Nursing Commons^™

Exploring The Impact Of A Multifaceted Standardized Wellness Program On Physical, Mental, Emotional, And Spiritual Health In Nurse Anesthesia Students, Lauren Kulaszewski, Amber Hurt

Scholars Week

Abstract

Purpose

Nurse anesthesia students experience substantial academic and clinical stress, placing them at increased risk for anxiety, depression, burnout, and suicidal ideation. Despite this risk, there is limited guidance on the effectiveness of standardized, programmatic wellness initiatives in nurse anesthesia education. The purpose of this project was to evaluate whether implementation of a standardized wellness program, compared with reliance on independent student-initiated practices, could improve mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being among second- and third-year nurse anesthesia students.

Methodology

A pre–post intervention design was used over a six-month period at a large academic institution. Second- and third-year nurse anesthesia …

Assessing The Impact Of Interprofessional Simulation Training On Perioperative Staff's Confidence In Managing Maternal Hemorrhage, Mallory Duncan, Lidia Vazquez

Scholars Week

Globally, maternal mortality rates remain a critical public health challenge, often related to inadequate healthcare infrastructure in low-income countries. Yet according to the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG), maternal mortality rates in the United States are also on the rise, with nearly 32.9 deaths per 100,000 live births. These deaths are largely contributed to maternal hemorrhage (PPH), defined by ACOG as cumulative blood loss of at least 1,000 mL accompanied by symptoms of hypovolemia within 24 hours of the birth process. These findings underscore an urgent need to strengthen the training for perioperative staff in the management of …

Occupational Sevoflurane Exposure And Awareness Of Health Effects Among Anesthesia Providers, Hayden Fell

Scholars Week

Key words:

Sevoflurane exposure Occupational safety CRNAs Anesthetic gas exposure Workplace hazard

The anesthetic gas sevoflurane is of unique interest amongst anesthesia providers as a potential workplace hazard. This project aimed to evaluate CRNA knowledge, clinical practices, symptoms, and perceptions related to occupational sevoflurane exposure amongst Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) at a regional hospital in Kentucky.

This quality improvement project used a pre- and post-intervention survey design. Ten CRNAs participated in the project. A pre-survey was given, followed by an educational session informing participants of guidelines regarding Sevoflurane exposure and literature findings of Sevoflurane as a potential workplace …

Nurses' Perceptions Of Dual-Signature Policy For Subcutaneous Insulin Administration : A Quality Improvement Project, Carolyn Sue Tinsley, Meryem Akay Kuzey, Michael Perlow

Scholars Week

Dissemination of Capstone project for DNP

Program Evaluation Of A Digital Outreach Initiative For Improving Well-Child Visit Engagement Among Children And Adolescents Aged 3–21 Years, Eseoghene Odhu

Doctoral Dissertations & Projects

Background: Well-child visits are essential to pediatric preventive care because they support immunizations, developmental screening, anticipatory guidance, and early identification of health concerns (Abdus & Selden, 2022; Theunissen et al., 2022). Despite their importance, engagement in recommended visits remains inconsistent across healthcare systems.

Purpose: This program evaluation examined the impact of a digital outreach initiative on well-child visit engagement among children and adolescents within a Midwestern faith-based healthcare organization.

Methods: A pre–post evaluation design was used with de-identified electronic health record data from periods before and after implementation of the initiative. Outcomes included patient enrollment, scheduled visits, completed visits, no-show …

Quality Improvement Project: Educating Nursing Faculty On Animal-Assisted Therapy: Enhancing Knowledge And Confidence To Improve Program Outcomes, Sarah J. Whitwell

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

The purpose of this quality improvement project was to evaluate whether an educational intervention on animal-assisted therapy (AAT) improved nursing faculty perceived knowledge and confidence in using AAT to improve program outcomes. The problem addressed was the limited knowledge and confidence among nursing faculty regarding the use of non-traditional, evidence-based strategies to support student mental health. This project was guided by the Stetler Model of Evidence-Based Practice and Lewin’s Change Theory and used a quasi-experimental, one-group pre–post design. The project was conducted with nursing faculty teaching in a baccalaureate program at a four-year public university in Oklahoma. A 10-item Likert-scale …

Roy Stevens Hall Dedicated, Vincent Toney

Documents

Dedication of the Education/Nursing building as Roy Stevens Hall--The TimesDaily

A Blueprint For Success, Una Publications Office

Documents

Brochure for the Education-Nursing Building at UNA

Developing Nursing Education On The Assessment Of Asthma Patients With Symptoms Of Shortness Of Breath In Urgent Care, Abigail Akorfa Adase

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This quality improvement project aimed to enhance the assessment of dyspnea in patients presenting with shortness of breath, particularly those with asthma, through a staff education program. At the practice site, staff primarily relied on SpO₂ readings to evaluate dyspnea, which often led to misassessment and delays in care. The project addressed this gap by providing urgent care staff with training on comprehensive assessment techniques, including evaluation of respiratory rate, work of breathing, ability to speak, patient history, and use of validated tools such as Borg’s scale and peak flow meters. Twenty triage staff members participated, including licensed practical nurses, …

A Regional Scoping Review Of School-Based Nutrition Interventions Conducted Across Nordic Countries, Basil H. Aboul-Enein, Stephen Gambescia, Nada Benajiba, Norah Eid Aljohani, Teresa Keller, Patricia J. Kelly

College of Nursing Faculty Papers & Presentations

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: While Nordic countries have a relatively high socioeconomic status population, they are challenged by the health deficit of rising obesity and overweight among young people. The aim of this regional scoping review is to identify best practices for designing and implementing effective school nutrition programs in Nordic countries and identify gaps for further research.

METHODS: Using the PRISMA-ScR guidelines, a scoping review was conducted across nine academic databases between 1980 and May 2025.

RESULTS: Fifty-three studies met the inclusion criteria, from small pilot interventions to large national or international cohorts involving thousands of students across the five …

Nurse Driven Intervention To Address Cesarean Section Rates, Cavetta Tulloch-Lewis

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Translational and Clinical Research Projects

Abstract

Cesarean sections (C-sections) account for approximately one-third of births in the United States and remain the most common inpatient surgical procedure. Primary cesarean sections are a major contributor to rising rates, often leading to repeat cesareans in subsequent pregnancies. While medically necessary C-sections are lifesaving, their overuse in low-risk pregnancies is associated with increased maternal morbidity. Labor dystocia is one of the leading indications for primary cesarean delivery and may be mitigated through evidence-based, nurse-driven interventions such as maternal positioning and peanut ball utilization. Registered nurses are uniquely positioned to influence labor progression and promote vaginal birth through continuous …

Breaking Barriers: Advancement Toward Practical Nursing Licensure For Certified Medication Assistants In Long-Term Care--A Descriptive Study, Aleshia L. Maxwell

ATU Theses and Dissertations 2021 - Present

The persistent nursing shortage across the United States, particularly in Long-Term Care (LTC) settings, has complicated the healthcare system’s ability to meet the needs of an aging population. While existing research often examines progression from Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) to Registered Nurse (RN), limited research explores factors influencing progression from entry-level LTC healthcare workers to Practical Nursing (PN) licensure. This quantitative descriptive study examined the barriers and supporting factors influencing advancement toward PN licensure for Medication Assistants-Certified (MA-Cs) in Arkansas LTC facilities. A convenience sample of N=100 participated in the study. Results indicated that financial and structural barriers often …

Construction Projects Picking Up At Una Again, Jennifer Edwards

Documents

Demolition of Floyd Hall and other talk of new construction for The University of North Alabama

Improving Medication And Lifestyle Adherence Through A Standardized Clinical Practice Guideline, Chazemba Shamaila

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Medication and lifestyle nonadherence remains a persistent and costly problem within healthcare systems and represents a critical gap in nursing practice. Approximately half of adults prescribed long-term medications do not adhere to recommended regimens, contributing to poor disease control, preventable hospitalizations, increased mortality risk, and substantial healthcare expenditures. These challenges are particularly pronounced in outpatient mental health settings, where symptom burden, cognitive impairment, treatment complexity, and social determinants of health further compromise adherence. Addressing medication and lifestyle nonadherence aligns with nursing priorities related to patient safety, quality improvement, and health equity. This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project focused on …

Hypothermia Prevention In Major Trauma Patients, Alaina Hostetler

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

Traumatic injuries present a significant health challenge for providers, often resulting in hypothermia, coagulopathy, and acidosis, referred to as the trauma triad of death. Hypothermia significantly impacts trauma patients' outcomes and exacerbates morbidity and mortality rates, particularly in trauma cases with high injury severity scores who require immediate surgical intervention. Despite the detrimental effects of hypothermia, evidence-based approaches to treating hypothermia in this population are lacking. Traditional warming methods heavily rely on provider preference and can lead to inconsistent care. Rapid, reliable, and effective resuscitation interventions are essential in the immediate care of major trauma patients. The proposed project will …

Predictors Of Filipino Life Satisfaction Using The Revised Filipino Satisfaction With Life Scale, Razel Bacuetes Milo, Patricia Calero, Maria Luisa Ramira, Kathleen Soon, Maria Fontimayor, Cynthia D. Connelly

School of Nursing and Health Science: Faculty Scholarship

Background: 

Mental health stigma serves as a significant barrier to seeking help, often leading to maladaptive coping strategies. Given these complexities, it is essential to validate the Satisfaction With Life Scale Revised (SWLS-R) within the Filipino context to assess its psychometric reliability, cultural relevance, and suitability for evaluating well-being and mental health outcomes among Filipinos.

Objective: 

The aims of this study were to evaluate the psychometric properties of the SWLS-R and describe the relationships and significant predictors of life satisfaction among Filipinos living in the United States.

Methods: 

A purposive sample of Filipino adults, fluent in both English and Filipino, …

Diva Difficult Intravenous Access Assessment, Aileen M. Romero, Mary Jo Sarver

Articles, Abstracts, and Reports

No abstract provided.

An Evidence-Based Educational Intervention To Enhance Nurses' Knowledge Of Metabolic Syndrome In Residential Care Facilities, Marie Tanyi

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

The project addresses a critical gap in nursing education by implementing a structured, evidencebased educational intervention led by an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) to improve nurses’ knowledge of metabolic syndrome in residential care facilities. The purpose was to determine whether this intervention could significantly enhance nurses’ understanding and management of metabolic syndrome, a complex cluster of disorders present in adult populations. Nine nurses participated in targeted educational sessions focusing on definition, diagnosis, complications, and evidence-based prevention and management strategies. Each participant completed the Metabolic Syndrome Knowledge Scale (MSKS) questionnaire before and after the intervention to assess changes in knowledge. …

Global Trends In Bioterrorism And Biosecurity Research Publications (1997–2025): A Scopus Bibliometric Analysis, Festus Mulakoli, Samuel Gesaka, John Mbataru

School of Nursing & Midwifery, East Africa

Introduction: Bioterrorism and biosecurity preparedness are critical pillars of global public health protection and resilience of health systems worldwide. Although this field has grown over the past few decades, there remains limited clarity on how research efforts have evolved and where critical gaps persist, particularly regarding global collaboration and emerging biological threats. To address this, we conducted a bibliometric analysis to map publication trends, influential contributors, and collaboration networks in bioterrorism and biosecurity from 1997 to 2025. This study analyzed global research output, collaboration, and thematic evolution in bioterrorism and biosecurity and identified gaps relevant to preparedness and policy. …

Developing A Pediatric Pain Curriculum For Pediatric Anesthesia Fellows In Sub-Saharan Africa: A Delphi Study, Anisa Bhettay, Rebecca Gray, Romy Parker, Nikki Allorto, Abigail Amponsah, Brian Anderson, Lillian Baranzila, Charles Carapinha, Susan Carolus, O' Brien Kyololo

School of Nursing & Midwifery, East Africa

Background Comprehensive pain management in children requires a specialized skillset, with a limited number of clinicians possessing the level of expertise required to successfully navigate the complexities of holistic care. The emergence of pediatric anesthesia fellowship programs in sub-Saharan Africa presents an opportunity to embed a pediatric pain curriculum for trainees, improving the availability of specialist skill and knowledge in the field. Existing pain curricula fall short in addressing the sociocultural aspects of pediatric pain identified through research as being unique to the African context, and do not include elements of leadership and advocacy training required to navigate the complexities …

A Qualitative Socioecological Exploration Of Community Health Promoters’ Barriers And Facilitators In Cardiovascular Disease Prevention In Kenya, Emily Muchina, Maureen Akolo, Rose Maina

School of Nursing & Midwifery, East Africa

Background:

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) remain a growing public health challenge in low- and middle-income countries, where there is an upsurge of risk factors. Community health promoters (CHPs) have the potential to play a crucial role in CVD prevention and care to underserved communities in Kenya. However, there are limited studies on their experiences, which are likely shaped by multilevel barriers and facilitators across the individual CHP, the community, relationships with primary health systems, and societal-level policies and structures. This study explored the barriers and facilitators shaping CHPs’ experiences in mitigating CVD in Kenya.

Methods:

A qualitative descriptive study was conducted …

Implementing And Evaluating A Mental Health Education And Mindfulness Program For Police Officers, Patricia Lynn Young

Doctor of Nursing Practice

Background: Police officers are routinely exposed to occupational stress and trauma, contributing to an increased risk of anxiety, depression, substance misuse, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Targeted mental health interventions are needed to proactively address their mental health. Purpose: This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project implemented and evaluated a mental health education and mindfulness program designed to reduce operational stress and increase knowledge and use of departmental mental health resources and mindfulness techniques among police officers. Methods: A pre–post intervention design was used over a 10-week period. Participants (n = 14) completed the Operational Police Stress Questionnaire (PSQ-Op) and …

Measuring Provider Confidence In Using Long-Acting Injectable Antipsychotics In Hospitalized Adults With Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders, Rachel Mccluskey

Doctor of Nursing Practice

Background: Schizophrenia spectrum disorders are severely disabling conditions requiring ongoing pharmacological management. Rates of medication nonadherence among individuals with schizophrenia spectrum disorder are high and strong evidence exists for the benefits of long-acting injectable antipsychotics (LAI) over oral antipsychotics. Despite this, only 10% of patients in Washington State with schizophrenia spectrum disorders are administered longacting injectable antipsychotics. Purpose: The purpose of this project was to measure change in provider’s confidence in prescribing LAI for hospitalized patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders following one-on-one motivational information (MI) style informational/discussion sessions coupled with a prescribing reference. Methods: This quality improvement project surveyed provider’s …

Blink & Beat: Pupillometry Response In Autonomic Nervous System Monitoring, Ximena Castillo

2026 Spring Honors Capstones Projects

In the neuroscience intensive care unit (NSICU), nurses rely on advanced monitoring tools to detect neurological deterioration. Two noninvasive measures, heart rate variability (HRV) and pupillary light reflex (PLR), are used to assess autonomic nervous system function; however, it remains unclear whether these indicators provide overlapping or distinct information. The purpose of this observational prospective study is to evaluate the relationship between HRV and quantitative pupillometry measurements to determine whether these noninvasive indicators provide congruent information. Data already collected as routine care from NSICU patients is extracted from the medical record for analysis. Understanding the correlation between HRV and PLR …

Vap Prevention By Improving Icu Oral Care, Chi Hao Su

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Project Abstract

Purpose 
To increase night-shift adult ICU nurse compliance with standardized oral care documentation by at least 20% as a core ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) prevention process.
Background
VAP is a preventable healthcare-associated infection associated with increased morbidity, mortality, ICU length of stay, and costs. Oral-care documentation is often inconsistent because of competing priorities and workflow barriers.
Methodology
Guided by the Knowledge-to-Action framework, this QI project used three PDSA cycles after a September 2025 baseline in a 16-bed ICU. Interventions included 1:1 simulation, EPIC prompts, and bedside coaching; manual audits addressed EPIC misclassification. Trends and run charts analyzed 183 records; surveys assessed …

Dnp Final Report: An Evidence-Based Project To Decrease Stress In Undergraduate Nursing Students, Elaine Wallace

DNP Final Reports

Stress among undergraduate nursing students is a well-documented concern that negatively affects academic performance, clinical readiness, well-being, and program retention. Stress levels are often heightened before clinical skills check-offs, highlighting the need for practical, evidence-based interventions. This Doctor of Nursing Practice quality improvement project examined whether mindfulness-based mandala coloring could reduce perceived stress in undergraduate nursing students. Using the PICOT framework, the project evaluated whether undergraduate nursing students (P) who participated in mindfulness-based mandala coloring (I), compared with no intervention (C), experienced reduced perceived stress levels (O) over a 12-week implementation period (T).

A comprehensive search of the literature supported …

Safe (Stop-Ask-Feel Empowered), Heather Smith, Allie Dunlap, Madi Rabideaux, Sonia Cardeiro

SPARK Symposium Presentations

The SAFE (Stop–Ask–Feel Empowered) initiative strengthens patient safety by increasing bedside nurses’ confidence and consistency in questioning provider orders and clinical decisions. Hierarchical culture, fear of negative reactions, and low confidence often prevent nurses from seeking clarification, increasing the risk of preventable errors. SAFE directly addresses these barriers by embedding structured inquiry into daily nursing practice. 

Guided by Lewin’s Change Theory, SAFE will be implemented over six months. All unit nurses will receive standardized SAFE badge cards that provide clear, formatted prompts to support respectful, effective communication with the interdisciplinary team. These badge cards serve as a practical, visible reminder …

Peri-Op Protect: A Unified Pre-Op To Pacu Medication Reconciliation System, Tyler G. Van Note, Ariana Amalia Anast, Samantha Ashley Steiner, Tara Gilbert

SPARK Symposium Presentations

Peri-Op Protect: A Unified Pre-Op to PACU Medication Reconciliation System

Peri-Op Protect is a nurse-led change initiative designed to improve medication safety and communication during surgical patient transitions from pre-operative care through the operating room and into the post-anesthesia care unit at a local hospital. Transitions of care are among the most vulnerable moments in the surgical process, as critical medication information – including home medications, last doses, allergies, intraoperative medications, and pain management plans – must be accurately communicated across multiple teams. Communication breakdowns are a leading contributor to adverse events in healthcare, and inconsistent medication handoff processes can …

Free Money And Safer Patients, Kaitlyn R. Livingston, Kennedy G. Crites, Jazmine Razo, Erin Radigan, Kennedy Crites

SPARK Symposium Presentations

This quality improvement project aims to improve consistency of nurse compliance with daily chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) bathing in a local oncology unit to reduce the risk of central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI’s). CLABSI’s remain a preventable source of patient morbidity, prolonged hospitalization, delayed cancer treatment, and increased healthcare costs, particularly among immunocompromised oncology patients who frequently require central venous access. Evidence supports daily CHG bathing as an effective infection prevention intervention; however, inconsistent completion and documentation across day and night shifts limit reliability in practice. This project addresses both documentation accuracy and actual bathing completion to ensure care consistency. Implementation …

Gamification And Serious Games In Undergraduate Nursing Education For Disaster Preparedness In The United States, Jacob Fast

Dissertations

Disaster preparedness is a critical component of undergraduate nursing education, yet traditional instructional approaches often inadequately prepare students for the complexity and uncertainty of real-world emergencies. Emerging literature suggests that gamification and serious games may enhance engagement and applied learning; however, limited research has examined their integration within nursing curricula from the perspective of faculty responsible for instructional design. This convergent mixed-methods study investigated the extent of integration, perceived effectiveness, and practical utility of gamification and serious games in undergraduate nursing education for disaster preparedness. Quantitative data were collected through a national survey of faculty teaching in CCNE- and ACEN-accredited …