Public Health and Community Nursing Commons^™

The Continual Prevalence Of Hiv/Aids Within The African American Gay Male Population, Kayla Bartell, Crystal Darby, Julia Wozniacki, Jasmin Cabeza

Symposium of Student Scholars

Background: Black/African American males that identify as gay or bisexual are more affected than any other ethnicity. Countless amounts of young adults who have contracted HIV have below standard medication adherence.

Aim: The purpose of this study is to explore accessibility and adherence to pre-exposure prophylactic medications for young African American gay adults who have contracted HIV.

Methods: The Johns Hopkins Evidence-Based Practice Model and Guidelines were used in the literature review, critical analysis, leveling of evidence, and quality rating. The PRISMA flow diagram was used to map out the number of records for inclusion and exclusion. PubMed, …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

Implementing Systematic Sexual Orientation And Gender Identity (Sogi Data) Collection At An Inpatient Hospital Located In The Southern Region Of The United States, Shawn Malugin

Epsilon Sigma at-Large Research Conference

Purpose

LGBTQ patients experience marginalization and discrimination when seeking healthcare in the Southern Region of the United States. As a result, they experience negative healthcare outcomes. Collecting sexual orientation/gender identity (SOGI data) is vital in decreasing health disparities and improving hospitalized LGBTQ patients’ quality of care. Providers cannot adequately assess health risk factors or deliver culturally competent care without SOGI data knowledge.

Aims

The aim is to collect SOGI data during intake to implement a standard of care to promote LGBTQ health outcomes and decrease marginalization.

Processes

To understand how to provide high-quality care to LGBTQ patients, providers receive instruction …

Lgbt Community And Mental Health, Danielle Schleeter

Epsilon Sigma at-Large Research Conference

Introduction and Background: Today, in 2022, there is a community that receives discrimination, lack of acceptance, and lack of equality. This is the LGBTQ community. They suffer from the indifferences of the way they express themselves resulting in a rise of mental health issues and overall health disparities.

Purpose Statement: The purpose of this review is to explore the disparities in mental health for the LGBT community including young adolescents and older adults. The question that drives this review is how does being a member of the LGBT community effect mental health.

Literature Review: This literature review utilized search engines …

Mucormycosis: Covid-19 And Corticosteroids, Mittal Savaliya, Nivedita Jha, Steven B Lippmann

The University of Louisville Journal of Respiratory Infections

No abstract provided.

Boarding Barriers For Psychiatric Patients In Emergency Departments, Emmeline B. Martin Bsn, Rn, Alison Rossano Bsn, Rn, Diana Dedmon Dnp, Aprn, Fnp-Bc

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Objective To identify past or current literature about emergency department holds and psychiatric patients consisting of the evaluation of patient outcomes, satisfaction and equity of care. It is already known that shorter boarding times from the emergency department to a psychiatric unit have positive patient outcomes such as a decrease in readmissions, increase in patient satisfaction and efficiency in appropriate treatment.

Method A scoping review to analyze data by grouping articles into themes which included authors, date of publication, aims/purpose, methodology, sample, interventional details, and the key findings in each article. Excluded articles included those discussing COVID-19 and case management. …

Impact Of Ante- And Postnatal Depression Screening In Women With Hiv: A Scoping Review, Kimberly M. Grider Bsn, Rn, Pmh-Bc, Bao Chau Le Bsn, Rn, Blessing Okon Bsn, Rn, Diana Dedmon Dnp, Aprn, Fnp-Bc

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Purpose/Background Maternal depression has been identified as a strong predictor of poor prenatal care. Among pregnant women living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), mental health-related factors such as depression could potentially undermine effective antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence, increase mortality, and cause poor HIV viral suppression consequently impacting vertical transmission of HIV. This scoping review aims to identify existing knowledge regarding the impact of ante- and postnatal depression screening in women with HIV and to adduce the necessity for effective screening.

Methods A literature search was performed for studies with primary outcomes of depression screening within the context of ante- or …

Self-Healing With Reiki For Homeless Individuals Suffering From Past Traumatic Events, Kathryn Piha

Theses and Graduate Projects

Living with symptoms that resemble PTSD from past trauma can be detrimental to health, healing, and quality of life. Symptoms that resemble PTSD are intrusive and disruptive to daily life and can cause anxiety, vivid flashbacks and nightmares, and intense memories. Homeless individuals navigate challenges and are at increased risk for developing symptoms that resemble PTSD. This project explored Reiki as a healing modality to improve health, healing, and quality of life from the negative implications of past traumatic experiences. Guided by Martha Roher's SUHB Theory, this project connects Reiki with energy as healing. Understanding energy and energy fields can …

Addressing Lgbtq Anxiety With Mindful Meditation, Mark Pequignot

Theses and Graduate Projects

The current study investigated the effect of mindful meditation on anxiety levels in the LGBTQ+ urban student population. An incorporation of Margaret Newman’s Theory of Health as Expanding Consciousness and theoretical concepts of living in the present moment guided these participants in exposing traumas and relational development forming anxiety. Ten LGBTQ+ urban students (N=10) were randomly selected to examine their involvements via the practice of mindful meditation, further determine past traumas associated with identifying within the LGTBQ+ community, and examine how these impact daily experiences of anxiety. Participants completed Likert Surveys to ascertain the effect that mindful meditation had on …

Nurses' Implicit Attitudes Regarding The Lgbtq Population, Carolyn Howard

DNP Projects

Health inequities such as chronic medical conditions, mental health disorders, substance abuse, and suicide are prevalent in the LGBTQ population, resulting in part from minority stress, stigma, discrimination, and isolation. Studies showed mixed results regarding nurses’ and other healthcare professionals’ attitudes toward these individuals. Relatively little research has focused specifically on nurses, and most studies have centered on healthcare professionals’ explicit attitudes. Given the lack of studies on nurses and implicit bias, more research is needed on nurses’ implicit attitudes regarding LGBTQ patients. Using a retrospective design with secondary data from Project Implicit, the study compared United States (US) nurses’ …

Comparing An Evidence-Based Screening Tool To Standard Substance Abuse Screening Questions In Identifying Pregnant Women At Risk For Substance Abuse, Nicole Y. Romero

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

The purpose of the study project was to compare a nonspecific substance screening questionnaire with a well validated, evidence-based substance screening tool designed specifically for the pregnant population Evidence has shown use of an evidence-based screening tool improves maternal and fetal outcomes and reduces the risk of missed cases, stereotyping, and stigma. This study project utilized the social learning theory model, which defines human behavior as a reciprocal, continuous interaction among cognitive, behavioral, and environmental determinants. A pilot observational study project was conducted within a focal organization in a specified women’s health clinic over a 12-week period comparing their currently …

Building Resiliency In Children Through Mindfulness, Karissa Buck

Theses and Graduate Projects

This scholarly work recognizes the profound impact of toxic stress on children as a result of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). According to the MDH (2011), ACEs are the main contributor to toxic stress within children. ACEs include physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, mental illness of a household member, drug or drinking problems of a household member, divorce or separation of parents, domestic violence between adults in the household, and incarceration of a household member (MDH, 2011). Fifty-five percent of Minnesotans experience at least one adverse childhood experience during childhood. Results of toxic stress can include impaired brain development, behavioral …

A Scoping Review: Trauma Informed Care For Justice Involved Youth To Decrease Recidivism, Tamika Beecham, Marissa Gray, Shelby Husband, Diana Dedmon Dnp, Fnp, Bc

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Purpose The purpose of this scoping review was to address trauma-informed care, juvenile justice systems, and recidivism rates. The literature review conducted identified key research and analysis of effective trauma-informed treatment methodologies, referrals, and accessibility of care for justice-involved youth, and the rate change of recidivism related to trauma-informed treatment and interventions.

Background The high rates of recidivism in the juvenile court systems matched with the increased prevalence of psychological trauma in justice-involved youth represent the need for implementing trauma informed care. The scoping review analyzed the research implementing the intervention of trauma informed care to determine if it resulted …

Evidence-Based Best Practice Toolkit For Competency-Based Orientation In Integrating An Adult Pneumococcal Protocol To Improve Vaccine Rate: A Program Evaluation Review, Magda Angel Cifuentes

Student Scholarly Projects

Practice Problem: Low pneumococcal vaccine uptake among high-risk adults is partly due to underutilized or lack of nurse-driven vaccine protocols, limited understanding of vaccine intervals and indications by nurses, and lack of proper training. Currently, physician-driven orders are the only avenue for high-risk adults to obtain this vaccine in ambulatory sites.

PICOT: In adults 65 years or older within an ambulatory setting, does the use of an adult pneumococcal vaccine protocol, compared to a physician order (no vaccine protocol) impact the rate of vaccination over 2 months?

Evidence: Utilization of two or more interventions provided higher immunization rates. …

Reducing Immigration-Related Stress In An Immigrant Population, Stephanie Avdagic

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Capstones

Immigrants are a growing population in the United States and face stressors specific to immigration. Stress is associated with increased mental and physical health issues, so increased stress puts this population at risk for many health concerns. A review of literature showed that implementing community resource classes for immigrants may help decrease immigration-related stress. The purpose of this evidence-based project was to assess if implementation of community resource classes at a local day center for immigrants could help decrease immigration-related stress. The classes addressed issues such as limited English proficiency and lack of legal immigration status. The Stress of Immigration …

Belmont University Covid Surveillance And Containment: An Evaluation Of Program Effectiveness, Morgan A. Lambrecht

DNP Projects

In the early days of the Coronavirus (COVID) pandemic, members of university communities faced elevated risk of contracting COVID because they live and work in congregate settings, with shared living and dining arrangements. By the Fall 2020 semester, with limited information regarding the transmission of COVID, a quick, but comprehensive strategy was needed to allow students to return to university campuses, while maintaining a safe environment for students, faculty, and staff. The purpose of this project was to determine the effectiveness of the COVID surveillance and containment measures implemented in the 2020/2021 academic year for the residential campus community at …

Covid-19 Vaccine Uptake Among College Students, Erin Hoening, Elizabeth Morse, David Phillippi, Krystal Huesmann

DNP Projects

Background: Public health strategies to improve COVID-19 vaccine uptake among college students living in residential communities varied, some universities opted to mandate COVID-19 vaccines while other universities opted to promote and influence the choice for vaccination.

Purpose: This descriptive, cross-sectional study examined the voluntary uptake of COVID-19 vaccines among residential students on a college campus in the southeastern U.S. that elected an evidence-driven health promotion strategy that included strong health promotion messaging coupled with coordinated efforts to make the vaccine accessible and appealing to students on campus.

Methods: Analysis of vaccine uptake was derived from campus electronic health records during …

Exploring Compassion For The Community And Diversity Through Nursing Experiential Learning, Jaime Sinutko, Nadine Wodwaski, Brooklin Adams

Experiential Learning & Teaching in Higher Education

Background: The aim of Jesuit education is total growth leading to action (Jesuit Institute, 2014a), plus higher Jesuit education seeks to transform students through examining the world around them. The promotion of experiential learning is noted in Ignatian Pedagogy (2014a) by urging the whole person to enter the learning experience. Nursing education, at a Jesuit University, involves educating the whole person within a service-oriented profession. Thus, experiential learning in a nursing course at a Jesuit University is an active component of Ignatian pedagogy, promoting Jesuit values and Catholic identity. This has been challenging since the COVID-19 pandemic forced universities to …

The Knowledge And Attitudes Of Oncology Nurses On Advance Directives, Bailey Nettles

Dissertations

Advances in healthcare technology has changed how healthcare professionals care for patients, increasing the importance of Advance Directives (ADs). ADs are legal documents describing patient end-of-life care wishes. Despite the usefulness of ADs, particularly in oncology settings, most patients do not have one.

This qualitative content analysis study examined knowledge and attitudes of ADs among oncology nurses to obtain a better understanding of ADs. Literature on ADs and nurses is dominated by quantitative research. This study addresses knowledge gaps best filled by qualitative methods.

Ten experienced oncology nurses answered eleven open-ended questions using online video conference interviews. The eleven questions …

Full Practice Authority: Determining Readiness Among Nurse Practitioner Students In Mississippi, Betty Hoffman

Doctoral Projects

Full practice authority has been granted to nurse practitioners by many states. These practitioners are educated and trained as full primary providers of health care. Full practice authority for nurse practitioners is not granted in Mississippi, which currently ranks in the lowest positions for health care in the United States. The low ranking can be attributed to a lack of providers and access to services.

This project seeks to explore attitudes and understanding of nurse practitioner students in the State of Mississippi regarding full practice authority. A survey will be electronically distributed to determine what is already known and understood …

The Effect Of Provider-Patient Racial Concordance On Student Health Services, Sophia B. Gilliam

Senior Theses

Objective: This research aimed to evaluate the effect of provider-patient racial concordance on perceived care received by University of South Carolina students at Student Health Services.

Methods: A total of 173 students at the University of South Carolina Columbia campus who have received care from Student Health Services within the past 2 years participated in the study. Participants were questioned about their experience with Student Health Services using an adaptation of the CAHPS® Clinician & Group Survey Version 3.0. Independent samples t-tests and descriptive analyses were used for comparisons between the 25 non-white respondents and a randomly selected proportionate group …

Implementing Sexual Health Education For At-Risk High School Students In A Faith-Based Setting: A Pilot Project, Neva R. Fuentes

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Background: Sexually transmitted infections (STI) are a global issue that persist, causing significant negative health outcomes like cancer, adverse reproductive issues including infertility, and death (CDC, 2019a; Office of Women’s Health [OWH], 2019; WHO, 2019). In the United States, youth ages 15-24 years old make up 50% of the more than 20 million newly diagnosed STI’s each year (CDC, 2019a). Young women, adolescents (Slater & Robinson, 2014), minority populations (Mermelstein & Plax, 2016), and high school dropouts (Anderson & Pörtner, 2014) are even more disproportionately affected. Access to comprehensive health information and vaccines are well documented effective STI prevention methods …

Communicating Comfort In Crisis: A Literature Review On Overcoming The Emergency Room Environment To Foster The Nurse-Patient Relationship, Faith G. Davenport

Senior Honors Theses

The average emergency room patient is not receiving the compassionate nurse-patient communication that patients experience on other hospital floors. Fewer positive nurse-patient interactions prompt patients to state that they feel uncomforted and dissatisfied on hospital exit surveys, inciting hospital management to investigate how to reverse this trend to retain their federal funding. Emergency room nurses cite multiple barriers inherent in their work environment that prevent them from building rapport with their patients, including a layout not conducive to private conversations, strict time constraints, and a fluctuating workload. Working for a prolonged period under these conditions is driving many nurses to …

A Whole-Food Plant Based Diet And Its Effects On Cardiovascular Disease, Meredith A. Childress

MSN Capstone Projects

The purpose of this paper and benchmark study is to present evidenced-based data regarding the impact diet choices have on heart disease and how adherence to a whole food plant based (WFPB) diet compared to a Western diet affects cardiac disease. The PICOT question being asked for this change project is as follows: In adults with history of cardiac disease (P), how does adherence to a whole-food plant-based (WFPB) diet (I) compared to the Western diet (C) impact outcomes associated with coronary artery disease (CAD) (O) over three months (T)? A search of evidenced-based literature was conducted to determine the …

Community Isolation Project, Natalie M. Danhof, Lydia Santucci, Abigail Dempsey, Nathaniel Navarro, Ivy Mills, Samantha Thompson

Nursing Leadership in Community Engagement Projects

Introduction

The authors of this summary are nursing students at Seattle Pacific University, and the project goal is focused on understanding feelings of isolation in elderly communities and whether fostering social activities, such as Bingo, would improve social interaction between residents in this community.

For the past two years, the COVID-19 pandemic has altered various aspects of social interaction. From masking to social distancing, societal norms and expectations evolved in a manner that promoted isolation and minimal interaction to inhibit the spread of Covid infection between individuals. Of the general populace, the most vulnerable and at risk for infection are …

The Measles-Mumps-Rubella Vaccine And Parental Hesitancy: The World’S Unspoken Pandemic, Kayla James

Senior Honors Theses

The Measles-Mumps-Rubella vaccine (MMR) is a proven necessity for the prevention of measles, mumps, and rubella, which possess severe and possibly life-threatening complications. However, the means in which these vaccines are produced, mandated, or scheduled raise certain concerns within the medical and pharmaceutical consumer community. In fact, there are various communities around the globe that willfully choose to refuse the MMR vaccine, along with many other pediatric vaccinations, resulting in diminished vaccination rates and risk of possible outbreak of any of these three diseases. With this impending threat on the rise, it is necessary to engage in research to best …