Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Cholinergic Anti-Inflammatory Pathway And Covid-19, Danial Mehranfard, Robert C. Speth

HPD Articles

The cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway (CAP) first described by Wang et al, 2003 has contemporary interest arising from the COVID-19 pandemic. While tobacco smoking has been considered an aggravating factor in the severity of COVID-19 infections, it has been suggested by some that the nicotine derived from tobacco could lessen the severity of COVID-19 infections. This spotlight briefly describes the CAP and its potential role as a therapeutic target for the treatment of COVID-19 infections using vagus nerve stimulation or selective alpha7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor agonists.

Still-Hildreth Osteopathic Sanatorium, Still-Hildreth Sanatorium

Stanley Kimball, D.O. Collection

Booklet describing the institution and treatments available at the Still-Hildreth Osteopathic Sanatorium in Macon, Missouri.

Validation Of Consumer Activity Monitors In Postoperative Total Arthroplasty Patients, Joshuel A. Pahang, David B. Auyong

View All Washington/Montana GME

Presented at the 2022 Virtual Northwest Medical Research Symposium

The Utility Of Fungal Blood Cultures: A Quality Improvement Study, Brigette Schuman, Elizabeth Savage, Vanessa Hoytfox

View All Washington/Montana GME

Presented at the 2022 Virtual Northwest Medical Research Symposium

Improving Metabolic Monitoring During Transfers Of Care For Psychiatric Patients Discharged From The Inpatient Psychiatric Residency Service On An Antipsychotic Medication, Allison Cohen, Anisha Boetel

View All Washington/Montana GME

Presented at the 2022 Virtual Northwest Medical Research Symposium

Hidradenitis Suppurativa And Cutaneous Crohn’S Disease Without Intestinal Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Ronnie Youssef

View All Washington/Montana GME

Presented at the 2022 Virtual Northwest Medical Research Symposium

Contingency Management: Dealing Abstinence From Methamphetamines, Casey Collins, Amy G Burns, Lindsey Cunningham, Brenda Fairman

View All Washington/Montana GME

Presented at the 2022 Virtual Northwest Medical Research Symposium

Malignant Myopericytoma Of The Right Foot: A Case Report, Ryan Glendenning

View All Washington/Montana GME

Presented at the 2022 Virtual Northwest Medical Research Symposium

Trust But Verify: Ethical Considerations Of Potential Misdiagnoses And Incorrect Patient Diagnoses, Eric Grisham

View All Washington/Montana GME

Presented at the 2022 Virtual Northwest Medical Research Symposium

End Stage Recurrent Glioblastoma Treated With A New Noninvasive Non-Contact Oncomagnetic Device, Devam Purohit

VCU's Medical Journal Club: The Work of Future Health Professionals

This presentation focused on the use of a noninvasive oncomagnetic device for glioblastoma. This treatment is special because it is noninvasive and doesn't pose the side effects of chemotherapy or surgery. The study looked at how the oncomagnetic device affected the size of the tumor after it reappeared in the patient's brain after being surgically removed initially. The device was tested on one patient and it was able to reduce his tumor by 31%.

Cauti: Are We Testing Appropriately?, Christoph Lecznar

VCU Health Nursing

Purpose: The purpose of this evidence-based quality improvement project was to decrease catheter associated urinary tract infections in a 28 bed Surgical Trauma Intensive Care Unit in a Level One Trauma Academic Medical Center.

Background: Catheter Associated Urinary Tract Infections (CAUTI) are deemed never events by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates 17-69% of CAUTIs are preventable. Current recommendations for CAUTI reduction include: Education strategies, chlorhexidine gluconate bathing and catheter care, catheter avoidance, policies for insertion, and urine culture testing stewardship. Our unit experienced an increase in CAUTI incidence in May and …

The Lived Experience Of Simulation In Nursing Education Related To Postpartum Depression And Healthcare Disparities, Erin Tonkin

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Background: Postpartum mothers are often initially screened for postpartum depression (PPD) but lack adequate follow up visits after discharge from the hospital post-delivery, despite the variety of complications that can arise from it. Additionally, healthcare disparities (HCD) have been shown to limit access to and the quality of healthcare for minority patients. Simulation-based education offers learners an opportunity to practice screening for PPD with the goal of improving the quality of care for these patient subgroups in future practice. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore the lived experience of SBE with prelicensure student nurses in an effort …

Preparation, Evaluation, And Pharmacokinetics In Beagle Dogs Of A Taste-Masked Flunixin Meglumine Orally Disintegrating Tablet Prepared Using Hot-Melt Extrusion Technology And D-Optimal Mixture Design, Yangfeng Xu, Guoqing Yan, Xuemei Wen, Liqin Wu

Faculty and Student Publications

Flunixin meglumine (FM) is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug limited by irritation of the respiratory tract and mucosa in veterinary tissue. This study aimed to develop a taste-masked FM solid dispersion (SD) by hot-melt extrusion (HME) and formulate an orally disintegrating tablet (ODT) with selected excipients by direct compression. Eudragit® E PO was chosen as the matrix, and HME parameters were optimized: extrusion temperature, 135℃; screw speed, 100 rpm; and drug loading, 20%. Characterization techniques proved that FM was rendered amorphous in the HME extrudate. In vitro dissolution studies showed that FM SD released significantly slower than the corresponding physical mixture …

Implementation Of A Decision Tree To Address Moral Distress, Tijuana Milton, Flor Culpa-Bondal, Sheryl Winn, Debra Hagerty

Graduate Research Showcase

Problem: According to the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN), moral distress (MD) is a major issue in the healthcare profession (2015). Many healthcare workers (HCW) are not aware of MD. The inability to recognize MD may lead to departing the profession.

Purpose: To offer an educational workshop about MD 1) explore the frequency and level of MD (2) establish a decision tree to mitigate MD.

Background: MD occurs when a person understands what they should do but cannot, due to organizational policies. The pandemic has exacerbated MD.

Design: A mixed-method study: Measure of Moral Distress for -Healthcare Professionals (MMD-HP) …

Promoting Alternative And Evidence-Supported Birthing Options In Healthcare Facilities, Ashley Johnson Ross

Master of Science in Nursing Theses and Projects

The project examined the standard birthing process for low-risk, natural labor, and births at healthcare facilities. All deliveries should not be treated the same with the supine-lithotomy birthing position or over-medicalized, obstetric practices, as evidence-based research advises against such practices. The goal of the project intended to deviate from standard birthing practices and implement alternative, evidence-supported birthing options at healthcare facilities. The goal of promoting alternative, evidence-supported birthing options in healthcare facilities by maternity staff, would come after thoroughly educating maternity staff and providers with intel and benefits affiliated with alternative birthing options. Evidence reveals alternative birthing options, such as …

Smoking Cessation: A Nurse-Led Approach To Address Gaps In Patient Care, Katie L. Durham

Master of Science in Nursing Theses and Projects

Currently, the rate of smoking in the US is 13.7%. While this value represents the lowest rate of smoking in documented US history, cigarette smoking remains the leading cause of preventable death, disease, and morbidity. Healthy People 2030 has set a goal to reduce the rate of smoking to 5%. Though many patients report wanting to quit smoking, nearly half report they did not receive advice from a healthcare professional to do so. Many recommended smoking cessation tools and resources remain underutilized by both clinicians and patients. To help mitigate this issue, this project sought to develop a nurse-led smoking …

Reducing The Use Of Physical Restraints Of The Elderly In The Acute Care Setting, Rachael Malone

Master of Science in Nursing Theses and Projects

The aim of this MSN project is to identify and improve the gaps in education regarding physical restraint use in the acute care setting on the elderly patient population. When admitted into hospitals, elderly patients are at much greater risk for being placed in physical restraints due to little education regarding alternative measures to physical restraints and inappropriate assessments. The purpose of this project is to implement education about the detrimental factors and consequences patients may suffer once placed in physical restraints and improve the use of alternative measures to physical restraints. This project will be evaluated by acute care …

Promoting Organ Donation Among Adults, Susan Hammitt

Master of Science in Nursing Theses and Projects

Organ donation is an important component of the American healthcare system however, the issue of low organ donation rates among the average American population is an ever-growing problem. In the United States, more than 135,000 people are waiting for an organ transplant, and as of 2019, only 39,000 donors have consented to donation. The purpose of this project is to develop an evidence-based approach to promote organ donorship among adults. The goal is to promote organ donation through hospital-based educational intervention to give patients, their families, and hospital staff the information to help promote consent for donation.

Medication Reconciliation: Protecting The Geriatric Population, Charles Jennings

Master of Science in Nursing Theses and Projects

This project was designed to address the issue of medication errors that occur during the transition from an acute care setting to an assisted living setting. Geriatric adults are often supported by a complement of medical specialists and subspecialists. As a result, reconciling medications following a hospital discharge can be challenging. To further complicate the problem, oftentimes, the primary care provider is not highly engaged with the specialists and subspecialists. The World Health Organization (WHO) has prioritized this issue through the introduction of the Medication Without Harm initiative. This initiative is focused on reducing adverse drug reactions (ADRs) and adverse …

Improving Communication Skills Of New Graduate Nurses: Using Sbar Format, Meredith Lyanne Parker

Master of Science in Nursing Theses and Projects

New graduate nurses face many challenges as they transition to professional practice (Mongale et al., 2018). Support from transition to practice (TTP) programs can have a tremendous impact on the success of a new graduate nurse and improve retention rates (Silvestre, 2017). Research identifies a gap in new graduate knowledge of communication skills (Song & McCreary, 2020). Education on improving communication using a standard format can impact patient outcomes and improve provider confidence (Marshall et al., 2008). Research also links provider confidence and proficiency to improved outcomes (Owens & Keller, 2018). Benner’s Novice to Expert Theory provides a theoretical foundation …

Implementing Rapid Response And Medical Emergency Simulation Training For Medical-Surgical Nurses, Brandon Burnett

Master of Science in Nursing Theses and Projects

This project is based on the problem of nursing competence and confidence within medical emergency and rapid response scenarios. This problem affects all patients, but specifically the medical-surgical patient population of which rapid assessment and intervention can lead to a change in patient mortality. The goal of the project is to use simulation, a common tool in undergraduate nursing education, to improve nursing competence and confidence after participation. The nurses will be cycled through three simulated scenarios, followed by a debriefing, and then moved to the next simulation. The nurses’ performance will be evaluated using evaluator checklists for each of …

A Day In The Life Of A Hospital Bedside Nurse: A Different Look At Nurse Stressors, Angela R. Higdon

Master of Science in Nursing Theses and Projects

This project is intended to be an example of the affects on the nursing work environment after years of technological advancement, healthcare reform, and process improvement. The bedside nurse work environment is riddled with a multitude of interruptions, intricate processes, and complicated documentation to prove quality care and compliance to regulatory agencies and for tracking purposes. These demands are significant as nurses are continuously reprioritizing work to meet the needs of the patient while also meeting the organizational and regulatory demands. The demands on nurses often lead to delays in patient care and sometimes omission of certain less acute patient …

Combating The Challenge Of Maintaining Active-Duty Military Medical Force Readiness, Thomas Jones

Master of Science in Nursing Theses and Projects

The United States of America’s military involvement in conflict is at one of its lowest points in over 2 decades. This presents a challenge for members of the military medical force to maintain the medical readiness skills they are expected to be proficient at in a moment’s notice to care for casualties in the nation’s next crisis or conflict. In addition to other pre-established methods, this project seeks to provide a unit-level training opportunity for Air Force active-duty medical members such as those in the United States Indo-Pacific region to practice certain medical readiness skills while continuing their steady-state daily …

Change In Metabolic Syndrome And Cardiorespiratory Fitness Following Exercise Training – The Ball State Adult Fitness Longitudinal Lifestyle Study (Ball St), Brittany E Smith E. Smith, James E. Peterman, Matthew P. Harber, Mary T. Imboden, Bradley S. Fleenor, Leonard A. Kaminsky, Mitchell H. Whaley

Faculty Publications - Department of Kinesiology

This observational cohort study indicates an inverse relationship between the change in CRF and the change in MetS severity following exercise training. These results suggest that participation in a community-based exercise program yields significant improvements in CRF, MetS risk factors, the prevalence of the binary MetS, and the MetS severity score. Improvement in CRF through exercise training should be a primary prevention strategy for MetS.

The Importance Of Healthy Lifestyle Behaviors In The Prevention Of Cardiovascular Disease, Leonard A. Kaminsky, Charles German, Mary Imboden, Cemal Ozemek, James E. Peterman, Peter H. Brubaker

Faculty Publications - Department of Kinesiology

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death globally. Advancements in the treatment of CVD have reduced mortality rates, yet the global burden of CVD remains high. Considering that CVD is still largely a preventable disease, prioritizing preventative measures through healthy lifestyle (HL) behaviors is necessary to lessen the burden of CVD. HL behaviors, such as regular exercise, healthy eating habits, adequate sleep, and smoking cessation, can influence a number of traditional CVD risk factors as well as a less commonly measured risk factor, cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF). It is important to note that cardiac rehabilitation programs, which traditionally have …

Reducing Observation Unit Length Of Stay Hours: A Quality Improvement Project, Rena D. Cantrell

Master of Science in Nursing Theses and Projects

An acute care observation unit provides care for patients admitted via Emergency Center (EC) or direct admission from a healthcare provider’s office who do not yet require inpatient status. The goal length of stay (LOS) for these patients should be less than or equal to 24-48 hours. This project is being developed for a 22-bed observation unit in the Southeastern United States to decrease current LOS hours. Currently, the goal LOS for this unit is 24 hours, not to exceed 48 hours, and for patients admitted with a chest pain diagnosis, no longer than 19 hours. A plan to expand …

Perceived Effects Of Covid-19 On K-5 Educators And Learners, Fairbee Mintz

Master of Science in Nursing Theses and Projects

The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted traditional teaching methods at all academic levels bringing about unprecedented changes in the way education was delivered. In-person learning was halted all over the world as educators scrambled to transition to virtual education. The purpose of this Master of Science in Nursing research was to examine the perceived effects of systematic learning changes caused by the COVID-19 pandemic on primary and secondary educators and students as reported by educators. This research will then be applied to implications for future nursing educators and students. Nine K-5 educators were interviewed via Zoom in the spring of 2021 and …

Reduce Nurse Burnout During Covid-19: Implementation Of The Stop Method, Heather Smallwood

Master of Science in Nursing Theses and Projects

Historically, inpatient nurses experience significant levels of stress and exhaustion which can lead to burnout. Currently, nurses are at the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic. The workloads have increased, physical and mental burdens have increased, and fear of contracting the virus is an added stressor. There is an immediate need for mental health support and interventions to improve the well-being of nurses. The purpose of the project is to evaluate the benefits of a mindfulness-based intervention, such as the STOP technique to reduce stress and burnout among nurses. An inpatient COVID-19 unit at a large hospital will have 60 nurses …

The Struggle To Alleviate Nurse Burnout, Shawn Harmon

Master of Science in Nursing Theses and Projects

This project assumes the purpose of defining, reviewing, and performing a three-part activity to alleviate some fraction of a detrimental disorder that has plagued the nursing profession for years identified as nurse burnout. This debilitating stress induced by burnout can lead to decreased job satisfaction. If burnout is left unchecked, it may result in nurses leaving the profession altogether. The meaningful results, if realized, will be presented to the administrative leaders to implement changes as they see fit. The goals are to see positive results translate into interventions by the hospital that will, over time, increase job satisfaction for every …

Expanding Knowledge On Occupations, One Harmful Occupation At A Time, Taylor Dingus

OCCUPATION: A Medium of Inquiry about Health through Occupation

Humans are both natural doers and occupational beings, but in order to consider them as such, one must understand all occupational choices, the meanings and human behavior behind the choices, and the environment in which the choices take place (Helbig & McKay, 2003). Considering self-harm, substance abuse, and addiction as occupations advances this understanding of humans as occupational in nature who are molded by their occupational choices and factors surrounding them (Wasmuth, Brandon-Friedman, & Olesek, 2016). This study aimed to gain an understanding of the occupational nature of humans that engage in occupations defined as harmful by society in order …