Health Sciences Projects

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Track 5A - Poster Presentations

The purpose of this evidence-based project (EBP) is to understand how nurses can better educate pregnant women on the relationship between certain medications and the development of ADHD in children. The PICO question that guided this project is: In pregnant women, how does the use of antidepressants and anxiolytics, compared to no use, affect a child’s likelihood of developing ADHD before adolescence (age 12)? The topic was selected because maternal antidepressant and anxiolytic use and the long-term effects on children is an issue that has received limited attention. Four students formed a group based on a shared interest to complete the EBP as a part of our Nursing Research course. We will use the Iowa model to guide our project. The project’s goal is to analyze evidence-based studies to answer the PICO question and determine best practices for nurses regarding education for pregnant and child-bearing-aged women. Based on our findings, we will recommend strategies for educational programs and an evaluation plan to assess efficacy of the intervention. Implications for nursing practice will be shared through the professional showcase at Colorado Mesa University.

The purpose of this evidence-based project is to investigate levels of anxiety and depression in undergraduate nursing students compared to students in other academic programs. We will make recommendations for nursing students and nursing programs based on our findings. The PICO question that guided this project is: Do nursing students have an increase in anxiety and depression due to their academic stress compared to the general university student population? The group project topic was selected because each member of our group has experienced an increase in anxiety and depression since starting the nursing program. This project is completed as part of our Nursing Research course. The Iowa model will guide this project. The goal of the literature review will be to identify 10 articles from scholarly sources while addressing limitations and levels of evidence for each article. Retrieved articles and results will be synthesized to relate this topic to nursing practice and education and determine implementation strategies related to our PICO question. Implications for how nursing practice will be affected or improved will be shared at the Student Showcase using a poster presentation.

A lack of research related to fertility issues, hormone therapy, and prolonged postpartum effects became evident, as did the lack of basic postpartum education provided to women regarding their own health and well-being. This gap in postpartum education shifted our focus and purpose. The purpose of this project was to investigate the amount of patient education prenatal, at discharge, and postpartum, with regards to postpartum symptoms, to determine their educational needs in order to make recommendations for healthcare practice. The Iowa Model of Evidence-Based Practice to Promote Quality Care was used. Literature obtained through the CINAHL, Cochrane, Google Scholar, and Medline databases resulted in 13 articles being utilized. The studies included three systematic reviews, two meta-analysis, four quantitative studies, two qualitative studies, and two peer reviews. Information from the literature showed that postpartum women were not always sure what was considered abnormal symptoms. It was recommended to individualize postpartum care plans, provide multiple assessment methods, and pre-schedule follow-up visits. Changes in insurance coverage and legislation may be required. Postpartum concerns demonstrate a need for increases in patient education and services. Research needs to continue with larger sample sizes, hormone therapy and postpartum effects, and more information on post delivery expectations.

The purpose of this evidence-based project is to identify barriers women encounter that prevent them from breastfeeding for 6 months or longer and to make recommendations for nursing practice. The PICO question guiding this project is: In postpartum women who did not breastfeed for 6 months or longer, what were the barriers they encountered versus women who did breastfeed for 6 months or longer? The project topic was selected because research shows that breastfeeding is the most beneficial mode of nutrition for newborns, but there are still many women who do not breastfeed for the suggested 6 months. Four nursing students chose the topic due to shared interest in maternal/child health and are completing this project in partial fulfillment of the Nursing Research course. The Iowa model will guide this project. The goal of the literature review will be to identify high-quality evidence related to our PICO question to help inform an intervention that may reduce barriers to breastfeeding. Results will be synthesized to determine what allowed women to be successful in breastfeeding and what barriers were identified. Recommendations and implications for nurses will be discussed when the project is shared through a poster presentation.

The purpose of this evidence-based project is to learn about what nurses can do to help decrease the maternal mortality rates for women of color in the U.S. Through this research, we will make recommendations for improvements in nursing practice. The PICO question that guided this project is: Is the maternal death rate for rural women of color decreased for those receiving enhanced education on prenatal care and preventative services compared to those who are not receiving those services? The group project topic was selected because a high maternal mortality rate is a nationwide problem and maternal mortality rates are rising in women of color in the U.S. Four students chose to work together because of a mutual interest in the topic. We will use the Iowa Model to guide our project as part of our Baccalaureate Nursing Research course. The goal of the literature review will be to find 10 scholarly articles that relate to our PICO question. Retrieved articles and results will be synthesized to help inform holistic recommendations for nursing practice. Based on the recommendations, an intervention will be suggested to help local nurses decrease maternal mortality rates for rural women of color.

The purpose of this evidence-based project is to determine which teaching platform is the most influential in helping treat children and adolescents who are obese and to make recommendations for implementation into nursing practice. The PICO question that guided this project is:In children and young adolescents who are obese, how does the teaching platform affect the treatment of their obesity? The group project topic was selected because childhood and adolescent obesity is a growing concern in our society. Various platforms can have beneficial or consequential influences on these individuals who are obese. The Iowa Model of Evidence-Based Practice to Promote Quality Care will guide this project. The goal of the literature review will be to find evidence on the importance and best strategies for the treatment of childhood and adolescent obesity. Retrieved articles will be used to compare and contrast various teaching platforms to identify best strategies. Results will be synthesized to determine which teaching platform is the most beneficial in the treatment of childhood and adolescent obesity. Implications for the recommendation and how nursing practice will be affected or improved will be displayed.

The purpose of this evidence-based project is to identify in the nursing population how education of human trafficking can affect the nurse ability to identify a victim of human trafficking and to make recommendations for implementation into nursing practice. The PICO question that guided this project is: In the nursing population, how does education on human trafficking affect successful identification of human trafficking victims? The group project topic was selected because each member of the group agreed that human trafficking is prevalent in today’s society and we want to incorporate it in clinical nursing practice. The Iowa Model of Evidence Based Practice will guide this project. The goal of the literature review is to evaluate articles using statistical and clinical evidence to formulate future interventions. Retrieved articles will guide this project in potential nursing practice methods to include in human trafficking education. Results will be synthesized from the available literature to determine ways that education on human trafficking can be included in courses for nurses, both entering the field and those already a part of it. Implications for the recommendation and how nursing practice will be affected or improved will be presented.

The purpose of this evidence-based project is to increase awareness of health disparities among pregnant women of different socioeconomic statuses, and to make recommendations for implementation into nursing practice. The PICO question that guided this project is: Are women of lower socioeconomic status, compared with those of higher socioeconomic status at higher or lower risk for complications during pregnancy? This topic was selected because there are obvious health disparities between socioeconomic statuses. We are interested in learning how socioeconomic status influences one’s risk of developing complications during pregnancy. The Iowa Model of Evidence-Based Practice to Promote Quality Care will guide this project. The goal of the literature review will be to use scholarly sources that provide evidence-based information to make recommendations for nursing practice. Articles will be used to formulate interventions to minimize possible disparities among pregnant women. Results will be synthesized from the literature to determine if there are significant risks to those of lower socioeconomic statuses. Health care professionals may need to be educated on the issue and implement new strategies for educating and caring for this population. Implications for the recommendation and how nursing practice will be affected or improved will be shared.

The purpose of this evidence-based project is to determine what the influencing factors are for parents when deciding to vaccinate their children for influenza. This information will be used in order to provide guidance and recommendations for implementation into nursing practice. The PICO question that guides this project is: In parents of school-aged children, what are the influencing factors for vaccinating their children against influenza or not? Many people contract influenza each year and the death toll continues, even with the influenza vaccination. This evidence-based practice project is aimed at discovering and making suggestions for practice regarding this topic. The Iowa Model of Evidence-Based Practice to Promote Quality Care guided this project. The goal of the literature review will be to assess influencing factors behind vaccinating children or not and the role of the nurse in providing education. Recommendations will be developed based off of the literature. Implications for the recommendation and how nursing will be affected or improved will be shared.

The purpose of this evidence-based project (EBP) is to evaluate current literature specific to nurse-led education about sexual health and the impact on adolescents. The PICO question that guides this project is: In adolescents between the ages of 10 and 16 years, does nurse-led education about sexual health lead to better health outcomes, such as lower rates of STIs and unintended pregnancies, compared to other types of education about sexual health? The topic was selected because of the group’s combined interest in sexual reproductive health in adolescents as an important way to improve overall public health. The project is being completed as part of our Nursing Research course. The Iowa model will guide this project. The goal of the literature review will be to search the literature for a variety of credible articles related to our topic. Retrieved articles will be used to summarize recommendations and findings to inform an intervention that could address our PICO question. An evaluation plan and relevance to nursing practice will be discussed as a part of the EBP poster presentation.

The purpose of our evidence-based project about postpartum depression and mode of delivery is to review literature and to make recommendations for implementation into nursing practice. The PICO question that guided this project is: Are mothers (P) who deliver their babies via cesarean section (I) more likely to develop postpartum depression (O) than mothers who deliver via vaginal birth (C)? The group project topic was selected because many women experience postpartum depression and as nurses it is important to know any risk factors and recommendations for practice. The Iowa Model of Evidence-Based Practice to Promote Quality Care guided this project. The goal of the literature review will be to investigate previous literature on the topic and look for similarities and differences between studies. Retrieved articles will be used to make recommendations for nursing practice and/or identify risk factors for the development of postpartum depression. Results will be synthesized from the available literature to determine if the mode of delivery impacts the risk of postpartum depression. Implications of the recommendations and how nursing practice will be affected or improved will be shared.

The purpose of this evidence-based project is to identify how certain understaffed nursing units have been able to maintain patient safety while others have not and to make recommendations for implementation into nursing practice. The PICO question that guided this project is: How do understaffed nursing units with poor patient safety outcomes compare to understaffed units with adequate patient safety outcomes in acute care settings? The topic was selected because understaffing is a prevalent nursing issue that can affect patient safety. This project will be completed as part of our Nursing Research course. The Iowa model will guide this project. The goal of the literature review will be to identify 10 scholarly articles that assess acute care settings, understaffed nursing units, and differing patient safety outcomes. Retrieved articles will be used to answer the PICO question and guide recommendations and possible interventions. Results will be synthesized from the available literature to determine best practices that will increase patient safety outcomes in understaffed acute care settings. Implementation and evaluation methods will be discussed in the final project. Implications for how nursing practice will be affected or improved will be shared in a poster presentation.

The purpose of this evidence-based project is to determine the efficacy of suicide prevention programs in school aged children grades 6-12 and to make recommendations for implementation into nursing practice. The PICO question that will guide this project is: In school aged children grades 6-12 how does suicide prevention training compared to no training affect suicide rates. The group project topic was selected because suicide is prevalent in the community and one of the leading causes of death. The Iowa Model of Evidence-Based Practice to Promote Quality Care will guide this project. The goal of the literature review will be to determine what is the best evidence-based practice for suicide interventions in school aged children. Results will be synthesized from the available literature to determine if suicide prevention training lowers suicide rates. Implications for the recommendation and how nursing practice will be affected or improved will be shared.