Nursing Commons^™

In Full-Term Pregnant Women With Gestational Diabetes, Does Induction Of Labor Increase The Risk Of The Patient Requiring An Emergency C-Section When Compared To Spontaneous Labor?, Melissa Hernandez

Symposium of Student Scholars

Abstract

Background: Gestational diabetes (GDM) during pregnancy can have serious complications where an induction might be recommended instead of waiting for spontaneous labor (SL) to occur. With all labor, there is a risk of an emergency cesarean section (c-section). Women with GDM might require induction for their safety and the safety of their babies. According to the Mayo Clinic, problems that arise with GDM include the infant with excessive birth weight, congenital defects, and hypoglycemia. Women might develop preeclampsia, birth trauma, or delayed wound healing. The purpose of this project is to compare induction versus SL in full-term mothers with …

Educating Parents On Infant Safe Sleep To Reduce Sleep-Related Deaths, Marleni Cervantes

Symposium of Student Scholars

During my pediatric clinical rotation, I saw parents practicing unsafe sleeping practices with their infants. Infants would sleep with their pillows, blankets and in non-supine positions. There are around 3000 sleep related infant deaths annually in the United States (Patrick et al., 2021). To combat this issue a safe sleep education program should be implemented in labor and delivery and NICU units to ensure parents are getting the proper training before discharge. Parents will attend an education program before discharging from the hospital. The program will be completed in 2 days to ensure the parents are able to ask questions …

Prenatal Care: Access For All?, Jasmin Stewart

Symposium of Student Scholars

Prenatal care is an essential part of a woman’s pregnancy journey. It ensures that both mother and child are doing well, and helps to locate and diagnose any issues before they become complications. Without regular check ups, mothers will not be aware of life-threatening complications such as preeclampsia or placenta previa. Women in low socioeconomic brackets often do not have good access to prenatal care. Research studies have interviewed women and have stated many times there are no providers in the area where they live and they have to make long trips to see a doctor, which they cannot afford. …

Point-Of-Care Devices To Reduce Iatrogenic Anemia Among Preterm Infants, Jenna Craven

Symposium of Student Scholars

Abstract

In neonatal intensive care units (NICUs), the prevalence of anemia and required blood transfusions continues to rise. Blood testing is necessary in this population in order to accurately develop diagnoses and treatment options. However, blood loss in the NICU is the main cause of preterm neonatal anemia. Preterm infants tend to experience larger amounts of blood loss compared to other infants in the NICU. They are born with fewer red blood cells and are not able to rapidly reproduce these blood cells when needed, and multiple blood draws further deplete the infant’s hemoglobin and hematocrit levels. In current practice, …

Effects And Outcomes Of Different Laboring Positions And The Influence From Societal Norms, Amberlyn Heskett

Nursing | Senior Theses

Background

Within labor and delivery, every birth is different. Alarmingly, the U.S. has the highest maternal mortality rate, including death during labor, among developed countries (World Health Organization, 2022). Many maternal deaths may be preventable.

In the U.S., the use of forceps, vacuum-assisted birth, episiotomies, and emergency C-sections are common for women during childbirth. Even though some laboring positions may assist birthing more than others, there often is resistance to allowing various positions due to outside influences, including societal norms, hospital management, and healthcare professional training. Women in labor are vulnerable and look to their nurses for support during the …

Association Between Breastfeeding, Oxytocin, And Risk Of Postpartum Hemorrhage, Jordan Davis, Sophia Nelson

The Eleanor Mann School of Nursing Undergraduate Honors Theses

Rates of maternal morbidity and mortality are far too high in the United States compared to other developed countries. Additionally, breastfeeding is often poorly prioritized, leading to a negative community connotation and low rates of exclusive breastfeeding. The purpose of this study was to compile the available research on breastfeeding initiation and its association with risk for postpartum hemorrhage. Fifteen peer-reviewed articles were collected from databases and other scholarly articles and screened for correlation between breastfeeding and maternal health risk. Overall, many articles suggest that skin-to-skin contact and early initiation of breastfeeding may be the most effective way to reduce …

Tiny Tusks Breastfeeding And Infant Support: Breastfeeding's Effects On Maternal Mental Health, Anna Jacobs

The Eleanor Mann School of Nursing Undergraduate Honors Theses

Breastfeeding has proven to be beneficial for infant health and maternal physical health, but there are variable outcomes for maternal mental health. This literature review explores the relationship between breastfeeding and maternal mental health, a topic that is often disregarded when discussing breastfeeding with mothers. After an internship with Tiny Tusks Breastfeeding and Infant Support, a program to make breastfeeding more accessible at Razorback Athletics events, maternal mental health related to breastfeeding was shown to be a topic in need of more current research. This objective of this literature review was to determine how breastfeeding can impact maternal mental health …

Childhood And Adolescent Obesity: Related Comorbidities And Interventions, Jasmine Wong

Nursing | Senior Theses

Background

The prevalence of childhood and adolescent obesity in the United States has steadily risen over the years and has become a public health concern. Obesity is defined as a BMI at or above the 95th percentile for children and teens of the same age and sex. Obese children and adolescents are at risk for poor health and poor quality of life. Furthermore, there are numerous comorbidities associated with childhood and adolescent obesity. While some of the associated diseases are acute, others can become chronic and result in lifelong conditions.

Objective

The purpose of the present thesis is to explore …

Preventing Postpartum Complications Using A Home Visitation Model Of Care, Jenna Ingram

Nursing | Senior Theses

Background

The United States is currently facing a health crisis among the maternal postpartum population. As stated by The Commonwealth Fund in a study released in 2020, “In 2018, there were 17 maternal deaths for every 100,000 live births in the U.S. – a ratio more than double of most other high-income countries” (Roosa, 2020). Most often, mothers with uncomplicated pregnancies and births are discharged soon after the delivery of their new baby. In most outpatient settings, providers do not expect a follow up appointment for the mother until roughly three to six weeks after discharge. During this transition period …

The Components Of Vaccine Hesitancy And The Role Of Patient Education In Promotion Of Vaccinations In Newborns, Camille Joy Rayo

Nursing | Senior Theses

Background

Due to an array of reasons relating to vaccine hesitancy, many newborns are without their standardized and recommended vaccinations as a result of their parent’s beliefs. Parents hold the power to vaccinate their children. Nurses must provide reliable information, debunk myths, and pursue pro-vaccination ideas when educating a parent about newborn vaccinations. By doing so, vaccine hesitancy should decrease and vaccination rates should increase. Unvaccinated newborns are put at a greater risk of contracting serious illnesses that may spread to others or even lead to one’s own death.

Objective

To identify common factors regarding vaccine-hesitant parents of the newborn …

Tiny Tusks Internship: The Relationship Between Socioeconomic Status And Breastfeeding Barriers, Blair Finlinson

The Eleanor Mann School of Nursing Undergraduate Honors Theses

Tiny Tusks is a breastfeeding and infant support program developed by the nursing program at University of Arkansas. From 2021-2022, I have had the opportunity to complete my honors internship with this organization. Tiny Tusks was started with the goal of creating safe spaces for mothers to breastfeed and/or pump during school sporting events, along with providing up to date information on breastfeeding and infant safety practices. Tiny Tusks also provides changing tables, spaces for young children to decompress in a low-stimulation environment.

The Effects Of Prenatal Patient Education Regarding Epidural Anesthesia, Auburn Merritt

Symposium of Student Scholars

This project is important because there is a lack of education for prenatal women regarding epidural anesthesia which causes misunderstanding, confusion, a deficit of knowledge, and a lack of support. The purpose of this project is to analyze and suggest the importance of proper education regarding epidural anesthesia. Proper prenatal education causes resolution of misconceptions as well as causes patients to be more satisfied with their pain management during labor. Evidence that I found suggested that after proper education more pregnant women planned to receive epidural anesthesia (Cutajar, 2018). Women preferred detailed education to increase knowledge of the risks and …

Increasing Translation Services In Labor And Delivery, Victoria Morales

Symposium of Student Scholars

Abstract

Communication is one of the most basic and fundamental concepts in healthcare. Whether between nurse, doctor, patient, or environmental services, effective communication is vital to ensuring patient safety, achieving positive patient outcomes, promoting healthcare, and ensuring that patients make informed decisions. Data was gathered from non-English speaking patient surveys from a Labor and Delivery unit at a metro Atlanta hospital, to determine that not enough translation services were readily available for non-English speaking patients, and as a result, patient outcomes and satisfaction were negatively impacted. According to The International Journal of Translation and Interpreting Research, systemic reviews from multiple …

Nurses’ Perceptions Of The Universal Newborn Hearing Screening Program, Aaron Michael Roman, Michelle O'Connor Kensey

Journal of Early Hearing Detection and Intervention

This study explores the knowledge and perceptions of the newborn hearing screening (NBHS) program from the perspective of nurses and nursing support staff. Registered nurses and nursing support staff (n = 84) completed a digitally administered survey that queried their understanding of JCIH guidelines, perceptions around NBHS administration, and parental anxiety. The results demonstrated that while most respondents felt comfortable and confident about NBHS administration, there was a significant difference in their understanding of appropriate screening milestones compared to JCIH recommendations. Participants further demonstrated an interest in additional learning opportunities related to the NBHS.

Impact Of The Maternity Care Changes Of The Covid-19 Pandemic On Pregnant Women And Their Birth Partners: An Integrative Literature Review, Rebekah Kemp

Master of Science in Nursing Final Projects

Introduction: In March 2020, the novel coronavirus originating out of Wuhan in China and spreading rapidly worldwide, became known as the COVID-19 pandemic. Patients with pre-existing conditions, such as the elderly and pregnant women, are among those most vulnerable to severe infection due to COVID-19. Increased pulmonary expansion in the respiratory tract make pregnant women more susceptible to viral respiratory infections and exacerbation of illnesses like COVID-19. Another major concern correlated with the pandemic and pregnancy is its effect on pregnant women’s mental health. Unique physiological and psychological changes place pregnant women at an increased risk for experiencing mental health …

Functional Links Between Thermoregulation And Sleep In Children With Neurodevelopmental And Chronic Health Conditions, Susan M. Mccabe, Chris R. Abbiss, Jean Pierre Libert, Véronique Bach

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The bi-directional relationship between sleep and wake is recognized as important for all children. It is particularly consequential for children who have neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) or health conditions which challenge their sleep and biological rhythms, and their ability to maintain rhythms of participation in everyday activities. There are many studies which report the diverse reasons for disruption to sleep in these populations. Predominantly, there is focus on respiratory, pharmaceutical, and behavioral approaches to management. There is, however, little exploration and explanation of the important effects of body thermoregulation on children’s sleep-wake patterns, and associated behaviors. Circadian patterns of sleep-wake are …

Team Engagement & Obstetrics Transformation Committee, Colette Dumais, Faye Weir, Lynn Willey, Kristen Heanssler, Brittany Babb, Suneela Nayak, Natalia Johnson, Rebecca Brookes, Obstetrics Transformation Committee,Maine Medical Center

Operations Transformation

Gallup defines employee engagement as the involvement and enthusiasm of employees in their work and workplace. Employee engagement helps to measure and manage employees' perspectives on the crucial elements of workplace culture. Based on over 50 years of employee engagement research, engagement employees produce better outcomes (better patient care) than other employees. Based on the unit survey, team members, with the support of local leaders, formed the Transformation Committee. This Committee was developed as a shared governance, team led model to address process improvement needs and create a culture of active engagement in problem solving.

Children’S Experiences Of Hospitalization Over Time: An Evaluation Of Using Poetry And Creative Writing By Children To Assess Their Experiences Of Hospitalization, David Wood

Patient Experience Journal

This article explores children’s experiences of hospital admissions through their poetry and creative writing and assesses the validity of this medium compared to other methods of evaluation. Pediatric patient experiences of hospital and their effects on children have been studied in various ways and there have been stepwise changes throughout the past century, matching the overall changes of medical care from paternalistic to patient centered. 17 poems were analyzed from children aged 6-13 years old (median 10) for recurrent themes whilst admitted to a large tertiary hospital in the north of England. Children frequently wrote about attacks on their senses, …

The Causes Of Preterm Neonatal Deaths In India And Pakistan (Purpose): A Prospective Cohort Study, Sangappa M. Dhaded, Sarah Saleem, Shivaprasad S. Goudar, Shiyam Sunder Tikmani, Kay Hwang, Gowdar Guruprasad, Gayathri H. Aradhya, Varun B. Kusagur, Sana Roujani, Sayyeda Reza

Community Health Sciences

Background: Preterm birth remains the major cause of neonatal death worldwide. South Asia contributes disproportionately to deaths among preterm births worldwide, yet few population-based studies have assessed the underlying causes of deaths. Novel evaluations, including histological and bacteriological assessments of placental and fetal tissues, facilitate more precise determination of the underlying causes of preterm deaths. We sought to assess underlying and contributing causes of preterm neonatal deaths in India and Pakistan.
Methods: The project to understand and research preterm pregnancy outcomes and stillbirths in South Asia (PURPOSe) was a prospective cohort study done in three hospitals in Davangere, India, and …

Measurement Of Sound Levels In A Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Of A Tertiary Care Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan, Saleema Khowaja, Shabina Ariff, Laila Ladak, Zainab Manan, Tazeen S. Ali

Department of Paediatrics and Child Health

Background: High sound levels in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) can alter preterm newborn hemodynamics and cause long-term neuro-developmental delays and hearing loss. The study aims to collate data on sound levels in a level IV NICU of a tertiary care hospital, identify the factors associated with them, and compare them with the international standards set by the World Health Organization (WHO), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).
Methods: We carried out a cross-sectional study in NICU from 8th April 2019 to 30th June 2019. Sound levels were recorded for 480 h, using a portable …

Mid-Simulation Debriefing: The Impact On Confidence And Clinical Judgement Of Nursing Students In A Baccalaureate Mother Baby Course, Tonya Broughton

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Capstones

Debriefing is a crucial aspect of healthcare simulation. This portion of the simulation experience encompasses the vast majority of student learning and reflection that takes place, and increases skills such as communication, clinical reasoning, and critical thinking. Traditionally debriefing is performed at the end of a clinical simulation experience after the simulation experience has concluded. In the maternal-newborn setting, there are often two phases of simulation. First is the care of the laboring mother and second is the delivery and care of the newborn. This study explored the effects of completing a mid-simulation debriefing in a maternal newborn simulation at …

Everyday Life With Childhood Functional Constipation: A Qualitative Phenomenological Study Of Parents' Experiences, Gunilla Flankegård, Evalotte Mörelius, Patrik Rytterström

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Childhood functional constipation (FC) is a worldwide problem with treatment regiments affecting everyday life. Aim: To explore parents´ experiences of living with a child with FC and its impact on everyday family life. Method: A qualitative phenomenological interview study using a reflective lifeworld research approach. Interviews with 15 parents of otherwise healthy children aged 1–14 years affected by FC. Findings: Shame is the driving force making parents put everyday life on hold. The quest for control, self-imposed loneliness, guilt, inadequacy, and frustrating battles become essential parts of everyday life to protect it from FC-related shame. Conclusion: FC has as great …

Dexterity Of The Less Affected Hand In Children With Hemiplegic Cerebral Palsy, Matthew B Burn, Gloria R Gogola

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: To determine if the "unaffected" hand in children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy (CP) is truly unaffected.

METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of manual dexterity as measured by the Functional Dexterity Test (FDT) in 66 children (39 boys, 27 girls, mean age: 11 years 4 months) with hemiplegic CP. Data were stratified by Manual Ability Classification System (MACS) level, birth weight, and gestational age at birth, and compared with previously published normative values.

RESULTS: The FDT speed of the less affected hand is significantly lower than typically developing (TD) children (

CONCLUSIONS: Both dexterity and rate of fine motor …

Speech-Language Disorder Severity, Academic Success, And Socioemotional Functioning Among Multilingual And English Children In The United States: The National Survey Of Children’S Health, Martin L Blakely, Matthew A Rysavy, Kevin P Lally, Barry Eggleston, Claudia Pedroza, Jon E Tyson

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are challenging, but are the studies most likely to change practice and benefit patients. RCTs investigating neonatal surgical therapies are rare. The Necrotizing Enterocolitis Surgery Trial (NEST) was the first surgical RCT conducted by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) Neonatal Research Network (NRN), and multiple lessons were learned. NEST was conducted over a 7.25-year enrollment period and the primary outcome was death or neurodevelopmental impairment (NDI) at 18-22 months corrected age. Surgical investigators designing clinical trials involving neonatal surgical treatments have many considerations to include, including how to …

The Use Of Swaddle Bathing In The Neonate, Michele Mancini

Master of Science in Nursing Family Nurse Practitioner

No abstract provided.

Implementation Of Infant Driven Feeding™ In A Level Ii Nicu, Kelly Gardner

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Capstones

In the United States, currently, 1 in 10 babies are born premature. Due to the immaturity of their neurological, gastrointestinal, and cardio-respiratory functions, preterm infants can experience the inability to coordinate sucking, swallowing, and breathing that is essential to oral feed. Cue-based oral feeding methods are designed to give the caregiver the ability to recognize signs of readiness and respond appropriately to the infant cues to adjust the manner in which feeding intervention is performed to match the infant’s current state of physiologic tolerance. The Infant Driven Feeding™ program incorporates scales to assess readiness and quality of the oral feeding, …

Parent And Child Anxiety Evaluated During An Early Period Of The Covid-19 Pandemic: A Mixed-Methods Study, Karla M. Abela, Darlene Acorda, Stanley Cron, Geri Lobiondo-Wood

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

Purpose: The objective of this study was to explore parent and child anxiety during the pandemic. Unlike previous pandemics, measures implemented to prevent the transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 virus have been much more limiting.

Methods: An explanatory convergent mixed-methods design was used to describe anxiety of children 9–17 years of age and their parents during August–October 2020. Adult and child versions of State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) were used to examine levels as measured on STAI’s state-anxiety subscale. Web-based interviews with a subset of patients were conducted qualitatively to analyze anxiety-related themes.

Results: A total of 188 parents …

Respiratory Virus Surveillance Among Children With Acute Respiratory Illnesses - New Vaccine Surveillance Network, United States, 2016-2021, Ariana Perez, Joana Y Lively, Aaron Curns, Geoffrey A Weinberg, Natasha B Halasa, Mary Allen Staat, Peter G Szilagyi, Laura S Stewart, Monica M Mcneal, Benjamin Clopper, Yingtao Zhou, Brett L Whitaker, Elizabeth Lemasters, Elizabeth Harker, Janet A Englund, Eileen J Klein, Rangaraj Selvarangan, Christopher J Harrison, Julie A Boom, Leila C Sahni, Marian G Michaels, John V Williams, Gayle E Langley, Susan I Gerber, Angela Campbell, Aron J Hall, Brian Rha, Meredith Mcmorrow

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The New Vaccine Surveillance Network (NVSN) is a prospective, active, population-based surveillance platform that enrolls children with acute respiratory illnesses (ARIs) at seven pediatric medical centers. ARIs are caused by respiratory viruses including influenza virus, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), human metapneumovirus (HMPV), human parainfluenza viruses (HPIVs), and most recently SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19), which result in morbidity among infants and young children (1-6). NVSN estimates the incidence of pathogen-specific pediatric ARIs and collects clinical data (e.g., underlying medical conditions and vaccination status) to assess risk factors for severe disease and calculate influenza and COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness. Current NVSN …

Factors Shaping Good And Poor Nurse-Client Relationships In Maternal And Child Care: A Qualitative Study In Rural Tanzania, Kahabi Isangula, Eunice Pallangyo, Columba Mbekenga, Eunice Ndirangu, Constance Shumba

School of Nursing & Midwifery, East Africa

Background: Evidence indicates that poor nurse‐client relationships within maternal and child health (MCH) continues to impact trust in formal healthcare systems, service uptake, continuity with care and MCH outcomes. This necessitates contextualized innovative solutions that places both nurses and clients at the forefront as agents of change in optimizing intervention designs and implementation. This study explored nurses and clients’ perspectives on the factors shaping nurse‐client relationships in MCH care to generate evidence to guide subsequent steps of human centered design (HCD) that involve designing effective strategies for improving therapeutic relationships in Shinyanga, Tanzania.

Methods: Qualitative descriptive design was …

Are Women With Disabilities Less Likely To Utilize Essential Maternal And Reproductive Health Services?-A Secondary Analysis Of Pakistan Demographic Health Survey, Shafaq Mahmood, Waqas Hameed, Sameen Siddiqi

Community Health Sciences

Background: People with disabilities deal with widespread exclusion from healthcare services, including sexual and reproductive health (SRH) rights. Studies analyzing the relationship between disability and key SRH utilization outcomes have often reported mixed findings. In Pakistan, very little to no literature is available on this topic, therefore we aim to determine inequalities in the utilization of essential maternal and reproductive health services between women with and without disabilities in Pakistan.
Methods: This was a secondary analysis of Pakistan Demographic Health Survey 2017-18 performed on a weighted sample of 6,711 women aged 15-49 years with a live birth in the 5 …