Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Real-Time Experiences Of Racism And Stress In Association With Postpartum Weight Retention: A Longitudinal Ecological Momentary Assessment Study, Dara M Méndez, Amanda L Tapia, Sarah A Sanders, Andrea D Casas, Marquita Smalls, Esa M Davis, Stephen L Rathbun, Tiffany L Gary-Webb, Lora E Burke, Serwaa S Omowale, Linda A Adodoadji, John J Gianakas, Y Lai, Maisa Feghali, Meredith L Wallace

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Racial inequities in postpartum weight have been documented with limited studies on the influences of racism and other forms of discrimination. In a prospective longitudinal study applying ecological momentary assessment (EMA) and ambulatory assessment of weight, we measured the association between discrimination, stress, and postpartum weight change. The Postpartum Mothers Mobile Study is a cohort of 313 pregnant and birthing individuals who were followed during their second and third trimesters through 1 year postpartum. They were recruited in clinical settings between 2017 and 2020 in a major city center in Pennsylvania. Measures of racism and gender-based discrimination were collected via …

Decreasing Emergency Department (Ed) Revisits: Providing Resources That Address Overutilization For Patients With Substance Use Disorder, Amber May

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Project Abstract

Date of Doctor of Nursing Practice Project Completion

Summer 8-5-2025

Faculty Advisor

Rebecca Tsusaki PhD, APRN-CNP, WHNP-BC, IBCLC

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE This quality improvement project was intended to decrease emergency department (ED) revisits by 10%, from high-utilizer patients (those with more than 10 ED visits in the past year), by implementing community health worker–led follow-up phone calls within one week of discharge, over a 30-day period. The project was conducted at a large metropolitan hospital in Houston, Texas.

BACKGROUND Non-urgent revisits and overutilization affect ED wait times, are associated with overcrowding, contribute to unnecessary care delays, impact patient satisfaction scores, and …

Staff Education Program To Improve Nursing Knowledge On Fall Prevention Strategies, Chioma C. Achonye

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In nursing practice, falls among adults aged 65 and above are a critical concern due to their potential to cause serious injuries and complications. As a result, fall prevention has become a top priority for healthcare providers striving to ensure patient safety and quality. The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project was designed to address the issue of falls in long-term care facilities by implementing a staff education program focused on patient fall risk assessment, identifying intrinsic and extrinsic factors influencing falls, and implementing evidence-based interventions. The DNP project practice-focused question was Does an education program on fall prevention strategies …

Socioeconomic Determinants Of Depression And Anxiety Disorders In Puerto Ricans Living On The Island And The Mainland, Herman Alvarado

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Research shows that, among Hispanics, depression and anxiety disorders are the two most prevalent mental disorders, particularly for Puerto Ricans. The socioecological model approaches mental health conditions from a perspective where multiple levels in society influence health-related behaviors. Based on this approach, this quantitative study looked at how socioeconomic factors - marital status, education, employment, and residential status were related to a diagnosis of depression or anxiety in Puerto Ricans. This study also explored whether there were differences between two groups of Puerto Ricans: those living on the island compared to those living in the 50 states. Analysis was conducted …

Rare Variants In Bmal1 Are Associated With A Neurodevelopmental Syndrome, Vishnu Anand Cuddapah, Dechun Chen, Bumsik Cho, Rebecca Moore, Mohnish Suri, Hana Safraou, Frederic Tran-Mau-Them, Ashley Wilson, Jacqueline Odgis, Atteeq U Rehman, Carol Saunders, Shiva Ganesan, Vaidehi Jobanputra, Stephen W Scherer, Ingo Helbig, Amita Sehgal

Duncan NRI Faculty and Staff Publications

Children with neurodevelopmental disorders exhibit highly penetrant sleep and circadian dysfunction, but the underlying mechanisms are unclear. We asked whether a subset of individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders might have genetic variants in genes known to drive circadian rhythms. Through international collaboration, we identified ten individuals with very rare genetic variants in BMAL1, a core component of the molecular clock. These individuals exhibited overlapping signs and symptoms including developmental delay, autism spectrum disorder, and variably penetrant marfanoid features. We functionally tested the identified BMAL1 variants in cell culture and in vivo and found disrupted BMAL1 function. These findings demonstrate that …

Information Theory Optimization Of Signals From Small-Angle Scattering Measurements, Robert P Rambo, John A Tainer

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) of particles in solution informs on the conformational states and assemblies of biological macromolecules (bioSAXS) outside of cryo- and solid-state conditions. In bioSAXS, the SAXS measurement under dilute conditions is resolution limited, and through an inverse Fourier transform, the measured SAXS intensities directly relate to the physical space occupied by the particles via the P(r)-distribution. Yet, this inverse transform of SAXS data has been historically cast as an ill-posed, ill-conditioned problem requiring an indirect approach. Here, we show that through the applications of matrix and information theories, the inverse transform of SAXS intensity data is a …

Phase 2 Study Of Zilovertamab Vedotin In Participants With Metastatic Solid Tumors, Funda Meric-Bernstam, Martin Gutierrez, Enrique Sanz-Garcia, Diego Villa, Jun Zhang, Jennifer Friedmann, Fengting Yan, Mark A Socinski, John Sarantopoulos, Luis E Raez, Quincy S Chu, Maxime Chénard-Poirier, Manash Chatterjee, Hong Ren, Qi Liu, Douglas A Levine, Komal L Jhaveri

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Purpose: Zilovertamab vedotin, an antibody‒drug conjugate targeting receptor tyrosine kinase‒like orphan receptor 1 (ROR1), had manageable safety and promising antitumor activity in participants with relapsed or refractory non-Hodgkin lymphomas. We evaluated zilovertamab vedotin in participants with previously-treated metastatic solid tumors.

Methods: This phase 2, open-label, nonrandomized study (NCT04504916) enrolled participants with metastatic triple-negative breast cancer, hormone receptor‒positive (HR+) breast cancer, nonsquamous non‒small-cell lung cancer, platinum-resistant ovarian cancer, or pancreatic cancer. Participants received zilovertamab vedotin ≤2.5 mg/kg once every 3 weeks (Q1/3W) or < 1.75 mg/kg twice every 3 weeks (Q2/3W). Primary endpoint was objective response rate (ORR) per RECIST v1.1 by blinded independent central review. ROR1 protein expression was correlated with clinical outcomes.

Results: 102 participants were enrolled (Q1/3W, n=70; Q2/3W, n=32). ORR was 1% (95% CI, 0%‒8%) with …

The Neurosurgeon's Role In The Brain Economy: How Strategic Investment In Neurosurgical Care And Innovation Will Improve Global Outcomes, Daniela A Perez-Chadid, Riya M Dange, Harris A Eyre, Graham Fieggen, Kerry A Vaughan, Sameer A Sheth, Jafri Malin Abdullah, Bello B Shehu, Daniel Donoho, Samuel Browd, Agustin Ibanez, Saksham Gupta, Frederick Lang, Anil Nanda, Gail Rosseau

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

No abstract provided.

Interactive 3d Segmentation For Primary Gross Tumor Volume In Oropharyngeal Cancer, Mikko Saukkoriipi, Jaakko Sahlsten, Joel Jaskari, Lotta Orsmaa, Jari Kangas, Nastaran Rasouli, Roope Raisamo, Jussi Hirvonen, Helena Mehtonen, Jorma Järnstedt, Antti Mäkitie, Mohamed Naser, Clifton Fuller, Benjamin Kann, Kimmo Kaski

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Radiotherapy is the main treatment modality of oropharyngeal cancer (OPC), in which an accurate segmentation of primary gross tumor volume (GTVt) is essential but also challenging due to significant interobserver variability and the time consumed in manual tumor delineation. For such a challenge an interactive deep learning (DL) based approach offers the advantage of automatic high-performance segmentation with the flexibility for user correction when necessary. In this study, we investigate an interactive DL for GTVt segmentation in OPC by introducing a novel two-stage Interactive Click Refinement (2S-ICR) framework and implementing state-of-the-art algorithms. Using the 2021 HEad and neCK TumOR dataset …

Association Between Allostatic Load And Accelerated White Matter Brain Aging: Findings From The Uk Biobank, Li Feng, Zhenyao Ye, Zewen Du, Yezhi Pan, Travis Canida, Hongjie Ke, Song Liu, Shuo Chen, L Elliot Hong, Peter Kochunov, Jie Chen, David K Y Lei, Edmond Shenassa, Tianzhou Ma

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

White matter (WM) brain age, a neuroimaging-derived biomarker indicating WM microstructural changes, helps predict dementia and neurodegenerative disorder risks. The cumulative effect of chronic stress on WM brain aging remains unknown. In this study, we assessed cumulative stress using a multi-system composite allostatic load (AL) index based on inflammatory, anthropometric, respiratory, lipidemia, and glucose metabolism measures, and investigated its association with WM brain age gap (BAG), computed from diffusion tensor imaging data using a machine learning model, among 22 951 European ancestries aged 40 to 69 (51.40% women) from UK Biobank. Linear regression, Mendelian randomization, along with inverse probability weighting, …

Grade Concept Paper 9: Rationale And Process For Creating A Grade Ontology, Paul Whaley, Brian Alper, Joanne Dehnbostel, Carlos Alva-Diaz, Stavros Antoniou, Antonio Bognanni, Javier Bracchiglione, Therese Kristine Dalsbø, Sean Grant, Jennifer Hunter, Alfonso Iorio, Malgorzata Lagisz, Harold Lehmann, Sheyu Li, Joerg Meerpohl, Saphia Mokrane, Cauê Monaco, Ignacio Neumann, Kevin Pottie, Shahab Sayfi, Nigar Sekercioglu, Jasvinder Singh, Bernardo Sousa-Pinto, Janice Tufte, Lenny Thinagaran Vasanthan, Li Wang, Jun Xia, Xiaomei Yao, Holger Schünemann

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Context: As the rate of research production accelerates, the ability to efficiently and unambiguously communicate judgments relating to the synthesis, evaluation, and use of scientific information becomes paramount.

Perspective: Scientific information can be viewed as a "layered infrastructure" of data, evidence, knowledge, and use. The GRADE approach serves as a de facto data standard for this infrastructure, supporting movement between layers by reducing ambiguity in claims to knowledge (in the form of judgements of certainty in the evidence when answering research questions) and level of commitment to possible solutions to problems (in the form of strength of recommendations for interventions). …

Three Positively Charged Binding Sites On The Eastern Equine Encephalitis Virus E2 Glycoprotein Coordinate Heparan Sulfate- And Protein Receptor-Dependent Infection, Maria D H Alcorn, Chengqun Sun, Theron C Gilliland Jr, Tetyana Lukash, Christine M Crasto, Saravanan Raju, Michael S Diamond, Scott C Weaver, William B Klimstra

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Naturally circulating strains of eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEEV) bind heparan sulfate (HS) receptors and this interaction has been linked to neurovirulence. Previous studies associated EEEV-HS interactions with three positively charged amino acid clusters on the E2 glycoprotein. One of these sites has recently been reported to be critical for binding EEEV to the very-low-density lipoprotein receptor (VLDLR), an EEEV receptor protein. The proteins apolipoprotein E receptor 2 (ApoER2) isoforms 1 and 2, and LDLR have also been shown to function as EEEV receptors. Herein, we investigate the individual contribution of each HS interaction site to EEEV HS- and protein …

Survival To Hospital Discharge In The Fetus With Moderate To Severe Mitral Regurgitation Either In Isolation Or In Combination With Aortic Valve Stenosis Or Atresia, A Fetal Heart Society Collaborative Study, Betul Yilmaz Furtun, Kavitha Pundi, Anita Moon-Grady, Nicole Cresalia, Asela Nieuwsma, Sarah K Gelehrter, Bhawna Arya, Mary T Donofrio, Christopher Statile, Ann Kavanaugh-Mchugh, Lindsay Freud, Elijah Bolin, Megan Warner, Sowmya Balasubramanian, James Strainic, Carol Wittlieb-Weber, Nelangi M Pinto, Lisa Hornberger, Shaine A Morris

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Case series report high mortality after fetal diagnosis of moderate to severe mitral regurgitation in combination with left atrial dilation, hydrops, or restrictive atrial septum. However, overall outcomes and specific high-risk features remain unclear.

Methods: We performed a multicenter retrospective cohort study of fetuses with ≥moderate mitral regurgitation and normal cardiac connections evaluated January 1, 2005 to January 31, 2016. Fetuses undergoing fetal cardiac intervention (FCI) were described separately. We assessed associations between fetal echocardiographic features and discharge mortality using mixed logistic regression and classification and regression tree modeling, stratified by studies performed < 28 and ≥28 weeks gestational age (GA).

Results: Of 67 fetuses, 96% had …

Development And Validation Of Venous Thromboembolism-Bidirectional Encoder Representations From Transformers (Vte-Bert) Natural Language Processing Model, Omid Jafari, Shengling Ma, Barbara D Lam, Jun Y Jiang, Emily Zhou, Mrinal Ranjan, Justine Ryu, Raka Bandyo, Arash Maghsoudi, Bo Peng, Christopher I Amos, Abiodun Oluyomi, Nathanael R Fillmore, Jennifer La, Ang Li

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Accurate and rapid phenotyping of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in longitudinal studies is important. A natural language processing (NLP) tool externally validated in representative patients is lacking.

Objectives: To train and validate an efficient NLP model to detect incident VTE event.

Methods: We designed a novel NLP platform, NLPMed, to assist thrombosis researchers with data preprocessing, phenotype annotation, language model finetuning, and NLP application. Using clinical notes, discharge summaries, and radiology reports from patients with cancer at 2 healthcare institutions, we finetuned Bio_Clinical Bidirectional Encoder Representations from Transformers (BERT) to develop VTE-BERT. The new model was trained to detect acute …

Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease In People With Type 1 Diabetes., Brynlee Vermillion, Yuanjie Mao

Ambulatory and Primary Care Articles

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is increasingly recognized as a significant comorbidity in individuals with type 1 diabetes (T1D), despite its historical association with type 2 diabetes. This review focuses on summarizing current findings regarding the role of insulin resistance in the development of MASLD in T1D, as well as examining the relationship between MASLD and diabetes-related complications. We will also briefly discuss the prevalence, diagnostic challenges, associated complications, and potential mechanisms underlying MASLD in T1D. Although insulin resistance is well established in MASLD among those with type 2 diabetes, its role in T1D requires further clarification. Emerging markers, …

Rapid And Sustainable Deep Testosterone Reduction Predicts Effective Androgen Deprivation Therapy For Metastatic Hormone-Sensitive Prostate Cancer., Ze Wang, Haiyang Xiao, Chongliang Zheng, Jian Chen, Qiming Chen, Zhenzhen Chen, Dianzheng Zhang, Luofu Wang, Weihua Lan, Qiuli Liu, Jun Jiang

PCOM Scholarly Works

The testosterone (TT)/androgen receptor axis plays a crucial role in the initiation and progression of prostate cancer (PCa). We aimed to investigate the predictive value of serum TT levels on metastatic PCa progression. A total of 219 patients with metastatic PCa were included in this study. Analyses performed included Pearson's correlation test, Wilcoxon rank test, Chi-square test, Cox regression, and Kaplan-Meier analysis. High serum TT levels (> 405 ng/dL) before ADT treatment, deep testosterone reduction (DTR) within the first year of ADT, rapid DTR within 3 months of ADT, and sustained DTR in the first year of ADT are associated …

Three Things We Can Do Now To Reduce The Risk Of Avian Influenza Spillovers, Kenneth B Yeh, William P Bahnfleth, Elaine Bradford, Carol Cardona, Kristen K Coleman, Peter J Hudson, Bernadeta Dadonaite, Rebecca J Hutchins, Anthony Maresso, C Raina Macintyre, Matthew Scotch

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

No abstract provided.

Leishmania In Texas: A Contemporary One Health Scoping Review Of Vectors, Reservoirs, And Human Health, Morgan H Jibowu, Richard Chung, Nina L Tang, Sarah Guo, Leigh-Anne Lawton, Brendan J Sullivan, Dawn M Wetzel, Sarah M Gunter

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Leishmaniasis, a vector-borne neglected tropical disease, affects over 6.2 million people globally. Case acquisition is increasingly recognized in the United States, and in Texas, most reported cases are locally acquired and speciated to Leishmania mexicana. We conducted a scoping literature review to systematically assess contemporary research on Leishmania in humans, animals, reservoir hosts, or vectors in Texas after 2000. Out of 22 eligible studies, the most prevalent themes were case reports, followed by studies on domestic animals, reservoirs, and vectors, with several studies bridging multiple disciplines. Climate change, urbanization, and habitat encroachment appear to be driving the northward expansion …

Rescue Of Male Infertility By Human Prss55 In Transgenic Mice Establishes A Contraceptive Research Model, Courtney M Sutton, Kohei Umezu, Daisuke Mashiko, Masahito Ikawa, Irina V Larina, Thomas X Garcia, Martin M Matzuk

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

The development of non-hormonal male contraceptives requires validated preclinical models. This study investigated whether human orthologs of two mouse testis-specific serine proteases, PRSS55 and TMPRSS12, both essential for male fertility in mice, could functionally rescue the infertility phenotypes of their respective knockout mouse lines. We generated transgenic mouse lines expressing human PRSS55 with either an extracellularly or intracellularly positioned C-terminal 3xFLAG tag (RES GPI or RES TM), and a line expressing human TMPRSS12 with a C-terminal 3xFLAG tag (T12 RES), all on their respective mouse null backgrounds. Fertility was assessed through continuous mating trials, and sperm parameters were evaluated. Both …

A Rapid, Simple, And Economical Method For The Isolation Of Ribosomes And Translational Machinery For Structural And Functional Studies, Jessey Erath, Danielle Kemper, Elisha Mugo, Alex Jacoby, Elizabeth Valenzuela, Courtney F Jungers, Wandy L Beatty, Yaser Hashem, Marko Jovanovic, Sergej Djuranovic, Slavica Pavlovic Djuranovic

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Ribosomes are RNA-protein complexes essential for protein synthesis and quality control. Traditional methods for ribosome isolation are labor-intensive, expensive, and require a substantial amount of biological material. In contrast, our method, RNA affinity purification using poly-lysine (RAPPL), provides a rapid, simple, and cost-effective alternative applicable to various species and types of starting material (cell lysates, whole cells, organs, or whole organisms). It is also compatible with traditional isolation techniques. Here, we describe the use of RAPPL for rapid isolation, functional screening, and structural analysis of ribosomes and associated factors. We also demonstrate the application of RAPPL in investigating ribosome-associated resistance …

Understanding Hispanic Cultural Strengths Through Parents’ Voices: Insights For Interdisciplinary School Personnel, David Moran, Johana Rocha, Kristy Carlisle

Journal of Human Services Scholarship and Interprofessional Collaboration

Examining the strengths of Hispanic cultural values among K-12 school students is a generally understudied concept, and from their parents’ perspective specifically. This study sought to take a qualitative approach toward the exploration of Hispanic parents’ perspectives on how their cultural values promote strengths within their school-aged children. Hispanic parents (N = 8) participated in bilingual (i.e., Spanish and English) focus groups, with the results providing content that can inform culturally responsive prevention and intervention strategies to support the roles of interdisciplinary school personnel who regularly interact with the children. Findings pointed to (a) interaction with peers and school …

Pulse Diagnosis In Thai Traditional Medicine: Comparing Tri-Dhātu Characteristics In Each Innate Body Element Between Experts And Device, Athippat Tantiwongsekunakorn, Suksalin Booranasubkajorn, Thanaphak Chaopeerapong, Angkana Apichartvorakit, Pravit Akarasereenont

Journal of Health Research

Background: Pulse diagnosis in Thai Traditional Medicine (TTM) evaluates the balance of the Tri-Dhātu—Vata, Pitta, and Semha—and their interaction with innate body elements (Dhātu Chao Ruean; DCR). Despite its clinical significance, scientific evidence and quantitative tools remain limited. This study aimed to compare Tri-Dhātu pulse characteristics across different DCR types using expert assessment and the DMP-Life™ pulse diagnostic device.

Method: One-way ANOVA with post hoc analysis was applied to data from 159 participants, each evaluated at six pulse positions for shape, depth, power, and rhythm by Applied Thai Traditional Medicine (ATM) experts and the DMP-Life™ device.

Results: There were no …

Classification Of Dental Adverse Events Using Iterative Qualitative Analysis, Kiti Siriwatana, Sathirakorn Pongpanich

Journal of Health Research

Background: Effective incident reporting systems (IRS) are essential in dentistry for identifying and preventing adverse events (AEs), with standardized classifications ensuring consistent incident categorization. This study aimed to develop and validate a classification system for dental patient safety incidents based on a 5-year case study at the Dental Hospital at Chulalongkorn University, Thailand.

Methods: An iterative qualitative approach was used. A literature review explored existing accreditation standards and AE classification systems. Incident reports from 2018–2022 informed a draft classification system aligned with Thailand’s National Reporting and Learning System and accreditation standards. Reports from 2023 were used for validation. An expert …

Peer-Led Recovery: Developing A Mentorship Program For Veterans With Spinal Cord Injuries At The Va, Alexis Smich

Department of Occupational Therapy Entry-Level Capstone Projects

No abstract provided.

Supporting Parent Confidence Through Accessible Education In Pediatric Occupational Therapy, Dylan Spruill

Department of Occupational Therapy Entry-Level Capstone Projects

This capstone project explored strategies to enhance parent confidence and engagement in pediatric occupational therapy. Guided by a needs assessment drawn from literature, clinical observation, and parent input, the project identified a lack of accessible, affirming educational materials for families. In response, strengths-based, plain-language resources were developed and distributed in both print and digital formats. These materials supported parent understanding of therapeutic goals and encouraged home-based carryover of clinical strategies. Additionally, participation in small-group summer programming and one-on-one parent conversations provided insight into family needs and informed the resource design process. Outcomes suggest that empowering parents through targeted education can …

Inspiring Internationalization For Students Across Asia With Aapi-Ot, Mike D. Palou-Morales

Department of Occupational Therapy Entry-Level Capstone Projects

This capstone project aimed to
provide opportunities for internationalization between occupational therapy (OT) students across Asia, specifically in Japan and South Korea, with the assistance of the Asian-American and Pacific-Islander (AAPI-OT) and student organizations at my capstone site. I developed educational material and provided opportunities for discourse on the benefits of internationalization and collaboration through the student platform for occupational therapy (SPOT) Europe and Americas.

Supporting The Fourth Trimester: An Occupational Therapy Approach To Maternal Function And Recovery, Cedrica Durham

Department of Occupational Therapy Entry-Level Capstone Projects

This capstone project focused on supporting mothers and infants during the prenatal and postpartum periods through a blend of occupational therapy, doula practices, and lactation support. The project investigated how occupational therapists can work with other maternal professionals to promote maternal recovery and overall wellbeing. This capstone project addresses this gap by implementing a brief, occupation-based screening tool that can be used by lactation consultants, maternal health professionals, and home health providers to identify clients who may benefit from occupational therapy services

Supporting Participation In Daily Occupations, Quality Of Life, And Well-Being For Individuals With Dementia In Nursing Homes, Julianne M. Sta.Ana

Department of Occupational Therapy Entry-Level Capstone Projects

This capstone project aimed to enhance the quality of life, well-being, and occupational participation of individuals with dementia residing in nursing homes through the implementation of an eight-week occupational therapy-based program. By addressing unmet needs through personalized, meaningful activities such as cognitive stimulation, physical activities, and social engagement, this project seeks to reduce cognitive decline and improve emotional well-being. The SLUMS and GDS were used to evaluate the program’s effectiveness. Ultimately, this project sought to understand occupational therapy’s role in supporting dementia care in nursing homes.

Next-Gen Leaders: Cultivating Board Room Readiness For Emerging Nurse Professionals, Cheryl Nikol Hamilton

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project addressed the critical underrepresentation of nurses on healthcare boards by implementing an evidence-based intervention to improve board readiness among emerging nurse leaders in Arkansas. The purpose of the project was to assess and enhance nurses’ self-perceived competencies in governance through a structured educational program and the SHIP-BC© readiness assessment tool. A quasi-experimental pre-post design was utilized with honorees from two leadership programs within a statewide nursing organization. Participants first completed the SHIP-BC© survey to establish baseline perceptions of board readiness across domains of analytical, interpersonal, and organizational skills. Following a four-week microlearning board …

Enhancing Nurse Well-Being Through Mandatory Rest Breaks At A Hospital, Elise Njang

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Nurses are essential to the healthcare system, yet their demanding 12-hour shifts in hospital settings often leave little opportunity for adequate rest. The absence of structured rest breaks not only endangers nurses' well-being but may also compromise the quality of patient care. This quality improvement (QI) project aimed to evaluate the effects of implementing structured, mandatory 15-minute rest breaks on nurse burnout and job satisfaction. The initiative addressed a critical gap at the project site, where nurses typically received only one 30-minute lunch break per shift, despite evidence supporting the benefits of more frequent rest breaks. A quasi-experimental pre- and …