Nursing Commons^™

The Impact Of Nurse-Led Distraction Techniques On Pain And Anxiety During Cancer Treatment In Pediatric Oncology Patients: Examining Virtual Reality And Play Therapy, Alexis Abalos

Nursing | Senior Theses

Children undergoing cancer treatment often experience pain and anxiety during cancer treatment, including chemotherapeutic invasive procedures such as frequent port access or peripheral catheterization. Nurse-led distraction techniques, including virtual reality and play therapy, have emerged as promising non-pharmacologic interventions to reduce levels of pain and anxiety in pediatric oncology patients. This thesis analyzes existing data through a close examination of primary and secondary research articles that prove the effectiveness of virtual reality and play therapy on reducing pain, anxiety, and psychosocial distress in pediatric oncology patients receiving cancer treatment. Using the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) Symptom Management Theory, …

Advancing Screening For Intimate Partner Violence In Pregnant Individuals Throughout The Perinatal Period To Prevent Adverse Pregnancy And Maternal Outcomes, Emilia R. Valdez

Nursing | Senior Theses

Background: Intimate Partner Violence experienced by pregnant individuals contributes to adverse pregnancy outcomes and maternal health. A mother’s exposure to Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) can affect their ability to carry a healthy pregnancy to term (38 – 40 weeks gestational age) and places them at risk for comorbidities including; Preterm birth, Intrauterine Growth Restriction, Low Birth Weight/ Small for Gestational Age, Premature Rupture of Membranes and Miscarriage. The incidence of IPV screening is not accessible to all pregnant individuals due to healthcare providers lack of education, time constraints in the workplace, bias and discomfort towards IPV. The implementation of IPV …

How Instructor Engagement Shapes Nursing Students’ Perceptions And Specialty Preference, Marissa M. Sigel

Nursing | Senior Theses

Background: As nursing students approach graduation, choosing a specialty becomes a key decision. Although clinical rotations offer exposure to different practice areas, the role of the clinical instructor is equally influential. Instructor engagement extends beyond teaching skills and may shape how students perceive clinical environments. Objective: This study examines how clinical instructor engagement influences senior nursing students’ specialty preferences. Method: A longitudinal cohort design will be used with pre-licensure BSN students at a small private university in Northern California. Students will complete the same survey twice during their program, and paired t-tests will be used to assess changes in specialty …

Routine Guided Meditation In Nicu Nurses: A Coping Strategy For Nicu Nurses Dealing With Newborn Deaths, Gianna Wong

Nursing | Student Research Posters

Purpose: This research study aims to investigate the emotional impact of newborn deaths on Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) nurses in addition to evaluating their perceptions of routine guided meditation as an effective coping mechanism to manage professional grief and enhance psychological well-being. Methods: Utilizing an exploratory descriptive research design grounded in Pender’s Health Promotion Model (HPM), this study examines the lived experiences and health-promoting behaviors of neonatal nurses following newborn deaths. Data: Anticipatory collection of data will be from a sample of NICU nurses based in California through a twelve-question survey featuring open-ended questions. Qualitative content …

Exploring Dominican University Nursing Students’ Perceptions Of Economic Barriers To Accessing Essential Women’S Health Products, Annabelle E. Burke

Nursing | Senior Theses

Period poverty is defined as inconsistent or inadequate access to feminine hygiene products, and it has been shown to negatively impact physical and mental health, academic performance, and dignity across diverse populations. Existing research highlights financial strain, social stigma, and insufficient support as key barriers to menstrual equity among individuals experiencing homelessness, adolescents living in low-resource environments, low-income women, and general undergraduate students (Brinkley & Niebuhr, 2023; Dave et al., 2022; Gruer et al., 2021; Lahme et al., 2018; Parkinson et al., 2024; Gilchrist et al., 2024). However, no studies have examined these issues amongst Dominican University nursing students who …

Paternal Involvement And Bonding In Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: Evaluating Daily Caregiving, Emotional Well-Being, And Father-Infant Connection, Ava G. Kinyon

Nursing | Senior Theses

Background: Premature birth and serious neonatal conditions frequently require infants to obtain care in the NICU, producing psychological and emotional obstacles for families. Despite the fact that skin-to-skin contact has been extensively researched for its strengths in encouraging stability and bonding, there persists restricted importance and understanding on paternal participation in routine caregiving tasks such as feeding, diapering, temperature checks, and swaddling. Purpose: This study aims to evaluate paternal participation in daily NICU caregiving tasks to address gaps in comprehending how these experiences impact bonding and emotional well-being among fathers of hospitalized infants. Methods: This study will employ a quasi-experimental …

The Effects Of Strong Parental Support And Societal Support Compared To Low Or Absent Support In Lgbtqia+ Youth, Kassandra Bautista

Nursing | Senior Theses

Background: LGBTQIA+ youth with unsupportive backgrounds face negative outcomes in their mental health. Past studies share that LGBTQIA+ youth have increased symptoms of mental illness including depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts and behaviors related to unsupportive environments among parents, peers, and society. Objective: By advocating for this minority group through education and culturally competent care, healthcare providers can reduce negative outcomes in the mental and physical well-being of the youth. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to address the impact of parental and societal support in LGBTQIA+ mental health, and to implement interventions and increase awareness of this issue. …

Comparing Nurse-Led Holistic Pain Relief Strategies And Sole Pharmacological Use In Enhancing Maternal Satisfaction, Reducing Pain, And Lowering Obstetric Interventions During Childbirth, Jessica C. Moore

Nursing | Senior Theses

Background: Childbirth has become heavily reliant on pharmacological management and obstetric interventions such as epidural use, labor induction, and cesarean deliveries (C-sections) even among low-risk pregnancies. While necessary in some cases, excessive reliance on pharmacological interventions can negatively impact the experience of birthing as a whole. Non-pharmacological interventions (NPIs) such as breathing techniques, positioning, hydrotherapy, massage, aromatherapy and continuous support have shown to be effective in reducing pain and supporting physiologic labor. The gaps in education and lack of standard implementation result in inconsistent application in practice. Purpose: This research proposal aims to evaluate the effectiveness of nurse-led NPIs compared …

How Social Media And Cyberbullying Correlate To Eating Disorders In Adolescents, Nicoli A. Panelo

Nursing | Senior Theses

Background: Social media is very prevalent in today’s society, particularly in adolescents. This time period is crucial for this age group in terms of developing a sense of purpose and identity. Although social media may keep many of our children entertained, they also can create negative impacts on them and ultimately hinder their overall development both mentally and physically through negative body image and unrealistic self-expectations. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to find the correlation between social media use and the rise of eating disorders in adolescents. Doing so would allow us to find ways to lower the …

Supporting New Graduate Nurses: Residency, Mindfulness, And Simulation, Shaianne Kaye S. Intal

Nursing | Senior Theses

The purpose of this research proposal is to examine the effectiveness of support systems in helping new graduate nurses bridge the potential gap between nursing education and clinical practice. It aims to address the inconsistencies in nursing education and clinical practice, and how these strategies can better support new graduate nurses. This study will focus on new graduate nurses within their first 2 years of practice in an inpatient setting. A mixed-methods convergent parallel design approach will be used by combining quantitative questionnaires with qualitative interviews at the same time. This will evaluate the effectiveness of nurse residency programs, mindfulness-based …

Bridging The Language Gap: The Impact Of In-Person Versus Remote Interpreter Services On Medication Adherence And Patient Safety In Adult Spanish-Speaking Patients, Ashley E. Alarcon Martinez, Jocelyn N. Lopez Maradiaga

Nursing | Senior Theses

Background: Significant health inequities are caused by language barriers between patients and health care staff, resulting in miscommunication among adult Hispanic patients with low English proficiency, reducing medication adherence, impairing patient safety, and raising the possibility of medical errors. To address this issue, interpreter services, both in-person and remote translation, have been introduced in healthcare settings to enhance communication. Objective: The purpose of this study is to investigate the differences in patient safety and medication adherence between in-person and remote translation services for adult Hispanic individuals with limited English proficiency in healthcare settings. Methods: The proposed research involves five local …

The Impact Of Parental Mental Health On Infant Outcomes In The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: Length Of Stay, Feeding, Bonding, And Developmental Progress, Andee L. Plaskett

Nursing | Senior Theses

Background: The neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) can be a highly stressful environment for both infants and their parents. Poorer infant outcomes, including longer hospital stays, feeding difficulties, and delayed developmental progress can all be a reflection and outcome of elevated parental distress. Currently, mental health distress and infant screening tools are used in most NICUs but are not seen in all practices, it is also important to provide interventions based on the screening results. Screening tools are used to identify a problem but interventions should be implemented to try to alleviate the problem. Objective: By implementing a standardized screening …

Health Disparities In Cardiovascular Care: The Impact Of Diabetes Education And Post-Discharge Interventions For African American Adults At Risk For And After Myocardial Infarction, Trinity L. Billingsley

Nursing | Senior Theses

Background: Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, affecting African American adults at higher rates compared to other racial and ethnic groups. Diabetes as a comorbidity is one of the risk factors of experiencing a myocardial infarction, remaining one of the leading causes of death among individuals with diabetes. Objective: To examine the effectiveness of structured diabetes education tailored to African American adults who are at risk for and after a myocardial infarction. Additionally assessing the complications of a myocardial infarction, the outcomes associated with structured education will be compared to the outcomes of …

Human Milk Feeding And Its Impact On The Incidence Of Necrotizing Enterocolitis, Maya C. Kern

Nursing | Senior Theses

One of the leading causes of morbidity and death for preterm and very low birth weight (VLBW) newborns is still necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). Existing literature consistently shows that the bioactive, anti-inflammatory, and microbiome-supporting components of human breast milk, including donor human milk, significantly lower the incidence of NEC. However, a lot of infants are forced to rely on formula and nutrient fortifiers because they cannot obtain maternal or donor milk. A critical gap persists regarding whether human milk derived fortifiers offer greater NEC protection than bovine derived fortifiers in infants who must receive formula. This thesis examines three interconnected themes; …

Blister Packaging Versus Bottles: Caregiver Accuracy And Child Safety In Pediatric Medication Gummy Administration, Paolo Olimpiada

Nursing | Senior Theses

The safety of medication in pediatric settings has become an increasing concern as gummy-formulated medications have gained popularity in children’s care. Gummy-formulated medications have a close resemblance to candy, and this may mislead children to ingest additional doses or more than what was prescribed. Children also depend a lot on their caregivers for medications. Therefore, the design of packaging would be impactful in supporting medication dosing accuracy. And studies have evaluated safety features of packaging related to adherence, misuse, and unintended administration. However, limited studies have examined the influence of medication packaging on the dosing accuracy at the time of …

Patient Safety: Paramedic To Nurse Patient Handover Quality And Its Influence On Clinical Deterioration In The Emergency Department, Madison P. Penick

Nursing | Student Research Posters

No abstract provided.

Effectiveness Of Post-Discharge Interventions Following Psychiatric Hospitalization On Readmissions And Suicide Prevention Among Adolescents, Maria Paz Eladia Posadas

Nursing | Senior Theses

Background: Suicide is a pervasive and far-reaching issue. Psychiatric hospitalization is often used as an intervention for individuals, including adolescents, experiencing suicidal ideation and/or behavior. However, post-discharge care may lack structure or clearly defined follow-up services, which can result in rehospitalizations and increased suicidality. Objective: The goal of the proposed research study is to investigate how implementation of peer support groups for adolescents following psychiatric hospitalization can assist in reducing readmissions and mitigating suicide risk. This can also help shape strategies for managing care after discharge. Method: The proposed research study utilizes a quantitative quasi-experimental design to determine the efficacy …

Patient Safety: Paramedic To Nurse Patient Handover Quality And Its Influence On Clinical Deterioration In The Emergency Department, Madison P. Penick

Nursing | Senior Theses

Background: Quality patient handoff from Emergency Medical Services to the Emergency Department is a crucial transition of care that directly impacts patient safety, medical intervention, and patient outcomes. If concise, effective communication is not achieved, critical details can be left out resulting in medical errors, delayed intervention times, and lack of identification of clinical deterioration.

Aim: This study aims to understand how paramedic to nurse handoff quality impacts a nurse’s early identification of clinical deterioration.

Proposal:

Methodology: A quasi-experimental study of mixed-method research.

Recruitment strategy: A fire department in Marin County, CA and ED nurses from the base trauma center …

Routine Guided Meditation In Nicu Nurses: A Coping Strategy For Nicu Nurses Dealing With Newborn Deaths, Gianna Wong

Nursing | Senior Theses

Purpose: This research study aims to investigate the emotional impact of newborn deaths on Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) nurses in addition to evaluating their perceptions of routine guided meditation as an effective coping mechanism to manage professional grief and enhance psychological well-being. Methods: Utilizing an exploratory descriptive research design grounded in Pender’s Health Promotion Model (HPM), this study examines the lived experiences and health-promoting behaviors of neonatal nurses following newborn deaths. Data: Anticipatory collection of data will be from a sample of NICU nurses based in California through a twelve-question survey featuring open-ended questions. Qualitative content analysis will be …

Developing An Educational Session And Epic-Based Tools To Help Nurses Provide Culturally Sensitive Care To Their Muslim Patients, Laila Albutmeh

Nursing | Senior Theses

Background: Islam is currently the fastest growing religion in the world and the chances of nurses having a Muslim patient is exceptionally high yet many nurses lack the knowledge and resources on how to accurately provide culturally sensitive care to Muslim patients. Hospitals lack educational sessions/training as well as Epic tools to help nurses provide culturally sensitive care to Muslim patients which leads to a knowledge deficit in cultural sensitivity of Islamic beliefs, values, and practices. Purpose: This thesis paper proposes a research design for a nurse education/training program on Islamic beliefs, values, and practices along with an implementation of …

How Instructor Engagement Shapes Nursing Students’ Perceptions And Specialty Preference, Marissa M. Sigel

Nursing | Student Research Posters

Background: As nursing students approach graduation, choosing a specialty becomes a key decision. Although clinical rotations offer exposure to different practice areas, the role of the clinical instructor is equally influential. Instructor engagement extends beyond teaching skills and may shape how students perceive clinical environments. Objective: This study examines how clinical instructor engagement influences senior nursing students’ specialty preferences. Method: A longitudinal cohort design will be used with pre-licensure BSN students at a small private university in Northern California. Students will complete the same survey twice during their program, and paired t-tests will be used to assess changes in specialty …

Social Media/Cyberbullying Correlation To Adolescent Eating Disorders, Nicoli A. Panelo

Nursing | Student Research Posters

Background: Social media is very prevalent in today’s society, particularly in adolescents. This time period is crucial for this age group in terms of developing a sense of purpose and identity. Although social media may keep many of our children entertained, they also can create negative impacts on them and ultimately hinder their overall development both mentally and physically through negative body image and unrealistic self-expectations. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to find the correlation between social media use and the rise of eating disorders in adolescents. Doing so would allow us to find ways to lower the …

Bridging The Language Gap: The Impact Of In-Person Versus Remote Interpreter Services On Medication Adherence And Patient Safety In Adult Spanish-Speaking Patients, Ashley E. Alarcon Martinez, Jocelyn N. Lopez Maradiaga

Nursing | Student Research Posters

Background: Significant health inequities are caused by language barriers between patients and health care staff, resulting in miscommunication among adult Hispanic patients with low English proficiency, reducing medication adherence, impairing patient safety, and raising the possibility of medical errors. To address this issue, interpreter services, both in-person and remote translation, have been introduced in healthcare settings to enhance communication. Objective: The purpose of this study is to investigate the differences in patient safety and medication adherence between in-person and remote translation services for adult Hispanic individuals with limited English proficiency in healthcare settings. Methods: The proposed research involves five local …

Prevention Of Burnout Among Critical Care Nurses, Jenelle Balaoing, Junela Bautista

Nursing | Student Research Posters

Background: Nursing burnout is a state of mental and physical exhaustion caused by excessive stress among nurses. Critical care nurses face challenges with direct patient care that contribute to emotional and psychological strain that are greatly influenced by workplace adversity and emotional management. Purpose: This research examines the prevalence of burnout among pediatric and adult intensive care unit (ICU) nurses, highlighting particularly high rates of burnout among those with extended years of service. Method: ICU nurses will participate in a qualitative interview that involves open ended questions relevant among burnout and resilience during shifts. Aspects specifically years of critical experience …

Assisting New Graduate Nurses Through Support Systems, Shaianne Kaye S. Intal

Nursing | Student Research Posters

No abstract provided.

Psychological Impact Of Ulcerative Colitis On Pregnancy And Postpartum Period, Stephanie C. Carver

Nursing | Student Research Posters

No abstract provided.

The Impact Of Maternal Mental Health On Child Development, Jessica White

Nursing | Student Research Posters

No abstract provided.

Optimizing Endogenous Glp-1 Holistically: A Nursing Led Approach To Sustainable Weight Loss Without Glp-1 Agonist Use, Taylee A. Carscadden

Nursing | Student Research Posters

No abstract provided.

Effectiveness Of Music Therapy In Managing Pain And Anxiety In Pediatric Burn Patients Compared To Traditional Methods Alone, Alejandro Miguel Santos, Maekalagail Santos

Nursing | Student Research Posters

Introduction:

Burn injuries are among the most painful conditions for children. While pharmacological interventions are commonly used, non-pharmacological strategies like music therapy are gaining attention for their potential to improve patient outcomes. Previous research indicates that music therapy can reduce pain and anxiety in various settings, but its impact on pediatric burn patients remains underexplored.

Objective:

This study aims to explore the effectiveness of music therapy in managing pain and anxiety in pediatric burn patients, comparing it to traditional pain management methods alone.

Research Question:

Does music therapy affect pain and anxiety in pediatric burn unit patients when added to …

The Health Impact Of Clinical Training On Nursing Students In Cambodia, Kimberly Aguilar Mondragon, Felicia Kim Yee

Nursing | Student Research Posters

Background: Clinical training presents significant challenges for nursing students worldwide, particularly evident in developing countries like Cambodia, where these difficulties are intensified by a lack of training, resources, and health issues like stress and fatigue. Many students struggle without adequate guidance, forcing them to navigate complex clinical environments independently. These factors not only impact students’ confidence and academic performance, but also their health and well-being. Through this study, we can gain insight into nursing in a developing country that hasn’t been widely studied, contributing to global nursing research. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to explore the health impact …