Nursing Commons^™

Nursing Education Regarding Take-Home Narcan In Relation To Opioid-Related Deaths, Taylor Birke, Nadia Butt, Bryce Farmer, Sarah Hendrick

Symposium of Student Scholars

The opioid epidemic in America has remained a national crisis since 2011 with opioid related deaths continuing to dramatically increase. Naloxone (Narcan) safely reverses the effects of an opioid overdose with little to no side effects. There is a gap in the literature regarding education and stigma-breaking conversations held between addicts and nurses surrounding an opioid overdose. This systematic literature review will examine the effects of nursing education on the acceptance and use of take-home Narcan kits within opioid drug users. Using the Kennesaw State University Library SuperSearch database, we searched for peer-reviewed studies that included one or more of …

Decreasing The Number Of Venipuncture Attempts In Infants On A Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Laura Grace Holton

Symposium of Student Scholars

Decreasing the Number of Venipuncture Attempts in Infants on a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

Laura Grace Holton

Obtaining intravenous access is a procedure performed on most preterm infants in neonatal intensive care units, for the purpose of obtaining blood samples, administering fluids and medications. Venipuncture is the process of puncturing the skin to insert a needle for IV access and often must be performed multiple times to be successful given the small veins of preterm infants. Research shows that multiple venipuncture attempts can be distressing to hospitalized infants, increases the risk of bloodstream infections, and causes lasting vein damage. Literature …

Ventilator Associated Pneumonia, Helena Walker

Symposium of Student Scholars

Ventilator Associated Pneumonia (VAP) is the instance in which a patient acquires pneumonia more than forty-eight hours after intubation with mechanical ventilation. VAP is a serious medical issue that occurs frequently in intensive care unit patients. Not only does this condition increase the morbidity and mortality of a patient, it also increases the cost of the patient’s health care as well. Commonly as recent literature suggests, in an effort to prevent this infection from occurring, hospital staff have taken several approaches including antibiotic cycling, surveillance cultures, and de-escalation therapies. These methods do not always prevent the cases though. Currently, research …

Challenges Associated With The Integration Of Population Health Content And Prelicensure Nursing Curricula- Experiences Of Nurse Educators, Stephanie Jones

Symposium of Student Scholars

Background: In April 2021, the American Association of Colleges of Nursing released new BSN essentials that emphasized population health. This inclusion of population health as an essential could improve prelicensure nursing students’ knowledge and skills in providing population health-based services. Also, it could help improve their attitude towards population health.

Objective: To explore the challenges of nurse educators’ perception and experience associated with the integration of population health content to prelicensure nursing curricula.

Methods: This is a secondary analysis of the qualitative data collected in an ongoing mixed-methods study exploring how population health content is integrated into …

Improving Tha (Total Hip Arthroscopy) Patient Satisfaction Scores By Reducing Time Spent In The Pacu From 90 Minutes To 60 Minutes, Jennifer Stultz

Symposium of Student Scholars

BACKGROUND, SIGNIFICANCE & PURPOSE

Total Hip Arthroplasty (THA) reduces pain and improves range of motion in patients with end stage osteoarthritis. Patients whose post-THA outcome matches their pre-surgical expectations report higher patient satisfaction scores. Post-surgical pain is expected, but if patients don’t ambulate soon enough after surgery, the pain escalates. Simply put, early ambulation improves patient satisfaction scores. To promote early ambulation, spinal block and Propofol are favored over general anesthesia to reduce time spent in the PACU (post anesthesia care unit). The current PACU goal for THA patient discharge is within ninety minutes of PACU arrival. Sometimes the spinal …

Rethinking Malignant Hyperthermia Protocols, Kelsey Currie

Symposium of Student Scholars

Rethinking Malignant Hyperthermia Protocols

In person poster

Undergraduate Student: Currie, Kelsey

Research Mentor: Kristi Brannen

Background: Although malignant hyperthermia (MH) is rare, it is a life-threatening event that can have many nurses unprepared to manage due to its irregularity, lack of training, and supplies. MH is considered a severe medical crisis that can happen within 30 minutes of anesthetic induction. To give the patient the best outcome, hospitals have protocols in place so the team can respond quickly and efficiently. Purpose: This study aims to investigate how creating central locations for MH carts, ice, and supplies compares to yearly training …

Registered Nurse Hesitancy To Providing Narcotics To Post-Surgical Neonates: A Narrative Literature Review, Jordan Slowik

Liberty University Research Week

Doctoral

Theoretical Proposal

Breastfeeding Education: A Training Program For Mother-Baby Nurses, Bianca Gumus

Symposium of Student Scholars

In the postpartum period, a nurse’s most vital role is educating the patient and preparing her for discharge. Breastfeeding in the postpartum period can be challenging to new mothers, and proper guidance from the nurse is essential in boosting the patient’s confidence and satisfaction. Successful breastfeeding in the postpartum period is linked to decreased bleeding, decreased risk of postpartum depression, and improved health outcomes for mother and baby (ACOG, n.d.). When postpartum mothers feel they did not receive enough education or guidance from the healthcare team, they are more likely to be dissatisfied with their overall care (Wagner & Washington, …

Effects Of Nursing Overtime In Medical Errors, Camilla Byrd, Halle Borgel, Mya Kinney, Jena Killian, Mykayla Stephens

Symposium of Student Scholars

Abstract

Background: The recent global pandemic has uncovered health care inequities among nursing professionals. The nursing shortage has placed pressure on overworked nurses to perform higher level critical care under dire and unsafe conditions. The stress of overworked nurses is a culprit for medical errors that affect the quality and effectiveness of patient care. Methods: Kennesaw State Library, PubMed, 35 articles screened. After thorough screening of various articles addressing this topic, we examined the quantitative and qualitativestudies performed in all areas of nursing. Results: Research suggests that nurses working overtime versus full-time hours experience physical, mental, and emotional exhaustion may …

Decreasing Central Venous Catheter Usage For The Hemodialysis Patient, Antionette Jordan

Dissertations

Abstract

Problem: The central venous catheter (CVC) usage rate in a large urban dialysis clinic was 34.5% and the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) goal is 10.7%. CVC usage is a quality metric monitored by CMS to assess whether dialysis facilities are providing quality services which can impact reimbursement for the clinic. Failure to meet this metric can result in a penalty of up to 2% in reimbursement. The purpose of this quality improvement project was to determine if an interdisciplinary team (IDT) approach to vascular access planning and care influenced the CVC usage rate by 10% …

Outcomes Of A Covid Mobility Team, Kellie Girardot Msn, Rn, Leann Pancake Mpt, Pt

Nursing Publications, Posters, & Presentations

The detrimental effects of immobility are well documented in the literature, yet immobility still plagues the hospitalized adult. As the influx of COVID-19 patients began, patient mobility was further compromised. The purpose of this quality improvement project was to assess the impact of COVID mobility teams, composed of deployed coworkers, on COVID-19–positive and person under investigation patient outcomes. Using mobility teams improved mobility in COVID-positive and person under investigation patients. Increasing patient mobility results in improved patient outcomes by preventing hospital-acquired functional decline, preventing intensive care unit transfers, and decreasing length of stay.

A Peer-Led Evidence-Based Contraceptive Counseling Initiative, Megan K. Tenbarge

DNP Projects

The experience of sexual health and wellness varies for newly independent college freshman. For reproductive-age women, gaps in knowledge and self-efficacy overlap with barriers accessing contraception and reproductive health care contributing to high-risk behavior and poor sexual health outcomes. Community-based participatory research was used to develop and implement a peer-education program targeting sorority women on a college campus in the Southeastern United States in the fall semester of 2021. Two senior nursing majors completed continuing education to be empowered as peer-educators using The University of California San Francisco Beyond the Pill framework. They engaged directly with nursing faculty stakeholders and …

Health Disparities In Minority Populations, Samuel Keirsey, Struti Patel, Madison Ray

Epsilon Sigma at-Large Research Conference

Abstract

Introduction and Background: Minority populations struggle to gain access to equitable healthcare due to cultural variations and language barriers. It is paramount for providers to accommodate to the differing needs of underserved minority groups.

Purpose Statement: We analyzed information on the effects of community-based interventions aimed at improving healthcare access for minorities.

Literature Review: We used PubMed as our main database. For our search, we looked up the keywords “Healthcare Access AND Minorities.” Next, we filtered articles that had been published since 2017 and sorted to include clinical trials, randomized control trials, and meta-analyses. After that, we came across …

Non-Pharmacological Interventions For Fatigue In Lung Cancer Patients, Sydney Robey, Micah Stewart, Melody Trickett

Epsilon Sigma at-Large Research Conference

Abstract

Introduction & Background: One of the most common and debilitating side effects of cancer is fatigue. Fatigue is a general feeling of tiredness or weakness that can greatly impact a patient’s quality of life. It can have a profound impact on a patient’s ability to perform day to day activities and cause emotional distress leading to anxiety and depression. In recent years, there has been an increase in research to look at the effectiveness of non-pharmacological interventions on improving cancer patients’ fatigue.

Purpose Statement: The purpose of our research is to look at the effectiveness of different types of …

Caring For The Caregiver: Improving Screening For Caregiver Presence During The Inpatient Stay., Brittany Mendo, Florence Weierbach Phd

Epsilon Sigma at-Large Research Conference

Informal caregiver burden and burnout can cause worsened outcomes of care for both the recipient of care and the caregiver’s overall health. Experiencing increased levels of distress by the caregiver may be the deciding factor for the elder remaining in the home or being placed in a long-term facility for care. Thus, healthcare professionals must be diligent in assessment for presence of a caregiver on admission, as well as identifying needs and providing education of resources within the community upon discharge. The purpose of this project is to implement admission screening for caregiver presence during the inpatient stay, with the …

Reducing Adverse Events: Medication Reconciliation In Primary Care, Jacklyn Halpin

Epsilon Sigma at-Large Research Conference

Abstract

Title

Reducing Adverse Events: Medication Reconciliation in Primary Care

Purpose

Primary care patients experience high levels of adverse drug reactions due to inaccurate medication reconciliation practices. Project Aims

The project aims to improve medication reconciliation in a primary care setting. Outcome Measures

Outcomes measures include identified medication discrepancies, staff satisfaction related to the use of the MATCH tool, and patient age ranges and gender.

Methods

Over a 4 week period, the clinic staff integrated the evidenced based instrument, Medication at Transitions and Clinical Handoff (MATCH) tool. Initially, the office manager provided a MATCH tool and a copy of the …

African Americans In Home Health: Advance Care Planning And Acute Care Services Use, Sharon Bigger, Lee Glenn

Epsilon Sigma at-Large Research Conference

Background: Home health is the fastest-growing healthcare setting in the country. Through Home Health Value-Based Purchasing (HHVBP), the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) provides incentives or penalties to HHAs based on outcomes. Hospitalization and emergency department use are weighted heaviest as poor outcomes. HHVBP requires HHAs to report on whether they are engaging in advance care planning (ACP) conversations. For this study, ACP was defined as a conversation held in advance of a medical crisis with a loved one and/or a health care provider about goals; values; preferences for future medical treatments; and choice of a surrogate decision-maker. …

Interventions Of Childhood Obesity, Scott Mattox

Epsilon Sigma at-Large Research Conference

Introduction and Background

Childhood obesity affects 17% of children in the United States (Whooten et al., 2018). It is well understood that many social determinants contribute to the manifestation and improvement of this disease.

Purpose Statement

I aim to compare the impact of increased health education through medical professional to families and obese/overweight children compared to implemented physical activity in social and personal settings on BMI improvement among the obese/overweight children.

Literature Review

Searches performed through the Sherrod Library data base at East Tennessee State University included the following key words: social determinants, long-term study, physical activity, clinical, community and …

The Effects Of Exercise And Nursing Care On Postpartum Depression, Greyson Whaley

Epsilon Sigma at-Large Research Conference

Abstract

Introduction and Background: According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2020), “postpartum depression is depression that occurs after having a baby which is more intense and lasts longer than those of “baby blues,” a term used to describe the worry, sadness, and tiredness many women experience after having a baby.” It also states, “1 in 8 women report symptoms of depression after giving birth, about 1 in 5 (20%) women were not asked about depression during a prenatal visit, and over half (50%) of pregnant women with depression were not treated.”

Purpose Statement: The purpose of this …

Childbirth In Incarceration And Nursing Interventions, Breanna Mauk

Epsilon Sigma at-Large Research Conference

Introduction and Background

The number of incarcerated pregnant women is increasing every day. At the same time, their quality of care is decreasing. From being treated like animals by jail staff to having unqualified staff members instructing them during labor, this has to change. Not only is the safety of the woman at risk, but most importantly her unborn baby.

Purpose Statement

Incarcerated pregnant women deserve the same healthcare as anyone else. The PICO question addressed in this paper is the following. In incarcerated pregnant women, how does ineffective health maintenance compared with effective health maintenance affect poor outcomes after …

Applying Scaffolding Methodology To Structure Dnp Intensive Skills Education, Candice Short, Jean Hemphill, Victoria Pope

Epsilon Sigma at-Large Research Conference

The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) curriculum was developed to incorporate learning outcomes and experiential opportunities for students to attain the core FNP knowledge for doctoral education. Historically, challenges related to developing clinical skills in blended/online programs has been problematic. The appeal of online FNP education has challenged educators to develop new ways to provide students opportunities to experience hands-on clinical skills within the subspecialties of the DNP, FNP role. With limited clinical sites, and now with more clinical access constraints imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, it is imperative that new models of instruction provide students …

Advance Directives In Skilled Nursing Facilities, Jessica Altman, Alex Sargsyan

Epsilon Sigma at-Large Research Conference

Purpose: The purpose of this project is to decrease the likelihood of receiving unwanted treatment at the end of life. The project is conducted in a skilled nursing facility where only approximately 40% of the residents have an Advance Directive (AD) despite experiencing multiple comorbidities and nearing the end of life.

Aims: Implementing a quality improvement project, creating a system that addresses AD completion at admission with the outcome of increased recognition of residents’ end of life choices.

Process: Residents and their families are presented with a tool to help guide the conversation about AD at the admission care plan …

Critical Appraisal Bibliography, Scientific Abstract, And Matrix/Evidence Table, Nicolas Fuller, Jerry Lunsford, Hayley Robinson

Epsilon Sigma at-Large Research Conference

Introduction and Background

As chronic and acute pain disorders continue to be diagnosed in the clinical setting, the number of patients searching for medical care in hopes of alleviating their symptoms is on the rise. Working in both medical and psychiatric facilities as a certified nursing assistant, I saw opioids frequently prescribed as a pharmacological treatment for individuals looking to lessen the pain associated with a multitude of pain related disorders. Working in long term care facilities, I watched individuals who had never struggled with substance use disorders develop clinical dependencies on narcotic medication due to the fact that they …

The Physical & Mental Effects Of Solitary Confinement, Dillon Leonard, Katelyn Martin, Sean Teague

Epsilon Sigma at-Large Research Conference

Introduction and Background: Solitary confinement has been a controversial topic in recent years among jail and prison systems. Solitary Confinement is the act of isolating a person in a prison or jail for up to 23 hours a day. These long periods of isolation can cause serious mental and physical damages to a human.

Purpose Statement: The purpose of this research is to understand the effects, both mental and physical, that solitary confinement has on a person. How does solitary confinement effect a person’s body and mind, and what interventions can be used to help prevent these changes?

Literature Review: …

Roles In Preoperative Planning, Joetta Combs

Epsilon Sigma at-Large Research Conference

This project represents the ever-changing methods surrounding Enhanced Recovery after Surgery and the protocols that compose it. The purpose of this study is to expand education of ERAS guidelines and improve patient outcomes through furthering staff education. Enhanced Recovery After Surgery has been a part of perioperative departments worldwide after being introduced in the 1990s by Northern European general surgeons and has been adapted and modified since its introduction (ERAS Society History, 2022). The preoperative and postoperative process is ever-changing and is difficult for staff to keep up with. Many staff members find it difficult to stay on top of …

Implementing A Flipped Classroom Approach In An Online Medical-Surgical Nursing Course, Ellen Schoen

Epsilon Sigma at-Large Research Conference

Background: According to Park, et. al. (2021) a flipped classroom consists of pre-class activities that expose students to the subject matter, in-class activities that promote interaction between classmates, learners and instructors and post-class activities that help solidify information. This method of education is thought to be more effective at promoting clinical judgement than traditional lecture-based classrooms. Delivery of course content through virtual meetings can also allow for additional flexibility in students’ schedules, while still allowing for engagement with classmates and promoting students’ engagement in their learning and motivations to learn (Philips & O’Flaherty, 2019).

The nation-wide restrictions on 2020-2021 academic …

Incorporation Of National Safety Standards For Oral Chemotherapy Patient Education At An Ambulatory Cancer Center: A Quality Improvement Project, Danielle Giles

Epsilon Sigma at-Large Research Conference

Abstract

Purpose: An evaluation of the oral chemotherapy patient education process at one ambulatory cancer center identified a deficit in documentation in the electronic medical record (EMR) of many recommendations from the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) and Oncology Nursing Society (ONS) chemotherapy administration and safety standards. Aims: The aim of this quality improvement project is to evaluate the effectiveness of the implementation of two newly developed templates into the EMR at one ambulatory cancer center. Process: The project will evaluate effectiveness by comparing the frequency in documentation of 16 key elements pre and post implementation …

Implementation Of An Adhd Electronic Portal In Pediatric Primary Care, Heather Cathey

Epsilon Sigma at-Large Research Conference

Clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) recommend documentation of symptom scales and comorbidity screenings at the time of diagnosis and routinely throughout care. Rates of documentation for these tools in pediatric primary care are consistently low, creating a gap in care that impairs diagnosis, management, and patient outcomes. The purpose of this quality improvement project was to implement an online ADHD portal that emails, collects and scores these tools. The aims of the project are to improve utilization of CPGs by increasing documentation rates of symptom scales and comorbidity screenings for pediatric patients with ADHD. One …

Opioid Use Disorder And Infant Health Outcomes: A Literature Review, Shayln Russell-Fritch

Epsilon Sigma at-Large Research Conference

Introduction and background

Opioid use disorder (OUD) is an epidemic in the U.S. OUD affects both the mother’s and infant’s health. Substance-exposed infants suffer from decreased health outcomes relative to non-exposed infants.

Purpose

The aim is to identify infant health outcomes when pregnant women are prescribed medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for OUD. Among pregnant women with OUD in the U.S., is medication-assisted therapy as compared to no therapy associated with decreased negative infant health outcomes?

Literature review

Five studies on OUD and infant outcomes in the U.S. were reviewed. CINAHL and PubMed were searched using terms opioid use disorder, pregnancy, and …

The Benefits Of Different Birthing Positions, Sydney Miller, Maci Cloninger

Epsilon Sigma at-Large Research Conference

Many babies are delivered by using the standard lithotomy birthing position. However, evidence shows several benefits to an upright birthing position. The purpose of this study is to discover birthing positions that lead to more positive outcomes in laboring women delivering in hospitals. This research was conducted by examining previous studies conducted on a similar topic. However, the studies found mainly focused on the benefits of squatting positions and the implementation of devices that helps achieve an upright position. All findings support an upright birthing position provides a more optimal position for birthing a child due to the force of …