” applying it.

Aim: The aim was to improve nurse clarity, confidence, and consistency in using the DKA protocol to support timely, evidence-based management of this high-risk, time-sensitive condition.

Methods: The intervention consisted of brief, targeted education delivered during pre-shift huddles across day and night shifts, focusing …