Public Health and Community Nursing Commons^™

Postpartum Depression For Mothers With Early Fetal Death Or Stillbirths, Callie Goldman

Symposium of Student Scholars

Background: Many times, prevention of early fetus death and stillbirths is possible; however, some mortality events are spontaneous or unavoidable. While existing research reveals the likelihood of postpartum depression for mothers following birth, few studies address the potential for postpartum depression of mothers of stillbirth or demised fetuses. The purpose of this study is to determine how mothers can be better prepared for the hardship of losing a baby during childbirth, while going through common difficulties, such as postpartum depression, following birth. Methods: A mixed method approach will be conducted to gather qualitative (interview) and quantitative (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale …

Intensive Care Unit (Icu) Delirium, Mckenna Redmond

Symposium of Student Scholars

The purpose of this evidence-based practice project is to implement and evaluate an effective way to prevent intensive care unit (ICU) delirium. My research question is asking whether nonpharmacological or pharmacological therapies are effective for preventing intensive care unit delirium acquired during stay. Delirium is a mental state that occurs from a variety of reasons that creates changes in arousal, cognition, and in mental abilities. It results in confused thinking and a lack of awareness of someone's surroundings. Delirium during acute settings, such as the ICU, can cause an increased risk for mortality. Thorough evaluation of multiple studies exemplified that …

The Effects Of Hospital Policy And Procedure On Cauti Occurrence, Kevin Kaga, Michaela Morrison, Daniel John

Symposium of Student Scholars

Abstract

Background: Clients that require indwelling catheterization often get bacterial infection causing catheter-associated urinary tract infections. These infections lead to longer hospital admissions and poorer outcomes for clients.

Objectives: To assess the effectiveness of the use of suggested hygiene methods from hospital policy/guidelines in preventing catheter-associated urinary tract infections.

Methods: Using the Kennesaw State Library search system, 10 articles were found to support that the use of consistent evidence based practices can prevent urinary tract infection occurrence.

Results: Our articles identified appropriate and inappropriate indications for catheterization and effective hygiene techniques used by nurses in the prevention of CAUTIs. These …

Effectiveness Of Non-Pharmacological Interventions When Treating Postpartum Depression In First-Time Mothers, Rudy Trujillo, Tamantha Minton-Damm, Ashley Muntean, Natalia Lack

Symposium of Student Scholars

Abstract

Non-pharmacological intervention alone or paired with pharmacological interventions is somewhat effective in treating and lowering rates of postpartum depression (PPD) in women. Undergraduate students reviewed studies of the use of pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments for postpartum depression. To narrow down results, the students based the review on studies completed within the last 10 years, focusing specifically on primiparas (first births) women. Responses ranged from no notable efficacy in reducing PPD measured against the Edinburgh Scale to marginal improvements when non-pharmacological and pharmacological approaches were combined, and testing extended to other scales of motherhood and postpartum. The students discuss the …

Comparison Of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy And Pharmacologic Intervention In Alcohol Use Disorder Treatment, Analily Wong, Collin Owen, Meghan Vatave

Symposium of Student Scholars

Background: Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a condition that can result in chronic health conditions that negatively impact a person’s life. Methods to treat AUD involve cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and pharmacologic intervention, including disulfiram (DIS), naltrexone (NTX), and acamprosate (ACA).

Objectives: The purpose of this review is to determine the efficacy of CBT compared to pharmacologic intervention within one year of treatment in adult patients who have been diagnosed with AUD.

Methods: A reference search was conducted using various databases to locate literature. Combined keywords and Boolean operators were utilized to reveal desired articles. A total of 10 …

Does Triage Education Reduce Classification Errors In The Ed?, Rachel Abukhdeir

Symposium of Student Scholars

IN A METRO ATLANTA LEVEL TWO EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT, DOES THE APPLICATION OF TRIAGE EDUCATION REDUCE TRIAGE CLASSIFICATION ERRORS?

Abstract

Incorrect triage of patients leads to excessive wait times, an increase in length of stay, and escalating medical conditions. One of the most common triage systems in the United States is the Emergency Severity Index (ESI), a five-level triage system that focuses on prioritizing patient care based on the urgency of the patient’s illness. An assessment is performed by nurses to determine patients’ level of acuity. This method is subjective to the nurse performing triage. Currently, nurses have no or minimal …

Mentoring Infection Preventionists: An Infection Prevention Practice Fellowship Program, Sejal Naik

DNP Qualifying Manuscripts

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic created enormous demands on infection preventionists (IPs). It seriously taxed IPs and required hiring new IPs to support these demands. It is highly competitive to hire experienced IPs, and it can take up to two years for new IPs to demonstrate proficiency before pursuing their certification. A gap analysis revealed that current infection prevention (IP) programs did not provide formal training or mentoring.

Methods: The fellowship program will use the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) competency model to train and build IP competency. The APIC accelerated training program will provide training to …

The Emerging Epidemic Of Type 2 Diabetes And Obesity Amongst Young Children, Juliana Morales

Nursing | Senior Theses

Background:

In the past years childhood obesity has increased tremendously and currently ⅓ of children in the United States are obese today. Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes are illnesses that can later on lead to more severe health complications when as a child enters adulthood. Children who are obese have a greater risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, and currently more than 80% of children who already are diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes are obese. In school and often by health care providers we are told daily physical activity and healthy diet are the best ways to maintain optimal health, …

Blind Spot: Implicit Bias In Health Care And Its Awareness Among Nursing Students At The University Of Southern Mississippi, Debora Skaliks

Doctoral Projects

While prejudice and bias are eminent topics in our society, implicit bias or unconscious bias is not as easily detected. Even though implicit bias may be a familiar concept to many, numerous healthcare workers frequently do not recognize the extent of harm such biases can impose on patients' health and outcomes. The Blind Spot DNP project exposed in this research paper explores the relentless question of the correlation between implicit bias awareness, implicit bias education, and its impact on health care. This Doctor of Nursing Project (DNP) project aimed to analyze whether implicit bias education and testing could increase unconscious …

Safe Practices For Preventing Covid-19 Among School-Aged Children, Meleena Reyelle Banda-Garcia

Nursing | Senior Theses

Communicable diseases and infections are common health problems among children. Among the most impactful communicable diseases present today is COVID-19, a disease caused by a virus named SARS-CoV-2, which has forced many school closures due to rapid transmission. Despite children not being the main driving factor of the spread of the disease, severe complications underlying COVID-19 incidence have resulted in increased hospitalization among school-age children.The initial global response to the spread of COVID-19 included the closure of school systems; however as the disease continues to be effectively managed, communities are starting to re-open schools partially or entirely nationwide. Although pharmaceutical …

Increasing The Prescribing Of Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (Prep) With A Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Screening Tool, Cassey Hall

Student Scholarly Projects

Practice Problem: Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is one of the leading pandemics in the world. In 2019, 38 million people were living with HIV around the world. Of those, roughly 87% were aware of their HIV status.

PICOT: In patients with high risk for HIV, how does implementing a pre-exposure (PrEP) screening tool compared to randomly screening for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) affect the prescribing of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) within eight weeks?

Evidence: In 2015, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended PrEP for the prevention of HIV in high-risk individuals. The patients include men who have sex with …

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

Nursing | Senior Theses

Background

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

Objective

The purpose of the present thesis is to explore …

Rising Costs Of Insulin And Effects Of Self-Management In Type 1 Diabetes, Justine Yadao

Nursing | Senior Theses

Background

Type 1 diabetes, also known as juvenile diabetes or insulin-dependent diabetes is a chronic condition where the pancreas may not be able to produce little to no insulin. This type of diabetes can be attributed to some factors such as age, family history, environmental factors or types of viruses. It is seen more often in children or adolescence but can develop in adults, averaging approximately 5-10% of the population.

Insulin is a type of hormone produced in the pancreas naturally or can be manufactured in the laboratory. People with Type 1 Diabetes need insulin from an exogenous source to …

Substance Use Among Nurses As A Result Of Covid-19, And The Impact Of Rehabilitative Programs On Nurses, Gerome Macaspac

Nursing | Senior Theses

Background: The incidence of substance use among nurses has been a persistent issue for decades. The effects associated with substance misuse depend on what is used, the amount, how often, and how they are taken. Regardless of the substance used, any nurse who enters the workplace using substances puts the lives of others at risk. Due to the widespread effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, there is a risk that the number of nurses resorting to the use of substances may have increased. Therefore, an investigation into drug use among nurses during the pandemic is particularly important.

Objective: To explore the …

The Clinical Healthcare Provided To Homeless Communities Across The United States: A Literature Review, Saylor Sisemore

The Eleanor Mann School of Nursing Undergraduate Honors Theses

Homelessness has become a global public health concern as it results in poorer physical and mental health than age-matched people living in permanent housing (Ortiz & Roser, 2017). The area that comprises Northwest Arkansas (NWA), like other areas of the United States experiencing rapid growth, has seen a marked increase in the number of people experiencing homelessness in recent years. The homeless population is one of the most vulnerable and underserved groups of individuals in NWA and beyond. Public health nursing as a discipline is dedicated to providing compassionate care and exceptional service for all members of communities, with special …

Implementation Of A Virtual Nurse Residency Program For Public Health Nurses: A Pilot Study, Ashlie L. Pullen

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Implementation of a Virtual Nurse Residency Program for Public Health Nurses: A Pilot Study

Background: Nursing retention is a growing concern for many healthcare organizations. One of the Georgia Department of Public Health’s goals is to improve the recruitment and retention rates of public health nurses in the state. In this cohort study of nurses with less than 18 months of experience in public health, pre and post-tests were conducted to measure stress, confidence, job satisfaction, and public health core competencies.

Methods: The participants took part in asynchronous and synchronous online content led by public health professionals. These two modules …

Psychiatric Medications: Does Education Affect Medication Prescriptions?, Surina M. Narine, Mary D. Ramos, Sarah Chu

Symposium of Student Scholars

Background: There is a lack of research on racial challenges among underrepresented adolescents regarding prescription drug use for mental illnesses. Purpose: This study addressed the following question: In adolescent minorities, how does education about racial disparity and culture affect the stigma and number of prescriptions written for psychiatric medications? This evidence-based practice project aimed to identify if racial awareness directly impacts the amount of psychiatric medication prescribed for adolescent minorities. Methods: Literature reviews analyzed qualitative and quantitative data to provide correlating information on racial disparities and psychotropic medications. This study examined the following possible factors for decreased prescribed drugs within …

Lessons Learned: Covid-19 In Post-Corrections Secured Behavioral Rehabilitation, Jennifer G. Jones, Maria Devalpine, Erica J. Lewis

Virginia Journal of Public Health

Background: The COVID-19 case rate on June 5, 2020, for prisoners in the United States (US) was 5.5 times higher than the US population case rate (Saloner et al., 2020). Secure facilities were challenged to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. One secure behavioral rehabilitation facility made many changes to facility and program protocols to meet this challenge.

Methods: The purpose of this program evaluation was to assess newly implemented infection control measures at a secure behavioral rehabilitation facility and to inform policy and procedure recommendations for the mitigation of COVID-19 transmission in congregate living facilities in the future. Case rates, …

Long-Term Care In The United States: History, Financing, And Directions For Reform, George A. (Sandy) Mackenzie

Upjohn Press

This book is a concise survey of the development of U.S. long-term care and its financing, with comparisons with other rich countries. It also includes a brief comparative account of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States and several other countries. The study finds much that is amiss with American long-term care and proposes three sets of progressively more ambitious reforms.

Urban Health: A Practical Application For Clinical Based Learning, Cynthera Mcneill, Umeika Stephens, Tara Walker

Open Textbooks

Urban Health: A Practical Application for Clinical Based Learning is an openly licensed, peer-reviewed textbook for clinical-based nursing educators covering barriers in urban health and their impact on patient health outcomes. The authors explore perspectives of urban communities, urban patients, and urban healthcare providers to offer insight into how healthcare providers can address disparities in urban healthcare, provide meaningful care with the lived experiences of urban patients in mind, and improve patient-provider communication by moving towards a more solution-driven, team-based care approach. Features include learning activities, exemplars, and case studies.

How Covid-19 Changed New Nurse Orientation, Lindsey Js Sanders

MSN Capstone Projects

Universities were no longer able to do in person learning for nursing students. Nursing students were being taught vital skills like inserting an IV catheter via online simulation. The number of hours nursing students had to participate in clinical hours at the hospital was diminished due to the hospitals not allowing in nursing students. This created a huge educational deficit in nursing students. The nursing students who graduated during the COVID-19 pandemic are arguably less skilled than their predecessors before them. To fill this educational gap, additional training and orientation time must be provided to allow for fully competent new …

Health Services Survey, Doan (Delaney) Le, Hannah Gries, Cassandra Roy, Lesley Rabago, Franzelle Macaspac

Nursing Leadership in Community Engagement Projects

Health Services Survey

The agency we partnered with is a nonprofit organization committed to serving the needs of women and their families who are experiencing unstable or absent housing. They help to provide emergency shelter to families across five locations in the Seattle area and provide services surrounding housing, healthcare, employment, and community. They also have specialty programs aimed at providing services to children who are medically fragile and require specialized care, and families who have recently given birth and are still in the recovery and bonding stages. All this work is delivered with the values of love, equity, stewardship, …

Food Resources For The Allen Family Center, Anna Kolbjornsrud, Jagrup Kaur, Simran Kaur, Talyn Miller, Chloe Schrader

Nursing Leadership in Community Engagement Projects

Food Resources for the Allen Family Center

Allen Family Center (AFC), a part of the nonprofit organization Mary’s Place, is a family driven resource hub that focuses on the needs and goals of families experiencing or on the verge of homelessness (Mercy Housing, 2022). They use a multigenerational approach to break the cycle of homelessness which promotes inclusivity, safety and provides opportunities to improve health (Mercy Housing, 2022).

When meeting with the team, we identified a concern as the limited food supplies available to AFC and the lack of food outreach they can provide. Providing resources to the community is …

Pick Your Plate: A Nutrition Education Study, Emmalyn Tucker

Honors College Theses

Childhood obesity has become a cause for concern among many nutrition experts. Childhood obesity can contribute to several health problems such as type 2 diabetes, asthma, high blood pressure. The large percentage of children affected with childhood obesity suggests a lack of essential nutrition education in our country. Junk food consumption and inadequate intake of the USDA’s MyPlate food groups have become essential areas for intervention. Multiple school-based nutrition education interventions have been explored to improve both children’s nutrition knowledge and improve healthy eating behaviors. “Pick Your Plate” is a nutrition education study designed to improve nutrition knowledge regarding junk …

Transient Ischemic Attack And Admission To A Dedicated Unit, Bandi Davini

Student Scholarly Projects

Transient ischemic attacks account for admissions of approximately 70% of patients who present to the emergency department with transient vascular symptoms, with an average length of stay of one to seven days, costing, on average, $22,087 (Qureshi et al., 2013). A hospital organization's bed efficiency directly affects quality metrics. Reducing the length of stay in TIA patients by having them admitted to a dedicated unit with whom the staff has experience managing stroke patients and the understanding of specific criteria needing to be met before discharge can directly impact quality metrics and provide cost-effective delivery of care. The PICOT question …

Screening For Social Determinants Of Health To Improve Care In Pediatric Patients With Recurrent Urinary Tract Infections: A Scoping Review, Emily Gray Msn, Fnp-C, Michelle Rickard Dnp, Cpnp-Ac

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Purpose: To describe what is known about how SDoH screening impacts adherence to treatment in pediatric patients with recurrent UTIs.

Infection Control: Proper Handwashing Technique Within A Vulnerable Population, Seattle Pacific University

Nursing Leadership in Community Engagement Projects

Introduction

Recovery Café is a place of healing and recovery for those experiencing a variety of different kinds of traumas and experiences, whether it be homelessness, substance abuse, domestic violence, and others. This alcohol and drug free space is provided for members so that they can build relationships amongst each other, and gain access to resources such as housing, employment, support circles, social and health services. Typically open from 12-6, this community provides two free meals a day, resources, and ongoing support for their members regardless of past trauma, behaviors, and mistakes. Since the largest population group in this community, …

New Horizon's Staff Decisional Conflict Flowchart, Tayler Hart, Aysha Caoili, Emily Nguyen, Fatou Kanteh, Julia Chen, Andra Onu

Nursing Leadership in Community Engagement Projects

New Horizon’s Staff Decisional Conflict Flowchart

New Horizons was founded in 1998 by Father Don, a Greek Orthodox priest who did street outreach with homeless youth outside a donut shop near Pike Place Market (New Horizons, n.d.). He discovered that youth would rather live on the backstreets of Seattle than seek shelter and help from current service providers. After conversations with the youth and young adults (YYA), Father Don started an institution that specifically targeted homeless youth and the unstable housed population. To be different and accessible to all individuals, New Horizons adopted a low barrier system designed to serve …

The Role Of Telehealth In Reducing Hospital Readmissions For Heart Failure Patients, Tommy Lee Bratcher

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Capstones

Heart failure affects over six million people annually, and is expected to increase to over eight million by 2030. Over 60 million people live in the rural United States. Telehealth is a tool to improve access to care, provide early intervention, and follow up with patients within 48 hours of a hospital discharge. Utilizing Telehealth to conduct a medication reconciliation within 48 hours of discharge to address any medication errors or admission, and reinforce adherence is a way to improve access to care to those living in rural areas.

Telehealth And Hospital Readmissions For Heart Failure Patients: A Literature Review, Tommy Lee Bratcher

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Capstones

Currently heart failure affects over six million people and is expected to increase to over eight million people by 20230. The US Census Bureau estimates over 60 million people live in a rural setting. This literature review seeks to determine the state of the science regarding the utilization of Telehealth to reduce heart failure readmissions in rural areas.