Nursing Commons^™

A Systematic Review: Mirror Neurons & Schizophrenia, Yashesvi Sharma, Surajit Dey

Annual Research Symposium

This research project establishes a link between Mirror Neuron System (MNS) activity and this information's implications in treating and understanding schizophrenia, specifically, schizophrenic patients with negative symptoms.

Benefits Of The Use Of Probiotics In Preventing Secondary Infections, Sarah Cutcher

Scholars Week

Through evidence based research, the use of supplemental probiotics has been shown to have a positive effect in preventing secondary infections in hospital patients. Although there are other techniques that have decreased the incidence of infections, such as reducing invasive procedures and aseptic techniques, these are external procedures designed to prevent infection. Probiotics are an effective method of internally preventing infection. By studying certain infections and the effect that probiotics have on their prevention, researchers can safely conclude which bacteria strain could help to prevent each infection. Some different types of issues that will be looked at are healthcare acquired …

The Impact Of Spirituality On Patient Outcomes And How Nurses Can Implement Spirituality In Patient Care, Audrey Pittman

Scholars Week

This article studied the impact of spirituality on patient outcomes and how nurses can implement spirituality into patient care. This study looked at peer reviewed articles over the impact of spirituality on patient care. They found a positive impact of spiritual wellness and patient outcomes. Next it looked at how nurses could implement spiritual care into practice. This study found that the implementation of the FICA assessment tool would be a great first step in the right direction on no longer neglecting spiritual wellness.

Implementing Intermittent Fetal Monitoring In Low-Risk Laboring Moms, Kaitlynn Keel, Jessica Manion

Scholars Week

It has become common practice for laboring moms to remain attached to monitors throughout the duration of their labor, known as continuous electronic fetal monitoring (CEFM). Although this is the new normal in the world of labor and delivery, there has been speculation as to whether or not this is evidence-based. Specifically, moms in labor that are considered low-risk should not be bound to the bed for their entire labor for this continuous monitoring, in fact, research actually supports that CEFM leads to unnecessary interventions that negatively impact both mom and neonate.

Emphasizing The Importance Of Clustering Care For Newborns In The Nicu Setting, Callie Hines Sn, Alyssa Howell Sn, Elizabeth Crews Sn

Scholars Week

For our Evidence-Based Project, we have chosen to cover the topic concerning clustering care for premature infants in the neonatal intensive care unit. In many NICU's across the country preterm infants are taken care of on an as needed basis. Research and Swanson’s theory of caring supports that clustering care has a positive correlation with the improvement of vital signs, physical and intellectual development, and infection control.

Debriefing After A High Stakes Situation ​, Austin Hildebrant, Noah Merriss, Brennon Hamm

Scholars Week

This powerpoint presentation details the importance of debriefing after a high stakes situation in the hospital setting.

Fire Safety In The Or, Raghda Abo Al Haija, Leah Cullop, Keeli Mckeel

Scholars Week

Fire safety in the operating room (OR) is crucial, and so it is important for the OR team to be aware of practices that help prevent and manage operating room fires. This presentation compiles evidence-based research on practices and interventions that promote OR fire safety.

Local Anesthetic Systemic Toxicity (Last): Provider Education, Alexis Johnson

Scholars Week

Abstract

Background: Local Anesthetic Systemic Toxicity (LAST) is a rare but serious complication due to accumulation of local anesthetics. If not treated quickly, LAST can cause detrimental complications such as seizures and cardiac arrest. Therefore, it is important that anesthesia providers are well versed in preventing, recognizing, and treating this adverse event.

Methods: A LAST flowchart written by The American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine (ASRA) was printed and placed in each operating room in a small suburban hospital. Anesthesia staff were also educated on recognizing signs and symptoms, onset time, high risk patients, and prevention.

Results: Ten …

Improving Anesthesia Handoff: Implementing Standardized Handoff Tool For Post-Open-Heart Surgery In Critical Care Settings, Kelly Doyle

Scholars Week

The purpose of this project was to create a handoff tool implemented post-operatively by anesthesia providers during every transfer of care with patients undergoing open heart surgery and transitioning to the intensive care unit. Communication errors have been identified as a primary cause of anesthesia-related sentinel events, particularly during patient handoff, which can lead to negative patient outcomes due to incomplete relay of information. This Quality Improvement Project was conducted at a single facility where Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists, (CRNAs) incorporated a handoff tool into their anesthesia handoff following coronary artery bypass graft surgery over a six-week period. Both pre- …

Education Of Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia Prevention In Adult Intensive Care Patients, Carlin Morgan

Scholars Week

The purpose of this project was to improve knowledge related to evidence-based ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) preventative measures that decrease the prevalence of VAP in adult patients in the intensive care unit (ICU). An educational presentation was provided to twelve critical care nurses at a 349-bed hospital in western Kentucky. A pretest was obtained to measure the nurse’s knowledge prior to the presentation. A PowerPoint and pamphlet containing VAP prevention techniques were presented to the twelve critical care nurses during each meeting. A posttest was then administered after the presentation to measure the efficacy of the educational presentation. The mean of …

Eat, Sleep, Console, Claire Hauke, Grace Hauke

Scholars Week

Eat, Sleep, Console is a scale used to assess opioid withdrawing neonates. This scale focuses on infant function and comfort, rather than treating infants based on signs and symptoms of withdrawal alone.

Optimizing Digital Proficiency To Improve Perceived Self-Efficacy In Telehealth Nurses, Serena Young

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

The use of telehealth to provide care management services has increased as healthcare continues to evolve. Seven million Americans were predicted to use telehealth in 2020, which increased to over 35 million through the pandemic. These services have been shown to decrease healthcare disparities and promote positive health outcomes. Education and training for nurses providing telehealth services have not kept up with the increased demand. Nurses providing care management telehealth services in a large tertiary health system have low perceived self-efficacy for technology. Leaders in the organization believe this is causing a lack of digital proficiency in their workforce. This …

Implementation Of An Advanced Practice Provider Fellowship To Improve Transition To Practice, Breanne Hosford

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Problem

Retention of advanced practice providers (APPs) is needed for ongoing high quality comprehensive care. Administrators at a large urban pediatric institute in the Midwest identified turnover and retention as an issue for APPs in the first one to two years of service. Even in years when turnover rates were not as high, the greatest number of APPs leaving the institution where those in their first five years of tenure. Without strategies aimed at improving transition to practice, new hire APPs will continue to be unprepared for their new role, therefore endangering job satisfaction, leading to continued turnover, and threatening …

A Patient Centered Quality Improvement Education Program Designed To Improve The Health Of Patients Living With Uncontrolled Hypertension In A Primary Care Setting, Alia Jamison-Dinowitz

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the United States and it negatively contributes to poor health outcomes (Martinez-Garcia et al., 2018). Within the Antelope Valley in Lancaster California, 30.3 % of city residents have a hypertension diagnosis (Los Angeles County of Public Health, 2017). Much like the city at large, hypertension is a critical issue at AV Pediatrics and Family Medicine (AV Peds). This issue is driven by a variety of factors including a lack of understanding about hypertension and medication compliance, and a lack of understanding about healthy lifestyle choices. Providers at AV Peds have seen …

Evidence-Based Strategy To Improve Delirium Detection In Elderly Postsurgical Patients, Aimee Baker

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

Postoperative delirium (POD) is a serious adverse outcome that frequently affects older adults. Patients experiencing POD are at greater risk for postoperative mortality, increased length of hospital stay, functional decline, and increased cost of care. Current global population trends indicate that the population of adults over the age of 60 years old will double over the next thirty years. Recent guidelines call for hospitals to implement routine delirium assessment to improve early intervention. Nursing delirium assessment tools are a critical resource for early delirium identification. Nursing delirium assessment tools are often highly sensitive and specific for delirium when used in …

Improving Emergency Department Nurses Communication Self-Efficacy With Underrepresented Populations Through Cultural Humility Training, Nikki L. Graham

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Problem Description: The chasm of health inequality for underrepresented populations in the United States is growing, despite advances in healthcare and increased life expectancy. Disparities span the age and healthcare continuum for underrepresented populations, with increased mortality and morbidity rates in nearly every category. Non-white residents in Cook County face the same challenges. Historical lack of trust creates a reluctance to seek healthcare among Black populations, but when they do, they are disproportionately dissatisfied with their care, receive less aggressive treatment, and report higher levels of uncontrolled pain. Nurses, as the largest body of healthcare professionals, are uniquely positioned …

Reducing Reportable Hospital Acquired Pressure Injuries In The Medical Intensive Care Unit, Vallerie Push Msn, Rn, Cnl, Ccrn, Ryan Crabb Rn, Pamela D'Ambrosio Bsn, Rn, Sheryl Phino Msn, Rn, Ccrn,, Marianne Scofield Msn, Rn, Anne M. Aquila

Posters

The purpose of this quality improvement (QI) project was to reduce the rate of reportable HAPIs/1000 patient days in the MICU by 25% from a baseline rate of 2.92/1000 patient days to a target rate of 2.19 by September 30, 2023

Pods: A Team-Based Approached To Reduce The Left Without Being Seen Rate In An Urban, High-Volume Emergency Department, Charis Keane Md, Daryn Brauner Msn, Amy Bobbit Rn, Nikki Campbell Bsn, April Alfano Ms

Posters

The purpose of this QI project is to evaluate the impact of the Patient-Oriented Discharge System (PODS) model, a registered nurse-provider team-based approach, on reducing the rate of LWBS in a high-volume, urban ED

Improving Pain Air Cycles With Implementation Of Evidence-Based Reassessment Strategies, Carissa Corraro Dnp (C), Bsn, Rn.

Posters

The purpose of this quality improvement project was to implement evidence-based strategies (i.e., compliance audits, educational in-services, badge reels, and Posters with QR codes) to increase compliance of oncology nurses’ documentation of pain assessments and reassessments.

Health Equity Innovation To End Clinicians’ Unconscious Bias When Caring For Emergency Department Patients, Kenneth Forte, Adam Chess, April Alfano, Keri Bill, Cheryl Green, Mary Christoffersen, Joubin Bavarian

Posters

Bridgeport Hospital has successfully improved patient care by implementing Individualized Clinical Bias Scores (ICBS) for triage nurses in our emergency department (ED). Through the use of data analysis, we identified that patients of color were being assigned less urgent acuities when presenting with the same complaints as white patients. By addressing this implicit bias and implementing a new system of ICBS for our ED Triage Nurses, we have seen a significant improvement in the equitable treatment of all patients regardless of race or ethnicity.