Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques and Equipment Commons^™

Effects And Outcomes Of Different Laboring Positions And The Influence From Societal Norms, Amberlyn Heskett

Nursing | Senior Theses

Background

Within labor and delivery, every birth is different. Alarmingly, the U.S. has the highest maternal mortality rate, including death during labor, among developed countries (World Health Organization, 2022). Many maternal deaths may be preventable.

In the U.S., the use of forceps, vacuum-assisted birth, episiotomies, and emergency C-sections are common for women during childbirth. Even though some laboring positions may assist birthing more than others, there often is resistance to allowing various positions due to outside influences, including societal norms, hospital management, and healthcare professional training. Women in labor are vulnerable and look to their nurses for support ...

Group Therapy For Adults With Hip Replacements, Riley Burford Mot/S, Hillary Talley Mot/S, Elizabeth Seals Mot/S, Alishah Pirwani Mot/S, Tylan Wakefield Mot/S

Master of Occupational Therapy Student Critically Appraised Topics

The purpose of our critically appraised topic is to synthesize the best current evidence regarding the feasibility of group occupational therapy and outcomes related to ADL performance. The final portfolio contains a total of four research articles. Study designs include two randomized control trials, one cohort design, and one systematic review. All studies related directly to the PICO question and were used to determine best evidence for the feasibility of group therapy of the older adult population who have hip replacements in a rehabilitation setting.

The Effects Of Air-Cell Based Cushions On Pressure Relief For Adults With Spinal Cord Injury: A Critically Appraised Topic, Audrey Carr Mot/S, Olivia Hamby Mot/S, Hailey Hanson Mot/S, Olivia Kincaid Mot/S, Molly Mcwilliams Mot/S, Anna Pollan Mot/S

Master of Occupational Therapy Student Critically Appraised Topics

Most acute care level patients with a SCI are dependent in performing pressure relief. Research was appraised and synthesized to answer the question: Are air-filled cushions effective for reducing pressure and development of pressure ulcers among adults with a spinal cord injury who are unable to independently perform pressure relief?

Effect Of Early Mobilization On Length Of Hospital Stay In Covid-19 Patients: A Critically Appraised Topic, Ashlee Hodges, Anna Claire Briscoe, Anna Beth Willoughby, Carlton Hubbard, Nathan Smith

Master of Occupational Therapy Student Critically Appraised Topics

For this project, we created a critically appraised topic to study the effects of early mobilization on length of hospital stay in COVID-19 patients in the ICU.

Save Lives And Sanitize: Prevention Of Surgical Site Infections Post-Cesarean Section Through Increased Hand Hygiene Compliance, Lindsay N. Nance

Master's Projects and Capstones

Problem: Surgical site infections (SSIs) occur in 3-15% of cesarean sections, making SSIs one of the most common hospital-acquired infections (HAIs). Surgical site infections (SSIs) have increased within a Labor & Delivery (L&D) unit in a large California teaching hospital for the past three years, affecting reimbursement and creating a range of adverse outcomes for patients. Performance of consistent and thorough hand hygiene practices is key to preventing infection, yet the unit’s hand hygiene compliance of 66.7% is well below the facility’s target goal of 90%. Based on recommendations from the organization’s Infection Prevention & Control (IPC ...

Utilizing Training And Educational Materials To Increase Hand Hygiene Compliance Of Healthcare Providers Participating In Cesarean Sections, Christopher Natividad

Master's Projects and Capstones

Surgical site infections (SSIs) are one of the most common complications of Cesarean section (C-section) procedures. The incidence of SSIs after C-section procedures at Hospital X has increased in each of the past three years. The Labor and Delivery (L&D) unit at Hospital X performs approximately 4,500 C-sections each year. Observation of these procedures illustrated a lack of adhesion to hand hygiene policies and protocols. This quality improvement project involved informing staff members of the poor hand hygiene compliance rates, and re-educating them regarding proper hand hygiene behavior using flyers, emails, and addressing them at shift change. Data collection focused on hand hygiene compliance among staff members involved in the C-section procedure. Staff members were observed entering and exiting the operating room to determine if they performed hand hygiene upon entry or exit. Hand hygiene compliance increased by 8.8% among all staff members. Obstetric (OB) nurse hand hygiene compliance increased by 28.6%. While overall hand hygiene compliance increased, it was not statistically significant; however, the increase in OB nurse compliance is statistically significant. Implementation of educating the OB nurses proved to be successful, and future interventions were recommended to continue to monitor and improve hand hygiene compliance.

Improving Patient Outcomes One Warm Patient At A Time, Lindsey King, Marcus Austin Robison, Julie Bonom Dnp, Michael Godbold Md

Graduate Publications and Other Selected Works - Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

Patient Temperature measurement postoperatively reveals that hypothermia occurs in surgical patients 25-90% of the time. Unintended perioperative hypothermia can be linked to many negative patient outcomes such as increased incidence of surgical site infection (SSI), delayed wound healing and increased length of hospital stay, to mention a few. Any single or combination of the aforementioned issues can eventually lead to an increase in patient morbidity and mortality. The purpose of this proposed quality practice improvement project is to increase the compliance of hypothermia prevention strategies, specifically forced air warming, at the implementation site. The targeted practice improvement is aimed at ...

Anesthesia-To-Post Anesthesia Care Unit Handoff Standardization, Cassie Lee Bivens, Mark Timothy Cresap, Steven Michael Halcomb, Maureen Essie Taylor

Graduate Publications and Other Selected Works - Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

Abstract

The exchange of medical information from one medical professional to another is known as the handoff. Communication errors during the transition period of handoffs can lead to medication errors, delays in care, high stress within the work environment, and increased burnout of the nursing staff. Approximately 1,744 deaths and a total of $1.7 billion in malpractice costs were related to healthcare communication failures from 2012 to 2017. One of the areas of the hospital where effective handoffs are critically important, given the high frequency, is in the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU). Major organizations such as the Joint ...

Quality Improvement: Education And Implementation Of Proper Narcotic Handling Practices By Nurse Anesthetists, Shelby Stevenson, Anne Hendershott, Alexis Asprah

Graduate Publications and Other Selected Works - Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

Medication errors are estimated to occur once in every 150-300 surgeries (Wahr et al., 2017, p. 36). Unsafe injection practices can lead to increased morbidity and mortality, diminish the overall quality of life for patients, and contribute to substantial increases in healthcare costs. A large majority of unsafe injection practices are caused by a lack of education or mistaken beliefs regarding safe injection practices. Educational reinforcement of safe narcotic handling techniques has significant potential to increase the appropriate use of narcotic syringes among nurse anesthesia providers. The long-standing impact of this project could lead to a reduced number of ‘never ...

Dexmedetomidine To Reduce Ponv, Amanda Johnson Srna, Joshua Lawrence Srna, Staci Martinez Srna, Taylor Mayberry Srna, Dwayne Accardo Dnp, Crna, Aprn

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Purpose/Background Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) contribute to patient dissatisfaction, discomfort, adverse outcomes, and increased healthcare costs. Despite current protocols that aim to reduce PONV by prevention/antiemetic administration, PONV continues to be a common manifestation in many postoperative patients (Elvir-Lazo et al., 2020). This scoping review aimed to analyze available research on the efficacy of dexmedetomidine to reduce perioperative opioid requirements and PONV.

Methods Synthesis of this scoping review began with a systematic approach to search databases and identify eligibility criteria articles. Of the 21 articles that met criteria, a synthesis table was formed to visualize the qualitative ...

Development Of A Protocol To Manage Postdural Puncture Headache, Ashley M. Shulman, Lynexis P. Mcvey

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

In obstetric laboring patients, neuraxial anesthesia is a common form of analgesia. However, neuraxial procedures are not without risk. Accidental dural puncture (ADP) is a potential risk with any epidural procedure. Patients who experience ADP are at a greater risk of developing postdural puncture headache (PDPH). The presentation of PDPH is commonly described as a dull, throbbing, headache worsening upon standing and relieved with supine positioning (Patel et al., 2020). Symptoms of PDPH may range from mild to debilitating and develop within five days of ADP. A variety of treatment options exist for PDPH ranging from conservative to invasive. The ...

Reducing Hapi In High-Risk Patients: A Quality Improvement Project, Gia Lynne Frank

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Scholarly Projects

Executive Summary

Introduction: Pressure injuries (PI) are wounds caused by pressure, friction, or sheer on the skin and the underlying structures, resulting in cell death (Berlowitz et al., 2014). When hospital-acquired pressure injuries (HAPI) occur, they severely affect a patient's quality of life. It is estimated HAPI is the cause of death in 41 out of every 1000 patients (AHRQ, 2017). Annual costs related to HAPI in the United States are estimated at $26.8 billion (Padula & Delarmente, 2019). HAPI prevention is a priority in the hospital setting as it is a quality indicator. There is emerging evidence that foam dressings over the sacrum, as an addition to the standard of care, may further reduce the incidence of HAPI.

Problems and Purpose Statement: Currently, nurses use foam dressings as PI prevention as an independent practice decision at the project hospital. The purpose of this project was to determine whether the application of sacral foam dressings over intact skin by hospital staff RNs as PI prevention would reduce the incidence of HAPI in high-risk adult patients. Eligibility criteria included a) <24 hours admission to the unit; b) Braden score ≤18; c) Braden sub-category moisture >2; d) no tape allergy; e) intact sacral skin, no history of sacral PI ...

Markerless Tumor Tracking Using Kalman Filter And Deep Learning, Anisha Kapoor, Mark Albert

Computer Science Research Seminars and Symposia

According to the Center for Disease Control, more people die from lung cancer than any other cancer in the United States. A complication that arises from lung cancer treatment, radiation therapy, is radiation pneumonitis. Radiation pneumonitis can be fatal and affects over 23% of patients.

Cases From A Community Hospital… Jchimp Series #1: 55-Year-Old Male With Acute Pe Who Developed Persistent Epistaxis., Jerrica N. Mueller, Bobby Mathew, Douglas D. Reh, Joseph Fuscaldo

Journal of Community Hospital Internal Medicine Perspectives

This is the first in a new series of case reports that will present real scenarios from our community hospital. The cases are chosen to highlight clinical dilemmas and offer review and perspective on what is currently known about the topic. We present the case of a 55-year-old Caucasian male who presented to the emergency department of our community hospital for worsening dyspnea. Evaluation in the Emergency department revealed a diagnosis of extensive pulmonary emboli in the pulmonary vasculature. The patient was admitted to the ICU. A clinical decision was made to initiate treatment with low-dose tissue plasminogen activator (tpa ...

Esmolol Compared To Fentanyl On Hemodynamic Effects: A Scoping Review, Anna Mccleskey Bsn, Rn, Srna, Landon Mcdonald Msn, Rn, Cnl, Tim Moore Bsn, Rn, Srna, Jamie Pitcock Bsn, Rn, Srna, Dwayne Accardo Dnp, Crna, Aprn

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Purpose The purpose of this DNP project is to compare the efficacy of esmolol to fentanyl in attenuation the hemodynamic response associated with direct laryngoscopy.

Specific Aims Compare the effects of esmolol to fentanyl on patient heart rate during laryngoscopy. Compare the effects of esmolol to fentanyl on patient mean arterial pressure during laryngoscopy.

Transferring Patients To A Higher Level Of Care, Chiquita Rockiemore Rn, Msn, Olubunmi Osinloye Bsn, Rn, Angela Uta Bsn, Rn, Tracy Mcclinton Dnp, Ag-Acnp-Bc

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

The purpose of this study is to determine whether the transfer of critically ill patients, who require a higher level of care, to another facility impacts morbidity and mortality within 24-72 hours post transfer

Monitoring Adherence To Hcv Screening Among The Baby Boomer Population, Sarah Miller Bsn, Rn, Autumn Spight Bsn, Rn, Mahogany Freeman Bsn, Rn, Sharon Little Dnp, Aprn, Fnp-Bc

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Purpose/Background Chronic hepatitis C is currently the most common cause of liver disease in the United States and is associated with various complications that increase mortality and morbidity, yet many people go unidentified and thus untreated. The CDC created guidelines in 2012 for hepatitis C screening and testing among the baby boomer population due to their high rates of HCV infection and HCV-related mortality. Our project aimed to assess the adherence of hepatitis C screening, based on these CDC guidelines, of individuals within the baby boomer population (1945-1965) in the primary care setting through retrospective chart review.

Methods A ...

The Use Of Spectral Imaging To Reveal Inorganics And Organics Identity In The Biological Samples, Qamar Alshammari

Pharmaceutical Sciences (PhD) Dissertations

The wavelength is used to identify the exact location and quantify the number of molecules in the spectral imaging system. It aids in identifying materials and studying their quantities by examining how they interact with light. A traditional spectrometer provides spectrum information of chemical compounds, while standard imaging provides the intensity at each pixel of the image. Spectral imaging (SI) combines these two aspects by equipping intensity and spectral data for each pixel. In biomedical research, it is important to assess the inorganics/organics molecules to understand drug activity, cellular toxicity, and distribution. Using the microscopy technique, we found for ...

Targeting Metabolic Adaptations To Anti-Angiogenic Therapy In Ovarian Cancer, Deanna M. Glassman, Deanna Glassman

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center UTHealth Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

ABSTRACT

Background: Ovarian cancer is the most lethal gynecologic malignancy. Despite modest clinical improvements with anti-VEGF antibody (AVA) therapy, adaptive resistance is nearly ubiquitous and additional therapeutic options are limited. A dependence on glutamine metabolism, via the enzyme glutaminase (GLS), is a known mechanism of adaptive resistance.

Purpose: To assess the efficacy of a glutaminase inhibitor as a means of exploiting the metabolic vulnerability of glutamine dependence that develops as a result of adaptive resistance to AVA therapy.

Experimental Design: We used a glutaminase inhibitor (GLSi) synthesized at MD Anderson Cancer Center for all in vitro and in vivo experiments ...

Synthesis, Structural Characterization, And In Vitro Biological Assessment Of Trans- Platinum (Ii) Thionate Complexes As Potent Anticancer Agents, Mia Alshami

Chemistry & Biochemistry Undergraduate Honors Theses

The content of this thesis has been originally reported in our published paper, “trans-Platinum (II) Thionate Complexes: Synthesis, Structural Characterization, and in vitro Biological Assessment as Potent Anticancer Agents” ChemPlusChem 2019 84, 1525-1535, DOI: 10.1002/cplu.201900394, in which I served as coauthor. Cancer caused 9.6 million deaths in 2018 worldwide, with 18.1 million new diagnoses during that same year.The most widely used metal in anticancer drugs is platinum (Pt), and these drugs are used to treat almost 50% of cancer patients. To optimize drug effectiveness, trans-configured Pt(II) complexes have been introduced as ...