Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Creating Consistency: Standardizing Gestational Diabetes Group Visit Framework In High-Risk Obstetric Care, Danielle Pack

Master's Projects and Capstones

Objective: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) requires timely and consistent education to promote effective self-management and improve maternal and fetal outcomes. Baseline observations at a Santa Clara County high-risk obstetric clinic identified variation in educational materials, educator delivery, referral processes, and workflows between English- and Spanish-language GDM group visits. A review of the literature supported standardized diabetes education and group prenatal care as strategies to improve consistency, efficiency, and patient access. Aim: This quality improvement project aimed to develop and implement a standardized GDM group visit framework for nurse practitioners, registered dietitians, and scheduling staff, with the goal of increasing compliance …

You Haven’T Been Forgotten: Driving Improvements In Trust, Transparency, And Accountability Through A Patient-Centered Communication Initiative In The Emergency Department, Ellie Mead

Master's Projects and Capstones

Objective: In Spring 2026, the Emergency Department (ED) at Hospital X identified difficulties securing high levels of patient satisfaction. Over one third of patients did not feel adequately “informed about delays,” and observation of nurse-patient interactions in front-end care areas confirmed these communication gaps: in 87% of interactions, nurses did not explain next steps to the patient, and in none of the 51 interactions observed did nurses proactively inform patients about possible delays. Aim: This quality improvement initiative sought to improve the patient experience in the ED and drive a 10% increase in Press Ganey patient satisfaction survey results relating …

Staff Re-Entry Plan — Indian Trail, Flett, Woodridge, Travis Schulhauser

Spokane Wildfire Academic Consortium Repository

Following the downgrade of Level 3 Evacuation orders at Flett Middle School and Indian Trail and Woodridge elementary schools on Aug. 9, district staff worked with Fulcrum Environmental Consulting to conduct visual inspections and air-quality testing at these sites. More than 100 interior and exterior locations were tested, with indoor air quality within the Good-to-Moderate range under the EPA Air Quality Index. Inspectors also found no indication of unusual ash, soot or other settled particulates inside or outside the buildings.

Formative Work To Guide Implementation Of An Evidence-Based Breast And Cervical Cancer Prevention And Early Detection Behavioral Health Program In Clinics: Qualitative Study Guided By The Consolidated Framework For Implementation Research, Roshanda S Chenier, Maria E Fernandez, Lara S Savas

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Salud en Mis Manos (SEMM) is a community health worker-delivered evidence-based intervention shown to increase breast and cervical cancer screening in medically underserved Latinas. Despite SEMM's success in community-based settings, clinic-based implementation is limited.

Objective: This study aimed to identify factors influencing the implementation of SEMM in clinic settings using the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) to inform and refine implementation strategy development.

Methods: We developed theory-informed (eg, CFIR, Social Cognitive Theory, and Readiness) interview guides to elicit barriers and facilitators of SEMM clinic implementation. We conducted 12 semistructured interviews with clinic leaders, outreach coordinators, and community health …

Enhancing Diagnostic Safety: Addressing Knowledge Gaps For Using Human Factors Tools In The Safe And Effective Use Of Ai - A Proposed Research Agenda, Jeff Brady, Kenneth R Catchpole, Linda Gangai, Mark Graber, Ayse P Gurses, Charles E Kahn, Elizabeth A Krupinski, Soundar Kumara, Chris Mamrol, Kristen E Miller, Timothy J Mosher, Sarah E Parker, Mary D Patterson, Susan Shelmerdine, Joshua Streit, Charlotte Van Sassen, Michael H Kanter, Melissa Carraway, Michael A Bruno

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Introduction: Identify knowledge gaps in applying artificial intelligence in clinical settings, using medical imaging as a primary use case to enhance diagnostic efficacy, efficiency, and patient and provider safety.

Methods: We convened a two-day workshop with 18 interdisciplinary experts from three countries. Experts represented quality and patient safety, human factors and systems engineering, radiology and other medical specialties, nursing, medical informatics, cognitive and perceptual psychology, psychometrics and statistics, and machine learning, drawn from academia, industry, health systems, and government.

Results: We identified by consensus six major knowledge-gap domains, with specific research questions for each domain: development, validation, integration and sustainability; …

Staff Education To Improve Staff Knowledge On Fall Prevention, Nginjoh Presilia Njofang

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Patient safety risks associated with falls are a major issue in adult inpatient medical-surgical environments because nursing inconsistencies with regard to fall risk assessments, individualized fall prevention interventions, and documentation could impede adherence to best practices. To overcome this knowledge gap among RNs in the selected environment, a DNP education project aimed at standardized fall-prevention staff education was initiated. The question for the practice was whether standardized staff education would increase knowledge among nurses regarding fall-risk assessments, preventive measures, and documentation requirements, based on pretest and posttest results. In the course of a one-hour educational session conducted face-to-face, twenty RNs …

Implementation Of A Nurse-Led Self-Measured Blood Pressure Program In Rural Primary Care, Stephanie Marie Montgomery

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Hypertension remains a leading modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, yet blood pressure control remains suboptimal among many adults, particularly those receiving care in rural primary care settings. Reliance on office-based blood pressure measurements may limit opportunities to identify uncontrolled hypertension and actively engage patients in disease self-management. This Doctor of Nursing Practice quality improvement project evaluated the implementation of a standardized self-measured blood pressure (SMBP) program for adult patients with hypertension in a rural primary care practice. The intervention included validated home blood pressure monitors, standardized patient education, teach-back to verify measurement competency, structured home blood pressure …

Addressing Food Insecurities Through Staff Education In The Rural Health Setting, Angela Dawn Suttle

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Rural America, including Arkansans, face a number of social determinants of health (SDOH) including food insecurities (FIs) and the inability to access nutritious food. FIs contribute to poor outcomes and increases healthcare utilization. Inconsistent screenings for FIs in adults living in the rural health clinic (RHC) setting, lack of standardized workflows, and failure to provide community resources when FI is identified represents a significant gap in practice. Purpose: The purpose of this Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) staff education project was to increase utilization of screening tools for FI, implement a standardized workflow, and provide patients with resources to improve …

Staff Education To Improve Early Identification Of Behavioral Escalation And Timely Clinical Intervention In An Adult Group Home Setting, Gayduo Barr

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In this Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) staff education project addressed a gap in staff knowledge regarding the early identification of behavioral escalation and timely intervention in an adult group home setting. The practice-focused question was: Does staff education about early identification of behavioral escalation and timely clinical intervention improve the knowledge of staff working in an adult group home setting? The purpose was to improve staff knowledge of behavioral escalation, triggers, trauma-informed care, and intervention strategies. I delivered a structured educational intervention to 14 house managers. Educational content included behavioral escalation stages, triggers, de-escalation techniques, trauma-informed care, documentation, and …

Weekly Team Validation Rounding Focused On Chlorhexidine Gluconate Bathing And Bath Completion And Documentation Compliance, La-Toya Therese Fong

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This quality improvement project evaluated whether weekly team validation rounding improved chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) bath completion and documentation compliance among eligible adult inpatients, with particular attention to differences in compliance outcomes between Pod 5C and Pod 4B. Background. Hospital-acquired infections continue to increase morbidity, mortality, length of stay, and healthcare costs. Although CHG bathing is an evidence-based strategy for reducing infection risk and the transmission of multidrug-resistant organisms, inconsistent documentation at the practicum site limited accurate monitoring of compliance across validation data, electronic medical record documentation, and DOMO reports. Method. Participants included eligible adult inpatients admitted within the previous 24 …

Trace Elements In Complete Feeds Used In Intensive Rearing Of Cattle, Poultry, And Pigs: Occurrence And Predicted Transferred Concentrations In Animal-Derived Food, Elizabeta Dimitrieska Stojkovikj, Vangelica Enimiteva, Aleksandra Angjeleska, Risto Uzunov

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

This study investigated the concentrations of essential (Zn, Cu, Mn, Co, and Mo) and toxic (Pb, Cd, As, and Hg) trace elements in complete feeds used for the intensive rearing of cattle, poultry, and pigs in North Macedonia and predicted their transfer into animal-derived foods. A total of 107 feed samples were collected from 40 farms between May 2023 and April 2024 and analyzed using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The results revealed that while most essential elements were within the regulatory limits, Co exceeded the maximum level in two cattle feed samples. Zn, Cu, and Mn levels were generally …

Hard Palate Morphology In The Anatolian Water Buffalo (Bubalus Bubalis), Mehmet Can, Şükrü Hakan Atalgin, Mehmet Faruk Aydin, Soner Bekmezci̇

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

This study aimed to examine the morphological and histological features of the hard palate in the Anatolian water buffalo through light and scanning electron microscopy, complemented by gross and morphometric evaluations. Eight hard palates were used in the study. A total of eight Anatolian water buffalo heads from healthy adult female water buffaloes were collected immediately after slaughter from various slaughterhouses in Balıkesir, Türkiye. After analyzing and identifying the obtained hard palate samples, measurements were taken and documented through photography. The papilla incisiva, located in the middle of the caudal concave edge on the ventral surface of the pulvinus dentalis, …

Molecular Characterization Of Pasteurella Multocida Capsular Type A Strains Isolated From Different Regions Of Anatolia, Türkiye​, Adam Bashir Tawor, Osman Ergani̇ş, Asli Balevi̇, Suliman Mohamed Yousof Sadam

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

Pasteurella multocida serotype A is an important pathogen that causes respiratory illness in both farm animals and poultry, leading to severe economic losses worldwide. This study aimed to isolate P. multocida capsular type A (capA) as well as investigate the virulence-associated genes (VAGs) within the isolates. Samples (n = 250) were collected in the Anatolia region from cattle (n = 130), sheep (n = 70), goats (n = 45), and pet birds (n = 5) with clinical respiratory signs. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays were conducted using kmt1 and capA primers for P. multocida species identification and capsular serogroup A …

Effect Of Rangeland Quality On Rumen Development Of Angora (Mohair) Goat Kids And Bucks, Betül Zehra Sariçi̇çek

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

This study was conducted to determine the effect of rangeland quality on the rumen development of Angora goat kids and bucks. Twenty male singleton Angora goat kids with similar birth dates and birth weights were selected from each farm in an area with three different rangeland quality levels (good, medium, or poor) in Ankara Province. The kids were weaned at 60 days of age and then grazed completely on rangeland until slaughter. Rumen volumetric and papillary development of animals slaughtered at 4 and 7 months of age were determined. Empty rumen length, width, and weight were affected by rangeland quality …

Arterial Architecture Of The Goat Spleen (Capra Hircus) Revealed By Corrosion Casting And Scanning Electron Microscopy, Baran Erdem, Sevi̇nç Ateş, Meryem Karan

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

The spleen is an essential organ involved in hematopoietic and immune functions. A comprehensive understanding of its anatomy, including vascular topography and segmentation, is essential for the accurate diagnosis and treatment of splenic diseases, and the minimization of complications during surgical procedures. Detailed knowledge of the vascular architecture also supports the accurate prediction and management of hemorrhage severity in cases of splenic rupture. The spleen’s microvascular system has a unique and complex organization that is distinct from other organs, and its elucidation is critical for understanding splenic function. In the present study, the spleens of 20 hair goats were examined. …

Full Issue, Volume 14, Number 1., Donna J. Peterson Dr., Scott Cummings, Elizabeth Gregory North

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

No abstract provided.

Impact Of Acute Flight Training Stress On Cardiovascular Health: A Pilot Study, Toni Butler

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Impact of acute flight training stress on cardiovascular health: A pilot study  Toni C. Butler, Carolina R. P. Ferreira, Bryan W. Hinton, Noah J. Robbins, Sophia R. Vaden, Andrew H. Schneider, Scott K. Ferguson, Ph.D.   Cardiovascular conditions are among the most common medical issues in certificated pilots and a major source of certification scrutiny. Student pilots experience unique acute stressors during flight training that may influence both physiological and psychological health. Acute stress is known to affect cardiovascular function, including vascular endothelial health; however, the impact of flight training–related stress on cardiovascular function remains poorly characterized. This pilot study tested …

The Effects Of Hypoxia On Balance Systems, Samuel Drescher Drescher, Heather Bond, Allysa Hayden, Victoria Cornaro, Brandon Ibarra, Noah Clark, Frank Cunningham Iv, Carolina Ferreira, Sierra Martinez, Katie Stubits

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Hypoxia, a condition characterized by insufficient oxygen availability to body tissues, is known to impair physiological and cognitive function, particularly at high altitudes above 15,000 ft. However, the effects of mild hypoxia (10,000–15,000 ft) remain less well understood. This study, conducted by the department of Human Factors and Behavioral Neurobiology at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, investigates the impact of mild hypoxia at 12,000 ft on human balance systems. Specifically, it examines the three primary components of balance: visual, proprioceptive, and vestibular systems. Participants complete nine balance tasks under both normoxic and hypoxic conditions. Tasks are structured to progressively limit sensory input: …

The Effects Of Acute Dietary Nitrate Supplementation On The Inspiratory Muscle Metaboreflex In Young Healthy Adults, Sabrina Ehrenfort, Riley Dienna, Ben Kerns, Hannah Lyons, Rachel Phillips

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Increased work of breathing (Wb) triggers the inspiratory muscle metaboreflex, which elevates systemic blood pressure in response to diaphragmatic fatigue. To counteract this, dietary nitrate could act as a source of nitric oxide, which is known to improve muscle power and efficiency (Jones et al., 2018). This study examines the hypothesis that acute nitrate supplementation would attenuate this response. Utilizing the KH2 device from PowerBreathe, 20 healthy participants (mean age: 21.1 ± 2.5 years; range: 18–30 years) underwent a resistive breathing task (RBT) for a total of three minutes at 60% of their maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP). All 20 participants …

Impact Of Stress & Fatigue On Cardiovascular Function In Young Pilots: A Thematic Review, Swarna Manoj

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Impact of Stress & Fatigue on Cardiovascular Function in Young Pilots: A Thematic Review   Authors: Swarna Manoj, Scott Ferguson   Keywords: pilot, stress, fatigue, heart rate variability (HRV), cardiovascular disease (CVD) Aviation is expanding globally and young pilots are the major workforce, yet FAA protocols require mandatory ECG only from age 35, with annual cardiac screening after age 40. Over the past five years, a pattern of sudden cardiac arrests in pilots particularly aged 30-40 has urged safety concerns. Despite the existing literature examining fatigue, burnout, stress, sleep hygiene and circadian disruption, only few studies systematically examine how these factors impact …

Analyzing Fungal Growth Dynamics Under Different Environmental Conditions Using A Lotka–Volterra Competition System, Maria Ordonez, Fabrio Araujo

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Fungi play a critical role in ecosystems as decomposers that recycle nutrients and maintain environmental balance. Their populations are influenced by multiple environmental factors such as temperature, humidity, nutrient availability, and interactions with other organisms. In this project, the Lotka–Volterra model is used to analyze how competing fungal species interact and how these interactions influence population dynamics over time. By modeling two fungal populations competing for the same limited resources, the equations illustrate how environmental conditions and competition coefficients determine whether one species dominates; both species coexist, or one species becomes extinct. The model provides insight into how changes in …

Ai-Based Pilot Fatigue Monitoring For Enhanced Aviation Safety, Joshua Henderson, Alexander Landau, Braxton Moor, Jacky Yang, Caleb Difabio

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Pilot fatigue remains a persistent systemic operational hazard in commercial aviation because it can degrade attention, reaction time, decision-making, and crew coordination during safety-critical phases of flight. Although regulatory duty-time limits and Fatigue Risk Management Systems provide baseline protections, these controls rely heavily on voluntary reporting and post-event analysis, which may fail to detect fatigue in real time. The purpose of this project was to design and evaluate an artificial intelligence-enabled fatigue monitoring concept intended to reduce undetected pilot fatigue risk within the airline Safety Management System framework. The study applied a structured research approach including a literature review to …

Assessing The Impact Of Various Factors On Hypoxic Response, Reese Kim, Allysa Hayden

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Hypoxia is a condition in which the body’s tissues are deprived of oxygen and has deleterious effects on cognition, perception, and performance. Hypoxia has a myriad of symptoms such as euphoria, difficulty concentrating, headache, fatigue, nausea, dizziness, tunnel vision, and more. Outward signs of hypoxia include cyanosis (blueing of the fingertips and lips), tremors, loss of coordination, pallor, and complexion change, and can be used to notice the onset of hypoxia in others. Many factors are known to contribute to the manifestation of hypoxia, namely altitude, exposure duration, and certain physiological conditions such as heart problems and low blood flow …

Radiographic Evaluation Of Kidney Size In Cats: Effects Of Sex And Gonadal Status, Somchin Sutthigran, Auraiwan Klaengkaew, Chutimon Thanaboonnipat, Suppawiwat Ponglowhapan, Nan Choisunirachon

The Thai Journal of Veterinary Medicine

Radiographic evaluation of kidney size using the kidney-to-second lumbar vertebral body length (K/L2) ratio is a standard method for assessing kidney size in cats. However, current reference values underdetermine biological factors such as sex and gonadal status, which may influence kidney and lumbar length. Reproductive hormones are known to influence kidney and vertebral development, but their specific effects on radiographic kidney and vertebral measurements in cats are unclear. This retrospective study aimed to assess the effects of gonadal status on kidney length, L2 vertebral length, and the K/L2 ratio in clinically healthy cats. A total of 285 cats were included …

From Crisis To Reform: How The 1918 Influenza And Covid-19 Pandemics Redefined The Relationship Between Nurses And The American Healthcare System., Anh N V Le

Undergraduate Research and Scholarship Symposium

The 1918 Influenza and COVID- 19 pandemic have become two major public health crises that reshaped the role of nurses in the America healthcare system. Although a hundred years apart, both pandemics revealed how deeply the country depends on nurses during emergencies without proper and efficient strategies. This paper argues that these pandemics acted as turning points that redefined the social contract between nurses and the U.S. healthcare system. By examining historical context, nurses’ responsibilities, public perception, and long-term effects, this research show how pandemics expanded nurses’ authority while also exposing long-term weakness of the systems. In 1918, nurses were …

The Chameleon Experience: Queer Identity, Mental Health, And Transformation, Cameron Penny

Communication and Theater Association of Minnesota Journal

In this autoethnographic piece, I examine the correlation between queer identity and mental health through reflective analysis of my own experiences within a Western socio-cultural setting. I expand external perspectives on the queer experience by highlighting the normalization of queer prejudice and its adverse impact on self-image. I share how the religious praxis of Catholicism enforces binary conformity by promoting dichotomous thinking that simultaneously constricts queer expression and subjugates implicit biases. In tandem, I utilize autoethnography as my medium because it provides a unique outlet to raise awareness for chronically stigmatized identities by centering marginalized voices (Atay, 2011; Chavez, 2013). …

Confidence Versus Competence: Addressing Nursing Knowledge Gaps In Catheter Care To Reduce Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infections, Leslie Anne Villanueva Bautista

Master's Projects and Capstones

Catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) remain among the most prevalent and preventable healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), contributing substantially to patient morbidity, mortality, prolonged hospitalization, and healthcare expenditures. Most hospital-acquired UTIs are related to urinary catheters, and this burden costs the United States alone an estimated $340 to $450 million annually (Yang et al., 2022). CAUTIs are UTIs that occur in patients with indwelling urinary catheters. This quality improvement project aimed to increase adherence to existing bladder scanning protocols and strengthen urinary catheter care to prevent CAUTI. Baseline staff nurse knowledge was obtained, and reinterpretation of the facility’s existing protocols and bundles …

Draining The Risk, Holding The Line: A Nurse-Driven Approach To Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infection Prevention, Thy Nguyen

Master's Projects and Capstones

Catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) remain among the most common preventable healthcare-associated infections, with CMS eliminating reimbursement for hospital-acquired cases since 2008. Within a five-unit, high-acuity microsystem at an urban acute care hospital, four CAUTIs were documented between January and July 2026 despite established prevention protocols. Adherence gaps were identified in catheter necessity assessment, maintenance practices, and nurse-driven removal protocol use. This quality improvement project was guided by the Johns Hopkins Evidence-Based Practice framework and Lewin's Change Theory. A targeted nursing education intervention addressing bladder scanning, dependent loop identification, and catheter care bundle adherence was implemented across the microsystem over …

Resource-Conscious Care: Time To Pregnancy And Iui Cycle Outcomes In Female Same-Sex Couples, Lea George, Devika Sachdev, Kassie Bollig

Department of Medicine Faculty Papers

RESEARCH QUESTION: Does the clinical pregnancy rate (CPR) for the first cycle, time to pregnancy, and cumulative CPR up to six consecutive cycles differ between female same-sex couples undergoing intrauterine insemination (IUI) alone and those undergoing IUI with ovarian stimulation?

DESIGN: This retrospective cohort study evaluated 554 female same-sex couples undergoing IUI alone (n = 264) or IUI with ovarian stimulation (n = 290) at a single centre using cryopreserved donor spermatozoa from January 2012 to January 2022.

RESULTS: Overall, CPR for the first cycle was 17.9% (99/554). In adjusted analyses, there was no significant difference in CPR in IUI …

Improving Adherence To Remote Patient Monitoring (Rpm) For Patients With Hypertension, Chioma Udegbune

Student Scholarly Projects

Practice Problem: Hypertension is a leading contributor to cardiovascular disease, and suboptimal adherence to remote patient monitoring (RPM) limits opportunities for timely intervention and effective blood pressure management in outpatient primary care.

PICOT: The PICOT question that guided this project was: Among outpatient clinic nursing staff responsible for remote patient monitoring (RPM) in adults with hypertension (P), how does implementation of a structured nurse-led education and reminder protocol (I), compared to standard RPM practices consisting of routine onboarding and passive reminder processes (C), influence patient adherence to RPM protocols (O) over a 10-week period (T)?

Evidence: Evidence supports nurse-led education, …