Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Nursing Students' Attitude Towards People Living With Dementia During Covid-19 Pandemic., Jakira D. Usry, Janya Wilson

Symposium of Student Scholars

Background: The current global prevalence of dementia is estimated to increase from 55.2 million to 78 million in 2030 and 139 million in 2050. Prelicensure student nurses must be educated to have knowledge and skills in providing dementia care as well as positive attitudes.

Aim: To assess prelicensure nursing students' attitudes towards people living with dementia during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: This is secondary data analysis of the data collected in an ongoing Mixed-Methods study investigating the impact of clinical experiential learning on prelicensure nursing students' dementia knowledge, attitudes, and skills during the COVID-19 pandemic. The data was collected via …

Nursing Education Regarding Take-Home Narcan In Relation To Opioid-Related Deaths, Taylor Birke, Nadia Butt, Bryce Farmer, Sarah Hendrick

Symposium of Student Scholars

The opioid epidemic in America has remained a national crisis since 2011 with opioid related deaths continuing to dramatically increase. Naloxone (Narcan) safely reverses the effects of an opioid overdose with little to no side effects. There is a gap in the literature regarding education and stigma-breaking conversations held between addicts and nurses surrounding an opioid overdose. This systematic literature review will examine the effects of nursing education on the acceptance and use of take-home Narcan kits within opioid drug users. Using the Kennesaw State University Library SuperSearch database, we searched for peer-reviewed studies that included one or more of …

The Effects Of Electronic Vs Traditional Cigarette Use On Heart And Lung Function, Kayla Stephenson, Daniel Stephenson, Sofia Robles, Luke Stewart

Symposium of Student Scholars

Abstract

Background: Due to the exponential growth in teenage use of electronic cigarettes, it appears that school aged children are starting to smoke at younger ages. It is frightening how many people are using electronic cigarettes and how sparse data exist. In this systematic review, we will illuminate the differences between electronic cigarettes and traditional cigarettes. With the rise in popularity of electronic cigarettes, we will describe the specific effects of electronic cigarettes on the cardiac and pulmonary systems. We sought to understand the long-term effect of using electronic and traditional cigarettes on cardiac and pulmonary systems.

Methods: After searching …

Substance Use Disorders, Cognitive Dysfunction, And Neurodivergence In Emerging Adulthood, David Posada, Jordyn Hebert

Symposium of Student Scholars

Substance Use Disorders, Cognitive Dysfunction, and Neurodivergence in Emerging Adulthood

Posada, D., Herbert, J., Weingast, L., Holliday, E.

Cognitive functioning in college students with substance use disorders (SUD) has been widely researched, however, discussions have largely concentrated on executive functions (EF) such as working memory, flexible thinking, and self-control. Literature on the relationship between cognitive dysfunction and SUD has largely underreported the influence of Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorders (ADD/ADHD) and other neurodivergent characteristics. The current review explores the state of the literature on the relationship between neurodivergence, cognitive dysfunction, and SUD in emerging adulthood. More specifically, it speculates whether college students …

Decreasing The Number Of Venipuncture Attempts In Infants On A Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Laura Grace Holton

Symposium of Student Scholars

Decreasing the Number of Venipuncture Attempts in Infants on a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

Laura Grace Holton

Obtaining intravenous access is a procedure performed on most preterm infants in neonatal intensive care units, for the purpose of obtaining blood samples, administering fluids and medications. Venipuncture is the process of puncturing the skin to insert a needle for IV access and often must be performed multiple times to be successful given the small veins of preterm infants. Research shows that multiple venipuncture attempts can be distressing to hospitalized infants, increases the risk of bloodstream infections, and causes lasting vein damage. Literature …

Ventilator Associated Pneumonia, Helena Walker

Symposium of Student Scholars

Ventilator Associated Pneumonia (VAP) is the instance in which a patient acquires pneumonia more than forty-eight hours after intubation with mechanical ventilation. VAP is a serious medical issue that occurs frequently in intensive care unit patients. Not only does this condition increase the morbidity and mortality of a patient, it also increases the cost of the patient’s health care as well. Commonly as recent literature suggests, in an effort to prevent this infection from occurring, hospital staff have taken several approaches including antibiotic cycling, surveillance cultures, and de-escalation therapies. These methods do not always prevent the cases though. Currently, research …

Challenges Associated With The Integration Of Population Health Content And Prelicensure Nursing Curricula- Experiences Of Nurse Educators, Stephanie Jones

Symposium of Student Scholars

Background: In April 2021, the American Association of Colleges of Nursing released new BSN essentials that emphasized population health. This inclusion of population health as an essential could improve prelicensure nursing students’ knowledge and skills in providing population health-based services. Also, it could help improve their attitude towards population health.

Objective: To explore the challenges of nurse educators’ perception and experience associated with the integration of population health content to prelicensure nursing curricula.

Methods: This is a secondary analysis of the qualitative data collected in an ongoing mixed-methods study exploring how population health content is integrated into …

Improving Tha (Total Hip Arthroscopy) Patient Satisfaction Scores By Reducing Time Spent In The Pacu From 90 Minutes To 60 Minutes, Jennifer Stultz

Symposium of Student Scholars

BACKGROUND, SIGNIFICANCE & PURPOSE

Total Hip Arthroplasty (THA) reduces pain and improves range of motion in patients with end stage osteoarthritis. Patients whose post-THA outcome matches their pre-surgical expectations report higher patient satisfaction scores. Post-surgical pain is expected, but if patients don’t ambulate soon enough after surgery, the pain escalates. Simply put, early ambulation improves patient satisfaction scores. To promote early ambulation, spinal block and Propofol are favored over general anesthesia to reduce time spent in the PACU (post anesthesia care unit). The current PACU goal for THA patient discharge is within ninety minutes of PACU arrival. Sometimes the spinal …

Geography Of Covid-19 Waves In Georgia, Walker Tompkins

Symposium of Student Scholars

Geography of COVID-19 Waves in Georgia

Over the past 2 years everyone on the globe’s lives have been changed drastically after the COVID-19 virus spread across the world. This united and divided us more than any other event in most of our lifetimes. The pandemic everyone and now that there are two years of data, it is important to examine impacts at various geographic scales. As such, focusing on the state of Georgia, this project explores how the different variants, public policy, and vaccination of our population has changed the trajectory of the virus and how many deaths it has …

Rethinking Malignant Hyperthermia Protocols, Kelsey Currie

Symposium of Student Scholars

Rethinking Malignant Hyperthermia Protocols

In person poster

Undergraduate Student: Currie, Kelsey

Research Mentor: Kristi Brannen

Background: Although malignant hyperthermia (MH) is rare, it is a life-threatening event that can have many nurses unprepared to manage due to its irregularity, lack of training, and supplies. MH is considered a severe medical crisis that can happen within 30 minutes of anesthetic induction. To give the patient the best outcome, hospitals have protocols in place so the team can respond quickly and efficiently. Purpose: This study aims to investigate how creating central locations for MH carts, ice, and supplies compares to yearly training …

Heat Strokes In Military Service Members, Adria Cosby, Brian A. Moore, Michael Schlenk

Symposium of Student Scholars

Heat strokes are caused when the body is overworked by extended periods of heat and dehydration that can result in convulsions, brain damage, and death (Shimazaki et al., 2022). Heat strokes are a serious health concern for active-duty military service members (SMs) due to extended exertional training (i.e., long-distance running and weight-bearing exercises) which may increase their risk of developing heat strokes (Donham et al., 2020). However, there is a dearth of literature examining heat strokes among SMs. The present study sought to address this by examining diagnostic trends of heatstroke incidence among various military SM demographic classifications between 2016 …

Registered Nurse Hesitancy To Providing Narcotics To Post-Surgical Neonates: A Narrative Literature Review, Jordan Slowik

Liberty University Research Week

Doctoral

Theoretical Proposal

Breastfeeding Education: A Training Program For Mother-Baby Nurses, Bianca Gumus

Symposium of Student Scholars

In the postpartum period, a nurse’s most vital role is educating the patient and preparing her for discharge. Breastfeeding in the postpartum period can be challenging to new mothers, and proper guidance from the nurse is essential in boosting the patient’s confidence and satisfaction. Successful breastfeeding in the postpartum period is linked to decreased bleeding, decreased risk of postpartum depression, and improved health outcomes for mother and baby (ACOG, n.d.). When postpartum mothers feel they did not receive enough education or guidance from the healthcare team, they are more likely to be dissatisfied with their overall care (Wagner & Washington, …

Acute Stress Disorder: Incidence Findings And Diagnostic Implications For U.S. Active Duty Service Members, Michael A. Schlenk

Symposium of Student Scholars

Acute stress disorder (ASD) is a psychiatric diagnosis that can occur between three days and one month following traumatic events such as injuries, violence, and/or experienced or threatened harm (5th ed.; DSM-5; American Psychiatric Association [APA], 2013). ASD has long been utilized as a predictor of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, literature examining ASD elucidates that predication of subsequent PTSD is not as reliable as once thought (Bonnano et al., 2012; Bryant, 2018). Further, there is a dearth of empirical literature examining ASD among active duty service members (SMs). As such, the present study sought to provide epidemiological data by …

Effects Of Nursing Overtime In Medical Errors, Camilla Byrd, Halle Borgel, Mya Kinney, Jena Killian, Mykayla Stephens

Symposium of Student Scholars

Abstract

Background: The recent global pandemic has uncovered health care inequities among nursing professionals. The nursing shortage has placed pressure on overworked nurses to perform higher level critical care under dire and unsafe conditions. The stress of overworked nurses is a culprit for medical errors that affect the quality and effectiveness of patient care. Methods: Kennesaw State Library, PubMed, 35 articles screened. After thorough screening of various articles addressing this topic, we examined the quantitative and qualitativestudies performed in all areas of nursing. Results: Research suggests that nurses working overtime versus full-time hours experience physical, mental, and emotional exhaustion may …

Nurturing Personal Capacities Through Engagement In Art, Jennifer K. Fortuna

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Andy Wunderlin, an artist based in Vicksburg, MI, provided the cover art for the Spring 2022 edition of The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy (OJOT). “Tree with Birds” is a 10” x 13” drawing made from colored pencil (see Figure 1). Andy’s style is uniquely photorealistic. His work involves meticulous attention to detail. Each piece takes between 6 months and 2 years to complete. For Andy, drawing provides a powerful source of motivation and purpose. Art has played an important role in the development of Andy’s personal capacities and potential.

Functional Cognition: An Opportunity To Highlight The Role Of Occupational Therapy In Post-Concussion Care, Rachel Taylor Postma, John V. Rider, Robyn Otty

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

As concern surrounding concussion and the associated long-term effects grow, a continued need for comprehensive, holistic concussion care emerges. Occupational therapists are well-equipped to address the wide variety of symptoms and deficits that clients may experience post-concussion. Functional cognition is one area in which occupational therapists can demonstrate their unique value on the interdisciplinary treatment team. In this Opinions in the Profession paper, we describe how occupational therapists are poised to further establish their role in post-concussion care by becoming the primary discipline for assessing and treating functional cognition. The aim of this paper is to outline the role of …

Women’S Self-Concept, Sexual Activity, And Intimacy After Sustaining A Traumatic Brain Injury, Erin Skotzke

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

A traumatic brain injury (TBI) can have a profound impact on how people think and feel about themselves and their abilities, values, goals, personalities, physical characteristics, and roles. Preliminary research findings suggest that barriers to developing a positive self-concept after injury in women include the desire to be perceived as “normal” after the injury or the feeling that society dismisses their injuries. In the field of occupational therapy, it is critical that therapists and researchers understand that self-concept can be altered after sustaining a TBI. This outcome can have a significant impact on participation in valued occupations, including participation in …

Neurodiversity-Affirming Practices Are A Moral Imperative For Occupational Therapy, Aaron R. Dallman, Kathryn L. Williams, Lauren Villa

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

The term neurodiversity encompasses neurological differences such as clinical labels of autism, learning disabilities, synesthesia, hyperactivity disorders, and more. Proponents of the neurodiversity movement argue that current therapeutic and medical practices often attempt to “normalize” behaviors and ways of participation that originate from these differences in neurology and contribute to an individual’s sense of identity. This paper argues that an ethical and morally just occupational therapy practice should affirm neurodivergent ways of being, and that occupational therapists must be active agents of change by listening to and collaborating with their neurodiverse clientele. We focus the discussion on our work with …

Is It Reasonable? Reasonable And Unreasonable Accommodations For Occupational Therapy Students In Clinical Settings, Rebecca Ozelie, Jennifer Bock, Sarah Gervais, Leah Schneider, Caitlyn Silhavy

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Despite the growing number of graduate students with disabilities, little is known about what accommodations are considered reasonable in various occupational therapy fieldwork settings. This study explores which accommodations fieldwork educators perceive as reasonable or unreasonable for occupational therapy students with disabilities. Snowball sampling methodology was used to distribute a virtual survey, using a descriptive design. One hundred and sixty-two occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants answered questions relating to demographic information, clinical experience supervising fieldwork students, and their clinical judgement regarding commonly requested accommodations. Using a quantitative approach, the accommodations deemed most reasonable were allowing the use of adaptive …

Use Of Standardized Patient Encounters As Predictors Of Fieldwork Performance: A Pilot Study, Linda Frasier, John V. Rider, Ashley Fecht

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Although standardized patient encounters (SPEs) are being used in occupational therapy (OT) education, limited literature exists on the value these experiences have on OT student learning outcomes and preparation for fieldwork. This study sought to examine if SPEs had the potential to predict Level II A fieldwork performance.

Method: This study used a retrospective analysis of 35 entry-level OT students. Independent variables included demographics (enrollment in an entry-level OT master's or doctoral degree, age, and overall grade point average) and SPE performance. The fieldwork Level II A final performance evaluation score was used as the dependent variable. Hierarchical regression …

Addressing Pelvic Floor Dysfunctions In Older Women, Amanda Scott, Kristen Digwood, Rachel Teslow, Allyson Bloom

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Women’s pelvic health has become an emerging practice area for occupational therapy in recent years. The National Institute of Health (NIH) reports that 24% of women in the United States are impacted by pelvic floor disorders (2008). As the general population ages, older women’s health has become a pivotal topic for occupational therapists to include as part of a comprehensive plan of care. Occupational therapists must acquire deeper knowledge related to pelvic pain and urinary incontinence. Developing a deeper understanding of the types of pain and urinary incontinence in older women facilitates efficacy and efficiency in the delivery of occupational …

Practice Guidelines: Addressing Vestibular And Visual Problems In The Neurologically Impaired Adult, Mary J. Mcguire

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

The visual and vestibular problems experienced by adults post brain injury (concussion, traumatic brain injury, cerebral vascular accident, tumor removal, etc.) must be evaluated and treated in conjunction with each other for best outcomes. The American Occupational Therapy Association’s (AOTA) Practice Framework categorizes both the visual and vestibular sensory systems as client factors (body functions) that are a part of the scope of practice of occupational therapy (AOTA, 2020). AOTA’s statement on vestibular impairment, vestibular rehabilitation, and occupational performance emphasizes the importance of occupational therapists addressing this critical client factor. The skills of entry-level and advanced-level occupational therapists are outlined …

A Conceptual Framework: Life Course Health Development And Partial Hand Loss, Alison L. Johnson

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Partial hand loss can be a profound source of disability with far-reaching economic and social consequences across the lifespan. Compared to other limb loss populations, perhaps surprisingly, the partial hand loss population experiences higher rates of whole-person impairment and disabling mental health conditions. Despite these known health disparities, the long-term health outcomes of the partial hand loss population are not adequately understood. Deepening understanding and preventing further disparity requires a multi-perspective approach examining factors contributing to health and well-being across the lifespan. This paper examines the partial hand loss population through two separate but overlapping lenses: population health and the …

The Dynamic Use Of The Kawa Model: A Scoping Review, Jayme L. Ober, Rebecca S. Newbury, Jennifer E. Lape

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: The Kawa model, a framework to guide culturally relevant occupational therapy, has gained recognition and become more widely used in practice. Research on the model thus far, while still relatively sparse, provides guidance for the model’s use, including its strengths and facets that require further exploration to support its use and effectiveness in dynamic ways.

Method: A scoping review was completed to gather, organize, appraise, and synthesize the current research evidence on use of the model.

Results: Findings support the Kawa model’s culturally flexible application and its capacity to garner client-centered qualitative information, as well as …

Comparison Of Computer-Based And Therapeutic Activity Interventions For Improving Visual Motor Abilities Of Preschoolers With Autism: A Randomized Control Study, Supawadee C. Lee

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a computer-based and a traditional activity/practice-based intervention for improving the visual motor abilities of children with autism.

Methods: A group, pre-post, experimental design was used with randomization of subjects to four intervention conditions: a computer-based training, a therapeutic practice intervention, the combination of a computer-based training and therapeutic practice intervention, and a martial arts exercise. A sample of 34 preschool children with autism and visual motor integration deficits between 3 and 5 years of age were recruited. The Wide Range Assessment of Visual Motor Abilities was administered …

Aquatic Developmental Play Program For Children In Early Intervention: A Case Series, Brynn N. Butzman, Cynthia Lau, Cheryl Vanier

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Despite limited evidence, aquatic programming has the potential to be an ideal intervention for young children with disabilities because of its unique and dynamic properties. This study explored the impact of an aquatic developmental play program in addressing sensory integration and motor development needs of children with disabilities as well as its impact on parental isolation.

Methods: A case series design was used. Children with disabilities under 3 years of age and their parents participated in a 9-week aquatic developmental play program held in the community. Goals were individualized for each participant and monitored using the Goal …

Supporting The Paternal Role And Transition Home From The Nicu: A Mixed Method Study, Bryana L. Salazar

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Limited research has focused solely on fathers’ experiences following a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) stay. The study aimed to identify occupational therapy’s role in supporting paternal wellness and mental health through routines and occupations following discharge.

Methods: Online surveys (n = 32) and virtual interviews (n = 11) were collected to complete a mixed method design study. Interviews were manually transcribed and coded to perform thematic analysis.

Results: Five themes were identified: adjusting expectations, changes in priorities, the unexpected toll of the NICU, coping and healing, and fathers and health care providers. This study …

The Lived Experiences And Occupational Performance And Satisfaction Of Young Adults With Multiple Sclerosis (Ms) As Related To Fine Motor Skills, Mary Squillace, Pamela Linden

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Young adults with multiple sclerosis (MS) may experience fine motor (FM) challenges that prevent them from engaging in age-appropriate occupations. Disease mediated changes in occupational skills can affect how a young adult perceives their occupational performances. This study aimed to gain an understanding of how young adults with MS perceive their FM abilities and social and emotional performance during daily activities.

Method: Eighteen young adults with MS who previously scored equal to or less than the low average range on FM pegboard tests and who reported high satisfaction and low performance on a modified self-report were interviewed. …

Exploring Spirituality Of Elders Relocating Into Long-Term Care Facilities, Kai-Lai Tsai, Pei-Fen J. Chang, Anila J. Mathew, Clarissa Richard, Harriett A. Davidson, Gayle I. Hersch

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Spirituality is recognized as an important contributor to quality of life, particularly for older adults. Yet, limited research has been conducted to examine spirituality of older adults relocating to long-term care facilities (LTCFs). The intent of this mixed methods study was to cull data from a parent study to explore different aspects of spirituality among residents newly admitted to LTCFs.

Method: Qualitative and quantitative data of six participants from a parent study including interviews and scores from the religious and existential well-being sections of the Spiritual Well Being Scale (SWBS) were analyzed and triangulated.

Results: Descriptive …