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The Psychosocial Effects of Chemotherapy on the Adolescent Population: Implementing Community Building Programs
Kareena Jakhu and Princess Kyra R. Anicete
Background: During the adolescent stage (13-18), individuals go through role confusion and seek much of their validation from their fellow peers. Forming a strong sense of community is crucial in this stage of development as it helps with creating a foundation for who they want to become. Chemotherapy strips this aspect of socialization due to its ability to suppress the immune system. When socialization is taken away, adolescents face loneliness, which greatly impacts their development. Purpose: The purpose of this research is to look into the adolescent population undergoing chemotherapy and help them aid the lack of socialization caused by chemotherapy. Methods: The adolescents will participate in surveys and questionnaires to help reflect the effectiveness of the community programs created to minimize isolation. The surveys will be easily accessible with the use of their smartphone, allowing them to reflect on their experience and provide feedback to the nurses. Data Collection and Analysis: This research has not been initiated yet, however the anticipated results are improved mental health outcomes within the adolescents, allowing for enhanced socialization with their peers during their treatment journey. Conclusion: Screening for feelings of loneliness is relevant to nursing to help improve individualized care with pediatric cancer patients, especially during this crucial time. This proposal will help with educating nurses on the psychosocial effects of chemotherapy in the adolescent population.
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The Role of Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners: Addressing the Shortage and Its Implications for Healthcare
Isabel Mary McCarthy
The increasing prevalence of sexual assault cases has highlighted the crucial need for trained healthcare professionals who can effectively provide sensitive care for survivors. Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANE) are registered nurses specifically trained to perform forensic examinations and provide medical and emotional support to sexual assault victims. However, many nursing programs lack formal education on SANE practices, which can hinder students' preparedness to address such cases in their future careers. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a specialized Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) training module integrated into an undergraduate nursing curriculum at Dominican University of California. By using a mixed-methods, three-phase approach, this study will assess the impact of the SANE learning module on nursing students' knowledge and preparedness to handle sexual assault cases. The study seeks to provide evidence for the integration of SANE education into nursing curricula, enhancing students' ability to deliver compassionate and effective care to sexual assault survivors.
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Advancing School Nursing Practice: A Novel Approach to Screening for Gastrointestinal Disorders in Children
Ashley Bunting and Isabella Cavlan
California schools currently only screen for vision and hearing, leaving many other health concerns unaddressed. Among these, gastrointestinal (GI) health is particularly significant, as digestive disorders can lead to severe consequences, like malnutrition and stunted growth. By incorporating routine GI screenings, school nurses can promote the early detection of disease, allowing for timely intervention and improved health outcomes in children.
Based on existing literature, we have developed a novel pediatric GI screening tool for school nurses to use in routine screenings, presented below. -
Assessing Disparities in Culturally Competent Care in Ethnic Burn Patients
Min Kang
One of the most debilitating injuries one can suffer is a burn. It is even worse when certain individuals can not access the high quality care such as immigrants. With immigration rates increasing over the last several decades, these populations often lack the proper medical care that they deserve. The overarching theme in this population is that they face challenges in attaining positive patient outcomes due to cultural differences.
- Lack of Culturally Competent Care in Burn Care
- Addressing Cultural Safety and Quality of Care in Burn Injury Management
- Analyzing Disparities in Access to Culturally Competent Burn care
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Assessing Lung Cancer Screening Protocols and Outcomes: A Comparative Analysis Between Indonesia and the United States
Priscilla Sitorus
After losing a loved one to lung cancer, it can be difficult to process, especially when the diagnosis could have been made earlier. However, some may struggle to trust a healthcare system when screening protocols and care vary significantly, to the extent that it may seem unclear. Amongst both men and women, lung cancer is the worldwide leading cause of cancer-related mortality (World Health Organization, 2023), thus further creating a considerable amount of challenges that not only takes part in communities, but the overall healthcare system. Despite the increasing rate of lung cancer, Indonesia has limited screening programs available for the general public showing disparities in the public being able to easily access healthcare service and resources which is exacerbated by the issue. In contrast, the United States has instilled screening protocols in hospitals across the nation in order to catch the disease when it is in its earlier stages. They also have extensive research being conducted in order to further development of comprehensive lung cancer screening programs, treatment, and techniques, such as low-dose computed tomography (also known as LDCT), to help higher-risk populations. By examining the two countries’ similarities and disparities in their approaches in lung cancer screening protocols, this will allow those to further look into and develop global healthcare policy changes towards effective screening strategies and protocols in order to reduce the escalating frequency that lung cancer plays in our global mortality.
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Assessing the Integral Role of School Nurses in Suicide Prevention Among Adolescents
Isabel Rafanan
This research discovers aspects of school nursing's role in mental health for young adolescents.
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Breaking the Mold: Exploring the Influence of Gender Roles on Men's Choice of Nursing Specialties and Its Implications for Patient Care
Cid Rowel Agustin
Gender roles and stereotypes continue to shape societal perceptions and expectations within the nursing profession. While strides have been made towards gender equality, male nurses remain underrepresented in certain nursing specialties. Understanding the influence of gender roles and stereotypes on male nurses' specialty selection is essential for promoting diversity and enhancing patient care outcomes. This study aims to explore how perceptions of gender roles and stereotypes impact the career decisions of male nurses and the subsequent implications for future patient care. By examining this complex interplay, we seek to uncover insights that can inform strategies for fostering inclusivity and improving healthcare delivery within the nursing profession.
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Caring for Native American Elders: Developing Cultural Knowledge and Comfort Levels of Senior Nursing Students in Northern California
Ireland ODonnell
It is important for healthcare staff to be knowledgeable of their patients’ culture in order to provide the best care possible and meet the needs of the individual patient (Yava et al., 2023). It has been proven that a lack of cultural understanding can lead to decreased patient adherence and negative health outcomes (Brottman et al., 2020).
There is very little research conducted about student nurses’ knowledge and comfort level when caring for Native American Elders. However, research shows that nurses and nurse educators are not confident when caring for culturally diverse patients, despite their responsibility of teaching the next generation about how to care for patients (Brottman et al., 2020). It is extremely important that nursing students become prepared to care for culturally diverse patients because in their future, they will be caring for a rapidly growing, cross-cultural population.
The Native American Elder population is frequently overlooked in nursing curricula, making further research on this topic necessary. This research proposal aims to assess nursing students’ level of knowledge and comfort before and after an educational module about Native Americans and the significance of Elders in their culture.
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Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Postpartum Depression and Suicide Prevention in Asian Women
Emily J. Tan
Postpartum Depression (PPD) remains a substantial contributor to maternal morbidity and mortality. One in seven women experience PPD, especially among Asian Americans because of the stigma surrounding the discussion of mental health which is often overlooked and misdiagnosed. One significant repercusssion of untreated PPD is the risk for suicidal ideation, which is the second leading contributor of mortality during the postnatal stage (Carlson et al., 2024).
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) consists of relaxation exercises, stress-reduction techniques, pain management strategies and effective problem-solving strategies. CBT takes place in various settings, including mental health clinics, hospitals, rehabilitation clinics, and group therapy (National Library of Medicine, 2022).
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Complementary Therapies for Postpartum Mothers of Multiples
Jewel Thomas
There are many systemic changes that happen to the body after giving birth. Special consideration should be given to recovery during the postpartum period. Common physical symptoms during postpartum are breast engorgement and nipple pain, vaginal bleeding, soreness in perineal area, cramping during uterine involution, increased sweating usually at night, constipation, and hair loss (Cleveland Clinic, 2024). A vulnerable population is women experiencing a multiple pregnancy, such as those carrying twins or triplets. These women are more likely to experience gestational diabetes, gestational hypertension, anemia and/or postpartum hemorrhage (University of Rochester Medical Center, 2024). Amidst this crucial time, advocating for patient preferences is a priority. There is a growing emergence of women who prefer a more holistic approach to the birthing process. Therefore, it is imperative that nurses are cognizant of natural techniques.
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Delayed and Misdiagnosed Endometriosis
Teresa Doyle
Endometriosis is a chronic, painful disorder affecting approximately 10% of women of reproductive age globally.This condition arises when tissue similar to the endometrium, the lining of the uterus, grows outside the uterus, typically on the ovaries, Fallopian tubes, and other areas within the pelvis. Common symptoms of endometriosis include severe pelvic pain, fatigue, irregular menstruation, and infertility. These symptoms have a significant impact on women’s physical and mental health, affecting their interactions with their family, friends, and clinicians, often leading to significant impairment in their quality of life (Sims et al., 2021). The diagnostic journey for many women with endometriosis can be prolonged and fraught with challenges, as symptoms frequently overlap with other conditions,leading to misdiagnosis and inadequate treatment (Dantkale & Agrawal, 2024).
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Detection and Management of Post Intensive Care Syndrome
Ann Tomy
Post Intensive Care Syndrome (PICS) is a collection of symptoms that more than half of patients who survive a critical illness experience after discharge.Those symptoms include weakness, fatigue, sleep disturbances, cognitive dysfunction, post-traumatic stress disorder, mental health conditions, and a lack of effective coping strategies. PICS can significantly impact an individual's quality of life, complicating the recovery process and posing challenges for reintegration into daily activities and societal roles. The etiology of PICS is multifactorial, with the severity and duration of the illness, the nature of medical interventions in the ICU, and the pre-existing health condition of the patient all contributing to its development. The stress of an ICU stay, characterized by invasive treatments, sedation, and the disruption of normal sleep patterns, can also exacerbate or trigger symptoms. Early identification of at-risk individuals and targeted interventions are crucial steps in mitigating the impact of PICS and facilitating a smoother transition to normal life following critical illness.
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Developmental Effects of Child Abuse: The Relevance of Timing
Laura Luz Alvarez Pineda and Karla Susana Saldaña
Background: Early physical, sexual, and emotional child abuse has been associated with long-life cognitive, emotional, and physical health repercussions. Purpose: The current paper, in addition to a literature review, proposes a research design to examine the emotional outcomes of physical, emotional, and sexual child abuse on Hispanics when a psychosocial therapy program is implemented. Methods: Participants will be recruited from children’s hospitals, daycares, and preschools around the Bay Area. Parental-informed consent will be obtained prior to participation. This longitudinal quantitative quasi-experimental study will be comprised of three phases to measure posttraumatic stress and depression symptoms, and suicidal ideation. Results: Multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) procedure, descriptive statistics, and a t-test will be used to interpret the data and identify a correlation between participation in psychosocial therapy and the improvement of posttraumatic stress symptoms, depression symptoms, and suicidal ideation in young Hispanic adults who have been victims of child abuse. Conclusion: Determining emotional outcomes of the implementation of a psychosocial therapy program on children with a history of child abuse into young adulthood is related to nursing as nurses are often the first to recognize and initiate treatment for this vulnerable population. This proposal will help healthcare professionals understand the importance of treatment in the development and mental health of child maltreatment victims.
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Domestic Violence and Mental Health in Pregnant Women
Arabella M. Co
Background: Domestic violence can include verbal, emotional, and physical abuse, which can lead to long-term mental health disorders such as stress, anxiety, or post-traumatic stress disorder. Purpose: This research includes a literature review, as well as a proposed research design to examine the significance of intimate partner violence in relation to mental health by implementing screening methods and interventions. Method: Participants will be recruited from prenatal clinics around the Bay Area. A quantitative, randomized, controlled-trial cohort study will investigate the effectiveness of the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring Systems (PRAMS). A screening tool used in determining intimate partner violence within the expecting mother’s household. The effectiveness of the tool will be analyzed after the experimental group attends the necessary mental health counseling sessions. Results: Multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) procedure, t-test, and descriptive statistics will be applied to interpret the data and detect any correlation between psychosocial therapy and possible improvements from symptoms of any mental health disorders. The data for this study has yet to be collected, but the expected findings will prove the effectiveness of PRAMS and psychosocial therapy to those who experienced domestic violence. Conclusion: The exposure to domestic violence is associated with increased symptoms of anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder during pregnancy (National Library of Medicine 2023). The inclusion of mental health support services can mitigate these effects. This proposed study will help healthcare professionals understand the significance of screening tools and the following treatments for all of the mother’s wellbeing.
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Educational Program on Depression and Anxiety for Low Socioeconomic Postpartum Latina Mothers
Lizbeth Valdez Duran
Postpartum depression (PPD) and postpartum anxiety are common mental health conditions that women experience after childbirth. PPD involves intense feelings of extreme sadness, and diminished interests in activities that once brought them happiness. Postpartum anxiety involves constant worry and fear, often centered on the well-being of the baby. Symptoms may include restlessness or irritability, panic attacks, and trouble concentrating or sleeping. Barriers to treating depression and anxiety among Latinas include a lack of awareness or understanding of mental health issues. (Lopez et al., 2018).
Health Literacy refers to the individual's ability to understand and process health-related information. By assessing a patient's health literacy, nurses can tailor their education and interventions more effectively, to reduce risk of negative health outcomes. However, factors such as stigma surrounding mental illness, reluctance to seek help, and concerns about healthcare cost can prevent individuals from accessing health services. Cultural beliefs about mental health can influence an individual's ability to recognize symptoms and seek care. Latinas, especially those with lower socioeconomic status are less likely to utilize health services due to cultural stigma, as well as concerns regarding the addictive nature of depression medications (Green et al., 2017).
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Education on the Early Recognition of Antepartum Sepsis
Diana Egan
Even though rare in occurrence, sepsis in pregnancy causes high morbidity and mortality rates, most deaths preventable with timely recognition and intervention. With symptoms difficult to identify, adjusted screening tools were created. The literature review highlighted the importance of using approaches such as these tools to improve on maternal outcomes and treatment. The review displayed how nurses in other departments find difficulty defining and identifying sepsis in adults as well as education surrounding interventions in maternal sepsis and obstetrical emergencies improve knowledge deficits. In response, questions emerge about what labor and delivery nurses know about recognizing sepsis in the pregnant population. Even further, there is a lack of research of how education on approaches to antepartum sepsis identification impacts nurses’ knowledge. This proposed one group pretest posttest research study will gather 50 labor and delivery nurses across multiple hospitals in the San Francisco Bay Area to collect data on their demographics (experience, education, and last sepsis training), knowledge before an educational intervention on screening for antepartum sepsis with a 20 multiple choice test, and knowledge after an educational intervention with the same test. The results of the pretest Statistical analysis will be used to analyze the data, using a paired t-test and p value to prove any statistically significant information. Descriptive statistics will also be used to describe the results of the knowledge tests. Further research may include studying the retention of education on the recognition of antepartum sepsis, or assessing how education impacts mortality rates.
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Effectiveness of Early Intervention Programs for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Milan Grace Mendoza Baccay
Background: Autism spectrum disorder is one of the most common developmental disorders, which affects the way a child learns and gains certain skills. Intervention programs aid in the development of these skills and allow children with autism to reach their full potential. Purpose: The following paper examines the effectiveness of early intervention programs on the social, behavior, and cognitive skills for children with autism spectrum disorder. Methods: Participants will be recruited from local schools and community based organizations and their parents will be highly encouraged to participate. They will be separated into two groups: experimental and control. This mixed-methods study will consist of four phases to assess the efficacy of early intervention programs for children with autism. Results: Independent sample t-test, repeated measures ANOVA, and descriptive statistics will be used to interpret the data found and establish any significant differences in the development of the two groups. Conclusion: Determining the effectiveness of early intervention programs for children with autism is a key factor in helping these children reach their full potential developmentally.
Keywords: early intervention for children with autism, programs for autism spectrum disorder, children with autism, efficacy or effectiveness, and early intervention or intervention programs
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Effectiveness of Harm Reduction and Narcan Education for Young Adults
Jason Bolfango
Education on the Harm Reduction Model is an upstream preventative approach to addressing the opioid crisis and a strategic method to promote safety among young adults.
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Effects of California’s Mandated Staffing Ratios
Connie Cheng
California passed Mandated Staffing Ratio legislation (A.B. 394) in 2002 to regulate nurse-to-patient ratios in acute care hospitals to address nursing burnout, adverse patient outcomes, and errors. Ratios were determined by the California Health Department.
The study aims to understand if California's Mandated Staffing Ratio legislation effectively reduced nursing satisfaction, medication errors, and hospital-acquired infections since its implementation in 2004 by focusing on Medical-Surgical units (Med-Surg).
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Effects of Educational Intervention on Asthmatic Children
Zoe Coggins
Abstract
Children are more vulnerable to asthmatic symptoms due to the physiological immaturity of their respiratory systems. Therefore, irritants are deemed more hazardous for the pediatric population. Pollution is a growing health concern, and within the literature review, several approaches to the measurement of the impact of low air quality and educational interventions are discussed. The themes identified in the literature review are increased risk of pollution-induced exacerbation due to age, behavior, and residential proximity to emission-producing facilities. The review of the literature demonstrated how pollution is a growing public health concern, especially among the pediatric population. Interventions, reviewed in the theme of behavior, showed decreased exacerbations following educational intervention. The purpose of this study is to increase health literacy in children to decrease asthmatic exacerbation. The proposal for further study will answer the research question: In children ages six to 12 years old with asthma attending schools near Fresno Yosemite International Airport, how does classroom education on air quality compared to no education affect the number of asthma exacerbations over seven weeks? A total of 42 participants will be selected to partake in this seven-week randomized controlled quantitative study. The research proposal utilized questionnaires and spirometry (FEV1) as tools to measure baseline asthmatic symptoms as well as week-to-week symptom assessment. The questionnaires used for this study are the ISAAC Questionnaire (International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood) (Asher et al., 1995) and The Asthma Control Questionnaire (Juniper et al., 1999). The expected result is to find a p-value of <0.05 to prove that educational intervention has a negative relationship to asthmatic exacerbations in children. Limitations identified in this study include a small pool of participants and the inability to determine potential bias, as the questionnaires are a take-home assignment.
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Enhancing Advocacy through Nursing Interventions for Hospitalized Pediatric Oncology Patients with Absent Parents
Ma Seandee Mae Corrales
Pediatric oncology patients require consistent, specialized care that is strongly supported by parental advocacy. Advocacy is critical for ensuring timely interventions, articulating the child’s needs, and providing emotional support during hospitalization. However, some pediatric patients face gaps in advocacy when parents are unable to be consistently present due to unavoidable obligations, such as work commitments or caregiving responsibilities for other children. This lack of consistent parental presence can impact the quality of care, potentially causing delays in treatment and unmet health needs (Brady et al., 2020).
Nurses are uniquely positioned to bridge these gaps by stepping in as advocates to ensure that pediatric oncology patients receive continuous, compassionate care (Nsiah et al., 2019). Through targeted nursing policies and education, nurse-led advocacy can play a pivotal role in addressing disparities in care caused by inconsistent parental involvement. This research proposal explores the impact of implementing such policies and education, aiming to empower nurses to fill the advocacy void, improve patient outcomes, and provide equitable care for this vulnerable population.
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Evaluating Pulmonary Tuberculosis Knowledge Deficits Among Nursing Students in the United States
Jamie Lynn Woo
The healthcare field consistently faces patients with a wide range of diseases and illnesses. Pulmonary Tuberculosis is an infectious lung disease with established tools to prevent, detect, and treat it. Yet, there has been a significant rise in cases within the past year. Amidst this troubling situation, it is crucial that all healthcare workers, nursing students, and nurses in particular, are properly educated on caring for TB patients. This research proposal aims to determine if there are TB treatment knowledge gaps among nursing students in the United States by conducting a 20-question survey utilizing the Likert Scale. If results show that there are knowledge deficits, then a future research study could explore the success rate of implementing comprehensive educational sessions about TB.
A collection of research posters authored by students from the Department of Nursing at Dominican University of California.
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