Nursing Commons^™

A Retrospective Study Of The Association Between Bsn Courses Grades And Scores On The Specialty Health Education Systems Incorporated (Hesi) Exams, Joshua Lambert, Teenu Xavier, Henry Ofori Duah, Donna Green, Julie Mccullough, Caroline Sanders

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

The purpose of this study was to determine how students' individual grades in BSN courses associated with their medical surgical, fundamentals, and pharmacology raw HESI scores. The average of three HESI scores were calculated and recursive partitioning and regression trees were used to identify associations between course grades and the composite HESI score. The model results provide insight into assessing student progression and can help in implementing tailored remediation strategies.

Why We Work: Exploring The Relationships Between Work Rewards, Burnout, And Intention To Leave For Professional Nurses, Jacqueline Christianson

Dissertations (1934 -)

Nurse burnout leads to attrition from hospital nursing positions and the nursing profession prior to typical retirement age. Yet some nurses choose to stay despite burnout. Previous research indicates that nurses stay due to the rewards they receive from work but the relationships between different types of work rewards, work-related burnout, and intention to leave are poorly described. The ability to implement or execute altruistic behaviors may also represent an under-recognized work reward. Thus, the purpose of this study is to investigate the relationships between work rewards, work-related burnout, and intention to leave nursing positions and the nursing profession and …

Medicare Modernization—The Urgent Need For Fiscal Solvency, Brian J. Miller, Lisa M. Grabert, Eric D. Hargan

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

Launched in 1965 based on the design prevalent in employer-sponsored insurance markets, Medicare began as a fee-for-service (FFS) benefit for the “very elderly,” with eligibility at age 65 years when the average life expectancy in the US was approximately 70 years. Fast forward to 2023, more than 60 million Americans depend on Medicare for financing their health benefits. Today, the program faces questions of fiscal sustainability, with hospital insurance (Part A) trust fund insolvency projected for 2028. Leaders across administrations, including former US Department of Health and Human Services Secretaries Burwell and Leavitt and former Center for Medicare & Medicaid …

Laminectomy With Fusion Is Associated With Greater Functional Improvement Compared With Laminectomy Alone For The Treatment Of Degenerative Lumbar Spondylolisthesis: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Geet Shukla, Sai S. Chilakapati, Abhijith V. Matur, Paolo Palmisciano, Fatu Conteh, Louisa Onyewadume, Henry Ofori Duah, Azante Griffith, Xu Tao, Phillip Vorster, Sahil Gupta, Joseph Cheng, Benjamin Motley, Owoicho Adogwa

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

Study Design.  Systematic review and Meta-analysis. Objective.  To compare outcomes and complications profile of laminectomy alone versus laminectomy and fusion for the treatment of degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis (DLS). Summary of Background Data.  Degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis is a common cause of back pain and functional impairment. DLS is associated with high monetary (up to $100 billion annually in the US) and nonmonetary societal and personal costs. While nonoperative management remains the first-line treatment for DLS, decompressive laminectomy with or without fusion is indicated for the treatment-resistant disease. Methods.  We systematically searched PubMed and EMBASE for RCTs and cohort studies from inception …

The Early Impact Of Covid-19 On Intensive Care Nurses’ Personal And Professional Well-Being: A Qualitative Study, Kelly Calkins, Jill L. Guttormson, Natalie S. Mcandrew, Holly Losurdo, Danielle Loonsfoot, Shania Schmitz, Jacklynn M. Fitzgerald

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

Objective

To describe the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on intensive care nurses personal and professional well-being.

Research Methodology/Design

A descriptive, qualitative design was used. Two nurse researchers conducted one-on-one interviews via Zoom or TEAMS using a semi-structured interview guide.

Setting

Thirteen nurses who were working in an intensive care unit in the United States participated in the study. A convenience sample of nurses who completed a survey in the larger parent study provided an email and were contacted by the research team to participate in interviews to discuss their experiences.

Main Outcome Measures

An inductive approach to content analysis …

Influence Of Depression And Interpersonal Support On Adherence To Antiretroviral Therapy Among People Living With Hiv, Jerry John Nutor, Akua O. Gyamerah, Robert Kaba Alhassan, Henry Ofori Duah, Rachel G.A. Thompson, Natalie Wilson, Orlando Harris, Jose Gutierrez, Thomas J. Hoffmann, Monica Getahun, Glenn-Milo Santos

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

Background

Poor adherence and under-utilization of antiretroviral therapy (ART) services have been major setbacks to achieving 95-95-95 policy goals in Sub-Saharan Africa. Social support and mental health challenges may serve as barriers to accessing and adhering to ART but are under-studied in low-income countries. The purpose of this study was to examine the association of interpersonal support and depression scores with adherence to ART among persons living with HIV (PLWH) in the Volta region of Ghana.

Methods

We conducted a cross-sectional survey among 181 PLWH 18 years or older who receive care at an ART clinic between November 2021 and …

Carboplasty, A Minimally Invasive Procedure For Knee Osteoarthritis: Surgical Technique And Clinical Evidence, Antonio Madrazo-Ibarra, David A. Kolin, Tracey Hunter, Joseph A. Ogyaadu, Henry Ofori Duah, Henry O. Tutu, Anthony Bandoh, Prudence Nutsuklo, Kwadwo Boachie-Adjei, Kaitlin M. Carroll, Amoli Vad, Eric Zhao, Vijay B. Vad

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

Knee osteoarthritis affects ~16% of adults in the world and is considered one of the most incapacitating diseases. Despite the advances in scientific knowledge and biological treatments in the field of orthopedics, available nonsurgical treatments for knee osteoarthritis are limited and still ineffective in delaying or stopping the progression of arthritis. Biologics such as platelet-rich plasma, bone marrow aspirate, and progenitor cells have emerged as potential treatments for osteoarthritis; however, the results are still not as expected. Carboplasty is a new treatment that involves the application of bone marrow aspirate into the bone-cartilage interface and intra-articularly, with the intention of …

Contraceptive Decision-Making Through The Lens Of Social Determinants Of Health Among Female Sex Workers: A Qualitative Descriptive Study, Jessica L. Zemlak, Kamila A. Alexander, Deborah Wilson, Susan G. Sherman

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

Aims

The aim of the study was to examine how female sex worker's motivations, desires, intentions and behaviours towards childbearing and childbearing avoidance inform their contraceptive decision-making. We explored the influence of social determinants of health in the domains of social context (sexual partners and experiences of violence), healthcare access, economic instability on the contraceptive decision-making process.

Design

We conducted a qualitative descriptive study informed by Miller's Theory of Childbearing Motivations, Desires and Intentions through the lens of social determinants of health.

Methods

Participants were recruited from a parent study, EMERALD, in July–September, 2020. Data were collected from 22 female …

A Center Experience With Common Data Elements In Chronic Illness Self-Management Research, Wendy S. Bauer, Rachel F. Schiffman

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

In recent decades, the use of common data elements has expanded across the health disciplines. This has included growth within programs of research focused on self-management and family nursing. Family nursing and self-management science may be expanded with the increased use of common concepts, measures, and theoretical frameworks. This article describes the experience of exploring the use of common data elements and identifying shared concepts from the perspective of one National Institute of Nursing Research funded Exploratory Center in Self-Management. Guidance offered by the Individual and Family Self-Management Theory is discussed, and implications for family research are presented.

Effectiveness Of A Postpartum Breastfeeding Protocol For Avoiding Pregnancy, Mary Schneider, Richard J. Fehring, Thomas Bouchard

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

The uses of cervical mucus and basal body temperature as indicators of return to fertility postpartum have resulted in high unintended pregnancy rates. In 2013, a study found that when women used urine hormone signs in a postpartum/breastfeeding protocol this resulted in fewer pregnancies. To improve the original protocol's effectiveness, three revisions were made: (1) women were to increase the number of days tested with the Clearblue Fertility Monitor, (2) an optional second luteinizing hormone test could be done in the evening, and (3) instructions were given to manage the beginning of the fertile window for the first six cycles …

Scoping Review Of Early Toxic Stress And Epigenetic Alterations In The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Kathryn J. Malin, Kaboni W. Gondwe, Alissa V. Fial, Rachel Moore, Yvette P. Conley, Rosemary White-Traut, Thao Griffith

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

Background

Preterm infants are uniquely vulnerable to early toxic stress exposure while in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and also being at risk for suboptimal neurodevelopmental outcomes. However, the complex biological mechanisms responsible for variations in preterm infants’ neurodevelopmental outcomes because of early toxic stress exposure in the NICU remain unknown. Innovative preterm behavioral epigenetics research offers a possible mechanism and describes how early toxic stress exposure may lead to epigenetic alterations, potentially affecting short- and long-term outcomes.

Objective

The aim of this study was to review the relationships between early toxic stress exposures in the NICU and epigenetic …

Improving Nurses' Knowledge In Caring For Children With Challenging Behaviors, Caroline R. Conley, Lisa Wendt, Christine A. Schindler

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

Hospital admission can be particularly difficult for children with known behavioral health challenges, such as children on the autism spectrum disorder. Nurses are in an ideal role to ease the burden associated with hospitalization. The aims of this quality improvement (QI) project include creating and implementing an evidence-based visual schedule for use with children who have challenging behaviors, and designing and implementing education for nurses specifically intended to describe evidence behind the use of visual activity schedules (VAS) for children with challenging behaviors. A Plan, Do, Study, Act (PDSA) method was used, and the intervention was evaluated via pre- and …

Work-Related Burnout, Compassion Fatigue, And Nurse Intention To Leave The Profession During Covid-19, Jacqueline Christianson, Norah L. Johnson, Amanda Nelson, Maharaj Singh

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

The purpose of this mixed-method study was to understand the relationships between work-related burnout (WRB), compassion fatigue (CF), and intention to leave the nursing profession. The Job Demands-Resources model was used to predict intention to leave as a function of WRB, CF, and caring for COVID-19 patients in a sample of 1299 US nurses. Greater WRB and CF scores were associated with intention to leave the profession. Contrary to prior research, working with COVID-19 patients was associated with greater intention to stay in nursing. Personal finances may represent the rationale for nurses to choose to stay nurses despite burnout.

Building A Community-Academic Partnership To Improve Screening For Intimate Partner Violence: Integrating Advocates In Healthcare Clinic Settings, Erin C. Schubert, Colleen M. Galambos, Teresa Jerofke-Owen, Erica Arrington, Greer C. Jordan, Nilanjan Lodh, Heidi Paquette, Gisela Chelimsky, Linda B. Piacentine

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

Aims

To develop an innovative community-academic partnership to advance, test and promote intimate partner violence screening and referral protocols by comparing the effect of integrating intimate partner violence advocates versus enhancing medical training in medical clinic settings serving women from vulnerable populations. Detecting intimate partner violence in healthcare settings allows for survivors to connect to safety and referral resources prior to violence escalating. Screening for intimate partner violence and connecting patients to referral resources requires creating a safe and trusting relationship between healthcare providers and patients. Developing screening and referral protocols responsive to survivors' needs requires involvement of clinic staff, …

Examining Relationships Among Nursing Students' Views Of Suffering, Positive Thinking, And Professional Quality Of Life, Ruth Anne Engbers

Dissertations (1934 -)

Despite the association between nursing students’ exposure to suffering and the development of compassion fatigue, little research exists regarding promoting nursing students’ adaptation to caring for suffering patients and families. As a possible nursing shortage is projected, it is imperative to better understand the factors that impact this adaptation to ensure that nursing students can successfully transition into their nursing role. Although beliefs about the reasons for human suffering affect their ability to cope with their exposure to the suffering of others, there is no empirical data regarding nursing students’ views of suffering. Nursing students also report using positive reframing …

Comparing Experiences Of Women Who Were Direct Breastfeeding And Women Who Used Expressed Breast Milk To Feed Their Infants, Lisa A. Anders, Karen Robinson, Jennifer M. Ohlendorf, Lisa Hanson

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

Purpose:

To provide understanding about feeding experiences of women who provide breast milk through direct breastfeeding and exclusive expression and to compare these experiences.

Study Design and Methods:

A qualitative study was conducted to gather experiences from the perspectives of women who had given birth to a healthy, term infant within the past 12 months and exclusively fed breast milk for at least 2 weeks. The sample was recruited from motherhood and breastfeeding support groups on Facebook. Groups had state- or national-based memberships. Interviews were examined for themes that were compared between feeding groups using thematic analysis.

Results:

Fifteen new …

Improving Inclusion For Children With Special Health Care Needs In Childcare Settings: Results From A Statewide Survey Of Childcare Professionals, Kim Whitmore, Norah L. Johnson, Seeun Park, Salma Salama, Rachel J. Sobiesk

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

Introduction: Families of children with special health care needs (CSHCN) routinely struggle to find suitable childcare. These families value childcare capable of supporting their child's needs, known as inclusive care, that requires trustworthy staff trained to safely care for CSHCN.

Method: This study aimed to understand the training, experience, confidence, and perceived barriers to providing inclusive care for CSHCN from the perspective of childcare providers and directors. Childcare providers (n = 263) and directors (n = 418) responded to a statewide survey in Wisconsin in 2019.

Results: Results show that both childcare providers and directors perceive that the …

Botulinum Neurotoxin A4 Has A 1000-Fold Reduced Potency Due To Three Single Amino Acid Alterations In The Protein Receptor Binding Domain, William H. Tepp, Marite Bradshaw, Alexander P. Gardner, Rebecca L. Kaufman, Joseph T. Barbieri, Sabine Pellett

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

Botulinum neurotoxin subtype A4 (BoNT/A4) is ~1000-fold less potent than BoNT/A1. This study addresses the basis for low BoNT/A4 potency. Utilizing BoNT/A1-A4 and BoNT/A4-A1 Light Chain-Heavy Chain (LC-HC) chimeras, HC-A4 was responsible for low BoNT/A4 potency. Earlier studies showed BoNT/A1-receptor binding domain (Hcc) bound a β-strand peptide (556–564) and glycan-N⁵⁵⁹ within Luminal Domain 4 (LD4) of SV2C, the BoNT/A protein receptor. Relative to BoNT/A1, the Hcc of BoNT/A4 possesses two amino acid variants (D¹¹⁴¹ and N¹¹⁴²) within the β-peptide binding interface and one amino acid variant (R¹²⁹²) located near the SV2C glycan-N⁵⁵⁹. …

Engagement In Online Communities By New Mothers In Recovery From Opioid Use Disorder, Nicole M. Mattson, Jennifer M. Ohlendorf

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

Purpose:

The purpose of this study was to examine the role of engagement with online communities by women using medication-assisted treatment (MAT) to manage recovery from opioid use disorder (OUD) during pregnancy and the first year after birth.

Study Design and Methods:

Ten participants were identified through purposive sampling for this secondary data analysis as part of a larger grounded theory study about ways women using MAT for recovery from OUD meet the needs of their mother–infant dyad. Inclusion criteria included: English-speaking, 18 years of age or older, living in the United States, within the first year after birth, using …

Robotic And Navigated Pedicle Screws Are Safer And More Accurate Than Fluoroscopic Freehand Screws: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Abhijith V. Matur, Paolo Palmisciano, Henry Ofori Duah, Sai S. Chilakapati, Joseph S. Cheng, Owoicho Adogwa

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

BACKGROUND CONTEXT

Navigated and robotic pedicle screw placement systems have been developed to improve the accuracy of screw placement. However, the literature comparing the safety and accuracy of robotic and navigated screw placement with fluoroscopic freehand screw placement in thoracolumbar spine surgery has been limited.

PURPOSE

To perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized control trials that compared the accuracy and safety profiles of robotic and navigated pedicle screws with fluoroscopic freehand pedicle screws.

STUDY DESIGN/SETTING

Systematic review and meta-analysis

PATIENT SAMPLE

Only randomized controlled trials comparing robotic-assisted or navigated pedicle screws placement with freehand pedicle screw placement in …

Patient-Mediated Interventions In Hospital: A Systematic Review, Georgia Tobiano, Shelley Roberts, Rachel Muir, Teresa Jerofke-Owen, Christine Ting, Sarah Thorning, Daren K. Heyland, Andrea P. Marshall

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

Aims

To describe the characteristics of hospital-based, patient-mediated interventions and their impact on patient, clinician and organization outcomes.

Design

Systematic review.

Data Sources

Health literature databases (MEDLINE, CINAHL and EMBASE) were searched in August 2021. Backward and forward citation searching was conducted.

Review Methods

Studies investigating patient-mediated interventions, targeted at adult hospitalized patients were eligible. Data were extracted related to study and intervention characteristics. Narrative synthesis was used to understand intervention impact on patient, clinician and organization outcomes (as per a framework). Methodological quality was assessed using the Mixed Methods Assessment Tool.

Results

Thirty-three studies, reporting 18 interventions, were included. …

Sickle Cell Disease And Adolescents’ Perspectives On Self-Care Management Resources, Dora L. Clayton-Jones, Jill B. Hamilton, Kristin Haglund, Lee Za Ong, Kalen C. Kennedy, Sylvia Peña, Coretta Jenerette

College of Education Faculty Research and Publications

Background

Adolescents with sickle cell disease (SCD) face unique challenges, especially during the critical health care transition from pediatric to adult care. The purpose of this study was to gather the perspectives of adolescents living with SCD and to describe their self-care management experiences prior to their move into the adult health care system.

Methods

Guided by the Theory of Self-Care Management for Sickle Cell Disease, this qualitative descriptive study used semi-structured interviews with 11 adolescents with SCD (M = 16.63 years, SD = 1.15). In addition to a demographic survey, adolescents answered interview questions about their perceptions of their …

Exploring The Feasibility Of Intrapartum Gbs Collection To Identify Residual Gbs In A Pilot Study Of An Antenatal Probiotic Intervention, Emily Malloy, Lisa Hanson, Leona Vandevusse, Karen Robinson, Maharaj Singh, Marie Forgie

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

Background: We aimed to explore the feasibility of collecting intrapartum maternal Group B Streptococcus (GBS) colonization and immediate post-birth neonatal GBS colonization cultures for use in a larger trial and to identify cases of residual GBS, which were hypothesized to be less common in the probiotics group.

Methods: This sub-study added additional outcome measures to the parent study to identify intrapartum and neonatal colonization and compare between probiotic and placebo groups and to identify cases of residual GBS. Intrapartum maternal vaginal and rectal GBS cultures were collected at the time of admission to a hospital for labor and to give …

Sprinting In A Marathon: Nursing Staff And Nurse Leaders Make Meaning Of Practicing In Covid-19 Devoted Units Pre-Vaccine, Natalie S. Mcandrew, William E. Rosa, Kaylen M. Moore, Jacqueline Christianson, Tala Abuzahra, Megann Mussatti, Colleen Mccracken, Amy R. Newman, Kelly Calkins, Susan Breakwell, Katie Klink, Jill L. Guttormson

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

Objective

To describe the lived experience of nursing staff and nurse leaders working in COVID-19 devoted units (intensive care or medical unit) prior to vaccine availability.

Research Design

Qualitative phenomenological design with a focus group approach.

Methods

The study team recruited a convenience sample of nursing staff (nurses, and nursing assistants/nurse technicians) and nurse leaders (managers, assistant nurse managers, clinical nurse specialists, and nurse educators) at an academic medical center in the midwestern United States. Focus groups and individual interviews were conducted to encourage participants to describe their (1) experiences as nursing professionals, (2) coping strategies, and (3) perspectives about …

Existential Distress In Family Caregivers: Scoping Review Of Meaning-Making Interventions, Natalie S. Mcandrew, Tamryn F. Gray, Lyndsey Wallace, Kelly Calkins, Jill L. Guttormson, Eric Harding, Allison J. Applebaum

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

Objectives: Family and friend caregivers often feel overwhelmed by and ill-prepared for their responsibilities. Many feel helpless living with uncertainty about the outcome of the patient's illness, which leads to existential distress. Supportive care interventions that address existential distress by promoting meaning and purpose buffer the negative effects of caregiver burden and promote resilience and growth. The purpose of this scoping review is to describe the depth and breadth of available interventions targeting caregiver existential distress.

Methods: We followed the Joanna Briggs Institute's scoping review methods and applied the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension checklist. SCOPUS, …

Learning A Healthy Rhythm: An Intervention To Increase Children’S Resources For Stress Management, Kristin Haglund, Amanda L. King, Abir K. Bekhet, Mauricio Garnier-Villarreal, Karen Olson, Rashs Atshan, Angela Ortiz, Johanna De Los Santos, Ruth Ann Belknap

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

This article describes a pilot test of a community engaged, culturally relevant, arts-based intervention. The purpose was to increase children’s personal protective buffering resources. Protective buffering resources help children cope with stressful stimuli, reduce activation of their systemic stress response, mitigate allostatic load, and promote optimal health. The “Learning a Healthy Rhythm” intervention included a stress management component and an ongoing Afro-Latino percussion program for 18 children ages 9–11. The stress management component included educational content about stress, self-assessment of stress symptoms, and stress management techniques. A mixed-method intervention evaluation design was used. Qualitative data, quantitative data, and biometrics including …

Theoretical Substruction Of Resilience Theory: Dementia Caregivers' Burden And Their Care Recipients' Behavior, Abir K. Bekhet

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

Theoretical substruction is vital in clarifying models and guiding research. In this article, the process of theoretical substruction was examined through resilience theory to provide an example of the congruence between theoretical and operational definitions in nursing research. The author examines the significance of resilience theory in the context of dementia caregivers’ burden and their care recipients’ behavioral problems. The steps of theoretical substruction are included, and a model of resilience is presented that includes middle-range concepts, relational statements, and propositions derived from the research literature. The rigorous process of theoretical substruction provides an example of a theoretically sound basis …

Patient Engagement, Involvement, Or Participation -- Entrapping Concepts In Nurse-Patient Interactions: A Critical Discussion, Teresa Jerofke-Owen, Georgia Tobiano, Ann C. Eldh

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

The importance of patients taking an active role in their healthcare is recognized internationally, to improve safety and effectiveness in practice. There is still, however, some ambiguity about the conceptualization of that patient role; it is referred to interchangeably in the literature as engagement, involvement, and participation. The aim of this discussion paper is to examine and conceptualize the concepts of patient engagement, involvement, and participation within healthcare, particularly nursing. The concepts were found to have semantic differences and similarities, although, from a nursing perspective, they can be summoned to illustrate the establishment of a mutual partnership between a patient …

Lived Experiences Of American Adults Who Survive Covid-19: Implications For Physical Activity And Interpersonal Stress, Linda B. Piacentine, Hannah C. Barbosa, Kristin Haglund, Lauren Opielinski, Sandra K. Hunter, Paula E. Papanek, Marie K. Hoeger Bement, Norah L. Johnson

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

Introduction: The cumulative number of COVID-19 cases has surpassed 579 million globally. Symptoms during and after COVID-19 infection vary from mild cold symptoms to severe multisystem illness. Given the wide range of symptom presentations and complications post COVID-19, the purpose of this study was to describe the lived experience of American adults surviving COVID-19.

Method: This study employed an exploratory qualitative description design. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with a sample of 35 individuals, [white (94%), female (71%), mean age = 43.7 years], with proximity to a university in an urban Midwest American city. Interviews occurred between May and …

Experiences Of Sex Workers In Chicago During Covid-19: A Qualitative Study, Randi Beth Singer, Sarah Abboud, Amy K. Johnson, Jessica L. Zemlak, Natasha Crooks, Sangeun Lee, Johannes Wilson, Della Gorvine, Jahari Stamps, Douglas Bruce, Susan G. Sherman, Alicia K. Matthews, Crystal L. Patil

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

COVID-19 exacerbated health disparities, financial insecurity, and occupational safety for many within marginalized populations. This study, which took place between 2019 and 2022, aimed to explore the way in which sex workers (n = 36) in Chicago were impacted by COVID-19. We analyzed the transcripts of 36 individual interviews with a diverse group of sex workers using thematic analysis. Five general themes emerged regarding the detrimental impact of COVID-19 on sex workers: (1) the impact of COVID-19 on physical health; (2) the economic impact of COVID-19; (3) the impact of COVID-19 on safety; (4) the impact of COVID-19 on …